The Cost of Heroin Withdrawal
The struggling drug addict has a couple of different options for getting through heroin withdrawal. Some of them provide more comfort than others, and of course the range in cost is quite large. Let’s take a look.
1) Cold turkey on the couch (Approximate cost = $0)
Of course this is the default option, and there is really no danger in doing it this way, other than the fact that your chances at success are quite low. This is going to be the least comfortable option for you in terms of withdrawal symptoms. There is not much you can do to ease the symptoms on your own, other than taking some over the counter medications that will likely not really help much for severe symptoms. But of course it is free and for some people this will be the only method available. And, it is not impossible to pull it off. Many addicts have done it who did not even want to get clean at the time!
2) Drug rehab (Approximate cost = $1,200 – $5,000)
A few days in drug rehab will probably get you through the worst of your withdrawals, but for some people it might take more like 5 or 6 days in detox before they are really feeling any better. Even the cheapest of rehabs are going to run around a couple hundred dollars per day. If you have a funding source such as Medicaid or private insurance, then you should definitely take advantage of that and try to get help in a rehab setting. There are several advantages to doing so.
First of all you will probably be much more comfortable in rehab than you would be at home on the couch. They can give you medication that will ease your withdrawal symptoms in treatment. Second of all, you will likely be exposed to a recovery program while you are in rehab that attempts to show you how to live a clean and sober life. You might also be introduced to the 12 step fellowships or find other avenues of support for when you leave treatment.
All things considered, traditional drug rehab might be the most cost effective approach for most addicts, especially if this is the only route that actually works for them in the long run. Any method that fails to keep you clean has a near infinite cost in the end. Anything that actually works and ends up changing your life can be viewed as a bargain in hindsight. But of course, many who attend drug rehab will relapse (in fact, the majority will).
3) Ultra rapid detox (Approximate cost = $10,000 – $15,000 )
This option for heroin withdrawal is one where you are essentially put to sleep while your body is flushed of the drug. Therefore, you feel almost no discomfort at all when you finally wake up.
Sounds good, right? Well studies have shown that the rate of success with this procedure is no different than with other methods of heroin detox, so it is not the magic bullet that it sounds like. Plus, the price is a bit prohibitive, and insurance companies are not paying for it yet.
So those are the options. Quite a range in cost. If I were you, I would make a firm decision to change my life and then take the middle road.
Recommended Reading
Call Today
866-211-5538
24 Hour Treatment
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
But see I have been take 10 mg percs for four years and then this past year I started with roxycodone. Which for those of u that don’t know is a 30 mg pain killer. I started out takin a half very 6 hours no big deal to recently doing ten a day. And do heroin if I couldn’t get it. So in turn I’m not as most nor alot but I know what withdrawals are. Day one I took half a suboxone and it helps dramatically. And u can look up and see what doctors prescribe it. But I didn’t have but one. So day two I wake up and I have to work. Didn’t happen I was sweating felt like my back was being torn out and sick my stomach. I smoked and ton of pot and took 1 mg ativoan which is half a bar of Xanax. And it helped with the sleeping problems. But the thing u need to do is drink a crap load of water and just be strong hearted. It’s the worst thing your gonna ever go through and it is true no one can help u but u. But day three and so got easier everyday I woke up and felt better. I didn’t eat for three days and u won’t want to eat but please try like pedialite or muscle milk something with protein. Even if it’s sips every other hour. And when u come off don’t go pounding food back it will make u sicker. Best thing I had was pot it helped me so much. But see anything that can help u sleep the better I slept for 48 hours straight. But that’s all the advice I have. But believe me when I say your not who u really are on this shit. And I’m telling you there is a way out but you gotta wanna do it for u. And don’t give up don’t ever give up. My name is James walker my email address is james62686@gmail.com if u need help message me and I’ll talk u through it. If this helps one person then I have done what I wished helped me! God bless u all and u can do it I’m 24 an I’m gonna be alright
i went cold turkey on the couch method coming off heroin. For me it was the most physically and emotionally challenging effort I have ever done. Shortly afterwards i still felt inhuman. BUT I have never relapsed because the thought of going through it again literally turns my stomach. I did try suboxone but you are chained to a chemist (in my country anyway)it is a graduated approach no sudden withdrawal, and I would recommend it along with determined relapse prevention. Saturate yourself with information about relapsing cos that work will give you the strength to face getting clean and staying clean. Begin with the end in mind and keep to that goal, getting into a syndrome of using and cold turkey turns you into a chronic invalid.
heroin is the shit!!!!