Page Contents
Overview
Have a Heroin Addiction & Want to get Help?
How to get treatment for Heroin
Increased Risk of Overdose After Detox
Inpatient Detox and Rehabilitation
Other Support Mechanisms for Opiate Addiction
Life After Detox
At P&S Chemist, we can play an important role in the provision of harm reduction services and in the treatment of drug misusers. We dispense substitute drugs, for example, Methadone and Buprenorphine for detoxification purposes, supervising the self-administration in our pharmacy to ensure that the dose has been administered to the patient, minimising the possibility of misdirection of controlled drugs and to reduce incidents of accidental death through overdose.
Through a process of daily contact that we have with our supervised administration patients, we can monitor and provide advice on the patient's general health and well-being. In order to provide our service users with the help and assistance to access further advice and help as necessary. This can involve the referral to specialist treatment centres or other health and social care providers where appropriate. As part of the shared care service, that aims to provide the maximum positive impact this service can for our patients.
If you are part of the Supervised Administration Service or want to join this service at P&S Chemist, you can be assured that the expectations, as outlined by the Primary Care Trust (PCT) and listed below, will be met.
Have a Heroin Addiction & Want to get Help?
Are you addicted to heroin and you want to stop? If so, you can ask your General Practitioner or your local drug treatment service for help. An individual with a drug addiction is entitled to the same confidential NHS care as anyone else who has a health problem. If you are not yet ready to stop, you can still get help to ensure you stay safe and healthy.
How to get treatment for Heroin
Heroin is an opiate drug. Other opiate drugs include codine, opium and morphine. if you need treatment for addiction to heroin or another opiate drug you can either see your GP or contact your local drug treatment service, via your postcode on the NHS find Drug Addiction Services webpage, located here. At your first appointment, your doctor or drugs worker will ask you questions including:
They will also ask you for a urine sample. This will be tested to confirm that you are using heron. You will then be given a key worker who will help you put together a personalised treatment plan, and who will meet you regularly throughout your treatment and will help you to decide between the two different approaches, either maintenance therapy or detox therapy to stop you from using heroin. These two approaches are outlined in more detail below:
Both treatments aim to help you withdraw from using heroin gradually, as this will assist and ease the magnitude of your withdrawal symptoms. Whilst undergoing your maintenance or detox therapy, it is usual for you to be living at home, as the familiar surroundings of the home can assist your treatment by reducing any potential anxiety. Although it is worth noting that detoxing from heroin use whilst living at home can take up to 12 weeks. If you find your chosen method to be difficult or unhelpful, you can switch from maintenance therapy to detox at any time.
Increased Risk of Overdose After Detox
It is very important to remember that if you are on the Supervised Administration Service and are in detox or have completed your detox therapy, the detox process lowers your tolerance to heroin. Consequently, you are at a much higher risk of overdosing afterwards.
Inpatient Detox and Rehabilitation
Although it is the general rule that the Supervised Adminstration Service is usually conducted whilst you live at home, in some instances, this can be offered as a hospital inpatient or in a specialist residential rehabilitation premises; these provide an intense programme of support and care aimed at people who have difficulty becoming drug-free in the community. Although, this is dependent upon the following criteria:
Other Support Mechanisms for Opiate Addiction
Whilst you are undergoing your therapy, you will be offered additional help and support whilst you come off heroin. These help and support mechanisms may include:
Life After Detox
Once you have completed your detox programme, your key worker and drugs team will continue to support your progress for up to six months to help you stay off heroin and prevent a relapse. This support may also include help with day-to-day issues such as housing, finding employment or developing further skills and knowledge by studying an education programme.
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Page last reviewed: 06/10/2022
Next review date: 06/10/2024