Quitting heroin means fighting for your life against the addicted self who wants to control you, possess you, and kill you. Choosing to stop using illegal drugs and control yourself will be the most important choice you make. Your life is yours, you have to learn to control it.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Instantly Stop Completely
Step 1. Stop immediately only if you are fit enough to do so
This means stopping heroin completely suddenly and going through your withdrawal symptoms as quickly as possible, usually 5-7 days with flu-like symptoms and a lot of pain. It can be very traumatic psychologically and physically, and is only recommended for users in relatively good health.
Stopping heroin suddenly has withdrawal symptoms, which in some cases, are fatal, so it's not recommended for pregnant women, or people with health problems
Step 2. Set a date and reduce the dose as much as possible
If you want to stop immediately, you should reduce your dose as much as possible before you stop completely to reduce shock. Whether you want to say "I'll quit starting Friday" or "I'll quit once this is over" is up to you, but set a day when you have to force yourself to quit, and do it. Take time off from your job, and be prepared for the process.
It's important to avoid "reducing the dose" as an excuse to keep using. If you run out of heroin and you praise yourself for buying more so you can reduce your dose, you're still taking and not quitting. When you make the decision to quit right away, you have to jump. Now. Like a wound dressing, immediately remove it for a quick finish
Step 3. Burn all your heroin resources
When it's time to stop, get rid of everything, your needles, your dirty spoon, flush your heroin down the toilet, throw out all the empty bags lying around you, even throw away your belt if necessary. Delete your seller's phone number. Eliminate anything related to heroin use in preparation for a complete stop. Make it impossible for you to use it.
If you don't trust yourself to do it, ask for help. Let a trusted friend, family member, or sponsor check all your drawers to get them all. Don't throw it in the kitchen trash can, crush it with a hammer and ask someone else to throw it in a secret place
Step 4. Find a place
Ask someone to come and help prepare your place to live, provide the equipment needed to get through the healing, if you're going to stop there, or go to a safe place like a hotel or your friend's house where you can spend a week in silence, and ask them to clean up the place. stay you while you're going through it. In any case, remove a week from your schedule and prepare for hell.
Have someone check on you regularly over the coming week, or better yet, ask him or her to accompany you through the process. It can be a dark and lonely process going through it alone. So don't do it
Step 5. Provide everything you will need for 5-7 days
The single most important thing you need is plenty of drinking water and time. It is very important that you stay hydrated and that you remove yourself from your life while healing. Liquids, cold medicine, and foods in the form of peanut butter or soup will help make the process easier, as will a change of clothes.
Step 6. Drink plenty of water, Gatorade, and grapefruit juice
Drink as much as possible. Cold sweats and diarrhea will be a problem, both of which can dehydrate you quickly, so make sure you have plenty of water and store it as well as possible. Gatorade helps raise your electrolyte and blood sugar levels, grapefruit juice will help provide essential vitamins. Likewise, multi-vitamins and isotonic mixes are helpful.
If a drink other than water makes you nauseous, try adding some water to get rid of the taste and then drink it. Gatorade will help increase your electrolyte content, this is very important. Put water in the drink and drink a lot. You can do it
Step 7. Take Nyquil, Imodium, and dramamine to fight cold symptoms
There's no avoiding it: Heroin withdrawal will feel like the worst flu you've ever had, and will last for days without stopping. Common symptoms include cold sweats, nausea, and diarrhea, so it's a good idea to stock up on some cold medicine and take enough of it to reduce symptoms and help you rest.
- At the time of preparation, sometimes drink a glass of milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide, laxative) a few days before starting, while reducing the dose, to clear your system and relieve diarrhea when the process stops.
- Some people have success by taking large doses (30-40 mg) of Imodium for the first few days through the most difficult quitting process, then reducing them to prevent constipation. Try to use as few OTC drugs as possible, if you do use them, so as not to overuse them.
- Other natural alternatives such as Valerian are very popular and effective in calming you down and reducing nausea. Since it will affect the same brain receptors, think of it as Valium which is cheap and can be found at Wal-Mart.
Step 8. Try to eat something
Bread and peanut butter can save your life when the process stops. It can be very difficult to keep food in your stomach, but forcing yourself to eat a few bites of your peanut butter toast gives you strength and makes you feel better. Provide stock or ramen to warm up and vary your diet a bit, but whatever you do, try to eat a little each day to stay alive.
Step 9. Stay clean and try to rest
Provide several piles of bedding because the cold sweat at night is very much. Change clothes and underwear every day. Try to keep yourself as clean as possible, even if it's just to distract you. Take a hot shower if needed and rest. You are fighting for a good reason, so try to relax as much as possible and rest.
Feeling a very cold sensation is very common for you to feel through the process of quitting. Taking a hot shower will feel great, making you feel warmer and more normal. When you feel cold and you can't keep yourself warm, step into a hot bath or shower and let the steam warm you
Step 10. Try to exercise, if possible
This may sound crazy, or the last thing you want to do, but going for a walk or jogging is the single most effective way to relieve the leg cramps and cold soreness you're feeling through the process. Sometimes you will not feel any symptoms when you use your body to exercise. Force yourself to move and reward yourself with a hot shower. Take the first steps to keep it clean.
Step 11. Fight day by day
You will carry out the most difficult struggle that you will go through. It won't be fun, but you do the first job it takes to stop using heroin completely and take your life back.
Method 2 of 5: Stop Slowly
Step 1. Consider taking prescription medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms
If possible, using certain prescription drugs in a controlled and carefully controlled environment is a more effective method of stopping heroin. You can monitor your use more carefully, reduce withdrawal symptoms and feel normal during the quitting process.
While there are risks of addiction to other drugs, learning about slow quitting methods can ensure you don't fall into that pit
Step 2. Explore low-cost or free options in your area
The problem with quitting slowly, or immediately, is that you have to spend money you don't have, and need health insurance that you may not be able to get. Call the Substance Abuse hotline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to find out about free or low-cost clinics in your area and you can learn more and talk about your options.
To prevent addiction to other prescription drugs, don't rely on the same dealer who forced you to stop using heroin. Don't try to do it yourself. Do it smartly, by enlisting the help of any available health professional and taking medication as advised
Step 3. How to state subsidized methadone clinics in your area
Methadone is an opioid agonist that is administered sparingly in clinics, mostly free or very cheaply, to help heroin users who want to stop withdrawal symptoms and reduce their dose in a controlled manner. You can still decide if you want to quit, but getting tested and examined by a doctor while doing so can help reduce the psychological trauma of heroin withdrawal symptoms for some users. You did the right thing.
- Try to start with the smallest possible dose. Some clinics start with doses as high as 70mg, making it “too easy” for users who want to quit more quickly and effectively. Communicate with staff and let them know your intention to quit, don't delay the process. If you are healthy enough, try to force yourself to start with small doses.
- Unfortunately it is very common for heroin users to become dependent on methadone, or even use both, methadone in the morning and heroin after the effects of the methadone wear off. Methadone isn't right for everyone, but it's the least expensive option, especially if you can register and qualify for health insurance in your country.
Step 4. Talk to your doctor about the Suboxone or Subutex approach
Suboxone or Subutex are sometimes easier than taking methadone, and will really help with your addiction. For some people, it is also easier to use less than methadone. The length of time you should use Suboxone/Subutex is much shorter than Methadone too – the process lasts 3-6 months, depending on the patient and doctor.
Step 5. Prepare for questions from the doctor
It's important to be honest with the doctor you consult about your addiction if you want a prescription medication to help you stop using heroin. Making up a lie to get some Xanax seeds can result in you feeling rejected, angry, and ultimately using it again to deal with your pain. Stay honest. If your goal is to stop using heroin completely, tell your doctor about your intentions. They can help.
You may have to agree to undergo periodic drug tests, HIV tests, and other procedures in order to be admitted to a state clinic. Getting a prescription medication can be more difficult than just getting a few pills, so be prepared to take on the challenge
Step 6. Ask about other prescription medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms
If you don't want to use methadone, or an inexpensive option isn't available in your area, talk to your doctor about other prescription medications that can help ease withdrawal symptoms. As long as you are intelligent and in control, this will be an effective way to quit. Never overuse prescription drugs during the process of stopping heroin.
- Clonidine is a non-narcotic BP drug, administered by most addicts doctors, effective enough to manage your withdrawal symptoms, especially for anxiety during the process.
- Valium and Xanax is an effective benzodiazepine for treating addiction, fighting insomnia, and relieving your anxiety.
- Phenobarb and Ativan It is a relatively mild narcotic that is sometimes prescribed to lighten the load.
- Tramadol is a painkiller that is specifically prescribed to combat pain in the legs or “restless-leg syndrome” and has been shown to be quite effective in treating pain associated with withdrawal symptoms.
Step 7. Fight the second withdrawal symptom
The biggest problem with stopping heroin slowly is that, in the end, you're still on the drug. It may have a different name, but if you still need to take your medication every day, you haven't completely stopped. Whatever you use, you must commit to doing the hard work of quitting completely and not getting addicted.
Depending on the quit method you use, your second withdrawal symptoms may be brief and mild, or they can be close to heroin-like. It may take a few weeks before you feel normal again. Then the same process of choosing a quit date and committing to it
Step 8. Consider enrolling in a detox rehab facility, if you can afford the fees
The easiest way to quit is a private rehab clinic that you can go to while you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms under supervision, receiving health care, psychological treatment, and having time to leave your addicted life behind. Unfortunately, a full rehab package for a few weeks can cost around $10,000 (100 million rupiah).
These packages usually end with family intervention and can make the addict feel very guilty about the costs involved. If you quit on your own and end up wearing it again, you'll feel very disappointed, but if you stop at a place that made your parents spend thousands of dollars a night, you may feel even worse and guilty. Make sure that the situation doesn't turn out that way
Method 3 of 5: Understanding Your Addiction
Step 1. Understand that defending against your withdrawal symptoms is not the same as stopping taking it
Quitting heroin isn't the same as quitting alcohol, quitting smoking cigarettes, and it's not even the same as quitting cocaine. The physical and psychological parts of addiction are both potent and difficult to control. Heroin is the most difficult drug to stop taking, and many addicts who have managed to break their physical addiction have ended up taking it again because they didn't consider the psychological effects it would have. After the first weeks or months of breaking your habit, you have to move on with your life.
Step 2. Admit your mental addiction
If you're going to quit and keep quitting, you have to be honest with yourself: you're an addict. You will always be an addict. You have to accept that this will never change – you will always want it, and your addiction will always be waiting to ruin your life. Quitting heroin means making a decision to avoid that addiction, one day at a time.
It's very hard to stop when you think, "I'll never be able to do this again, in my entire life." Don't worry about the rest of your life. Think about being able to get through your day until 5 o'clock without wearing it. Think about reaching Monday without wearing it
Step 3. Learn to process and anticipate your euphoric calls
Soon you will probably obsess over how wonderful it would be if you used one more time, letting the memory of all the pain and troubles recede and focusing solely on what you want to use again. You might even feel a little euphoric about buying something and taking it home, obsessing over and over again. Learn how to control this addiction and fight it.
Step 4. Prepare for the worst part
After an initial period of 2 weeks or 2 months, you will reach a point where everything feels boring, dead, and the world looks like the black and white movies you used to watch at school. This period is the time when most addicts relapse, sometimes with very bad results. Depression is a huge problem for recovering addicts, so it's important to find activities that keep you busy and move on with your life without the use of drugs.
Step 5. Start talking to other people
“Narcotics Anonymous” meetings can be very helpful in providing development to addicts and a community of people who feel the same way. You are not alone in your struggles, and listening to other people's stories and having a place to tell your own can be very upbuilding and encouraging for many. Find the nearest NA meeting by clicking here.
- On the other hand, NA can also annoy addicts. If the thought of spending a few hours a week listening to other addicts talk nonstop about their drugs, or if it will encourage you to take it again, find another social group that can lighten your load. Look for a bowling league, card group, or other safe social organization that will give you people to talk to about things you love.
- Talking to a therapist can be healing and instructive for many addicts. Deciding to deal with your addiction means talking about it, being honest about it, and being able to discuss it with someone who won't judge you or your life.
Method 4 of 5: Stay Alive Without Wearing
Step 1. Reward yourself
A typical 12-step program, whether you decide to participate or not, is where you get to know each period without wearing it and reward yourself for it. While the gift is an opportunity to look at yourself in the mirror and say "You've been off wearing for a week," it's important to allow yourself to celebrate each stage of quitting.
Some addicts find it helpful to save all the money that will go towards drugs and save up for a gift after hitting a certain big step. Go on vacation, or buy yourself something beautiful. You deserve it
Step 2. Create a trash can in your mind
Temptation will occur. It will happen to you no matter what you do. Most addicts relapse within 3-6 months of stopping heroin. While you can't stop it from entering your mind, you don't have to run away. Many addicts create a “trash can” in their mind, where you can throw the temptation away when it comes.
When you're tempted, think of the trash can and think of your temptation as trash. Put it in the trash. Put the cover on. Place it out of sight
Step 3. Replace the use of drugs with other, healthier ways
You've stopped wearing. What now? Boredom can be one of the biggest challenges for an addict. How you spend the time you normally spend wearing is up to you, but you are more likely to be successful if you look for ways that are more productive and healthy and can provide as much pleasure as wearing. This could mean making something, doing a challenging sport, or even something as simple as walking and thinking. Use your free time as an opportunity to build a new life. You have a blank page. Start filling it out.
Step 4. Master your body with exercise
Your body is not a slave to heroin. Exercise helps your body get rid of all the impurities in it, as it naturally detoxifies, regulates metabolism and produces natural endorphins. Find the type of exercise that you enjoy and you can do regularly. Do a sport game or jog. If you don't like sports, go to a dance club and have fun. You're not wearing!
Step 5. Use your no-use life to stop taking any other medications you are used to
Usually, addicts are not encouraged to break all habits while in a formal rehabilitation program. However, learn how you can survive without wear, by removing as many addictive substances as possible from your life and replacing them with other productive activities.
- If you replace your heroin with another drug, this may be possible for a short time, but it's also likely that you will stay close to the same types of people, face the same temptations, and you will not stop taking. Know yourself.
- If you're still fighting a big battle against heroin temptation and feel like a few cigarettes are the only thing saving your life, don't try to quit right away. Learn your limits and set goals for yourself. If you want to quit altogether, when is it? Next week? Next month? Set a date to stop using drugs or alcohol or smoking if it's a goal in your life.
Step 6. Master your life by eating healthy food
The concept of eating and enjoying food can be confusing to some addicts, but taking care of yourself by having a healthy diet can help restore nutrients to your body and maintain your health.
Step 7. Find a new hobby to pass your time
Avoid old user friends, make new friends and try new hobbies will fill your busy life. If you are busy doing other activities, heroin will not easily come back into your life.
It's a shame but sometimes you need to break the ties of friendship with people who might influence you to re-enter the world of your previous heroin. You have to be smart and take control of your life. If you're worried that being friends with a certain person will tempt you to wear it again, you should avoid that person. Tell them that you don't trust yourself to be close to them, but that you'd be very happy to see them heal
Step 8. Let yourself relax
Depression, regret, and addiction can sometimes feel like they are stalking you all over the place. Try to look forward, not backward. Don't focus on what you have done, and what you regret, focus on where you are going and what you will achieve. Start that life.
Method 5 of 5: Creating a Friend List
Step 1. If you are serious about quitting heroin, you must have friends with you who are willing to help you
Have him keep tabs on all your phone calls if someone tries to call you and tell you to buy something or your drug dealer wants to know why you never call them.
Step 2. Teach the person you have chosen to be your friend
Explain to them the severity of your withdrawal symptoms so they can help you work through them.
Step 3. Stay positive even if you feel like your life is over
Never hold on to your feelings, as this will only create more problems. Make sure the person you choose is trustworthy and sincere in helping you. Make sure the person you choose is someone you can talk to about anything in your life and preferably someone you've known for years.
Step 4. Remember that the friend you choose did not do this to you
So even in the worst parts of your life, remember that they are not obligated to help you and they choose to do so. What's more, remember that they have feelings too. And warn them in advance that you will have mood swings and don't take anything you say at the time of taking withdrawal symptoms seriously.
Tips
- Write down a list of things you have lost because of heroin and what you would like to get back. Read this list any time you are tempted to wear again.
- Find a safe place to start living again. Don't go back to the same people and situations.
- Don't blame yourself. Be proud of what you are doing.
- Focus on your healing and all that makes it possible.
- If you fall, you don't have to come back full force. Lift yourself up in any way that can get you back on track.
- It's important to seek support, from friends, family, or addicts in their recovery.
- If you feel down, climb up, keep climbing, if you slip, look down, hold on, remember to balance yourself, smile, and climb even higher; don't beat yourself up, but wake yourself up.
- Try your best not to be swayed by temptation. When temptation strikes suddenly, you can get help from a 12-step program like Narcotics Anonymous.
- Create new goals, dreams and projects for your life without heroin and plan to make them happen no matter how difficult it seems. If you stay clear of heroin, anything can happen.
- Avoid the people and places you go to when using heroin.
- Certain things may remind you of when to wear, and make you tempted. Try to avoid it.
