Heroin is a highly addictive substance that presents potentially life-threatening consequences. Heroin addiction robs you of your health, happiness, and quality of life. If you or someone you know is struggling with heroin addiction or another substance use disorder, you must seek professional help. In this article, we’ll explore more about how long does heroin stay in the body below.
Elevate Point is a top-rated alcohol and drug rehab in NYC committed to helping patients break free from the chains of addiction once and for all. We provide comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment to ensure you receive the best possible care to lead a healthier, happier life. Contact us today to learn more!
How Long Does Heroin Stay in the Body
Interested in learning more about the question “how long does heroin stay in the body”? The answer is that it depends on the detection test used. However, broadly speaking, heroin can be detectable in the body for up to about 90 days after last use.
Below are the average detection windows to expect depending on the type of detection test used:
- Blood Test- Detectable up to 1 day.
- Urine Test- Detectable up to 1 week.
- Salvia Test- Detectable up to 1 day.
- Hair Test- Detectable up to 3 months.
It is important to note that several factors can also contribute to how quickly (or slowly) heroin can be metabolized in your body. For example, how long you have been using the drug, your age, liver and kidney health, and your overall height and weight are several variables that can impact the rate at which heroin can be detected in the body.
How Long Does It Take to Withdraw from Heroin
If you are just starting your recovery journey, the first necessary step you will have to take on your recovery journey is the detoxification process. The detoxification process involves no longer consuming any drugs or alcohol. This allows your mind and body to be able to adapt to no longer consuming any addictive substances.
During the detoxification process, which typically lasts 1-2 weeks, you will experience temporary withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia, vomiting, headaches, mood swings, and irritability. This is due to your mind and body adapting to no longer consuming any drugs. It is important to understand that these withdrawal symptoms are short-term.
Help Is Available
Now you know more about the question “how long does heroin stay in the body”. The answer is that it depends on the type of detection method used. For instance, a urine test can detect heroin for up to about a few days, while a hair test can potentially detect the drug for up to 90 days after last use.
If you or someone you know is struggling with heroin addiction, it is critical to consider seeking professional help to safely and effectively break free from the chains of addiction once and for all.
At Elevate Point, we are a leading alcohol and drug rehab in NYC that is here to help patients achieve long-term sobriety. Gone are the days of suffering in silence. Our compassionate team of addiction specialists and mental health professionals is here to help!
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you lead a healthier, happier life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common signs and symptoms of heroin addiction?
Heroin is a highly addictive substance that many struggle with. Some of the common signs and symptoms of heroin addiction to look out for include drowsiness (i.e., “nodding off”), nausea, strong cravings to abuse drugs, irritability, slurred speech, mood swings, an increase in engaging in riskier behavior than usual, loss of motivation or interest in activities you once enjoyed, and more.
It is critical to consider seeking professional help if you are struggling with heroin addiction. This is because heroin addiction can present potentially life-threatening consequences and significantly harm your health, quality of life, and relationships for the worse.
What should I do if I’m struggling with heroin addiction and a mental illness?
Oftentimes, many individuals struggling with an untreated mental health disorder may turn to drugs and alcohol as a means to cope with their symptoms. Unfortunately, this does not address the source of your mental illness symptoms and can increase your risk of developing a drug addiction.
This is why it is important to seek dual diagnosis treatment so you can receive treatment for both conditions at the same time. Otherwise, failure to treat both conditions at the same time increases your risk of relapse.
If you are struggling with both heroin addiction and a mental illness, it is critical to consider seeking professional dual diagnosis treatment so you can break free from the chains of addiction and get the help that you need to better manage your mental health symptoms.
What are the best treatment options for heroin addiction?
There are several great treatment options available to help recovering heroin addicts achieve sobriety. As mentioned above, the first necessary step a recovering addict must take on their recovery journey is the detoxification process. This involves no longer consuming any addictive substances so that your mind and body can adapt to getting sober.
After detoxification, it is important to establish healthy coping strategies you can use in everyday life to maintain your sobriety. This is because you will inevitably be faced with triggers and urges to abuse drugs that run the risk of jeopardizing your road to recovery.
There are several effective treatment options available for those recovering from heroin addiction. Depending on the severity of your addiction, medications may be prescribed to help with the withdrawal process and further help you as you progress in your sobriety journey. Other treatment options like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are highly effective in that they help you effectively identify negative thoughts and behaviors and turn them into positive ones so that you can improve your health and quality of life.
Other treatments like family therapy and dual diagnosis treatment (if you are struggling with heroin addiction and a mental illness) can be great treatment options to help you achieve lasting sobriety.