In the battle against heroin addiction, hope emerges at Porch Light Health, serving Colorado and New Mexico. Heroin addiction is a complex issue, and it's crucial to address it comprehensively. At Porch Light Health, we are committed to combating the heroin epidemic by providing effective
Medications for Addiction Treatment,
Behavioral Health, and Psychiatric Services, and a range of accessible treatment options.
Understanding Heroin
Before we delve into our approach to heroin addiction treatment, it’s essential to understand the nature of heroin itself. Heroin, derived from morphine, is a potent and highly addictive
opioid. It's recognized for its capacity to provide pain relief and induce an intense euphoric state. The improper use of heroin can result in serious consequences, leading individuals down a perilous road of addiction.
What is Heroin, and Where Does It Come From?
Heroin, classified as an opioid, is synthesized from morphine, extracted from the opium poppy plants predominantly grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. Refining morphine into heroin involves chemical modifications, resulting in a drug that is significantly more potent and addictive than its precursor.
What Does Heroin Look Like?
Heroin exhibits diverse physical forms, which include a powdery substance that can be either white or brown, as well as a dark, viscous variant commonly referred to as "black tar heroin." This range of appearances underscores the adaptability and versatility of the drug, making it essential for individuals to be aware of its various manifestations and associated risks.
What Are Some Street Names for Heroin?
Heroin is frequently known by a multitude of
street names, including "big H," "horse," "hell dust," and "smack." These colloquial terms may vary, but they collectively allude to the drug's potency, origins, and the profound effects it can have on the lives of those who use it.
How Do People Use Heroin?
Heroin consumption involves various methods, each carrying specific risks. Injecting heroin delivers an immediate high but poses severe dangers such as infections and overdose. Sniffing or snorting powdered heroin, while less invasive, can lead to nasal damage and cravings. Smoking heroin reduces injection risks but can cause respiratory issues. Speedballing, mixing heroin with stimulants such as crack cocaine, is particularly hazardous, creating unpredictable highs and increasing overdose risk.
Heroin Use And its Effects on the Brain and Body
Heroin affects the brain by binding to specific receptors, inhibiting pain signals, and releasing dopamine, creating a sense of pleasure and reward. Heroin use can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological effects.
Short-Term Effects of Heroin
These
short-term effects often lead to long-term health problems, addiction, and a devastating impact on one's quality of life.
- Intense euphoria
- Dry mouth
- Skin flushing
- Heaviness in limbs
- Sedation
- Pain relief
- Nausea and vomiting
- Itchy skin
- Slowed heart rate
- Shallow breathing
- Nodding off, or oscillating between consciousness and semi-consciousness
Long-Term Effects of Heroin Use
Prolonged heroin use can result in a range of
lasting health issues, including:
- Insomnia
- Collapsed veins for those injecting heroin
- Nasal tissue damage from snorting or sniffing the substance
- Heart lining and valve infections
- Abscesses
- Chronic constipation and digestive problems
- Organ damage
- Respiratory problems
- Sexual dysfunction for men
- Menstrual irregularities
- Mental issues like depression and personality disorders may develop
Understanding these short-term and long-term effects underscores the urgent need to address heroin addiction, as it not only compromises physical health but also leads to significant mental, social, and emotional challenges.
How Do You Treat Heroin Addiction?
Addressing heroin addiction requires a multi-faceted approach. Behavioral therapies, such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, can be effective. Porch Light Health offers comprehensive treatment options to support individuals on their journey to recovery.
Learn More About Treatment OptionsTreatment for Heroin Addiction at Porch Light Health
It's essential to differentiate between tolerance, dependence, and addiction when using heroin. Tolerance refers to the body's adaptation to the drug, dependence involves physiological reactions, and addiction is a complex behavioral and neurological condition.
At Porch Light Health, we believe in a holistic approach to heroin addiction treatment. We understand that addressing the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction is essential for lasting recovery. This includes education on problem drug use, the potential of fentanyl-laced substances, as well as providing treatment
Our treatment options include:
Ambulatory Medically Supervised Withdrawal Services
Porch Light Health's
Ambulatory Medically Supervised Withdrawal Services (AMSWS) addresses the needs of individuals in the "middle ground" between service for patients who require higher levels of care versus traditional outpatient treatment. This service offers a safe space in designated clinics for monitored withdrawal from substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines, along with in-house buprenorphine induction. AMSWS fills a vital gap in Colorado's treatment landscape, reflecting our commitment to individualized care and providing a flexible and compassionate option for those requiring support during withdrawal.
Medications for Heroin Addiction
At Porch Light Health, we proudly offer
Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) services for individuals seeking addiction treatment in Colorado and New Mexico. MAT combines medications like
buprenorphine (Suboxone®) and
naltrexone (Vivitrol) with counseling and behavioral therapies, offering evidence-based care to effectively manage substance use disorders, reduce cravings, and help individuals achieve lasting recovery.
Behavioral Health and Psychiatric Care
Porch Light Health provides essential
Behavioral Health Services in Colorado and New Mexico, offering in-person and virtual counseling, ASAM-accredited assessments, and flexible scheduling to support individuals on their recovery journey. Our experienced counselors address underlying mental health issues, equipping clients with tools to navigate life's challenges without resorting to substances.
Our specialized
Psychiatric Services work with behavioral modalities to bridge the intricate relationship between mental health and addiction, utilizing comprehensive assessments, tailored treatment plans, medication management, and therapeutic interventions. This collaborative approach ensures individuals receive holistic care that addresses medical and therapeutic needs.
High Access, Low Barrier Treatment
We understand that accessibility is crucial to effective treatment. That's why we offer various treatment options, including
telehealth services and
mobile clinics, to ensure that quality care is always within reach. With over 60 points of care across Colorado, including over 30 rural and frontier areas, we bring recovery and addiction treatment to diverse communities.
Our unique initiative includes four MAT mobile routes covering strategic regions, offering medications for addiction treatment (MAT), supportive medications, and valuable recovery resources in remote areas. Our medical providers can prescribe MAT via telehealth, further expanding treatment options.
Integrated Infectious Disease Treatment
Porch Light Health's
hepatitis C/HIV treatment program addresses
related complications of opioid use disorder (OUD) and injecting drug use (IDU), including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV). We offer integrated evaluations, diagnoses, and treatments for hepatitis C and HIV within our comprehensive care framework. Our approach involves collaboration between our Infectious Disease and MAT teams, ensuring individuals with co-occurring conditions receive specialized, coordinated care.
What to Expect When You Start Heroin Treatment
Starting care begins with one conversation. Here's how it works:
1. Reach out: Give us a call or get started online, and we'll help you find the nearest option.
2. Intake assessment: A clinician reviews your history, your goals, and your safety. You don't need to be abstinent to start.
3. Start medication, if it's a fit: Your clinician walks through the medication options we offer: buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone. Buprenorphine and methadone can begin while opioids are still in your system. Naltrexone comes later.
4. Add counseling and psychiatric care: Both are available alongside medication.
5. Keep going, your way: Follow-up visits track how your medication is working, whether you continue in a clinic, by telehealth, or at a mobile unit.
Insurance and Payment
Cost shouldn't be the reason you wait. We accept Medicaid and Medicare, work with major commercial insurance plans, and offer a sliding fee program for people who are uninsured or underinsured.
Most people pay for care with us one of three ways:
- Medicaid or Medicare: We accept both. What's covered for a specific service depends on your plan and your eligibility.
- Commercial insurance: We work with plans including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Cigna, and Kaiser Permanente.
- Sliding fee program: If you're uninsured or underinsured, our sliding fee program adjusts what you pay based on your ability to pay. A sliding fee is a reduced fee, not free care.
Take the First Step with Porch Light Health
Recovery is possible, and it begins with taking that first step. If you're ready to break free from heroin addiction and start your journey to a brighter, healthier future, Porch Light Health is here. Don't let heroin addiction control your life any longer. Fill out our
New Patient Registration Form today or call us at
866-394-6123, and let's walk this path to recovery together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heroin Treatment
How is heroin addiction treated?
Treatment usually combines medication with counseling. Buprenorphine (Suboxone) and methadone reduce cravings and withdrawal by acting on the same receptors heroin does, without the same high. Naltrexone works differently, by blocking opioid effects, and is used after a period without opioids.
Do I have to stop using before my first visit?
No. You don't need to be abstinent to start, and you won't be turned away for using. Buprenorphine and methadone are typically started while opioids are still in your system, and your clinician will time the first dose to reduce the chance of withdrawal.
What medications do you use for heroin addiction?
We offer buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone), long-acting buprenorphine injections, methadone, and naltrexone. Your clinician will go over which options fit your history, your other health conditions, and your goals.
How long will I be in treatment?
There's no set timeline, and there's no deadline for stopping medication. Some people take medication for opioid use disorder for a year, and others stay on it much longer. Staying on medication is a legitimate choice, not a failure to progress. Your care team revisits the plan with you over time.
Does outpatient treatment work for heroin addiction?
Outpatient medication treatment is well established for opioid use disorder, and it's the setting where most of this care is delivered. It lets you stay at home, keep working, and stay connected to your family while you're in treatment. Whether it's the right level of care for you is something a clinician assesses at intake.
What kind of counseling is included?
Counseling focuses on practical ground: triggers, stress, sleep, relationships, and planning for high-risk situations. Psychiatric care is available if mood, anxiety, or sleep symptoms need treatment of their own. How much counseling you do is part of the plan you build with your team.
What if I don't have insurance?
You can still start care. We accept Medicaid and Medicare, work with major commercial plans, and offer a sliding fee program that adjusts what you pay if you're uninsured or underinsured. A sliding fee is a reduced fee rather than free care.
Do you treat fentanyl as well as heroin?
Yes. Much of the illicit opioid supply now contains fentanyl, often without the person knowing. Fentanyl can change how buprenorphine is started, so it helps to tell your clinician what you've actually been taking. That information shapes the plan, and it won't be used against you.
1. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2021, April 13. What are the long-term effects of heroin use?. Retrieved from
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2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2021, April 13. What are the immediate (short-term) effects of heroin use?. Retrieved from
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/what-are-immediate-short-term-effects-heroin-use on 2023, October 17
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2021, April 13. Why does heroin use create special risk for contracting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B and C?. Retrieved from
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/why-are-heroin-users-special-risk-contracting-hivaids-hepatitis-b-c on 2023, October 17
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). 2023, March 3. What can be done for a heroin overdose?. Retrieved from
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/what-can-be-done-for-heroin-overdose on 2023, October 17
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https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin on 2023, October 17
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