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Can Heroin Withdrawal Be Deadly?

Heroin has always been one of the most popular drugs of choice for many people. From the time it was first produced by the Bayer Company in 1898 to the current times where it is a major contributor to drug-related overdose deaths, heroin has had a long and controversial history as a substance with a high addiction rate.

Knowledge of the effects and high addiction potential of heroin is more widely known today, with the question “can you die from heroin withdrawal” easily becoming one of the most common internet search queries. Despite this knowledge, however, heroin dependency continues to be a major problem for many countries.

In the US alone, heroin-related overdose death rates figured at more than 13,000 in 2020. This figure accounts for at least 20% of all deaths related to this type of substance. A 2020 report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates that at least 691,000 Americans aged 12 and above have a heroin substance abuse disorder.

Can You Die from a Heroin Withdrawal?

can you die from heroin withdrawalThe short answer to the question can you die from a heroin withdrawal is no, because the withdrawal itself does not cause death. Most, if not all, of the withdrawal symptoms felt by people in heroin detox do feel like they are dying, but in reality, they are not really in any life-threatening situation from the detox process.

What makes heroin withdrawal particularly alarming and potentially life-threatening are the complications that arise during the period that the withdrawal symptoms come out. One such complication is caused by the persistent vomiting and diarrhea that manifests as one of the agonizing withdrawal symptoms during detox. The combined action of these two symptoms will rob the body of vital fluids, leading to severe dehydration.

If left untreated, severe dehydration could lead to organ failure, causing the body to shut down. In others, it could also lead to cardiac failure, as the body succumbs to the shock of dehydration.

What are the Symptoms of Heroin Withdrawal?

heroin withdrawal symptomsCognitive brain function is typically affected when a person is heavily into substance abuse. Teis is particularly true if the substance happens to affect the nervous system directly. The irony in this is that many are still left with enough cognizance to be afraid of the withdrawal symptoms they are sure to suffer should they go into detox.

This is one of the reasons why so many who are into heroin substance abuse fear the process of getting clean. They might not have enough conscious thought left to figure out what they are doing is immensely bad for them, but they do have enough to be afraid of what they would go through once they stop taking heroin.

Most of the withdrawal symptoms of heroin dependence do tend to be immensely uncomfortable and even downright agonizing, although all of these could be managed well with the help of the detox facility staff.

These symptoms include:

  • Intense cravings for heroin
  • Profuse sweating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Severe muscle aches and pains
  • Muscle cramps
  • Heavy feel all over the body
  • Severe pain that seems to originate from bones
  • Emotional outbursts
  • Insomnia
  • Cold sweats
  • Clammy sensation of skin
  • Runny nose
  • Fever
  • Chronic Diarrhea
  • Tremors
  • Nervousness
  • Agitation
  • Depression

Some of these symptoms could go beyond being simply excruciating and become life-threatening if they happen to cause complications, as is the case of the persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

What is the Timeline for Heroin Withdrawal?

While different people may experience different durations and withdrawal severity during the detox period, there are commonalities in what people experience during the heroin withdrawal timeline.

First 6 - 12 Hours

The initial symptoms will start to manifest within the first six hours from the last time that the person had heroin. The severity, frequency, and duration could largely depend on the length of heroin use and how often the person took it.

Is it Safe to Detox from Heroin at Home?

It should be noted that any kind of detox from any substance should be done within the confines of a detox or medical facility and should not be attempted at home. It is not safe to detox at home or outside of a medical detox facility.

The detox phase comes with withdrawal symptoms, and these symptoms could be anything from being significantly uncomfortable to being debilitated and bed-ridden for some time. In some cases, the withdrawal period brings out some complications in the person due to some existing condition they might have.

This is where the importance of being in a detox facility with medically-trained people stands out. Any danger brought about by complications could be handled better by the professionals in a detox center, as they deal with everything that is relevant to substance abuse disorders.

Detoxing at home could potentially be highly dangerous, particularly if the person is alone, and quite far from the nearest hospital.

What are the Dangers of Self-Detox?

Heroin Addiction Treatment

Just the idea of wanting to quit is already a step in the right direction relevant to recovery from a substance abuse disorder. It must be noted, however, that anything that has to do with recovery becomes crucial in that it needs to be carefully planned, correctly executed, and judiciously monitored for progress.

In other words, it needs to be handled by experts who have done it before and follow a scientific structure in their process. While the concept of a self-detox is admirable, its nature is quite risky in that there is no participation of a medical professional in it. There are instances during detox where people might have withdrawal symptoms that are so severe, they could need medical help, which is why detox should only be done in the confines of a clinical detox facility.

To underscore the point, here are a few more reasons why detox needs to be done in a medical facility and not at home:

Withdrawal Increases the Likelihood of a Relapse

For practically anyone who has ever gone through it, detox is a period of great pain and stress. The euphoric and numbing escape from the world provided by substances is now gone, and replaced by the agonizing re-adjustment of the body to its normal and natural chemistry and functioning.

This is a period of stress so great that the effect encompasses the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of the person. It is so great that many who undergo detox would do anything for the pain to end, including going back to their substances. Without the medical process of a detox facility, it is a simple matter for those doing self-detox to just give it all up and go back to using drugs or alcohol.

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