Immediate Heroin Drug Detoxification Or DIY Cold Turkey
Heroin is a member of the opiate family of drugs derived from the opium poppy. Known by the scientific name, diamorphine, it is rated as the deadliest and most destructive of the top 20 recreational drugs. It is destructive in terms of its potential for addiction and the physical harm that results from its use. Conventional methods of heroin detox revolve around either the use of chemical analogues that compete with the drug for binding sites in the brain or the Twelve-Step Program adapted from that used successfully by recovering alcoholics.
Methods
Two unconventional methods of detoxifying from diamorphine will be discussed. One, called DIY or do-it-yourself cold turkey, is a carefully planned approach to cutting yourself off from drug use that does not involve going to meetings or checking into a drug treatment facility. At the other extreme is instant detox, using a combination of drugs that are injected while the patient is under a general anesthetic. This method is reported to wipe the body clean of the drug in as little as twenty minutes. The patient is then prescribed oral naltrexone for a year afterward.
Instant Detox
Instant detoxification was first used by an Austrian doctor in 1988. He injected addicts with naloxone, the intravenous version of oral naltrexone, an opiate blocker. Using naloxone only, the patients suffered intense pain and other distressing symptoms from withdrawal of the opiate. He began giving them a sedative to make them more comfortable. Using this procedure, complete detox was accomplished in a matter of days, rather than weeks.
Cold Turkey
At the other extreme is going cold turkey (DIY). Cold turkey refers to the process of abruptly discontinuing the use of an addictive substance instead of gradually decreasing the dose or using replacement medication. The DIY method uses a methodical, carefully planned approach to cold turkey.
The Plan
DIY cold turkey begins by setting aside a two-week period to dry out. Another essential feature is to accumulate a tidy little nest egg to finance little rewards during the withdrawal process. The family is dispatched to the grandparents and friends are requested not to telephone or drop by. Explain why you are being antisocial for a little while as you will need their support later.
Where To Stay
Find a comfortable place to stay for the duration, some place where you can surround yourself with food and drink of your choice, watch television and read books. If your home isn’t suitable, stay with parents or non-addicted friends. This is not an easy way out. The first few days will be filled with painful muscle cramps, shivers, chills, depression and insomnia.
Rewards
Break the interval into tiny, manageable milestones and reward each one by reading a good book, watching a DVD or ordering a pizza. Within two weeks, maybe less, the body will have been purged of the drug and you are on your way to a drug-free, productive life.
Two Extremes
DIY cold turkey and instant detoxification are two widely disparate methods of heroin medical detoxification. The first one is painful and unpleasant but ultimately safe. The second is experimental and has not been proven to be safe. The risks must be weighed against the certain death that will result from continued heroin use. It is always recommended to speak to a doctor or family drug counseling in addiction before beginning any form of drug detoxification.
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