As one of the most addictive drugs in existence, heroin abuse has been on the rise all over the country, with young adults being twice as likely to develop an addiction than anyone else. There are more than 600,000 Americans currently living with heroin addiction. The good news is, recovery is possible.
What Percentage of Heroin Addicts Recover?
Taking the steps towards making a significant life change comes with a lot of questions, and when you’re contemplating rehab, one of the most common things to wonder is what percent of heroin addicts recover. Luckily, the recovery rate for heroin addicts is roughly the same as those with diabetes or hypertension.
Rehab is one of the best tools that you can use when it comes to getting clean. The heroin recovery statistics say that 80% of heroin addicts will relapse, but that doesn’t mean their rehab stay was a failure. Often, that relapse was a one-time thing and they never touch heroin again afterward, while others will need more professional help before they can say they have successfully recovered.
Relapse Rates Explained
Following a stay in rehab, about 40-60% of people will fall back into their addiction. About 80% of heroin users will end up relapsing at least once, if not many times. It’s important to remember that one instance of relapse doesn’t paint the entire picture of the individual’s journey toward their recovery.
For some, this relapse is early on in their recovery and they would benefit from more time in rehab. Others may have completed a recovery program, relapsed once, and then continued not using anymore. No matter what, relapsing does not mean they failed, it means that there was a bump in the road, but hopefully, they picked themselves up and kept moving.
Signs of a Relapse
If you’re concerned that a loved one may have relapsed, the signs to look for are very similar to the initial signs that you may have noticed when they began using. One of the biggest signs that something is amiss is that they seem to have fallen back into their previous patterns, such as neglecting responsibilities and hanging out with old friends. Other signs to look for include:
- Changes in mood, sleeping habits, and personality
- Changes in eating habits
- Wearing clothes to hide weight loss and track marks
- Dark circles around the eyes
- Lack of interest in friends or hobbies
- Stealing
- Secretive behavior
- Financial problems
- Confusing speech or slurring
- Nodding off
Relapse Prevention
When it comes to recovery, one of the biggest challenges is avoiding a relapse. Lifestyle changes, therapy, a solid support system, and working on a recovery program are great steps to take. Some of the best ways to prevent relapse include:
Addiction Treatment
Detox is the first step towards getting clean, but treatment for the addiction is completely separate. Detox is just the process in which you rid your body of the drug and its effects. Addiction treatment isolates the underlying reasons behind your addiction, so you can learn healthy coping skills to prevent yourself from using again. Following detox a residential inpatient or outpatient treatment program that incorporates individual and group therapy is usually recommended to address these underlying issues.
Family Therapy
Each member of the family is affected by addiction. Therapy is important to teach the family healthy ways to communicate, as well as how to support each other without enabling behaviors that could be harmful.
Peer Groups
Support groups are a valuable tool because they help those in recovery feel like they aren’t alone. Having sober peers that you can lean on for support can make a huge difference in your long-term sobriety.
Beating the Odds with Capo Canyon
With 80% of heroin addicts relapsing after rehab, it’s easy to feel discouraged, but recovery is possible, especially when you go to a program like Capo Canyon. With the help of the professionals at Capo Canyon, you’ll learn how to properly manage drug cravings, as well as tools to prevent relapse after you complete rehab. Reach out today to get started!
