Edelson, Debra MD

Detoxification - this is the removal of the toxic or addictive substance from the body. This removal can be a simple matter of abstinence or more complicated requiring additional drugs to flush the body.

Behavioral Therapy - partially covered by the detail already mentioned in regards to changing patterns of behavior with respect to exposure to the stimuli that either initially caused the destructive behavior, or exposure to friends/associates that promote the behavior, behavioral therapy also covers "retraining" to ensure that individuals no longer associate the destructive substances with positive outcomes, but rather redirect those urges to other more constructive actions and activities.

Heroin has a reputation as one of the worst, most addictive drugs out there and there's a reason for that. Although most people are aware of the dangers - a lot of what is seen on TV or film isn't always accurate. For instance, most TV shows depict heroin as an instant one-hit-and-you're-addicted drug but this isn't always the case.

The available alternatives include seeking help from rehab facilities or joining recovering addicts support groups. When looking for a rehab center seek one that is within your budget, has values and religious beliefs similar to yours and is easily accessible by your family. Support groups enable addicts to communicate and share their addiction journeys with other people facing similar situation.