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Heroin addiction treatment can include Vivitrol as a form of medication assisted treatment. It is a safe, non-narcotic solution to heroin cravings. And it works for individuals whether they have used heroin for a short time or for many years.

Heroin detox is necessary for nearly every new patient entering heroin treatment. Medical detoxification minimizes heroin withdrawal symptoms. But even though the body has been safely cleansed of the opiate, cravings remain. Whether a patient continues with residential or outpatient treatment these cravings can be a distraction and possibly lead them to relapse.

For decades the only solution to heroin cravings was to place patients on Methadone maintenance or just have them “tough it out”. While Methadone maintenance is a good harm reduction strategy, the option is not always acceptable to the patient since they consider themselves to still be addicted. And while it is suggested that toughing it out builds character, the risk of relapse is much too high to be acceptable.

Vivitrol is an opiate blocker that works with chemicals in the brain to reduce heroin cravings. Patients must complete heroin detox before the first injection can be administered. Additionally, each patient must be assessed and fully counseled on the medication and possible side effects. If a patient uses heroin after receiving a Vivitrol injection, there will be no adverse effects but there will be no euphoria either.

Some individuals turn to heroin after they become addicted to prescription drugs, and can no longer afford them. Others feel hopeless after many years of attempting heroin addiction treatment, only to return to the drug after short periods of abstinence. Vivitrol can work for any of these individuals because it blocks the brain’s need for opiates, in simplified terms.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles is actively evaluating patients with opiate addiction, cases by case, and prescribing Vivitrol where appropriate. We have already seen positive results with opiate craving reduction with patients who present with alcohol dependence and also use opiates. As testing has shown to date, we can expect the same result with heroin dependence.

Tarzana Treatment Centers provides alcohol and drug detox as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment. If you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 888-777-8565 or contact us here.

For more information on Vivitrol, contact us via email at vivitrol@tarzanatc.org.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.