Heroin Poppy Fields

Opioid Crisis : Heroin

InnerBalance Health Center

March 27, 2018

Opioid Crisis Hits Home: Heroin

Opioid Crisis Hits Home: Heroin

Beautiful fields of opium poppy flowers produce heroin, a drug that makes some rich while it destroys the lives of many more. Drug cartels oversee the growth and harvest of opium poppies and control the manufacture, transportation and sale of heroin. Harvested from the seed pods of poppies, the natural substance morphine is used to make heroin. Opium poppies grow in South and Central America, and Southwest and Southeast Asia.

Law enforcement agencies throughout Mexico and the US struggle to combat those profiting from the production and sale of heroin. It is a constant unending battle. In Mexico, cartel bosses rule rural mountain communities where they grow the poppies with threats and unimaginable violence, murdering entire families who do not comply. American law enforcement along the border and throughout all levels of federal and state jurisdictions battle the transport and sale of heroin.

The steady and alarming increase in prescription opioid abuse has overshadowed the continued threat of the illegal opioid heroin. Heroin continues to be a threat and in fact has increased dramatically. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) heroin-related overdose deaths increased by more than five times between 2010 and 2016.

Usually injected, but sometimes snorted or smoked, heroin gives users a rush, a sense of complete euphoria. Other side effects include decreased breathing, and tolerance leading to addiction. After long-term use the symptoms of withdrawal come very quickly, just hours after use, leading the person to use again and again throughout the day. Higher and higher doses are needed to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal. Overdose is a very real and deadly threat.

In withdrawal, tremors, vomiting, fever, racing heart rate rack the body. More heroin provides relief, briefly. Finding relief frequently leads people to add other drugs, like Xanax or prescription opioids, and/or alcohol into the mix. These combinations greatly increase the chances of overdose. Heroin overdose leads to slowed breathing, coma and death. Many heroin users previously abused pain medication.

Drugs such as OxyContin and Fentanyl, synthetic opioids made for the medical industry, were first touted as non-addictive by manufacturers. In reality, the risk of dependence is high. The strength of fentanyl—50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine—makes it an especially dangerous drug. Counterfeit fentanyl, produced in illegal labs, has found its way all across the world. This illegally produced fentanyl, of unknown strength and composition, finds it’s way into heroin. Dealers add it to increase the potency of their product, which increases sales or leads to overdose.

Naloxone products have the ability to reverse overdose, saving lives. Injected into the vein or muscle naloxone can reverse the effects of opioids in 3-5 minutes. It is also available as a nasal spray. Naloxone lasts about 45 minutes, so several doses may be needed to prevent an overdose. Increasingly, first responders carry naloxone products hoping to save lives.

Sadly, many in our society still view addiction as a personal choice or weakness rather than as a disease. In communities where addiction is treated as a medical condition many more resources and support are available. Some cities provide needle exchanges to lessen the spread of infectious diseases. City health officials in Baltimore and other cities fight for easier access to naloxone products for all. Narcan is once such product. Making it an over-the-counter medication will save even more lives.

Combating opioid addiction as a public health issue rather than as a criminal issue for addicts could lead to more success stories. Increased access to treatment, and access to lifesaving drugs such as naloxone give hope that lives and families can be restored.

Joe Eisele, CACIII, NCAC
Joe is the Clinical Director at InnerBalance Health Center and has been helping achieve lifelong sobriety incorporating biochemical restoration and holistic addiction treatment for over 30 years.

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5 Powerful Addiction Treatment Programs at Our Facility

5 Powerful Addiction Treatment Programs at Our Facility

InnerBalance Health Center, nestled in the picturesque town of Loveland, Colorado, is a leading addiction treatment facility that focuses on providing a holistic and individualized approach to helping clients overcome substance abuse. Our dedicated and compassionate...

Leaving Drug and Alcohol Addiction for Good - Joe Eisele, InnerBalance Health Center Loveland, CO

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Discover the Missing Link in treating addiction. Learn about our holistic approach that truly incorporates mind, body, environment and spirit. Restoring biochemical imbalances as well as addressing nutrition, lifestyle and emotional support help our patients achieve lifelong sobriety as well as live happier and healthier lives. Addressing the root causes of addiction will help eliminate cravings that lead to addiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the best addiction treatment center offer Biochemical Repair & Restoration and how do they define Biochemical Restoration?

At InnerBalance Health Center, we strive to get the best addiction treatment to gain a better understanding of the psychological effects of addiction to drugs and/or alcohol.. As a component of our holistic addiction treatment process, we understand that there are certain biochemical imbalances that can make a person more prone to the addictive cycle.

By restoring chemical balance, a person is much more capable of overcoming their addiction. InnerBalance Health Center offers and is one of the foremost leaders in treating addictions using biochemical repair & restoration. We believe that biochemical imbalances can be pre-existing, or can come as a result of repeated drug and alcohol use over time. Learn more specifics about our holistic treatment here.

Is the staff available 24/7?

Yes, at InnerBalance Health Center clients have access to a staff member 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Does the treatment center prescribe addictive medications such as benzodiazepines or opiates?

No, InnerBalance does not prescribe those types of medications, unless needed for temporary stabilization for withdrawal symptoms. We focus on identifying the root causes of cravings, repairing your body’s biochemical imbalances and teaching you the lifelong skills necessary to stay sober.

How does the treatment center plan to eliminate depression, anxiety, sleep problems, mood swings, and racing mind?

At InnerBalance we realize the need to find the root cause of these issues. For example, a racing mind can come from too much histamine in the brain, a condition caused Histadelia. When we find this condition through lab testing, we use the safe amino acids and vitamins that will lower histamine levels. Depression can come from under-functioning neurotransmitters, like serotonin.

Through urine testing, we check the serotonin receptors by looking at the Tryptophan levels, and then treat with the appropriate amino acids. Please call us for a more thorough description on how we can deal with underlying symptoms. These examples just scratch the surface of our biochemical restoration approach which is integral to our holistic treatment philosophy.

Is the treatment center licensed by the state?

Yes, the InnerBalance Health Center is fully and duly licensed by the State of Colorado.

Does the treatment program offer an exercise program that the client participates in?

The InnerBalance Treatment Program includes a mandatory weekly gym time. We encourage our clients to try the different gym facilities, including weights, pool activities, classes, etc. InnerBalance provides a high quality full service gym facility to their patients.

Contact Us

For questions about our addiction treatment program or availability, feel free to contact us.
For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest hospital

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1414 W. 28th Ave Loveland, CO 80538

support@innerbalancehealthcenter.com