Heroin continues to play a devastating role in Ohio’s overdose crisis. State records show thousands of unintentional drug-related deaths in 2023, with heroin appearing in many of them. The danger has only gotten worse as fentanyl is now mixed in much of the street heroin supply, greatly increasing the risk of death. If you or someone close to you is ready to stop using heroin, a medically supervised detox offers the safest start. With the right monitoring and compassionate care, you can get through heroin withdrawal more safely and begin rebuilding your life with a clear plan.
What is heroin detox?
Heroin detox is when your body clears heroin and adjusts to the absence of the opioid effects it has relied on. Because heroin affects your brain and body so deeply, withdrawal can be intense, unpredictable, and in rare but serious cases, dangerous. A structured medical detox provides safety, symptom management, and a calmer environment for this difficult first step. When you complete heroin detox at Armada Recovery, you will receive:
- A full check-up when you arrive that looks at your medical needs, past use, and any risks before heroin detox begins
- Medications that make withdrawal safer and more bearable
- Staff on hand day and night
- A clear next step into ongoing heroin treatment without any gap in care
- Buprenorphine or other opioid-replacement options if your symptoms require it
Why is heroin detox important?
Heroin withdrawal is rarely life-threatening, but it can be frightening and often results in relapse if you attempt “cold turkey” (detoxing alone with no professional help). Once your body becomes dependent on heroin, stopping triggers a surge of physical and emotional symptoms. This is called “heroin withdrawal”.
The symptoms of heroin withdrawal can build hour by hour, and many people who try to quit alone start taking heroin again just to stop them. This brings a serious risk of overdose as your tolerance drops quickly during heroin detox. As fentanyl is now mixed into so much heroin, even a tiny bit too much can and often does lead to death.
At Armada Recovery, our clinicians track your vital signs, manage your symptoms, and provide the necessary detox medications. This support helps you complete detox successfully and also protects you from the increased overdose risks. When you are ready, you can then start the next stages of your recovery program.
What heroin withdrawal symptoms can you expect?
Heroin withdrawal symptoms are different for everyone. They can depend on how long you’ve been using heroin, how much you take each day, and whether fentanyl or other opioids were in your supply. Even with these differences, most people experience a similar group of symptoms when they stop, including:
- Intense heroin cravings
- Runny nose, yawning, and watery eyes
- Nausea, diarrhea, and stomach upset
- Sweating and goosebumps
- Pain in the back, legs, or joints
- Restlessness and shaking
- Trouble sleeping
- Heightened anxiety or depression
Some people may experience dehydration, severe agitation, and heart-rate changes, which can require medical attention. Please don’t let this put you off starting heroin detox, because these are rare symptoms that can be managed by Armada Recovery’s team.
We will keep a close eye on your hydration, vital signs, and how you’re feeling mentally. We have helped many people through heroin detox and know exactly how to respond to any situation.
How long does heroin withdrawal last?
Heroin withdrawal can move quickly or slowly depending on your use pattern and your health, but most people feel the first signs within half a day. It usually starts just a few hours after stopping, then becomes more noticeable overnight or into the next morning.
The most uncomfortable stretch usually arrives over the next couple of days. This is when your body is working its hardest to adjust, and when the heroin cravings and physical discomfort can become really tough to bear. Professional support is pivotal during this acute withdrawal stage because it is when many people relapse because they can’t face it.
By the time you reach the end of the first week, the sharp edges of heroin withdrawal have usually dulled. You may still feel emotionally drained or have spells where cravings flare up again, but our staff will guide you through this transition. With their guidance, you can finish this quieter but still tricky phase of detox and begin rehab therapy feeling more like yourself.
What happens after heroin detox?
Heroin detox is only the first hurdle to cross in recovery. Once your body is free of heroin, there is still a lot to untangle mentally and emotionally. Without doing that deeper untangling, the stress, habits, people, and patterns behind your heroin addiction will still be there once the physical withdrawal ends. That work happens in heroin rehab, where you will take part in different forms of evidence-based and holistic therapy for whole-person healing.
At Armada Recovery, you will step into our outpatient program or intensive outpatient program right after heroin detox. Both give you regular therapy, relapse-prevention planning, and support for the everyday challenges that come with early recovery. You can still live at home, go to work, and take care of everything in your life while attending therapy sessions on your own schedule.
And when rehab ends, we stay with you, providing aftercare, alumni groups, and ongoing outpatient sessions if you need them. You may also enter partial hospitalization if it’s right for you, so that you get a little extra help in the early days.
Begin heroin detox today
If you’re reading this, something inside you is already reaching for help. Heroin detox can feel like a mountain you’re not sure you can climb, but you don’t have to climb it alone. Our team at Armada Recovery has walked beside many people who felt just like you do now, and we have seen them rebuild their lives piece by piece.
If you would like to know more about heroin detox, or you are ready to begin, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will talk things through at your pace and support you as you take this first, brave step toward healing.
References
https://www.methadone.org/drugs/ohio-drug-alcohol-statistics/
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHIOGOVERNOR/2024/10/30/file_attachments/3052169/2023%2BUnintentional%2BDrug%2BOverdose%2BAnnual%2BReport_FINAL.pdf
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39467/2021NSDUHsaeSpecificStatesTabs122022_0/NSDUHsaeOhio2021.pdf
https://ccbh.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IncreasingRacialDisparitiesInOhioOverdoseRates_3.2025.pdf
https://www.apha.org/getcontentasset/9d45c5ab-4694-4401-9683-40288bb58147/7ca0dc9d-611d-46e2-9fd3-26a4c03ddcbb/ohio_pdo.pdf