Heroin detox. Medically managed opioid withdrawal.
Heroin detox at Pines Recovery Life is COWS-guided, MOUD-ready, and fully supervised around the clock. Because nearly every U.S. heroin supply is now contaminated with fentanyl, our protocols account for extended tissue half-life and precipitated-withdrawal risk — and naloxone is accessible at every station on campus.
LegitScriptCertified
Heroin withdrawal, medically supervised.
Heroin is a fast-acting opioid. Withdrawal begins within 8–24 hours of the last dose, peaks around 48–72 hours, and resolves in 5–7 days. Symptoms are intensely uncomfortable — cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, insomnia, cravings — and untreated withdrawal is a leading driver of return to use and overdose. The nervous system has adapted to heroin’s presence; medical detox with MOUD buffers the adjustment.
Fentanyl adulteration changes everything. The current U.S. heroin supply is broadly contaminated with fentanyl, which has a long tissue half-life. Starting buprenorphine too early can cause precipitated withdrawal — rapid, severe symptoms that undermine treatment. Our physicians use COWS scores and extended induction windows to avoid this.
Every heroin detox at Pines includes psychiatric co-management, naloxone availability, and a clear plan for MOUD continuation after residential.
COWS-guided, fentanyl-aware.
Every heroin detox begins with a full clinical assessment, toxicology workup, and COWS baseline. Protocol is tailored to use history, suspected adulterants, and co-occurring conditions.
First-line MOUD. Started when COWS score indicates readiness (typically 11–12+). Extended induction window if fentanyl adulteration is suspected to prevent precipitated withdrawal.
Appropriate for higher-tolerance patients or those continuing established methadone maintenance. Coordinated with Opioid Treatment Programs for post-discharge continuity.
Monthly injection for patients preferring non-opioid maintenance. Requires 7–10 days fully opioid-free before induction. Discussed during residential.
Clonidine for autonomic symptoms. Ondansetron for nausea. Loperamide for diarrhea. NSAIDs for muscle pain. Non-habit-forming sleep aids.
Naloxone accessible at every nursing station. Every patient receives take-home naloxone and family training at discharge.
Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD are common with heroin use. Psychiatric care from day one.
Medicine stabilizes. Therapy changes the pattern.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Evidence-based for identifying and changing the patterns driving heroin use.
Contingency Management
Structured reinforcement — strong evidence in opioid use disorder.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone — reduce overdose risk and support long-term recovery.
EMDR Trauma Therapy
Trauma frequently underlies ongoing opioid use. EMDR targets the memories at the root.
Group Therapy
Peer-supported, clinician-led sessions addressing shared experience of opioid dependence.
Family Programming
Education and sessions for family — when the patient consents.
From first call to stable in care.
Admissions & Assessment
Full unhurried assessment, COWS baseline, insurance verification, intake logistics.
Heroin Detox
5–7 days. COWS monitoring, buprenorphine induction, comfort medications, psychiatric co-management.
Residential Inpatient
14–30 days of CBT, CM, EMDR, group, MAT stabilization, family work, step-down coordination.
Physician-led, accredited, and built for unhurried care.
The choice of where to receive heroin matters. Patients and families weigh credentials, environment, and continuity of care alongside cost and coverage. Here is what consistently brings people to our 18,000 sq ft private clinical campus in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Medical Director Sergey Litvinov, MD — a board-certified psychiatrist — directs clinical care. Every patient is reviewed by an attending physician, not a counselor signing off on a protocol.
Independent accreditation by the nation’s most recognized healthcare standards body. Surveyed against rigorous safety and quality standards.
LegitScript certification is the standard required by Google, Microsoft, and Meta to advertise addiction treatment. It signals an audited, transparent operator.
Depression, anxiety, trauma, and ADHD frequently co-occur with substance use. Psychiatric assessment and care run in parallel with detox, not after.
Most commercial and military plans are accepted. Verification is free, confidential, and typically completed in under 60 seconds.
Private bedrooms, dedicated medical detox wing, therapy rooms sized for real clinical work, outdoor grounds. Not a strip-mall storefront.
Authoritative references and related resources.
Clinical authorities & sources. NIDA — Opioids · SAMHSA — Medications for Substance Use Disorders · ASAM — Clinical Practice Guidelines · SAMHSA — National Helpline · CDC — Overdose Prevention
Related Pines resources. Medical detox · Residential inpatient · Dual diagnosis · Admissions process · Insurance carriers · For families
Heroin detox is medically necessary.
Under federal parity laws, commercial insurance covers heroin detox and MOUD when medically necessary.
Verify CoverageQuestions families ask, answered plainly.
Is heroin withdrawal dangerous?+
How long does heroin detox take?+
What medications are used?+
Is heroin often mixed with fentanyl?+
What happens after detox?+
Does insurance cover heroin detox?+
Clinical information on this page reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD — Medical Director and board-certified psychiatrist at Pines Recovery Life. Updated April 2026.
Authoritative references: NIDA — Heroin · SAMHSA MOUD · CDC — Fentanyl · FDA MOUD
Frequently Asked Questions
What are heroin withdrawal symptoms?
Common symptoms include muscle aches, gastrointestinal cramping, nausea and vomiting, sweating, dilated pupils, runny nose, anxiety, and intense cravings. Symptoms typically begin 8 to 12 hours after the last dose.
How long does heroin detox take?
Acute heroin withdrawal usually peaks at 36 to 72 hours and resolves over 5 to 10 days. Post-acute symptoms — sleep disturbance, low mood, cravings — can persist for weeks and are addressed during residential treatment.
Is heroin detox dangerous?
For healthy adults, heroin withdrawal is rarely life-threatening, but dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea can be serious. The bigger risk is post-detox overdose: tolerance drops quickly during detox, making relapse-related overdose more likely without continued care.
What medications are used during heroin detox?
Buprenorphine (Suboxone) or methadone to suppress withdrawal and stabilize you, plus medications for nausea, anxiety, sleep, and muscle aches. Buprenorphine is given after early withdrawal symptoms appear to avoid precipitated withdrawal.
What is the difference between heroin and fentanyl detox?
Fentanyl is significantly more potent and stores in fat tissue, so induction with buprenorphine has to be timed carefully to avoid precipitated withdrawal. Pines clinicians are experienced with fentanyl-specific protocols if your supply has been mixed.
Does insurance cover heroin detox?
Yes, in most cases. Pines is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Tricare, Humana Military, and VA Community Care. Call (855) 981-8935.
