Heroin addiction treatment depends upon the severity of the addiction and the motivation of the individual. Some users may come into heroin addiction treatment voluntarily and have the support of family, friends, and workplace; others may be sent to heroin addiction treatment by the courts against their will and have virtually no support system. Recovery from drug addiction is possible for both scenarios if the individuals applies the knowledge they learn to their life once they have left heroin addiction treatment.

Detoxification is only the first stage of heroin addiction treatment and by itself does little to change long-term drug use. Detoxification safely manages the acute physical symptoms of withdrawal associated with stopping drug use. While detoxification alone is rarely sufficient to help addicts achieve long-term abstinence, for some individuals it is a strongly indicated precursor to effective heroin addiction treatment.

The appropriate duration for an individual in heroin addiction treatment depends on his or her problems and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, the threshold of significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment. After this threshold is reached, additional heroin addiction treatment can produce further progress toward recovery. Because people often leave treatment prematurely, programs should include strategies to engage and keep patients in treatment.

There are no quick fixes for heroin addiction. The knowledge and life skills one learns during intensive heroin addiction treatment must be integrated into everyday life.