Heroin Addiction Treatment Clinic

San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers a comprehensive, leading treatment program for heroin addiction in San Juan and other locations throughout Puerto Rico. We provide a full continuum of care including detox, inpatient, and outpatient services for adolescents, adults and seniors.

Learn More About Heroin Addiction Treatment

Learn more about heroin addiction treatment at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

One of the most dangerous chemical dependency problems that a person can have is an addiction to heroin. When an individual abuses this substance, it is likely that he or she will experience painful withdrawal if use of this illicit drug stops suddenly. With a number of health risks involved in heroin withdrawal, of which include permanent damage to brain and organ functioning and even death, it can often be dangerous for a person to attempt to combat this addiction without the help of qualified professionals. The staff at San Juan Capestrano Hospital are such professionals who are able to provide the life-saving care needed by those who wish to overcome a heroin abuse problem. The care and compassion afforded to every patient who comes to our hospital for the treatment of a heroin addiction is what ultimately allows each patient the ability to recover from such a menacing substance abuse problem. At San Juan Capestrano Hospital, the road to successful recovery begins.

Since its inception in 1988, San Juan Capestrano Hospital, a 172-bed short-stay hospital, has been the foremost provider of mental health treatment on the main island of Puerto Rico. With services available for the care of several mental health conditions and chemical dependency concerns, adolescents, adults, and senior adults can receive superior treatment for these issues in a safe environment that is conducive to true healing and recovery. Our caring and compassionate staff, which is comprised of numerous qualified mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and experienced medical personnel, facilitates services within each program with the understanding that each patient has unique needs and strengths. We pride ourselves on being able to offer the highest quality of individualized care that allows each patient to return to his or her respective community with an improved sense of emotional and physical wellbeing. If you, a friend, or loved one is struggling with symptoms synonymous with a mental illness or a substance abuse problem, such as an addiction to heroin, look no further that San Juan Capestrano Hospital. Our comprehensive and invaluable treatment is the solution to even the most plaguing of mental health concerns.

How to Help a Loved One

Helping a loved one get treatment for heroin addiction

Whether you are a parent, sibling, friend, or caregiver of a person who is battling an addiction to heroin, the fear and worry you may be feeling for your loved one is understandable. Heroin is a powerful drug that can consume an individual’s life in many ways. You may have noticed that your loved one is no longer performing well academically or occupationally, experiencing increasing amounts of conflict with others, or is developing numerous health risks because of his or her usage. In order to prevent a grave outcome, treatment should be received by your loved one as soon as possible. Below are some things you can do to help your loved one get the care he or she needs to end this detrimental addiction:

  • Convey your concerns to your loved one and be honest with him or her
  • Discuss the need for treatment with your loved one
  • Consider which treatment options will best meet your loved one’s needs and discuss them with your loved one
  • If you are unsure about which treatment will best care for a heroin addict, seek out the advice from a mental health professional who can give you a recommendation or referral
  • Once a treatment provider is selected, assist your loved one in scheduling and attending an evaluation
  • Be a source of support and an active participant in your loved one’s care

Once your loved one has committed to treatment, it is important to recognize that a heroin addiction is very difficult to overcome. However, with the therapeutic interventions featured in treatment, along with the support of you and your loved one’s treatment providers, the person you care for stands the greatest chance of beating this addiction and continuing life without the obstacles caused by an addiction to heroin.

Why Consider Treatment

Why consider treatment for heroin addiction at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

Research has shown that more people are able to achieve sobriety from a heroin addiction when treatment is implemented. Those that attempt to overcome an addiction to heroin alone often resort to continued usage as the painful withdrawal associated with this substance can cause a person to relapse. Another benefit of treatment is that withdrawal symptoms can be monitored by medical professionals so that minimal harm is done. Seeking care for such an addiction can also lessen the likelihood for overdose and death once an individual possesses the tools needed to manage cravings.

Because the nature of heroin addiction is serious and caustic to a person’s health, intensive treatment, such as inpatient care, is the most effective way to treat someone battling this type of substance abuse problem. Detoxification services, of which are supervised by addiction specialists and medical personnel, are an integral part of helping with withdrawal and are often included in inpatient treatment. Once detox services are no longer needed, mental health professionals can guide addicts through the therapeutic process and instill methods for coping with cravings to use. Lastly, trained psychiatrists are easily accessible in patient treatment and can monitor the progress of a patient if pharmaceutical intervention is part of his or her care. Those who wish to regain control over their lives and defeat an addiction to heroin can reap the most benefits from an inpatient setting.

Types of Treatment

Types of heroin adddiction treatment offered at San Juan Capestrano Hospital in Puerto Rico

At San Juan Capestrano Hospital, we wholeheartedly ascribe to the notion that each patient should have individualized treatment that meets his or her every need. Because of this belief, we afford each patient who entrusts us with his or her care with individually tailored plans for treatment that are distinct to the adolescents, adults, and senior adults who come to San Juan Capestrano Hospital for mental health services. These plans detail the specific courses of treatment that patients will engage in and include aftercare recommendations as formulated by our staff so that every patient experiences a full continuum of care. The planning of treatment begins during the time of assessment and can be altered should additional concerns arise during the course of treatment at our hospital.

In order to meet the varying needs of people suffering from mental health disorders and/or substance use concerns, San Juan Capestrano Hospital is pleased to provide different levels of care and specialized programming options. Our hospital features separate adult and adolescent inpatient programs that treat a myriad of mental health conditions and chemical dependency concerns, as well as adult substance abuse services that are designed to care for even the most serious and long-standing of heroin addictions. The level of care most appropriate for a patient is decided upon during the initial psychiatric evaluation, wherein a patient’s needs are assessed, a physical examination is conducted, and a mental status assessment is administered in order to determine which program will produce the most favorable treatment outcomes for a given patient.

Once admitted to one of our programs, patients have the ability to partake in a number of treatment methods. These methods are rooted in evidence-based principles and techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and the 12-step model for recovery. The following methods for care are the ones primarily used at San Juan Capestrano Hospital and are implemented so that patients can find relief from concerns, such as those causes by the abuse of heroin:

Addiction & Substance Abuse: These services are monitored by medical professionals who have experience in making withdrawal comfortable so that patients can partake in therapeutic interventions with addiction specialists who can help springboard them towards lasting healing and recovery from addiction.

Medication management: For some individuals, psychotropic medications can be of great assistance in alleviating the symptoms of many mental illnesses when present at the same time as a heroin addiction. When this is the case, our qualified psychiatrists determine each patient’s need for medication, can prescribe medication(s), and will monitor any pharmaceutical interventions that become part of a patient’s treatment plan. These services are in place so that every patient has the ability to receive medication if it is deemed necessary for a patient’s care.

Individual therapy: All patients who take part in our inpatient programming engage in individual therapy sessions four times per week. Individual therapy is a treatment method used so that a patient can process emotions and thoughts on a one-to-one basis with a member of our staff. For example, if a patient is struggling with an addiction to heroin, he or she can discuss his or her progress in overcoming compulsions to use this substance and the emotions he or she is experiencing while in treatment.

Group therapy: San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers a number of group therapy opportunities that allow patients to find support in one another and hone skills that have been learned. Such sessions can be especially beneficial for individuals who are struggling with heroin addiction as they can provide them with the sense of comfort that comes with knowing that they are not alone in their struggles. Some of the topics covered in these groups include techniques for managing stress, improving communication, learning and adapting healthy coping methods, bettering self-esteem, dealing with grief and loss, and persevering through trauma. These groups are offered several times per week to maximize the benefits of treatment offered in a group setting.    

Family therapy: Family therapy is offered as a method of treatment during inpatient programming so that our patients can receive ample support from the people who care for them most. During family therapy sessions, patients and their loved ones can work through conflicts and improve communication so as to heal and better familial relationships through the implementation of skills that can service a family unit well for a lifetime.

We also include a number of other therapeutic interventions as a way to wholly treat the individuals who come to our hospital for care. Especially for those who are battling a heroin abuse problem and require additional support and/or resources, we supply the following interventions and group topics as part of our treatment; these interventions have proven effectiveness in helping our patients learn to manage stress and turmoil while gaining the tools needed to successfully manage debilitating symptoms and other concerns:   

  • Psychoeducation
  • Recreational therapy
  • Anger management
  • Occupational therapy
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Medical issues management
  • Crisis management

Continuing Care

Continuing care and levels of treatment for heroin addiction

We strive to provide the most comprehensive services that embody the highest quality of care possible. To fulfill this goal, we begin discharge planning at the time of admissions and feature a number of continuing care options at varying levels of treatment so that each and every one of our patient’s needs can be treated once a higher level of care is no longer required.

San Juan Capestrano Hospital offers partial hospitalization programs for both adolescents and adults. The adolescent program is catered to youth between the ages of 13 and 17 years old who are struggling with mental health concerns. While in this program, young people partake in a number of therapies and are able to return home at the end of the day to be with their loved ones. The adult program is similarly structured and also treats a myriad of mental health conditions with group therapy being the primary method for care.

Our hospital also features an adult substance abuse intensive outpatient program for those aged 18 and older. This program is designed to continue the recovery process and help patients maintain sobriety after completing inpatient services. The groups available in this program are facilitated in stages so that patients can then practice the tools and skills learned in this program while living in their respective communities.

Lastly, San Juan Capestrano Hospital provides outpatient services at eleven different locations on the island, including San Juan, Hatillo, Mayagüez, Caguas, Humanao, Manatí, Condado, Carolina, Ponce, Bayamón, and Guaynabo. Outpatient care allows patients to process feelings and thoughts with a mental health professional on a weekly basis.

Whatever your mental healthcare needs, the staff at San Juan Capestrano Hospital is devoted to helping you or a loved one overcome mental health issues or substance abuse concerns. We will put forth every effort to ensure that healing and lasting recovery from an addiction to heroin are achievable for each person who comes to us for care.

My severe depression had taken over my life. I’m so thankful for San Juan Capestrano Hospital for giving me the strength to start living my life again to the fullest.

– Luis S.