They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article. Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions. Australian Prescriber Vol. More Australians are becoming addicted to illegal drugs, particularly heroin. This puts their health at risk and causes many other social problems.
Drug addiction is difficult to treat.
There are many different ideas about treatment, but using medicines can be effective. First of all the patient goes through detoxification. This is where the patient is not given any of the drug they are dependent on. When heroin is withdrawn the patient may experience unpleasant symptoms including pains, sleeplessness and diarrhoea for one to two days. Some cases of addiction are managed with methadone syrup.