Heroin Rehab in Los Angeles
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has largely displaced traditional heroin in Los Angeles County's drug supply — meaning many people seeking heroin rehab today are actually dealing with fentanyl dependency, often at doses and potencies far higher than they realize.
Source: LA County SAPC Fentanyl Report, 2025Is the Heroin Supply Contaminated With Fentanyl?
In Los Angeles, what is sold as heroin is frequently — and sometimes exclusively — fentanyl or a fentanyl/heroin mixture. Drug checking and seizure data from LA County confirm that fentanyl contamination is pervasive throughout the opioid supply. This dramatically increases the overdose risk, since fentanyl's effective dose is measured in micrograms rather than milligrams.
Clinical teams at programs in our network treat whatever you have been using — not just what you were told you were using. They will never assume the drug supply is what it appears to be.
What Does Heroin Detox Feel Like?
Heroin (and fentanyl) withdrawal typically begins 8–24 hours after the last dose. Peak symptoms occur at 48–72 hours and may include severe muscle aches, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, and intense cravings. Symptoms typically resolve within 7–10 days, though post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) — including mood disruption, sleep problems, and cravings — can persist for months.
Medication management during detox significantly reduces the intensity of these symptoms and improves the likelihood of completing detox.
What Is MAT for Heroin?
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine (Suboxone) is the most evidence-supported treatment for opioid use disorder, including heroin. Buprenorphine reduces cravings, blocks the effects of opioids, and prevents the worst of withdrawal symptoms. SAMHSA identifies MAT as the gold standard for opioid addiction treatment.
The medical team at the program will evaluate whether buprenorphine, naltrexone, or another approach is appropriate based on your individual situation.
How Long Is Heroin Treatment?
Acute detox takes 7–10 days. Evidence strongly supports a minimum of 60–90 days of inpatient treatment following detox for opioid use disorder. Relapse rates in the first 90 days are highest, and the risk of fatal overdose following even brief relapse is significant due to tolerance loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can heroin be detected in a drug test?
Yes. Heroin metabolizes into morphine and is detectable in urine for 2–4 days. Fentanyl, which has largely replaced heroin in the LA supply, requires a specific fentanyl assay to detect — it does not show up on standard opioid panels at many labs.