Heroin abuse is a type of learned behavior that must be stopped and replaced by healthier behaviors. Psychological treatment helps heroin abusers to understand their feelings and behaviors and to make changes in their lives that will lead to ending drug use. A behavioral approach to the treatment of heroin abuse can be especially effective when combined with medications such as methadone.

In addition to their drug problem, drug abusers may have psychiatric problems, such as depression or anxiety disorder, as well as problems interacting with other people or dealing with anger and frustration. Psychological treatment can help heroin abusers cope with these problems. Many people who try to stop using heroin end up relapsing, or returning to drug use. Relapse to drug use following treatment can occur because the drug abuser spends time with drug- using friends, feels depressed or angry...