If you’re here, you probably already know this: heroin has a way of taking over your life.
An extremely physically addictive drug, heroin builds tolerance quickly. Once you form a physical dependence, trying to stop can result in very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. That inability to quit using, even when you desperately want to, can feel defeating and hopeless.
At The Sanctuary, we believe the real problem isn’t always the drug itself, but the unhealed trauma and pain that fuel the addiction. We provide a holistic, non-12-step heroin addiction treatment to address the root cause, not just the symptoms.
Heroin is an extremely addictive opiate. This particular opioid is synthesized from morphine, a substance naturally derived from poppy plants.
An extremely physically addictive drug, heroin builds tolerance quickly. That means it takes more and more opiates to achieve the desired high you once felt. As such, once you form a physical dependence, trying to stop can result in very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. And that inability to quit using, even when you desperately want to, can feel defeating and hopeless.
Opiates are an especially insidious drug. Once you’re physically dependent and try to stop abruptly, the severe side effects of withdrawal can make quitting feel so intolerable that you’d rather use heroin than face them. Opiate withdrawal symptoms include chills, intense aches, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. A professional opioid treatment center, like The Sanctuary, can help you after detoxification and ensure this physically, emotionally and psychologically draining process is done and you are on the road to recovery.
Most traditional programs focus on managing symptoms — detox, group meetings and behavioral modification. However, they rarely address the reason why people started using substances in the first place.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma is a common experience, especially for people with mental health and substance use disorders. SAMHSA also notes that traumatic experiences are associated with both behavioral health and chronic physical health conditions.
Our non-AA addiction treatment for opioids goes deeper. We believe lasting recovery requires healing the trauma, pain and emotional wounds at the core of addiction. Our integrative approach to holistic addiction treatment follows a simple but powerful philosophy — Heal the Body, Repair the Brain, Recover the Soul.
We help you address heroin use and understand why you turned to it, heal those underlying causes, and build a life where substances no longer have power over you.
The Sanctuary’s opioid addiction treatment is different from AA and NA based on fundamental philosophy.
AA and NA accept that substance use disorders are permanent. The model teaches that addiction requires lifelong management through meetings and admitting powerlessness.
At The Sanctuary, we have a unique view of heroin addiction — we believe you can heal from it completely.
The 12 Steps maintain the idea that you’re an “addict for life.” But we don’t see addiction as a fundamental part of your identity. In fact, we believe that limitation, in and of itself, is what keeps many people trapped in disempowerment.
Our non-AA addiction treatment for heroin takes a different approach. We view addiction not as your permanent identity, but as a symptom of unhealed trauma and unmet needs. By addressing these root causes through science-backed therapies and holistic healing modalities, we help you achieve true transformation.
Roberta, our program graduate, says this about her experience in AA:
“I wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on, not just say ‘you’re a drug addict’ and go to a 12-Step program, which I’ve tried. I couldn’t stick with [the 12 Steps] because I had to stand up every day and say ‘I’m an addict,’ and I’m not just an addict. I’m so many more things than that, and I didn’t want to focus on that part.”
While AA and NA work for some people, others seek alternative programs or holistic treatment centers that offer a path to complete healing. The Sanctuary at Sedona provides that alternative.
The Sanctuary’s holistic heroin addiction treatment goes far beyond traditional models. We offer a wide range of treatment plans at our serene 22-acre Sedona campus to support your healing:
Recovery isn’t just about stopping use — it’s about building a life so fulfilling that substances no longer appeal to you. That’s why we approach relapse prevention by focusing on building resilience and lasting transformation, not just avoiding triggers.
At The Sanctuary’s treatment center for addiction, we help our clients prevent relapse by:
With comprehensive aftercare, you have ongoing support as you transition back to daily life, helping you maintain the transformation you’ve achieved.
Many of The Sanctuary’s clients come to us after years of cycling through drug treatment programs. In fact, for many, this is their last resort.
Our holistic heroin treatment program is different from what you may have experienced at other rehabs. We understand how important it is for you to feel safe and comfortable, and we’ll spend as much time as necessary to help you do so before beginning more challenging work. Even clients who are initially skeptical or nervous find that they feel right at home within a few days. Our calming setting lets you relax, lower your guard and go deeper into the treatment process.
We completely individualize treatment for you. The Sanctuary’s environment is the opposite of what you’ll find in standardized, clinical settings. Our therapists honor your needs and help you feel at ease so you can be open to change.
“I think the only reason I didn’t try something before [coming to The Sanctuary] is that I didn’t know where to look. I really had no idea,” said Roberta. “Where do you go? Do you go to [a clinical setting] and become an institutionalized person? That would have just made things worse for me. The Sanctuary sounded like it would be total renewal, and that’s what it turned out to be.”
All addictions can relapse, and heroin is no exception. Addiction is a complicated web to untangle, and it’s totally understandable if that takes more than one try. So it’s no surprise that studies show the success rate of AA to be between five and 10 percent, with 90 percent of attendees dropping out within the first 90 days.
At The Sanctuary’s treatment center for addiction, we help our clients prevent relapse by:
The Sanctuary offers a truly transformative path to recovery. What sets us apart is our integrity. We integrate every part of our holistic heroin treatment program — from admissions to the intake process, to the therapy sessions you receive at our campus — to make you feel well cared for. Every one of our highly experienced therapists is personally dedicated to your progress and well-being.
“I trust the staff because everyone here is so qualified at what they’re doing; so genuine, so loving, so intelligent that it just works,” says Roberta. “The whole process integrates together until you become a whole person again. That’s what happened to me. I also saw what happened to the other people I was in the program with. Everyone just blossomed. I saw that every day, I was feeling better.”
