Heroin withdrawal symptoms caused by the detoxification that occurs when a heroin addict is without opiates to maintain their addiction can be intense. Whether or not there is a psychological dependence upon the drug, the physical dependence is very difficult to break.
Depending upon the addictive dose of heroin, other drugs of abuse regularly used, co-occurring mental health issues, and other factors, heroin detox could last for a few days, or it could last for a few weeks. For those who use maintenance medications to avoid the brunt of withdrawal symptoms in early recovery, heroin detox will last for as long as they continue to take these medications, but in most cases, the withdrawal symptoms will be less overwhelming.