Drug Abuse to Drug Addiction
Welcome to the topic, “Drug Abuse to Drug Addiction”.
Drug addiction is not only about cocaine, heroin, or other illegal substances. You can get addicted to nicotine, alcohol, anti-anxiety and sleep medicines, and some other legal substances.
You can also get addicted to prescription medicines or opioids or illegally obtained narcotic pain medications. In the United States, this addiction problem is at an epidemic level. In a 2018’s survey, it came to know that only opioids played a 2/3rd part among all overdose deaths.
In the first stages, you would like to choose a drug that makes you feel better. You will think that you can control the doses and frequency of drug use. But as time passes, drugs affect your brain’s functioning. They automatically lose control of drug use and bring damaging changes in their mental and physical state.
Addiction vs. Abuse and Tolerance
When you use illegal or legal substances in a way you should not use them is called drug abuse. You use drugs in more than the prescribed amount or follow prescriptions other than your doctor. You may abuse such drugs to avoid reality, release stress, or feel good. But in this case, you are usually able to change or completely stop your unhealthy habits.
When you can’t stop the use of a substance is called addiction. Even if you it is dangerous for health. Even causes emotional, financial, and other critical problems for you or relatives and friends. The urge to take a drug fills your complete day with its thoughts even if you want to quit it.
Addiction is also quite different from physical tolerance or dependence. In cases of physical dependency, withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop a substance at once. Tolerance occurs when the same amount of dose can’t produce the effect it did before.
How to Avoid Addiction to Prescribed Pain Medicines
Most of the people using prescribed medicines don’t get addicted to them if used according to the prescription. Not even if they use these medicines for a longer time.
But if you have abused a drug or alcohol before or have a family history of drug abuse you will be at higher risk of addiction.
Here are some tips to avoid drug addiction:
- Take medicines in a way prescribed by the doctor.
- Before you start taking a prescribed drug tell your doctor about your or your family’s addiction history; this will help in choosing better medicine for you without the risk of addiction.
Note that it is common for most individuals to use pain medications to develop tolerance and need more level of doses to have the same effect of the medicine. This is not a sign of addiction as it is a common thing among all. In addition, you need higher doses but not for pain relief. But if this effect becomes trouble for you immediately ask your doctor.
Don’t Wait; Get Help Now
If you are facing problems with drug use or can’t control the level of doses, tell your doctor immediately.
It will take time to get well from the impacts caused by addiction. There is no proper cure for addiction, but advanced treatment programs can help you avoid or stop drug abuse completely. Your treatment program may include medicine, counseling, or both. Talk to our healthcare experts to figure out the best suitable plan for you.
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Examples of Drug Treatment
Addiction treatment is not one-size-fits-all; it varies based on your needs. You have the right to choose the treatment that works best for you depending on the substance you’re abusing, the extent of care you need, your mental health needs, or options you can afford
As it is a chronic disease, people can’t stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. It requires long-term or repeated care to stop using drugs and recover their lives.
With the progression of widespread drug abuse, various medical organizations collaborating with healthcare practitioners have successfully devised numerous treatment methods to treat drug addiction.
Many Drug Treatment Centers and Rehabilitation Care Facilities have designed specialized programs to help addicts attain sobriety and redeem from compulsive drug-seeking.
This article will highlight some examples of successful drug treatment; read on to find out.
Treatment Methods
Addiction can be treated using a variety of evidence-based methods. Behavioral therapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy), medicines, or a combination of the two can be used.
The treatment or mix of treatments used will depend on the patient’s specific needs and, in many cases, the drugs they take.
Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a type of Psychotherapy method that may be used to treat a variety of addictions such as drug abuse, addiction of alcohol, food addiction, and even prescription drug addiction.
CBT can help you recognize undesirable behavioral patterns, learn to recognize triggers and establish coping mechanisms. It can also be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Medication
When paired with behavioral therapy, medication can play a significant role in recovering from chronic drug addictions.
Certain drugs could help with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, assertive mood, and addictive tendencies. For instance, FDA has just approved Lofexidine to treat patients seeking help for opioid addiction to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Various antidotes and tranquilizers are used along with psychotherapy in the ongoing treatment and palliative care for drug addictions.
Twelve-Step Facilitation therapy
Alcohol and substance misuse can be treated with 12-step facilitation treatment. It’s a type of group therapy that acknowledges that addiction has a variety of negative repercussions, including social anxiety, emotional dependence, spiritual discomfort, and health deterioration.
Acceptance is the first step in this therapy method, followed by submission to a higher power, and finally, participation in regular group sessions. The 12 –step facilitation therapy is offered in various reputable Drug Treatment Centers.
Detoxification
Detoxification with medical assistance allows you to clear your body of addictive chemicals safely. This is advantageous because substance withdrawal can occasionally result in painful or life-threatening symptoms.
The detoxification process drains out the triggering substances from the bloodstream that subtle down the withdrawal effect triggered by the brain. Detox is usually used in conjunction with other therapies because it does not address the underlying behavioral causes of addiction.
Contingency management
Contingency Management (CM) is used to treat a range of addictions, including alcoholism, drug addiction, and nicotine addiction.
In Contingency management therapy, an individual is rewarded for their positive behavior towards recovery. This approach develops a psychological sense of achievement and encourages a person to attain sobriety.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this treatment has proved beneficial to counter relapse in drug addicts successfully.
Rehabilitation Program
Rehabilitation is a longer-term treatment program for substance abuse and addiction, and they usually focus on staying drug-free and resuming social, professional, and familial duties.
Licensed and insured rehabilitation services are available to design a 24-hour care program to provide secure accommodation and any medical interventions needed with day-to-day counseling.
Rehab programs are often classified based on acute and chronic addictions.
- Partial Hospitalization Program is also known as inpatient rehabilitation for patients with acute symptoms who may not need 24-hour medical care.
- Resident Rehab Programs mostly treat patients with chronic symptoms and may need treatment for weeks or months.
Drug Treatment Center at Pompano Beach, Florida
Addictions have ruined many lives. Don’t let this happen to you or the ones you love. Don’t fight this battle alone and speak with a healthcare professional right away. There are effective treatments available to assist you in overcoming your addiction.
If you live in Florida near Pompano Beach and are looking for a Drug Treatment Centre in your vicinity, The Sand Treatment Center can help you with exceptional medical facilities. They have some skilled Healthcare Practitioners that offer various supportive therapies to combat drug addiction. They are 24/7 available at 2100 Park Central Blvd N Suite 900, Pompano Beach, FL 33064.
To book an appointment right away, call 844 200-2509, or visit their website: https://thesandstreatmentcenter.com/.
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The Signs of a Functioning Addict that Requires Drug and Alcohol Recovery in South Florida
Drug and alcohol addiction is not like something you see in the movies where the addict is insane. Often, addicts are all around us, and we don’t see that they have issues until their problems become worse.
These are functioning addicts, where the person holds a job and appears to be normal. However, underneath this façade, the person is struggling with addiction taking over their lives.
According to the National Institute of Healthy, 20% of drug addicts and alcoholics are highly educated and functional. They appear to be pillars in their communities, and you may not know there is a problem.
The signs of a functional addiction are subtle, and you must observe to understand what is happening. We look at this addiction and when you should encourage the person to go to drug and alcohol treatment.
Excuses
A functioning addict will explain away everything occurring in their lives and tell you there are no issues. These people have answers for every question you ask them about their lifestyle choices.
They often come up with good alibis and make you question why you think there is an issue. You will find that the addict never is without an excuse and is very convincing about why they drink or do drugs.
The Sands Treatment Center is number one for drug and alcohol recovery in South Florida. We specialize in inpatient, outpatient treatment, and PTSD recovery. We know the challenges you are going through and can help you turn your life around.
Resentment
Sometimes, a functional addict will try to turn everything onto you for suggesting they have a drug or alcohol problem. Their motivation is to put the issue back on you to stop questioning them.
For example, a friend of yours is drinking every day, and you question if they have an addiction. A functional addict will claim how they have a job, family, and are an upstanding community member. After making this statement, they will respond with a sense of anger at you by claiming you are causing trouble. The addict is using this anger to force you to stop questioning them and back down.
Resentment is common in addicts when you challenge the person and the choices they are making. These tricks are a sign that the addict is in denial and justifying their addiction to you.
The Sands Treatment Center can help you get an addict into drug and alcohol recovery in South Florida. We are professionals that will work with you to find the right persuasion points to convince the addict to go to treatment.
Everyone is Doing Drugs or Alcohol
Addicts always know other people doing drugs or alcohol, and justify that their addiction is not an issue. Addicts hang out with a crowd like themselves and make it seem like everyone is doing it. However, the addict focuses exclusively on their circle of influence and not going outside of this group.
The reality is that their addiction is becoming out of control by hiding their actions behind others. These excuses make you feel bad and stop bothering the addict about their lifestyle choices.
In these situations, you want to look for avenues that encourage the person to make empowering decisions. The first step is admitting to a problem and going to treatment where professionals can help them overcome the addiction.
The Sands Treatment Center is available 24 hours to help you persuade the addict to go to treatment.
Mental Health Issues
A functional addict hides the mental health issues, as the person is afraid to appear weak or vulnerable. They will turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their situation and say they are blowing off steam.
First responders commonly face these issues with the stress and trauma of their jobs. These professionals require help to deal with things such as PTSD and depression. The best approach is to show empathy and let them know they are not alone by getting professional assistance.
The Sands Treatment Center is a drug treatment center in South Florida that deals with addiction and other issues like PTSD. We know how hard life can be and are ready to help you make positive changes for the better.
You Can Beat Addiction and We Can Help
These are some of the most common signs of a functioning addict doing drugs and alcohol. Call the Sands Treatment Center today at 844-200-2059 and let us help you to beat your addiction.
We are off North Dixie Highway, near Park Ridge Elementary School and Deerfield Beach High School.
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