What does it mean to have an addiction? When is it obvious? What signs should I be looking for? Is it serious? Should I be worried that I have an addiction? There are plenty of opinions and assumptions that people have about substance dependence. Some of them are correct. All too often, however, they are not.
Remember that knowledge is your weapon against addiction. The more you know, the better chance you have to overcome an addiction. Here’s what you need to know today and how to get help through substance use treatment.
Substance Dependence is a Medical Condition that Affects the Body
You’ve probably heard about the disease model of addiction. It stipulates that the condition is a chronic brain illness. As such, addiction refers to the psychological dependency you might form to a chemical. When you enter rehab, it’s possible to treat this condition.
Substance dependence points to the physiological aspect of the illness. Using a drug over a long period causes your body chemistry to undergo sufficient changes.
Eventually, your body will require the drug to function normally. At that point, your addiction entails feeding the substance to your body so that you can feel normal. Whatever high you initially enjoyed is probably now gone. At this point, the name of the game is just trying to not feel sick. If you withhold the substance, you discover that the body responds with withdrawal symptoms. For many, these withdrawal symptoms serve as a deterrent to ending addiction.
Fortunately, professional detox makes the withdrawal process significantly easier. At a reputable detoxification center, you receive necessary treatment for this portion of the disease that keeps you safe and comfortable.
Understanding the Detoxification Process
Entering a medically supervised detox is the only way to break the bonds of dependence. Drugs rewrite your brain chemistry. They can make the release of certain neurotransmitters contingent on the presence of the chemicals. Examples include opioids such as painkillers and stimulants like cocaine.
When you stop using these drugs, the body responds with pain signals. It may also present with gastrointestinal upset that puts you at risk of dehydration and subsequent kidney failure. Alcohol and other drugs also carry the risk of seizure activity. In these situations, you must have immediate medical assistance for personal safety.
Medical supervision during withdrawal provides you with this protection. Another feature of the detox process is the availability of medicinal support to ease the pain and make withdrawal easier. This combination of monitoring and medication assistance can help you overcome drug dependence in as little as three to ten days. However, you’re not done. A substance use treatment in the form of rehab is also necessary.
Men and Women’s Addiction Rehab Assists with Substance Dependence
Gender-specific treatment for the psychological component of addiction builds on your innate strengths. It enables you to open up about personal situations and feelings you might not feel comfortable discussing in mixed company. Examples may include problems with emotional abuse, past sexual assault, or domestic violence.
Therapists use this backdrop to deliver modalities to program participants. Possible therapeutic offerings include:
- Partial hospitalization that makes it possible to leave at night and return home to take care of responsibilities there
- Intensive outpatient programs are good options for some individuals who can balance work, life, and getting well
- Dual diagnosis therapy, which benefits people with underlying mental health conditions that affect drug abuse
- Trauma treatment that puts you in the driver’s seat of dealing with past—so far unresolved—issues
A therapist can help you select the treatment model that works best for your situation. In fact, today is a great day to break out of the cycle of drug abuse.
Don’t let addiction become a part of your life long-term. It can be overcome. The friendly and knowledgeable therapists at Crestview Recovery are ready to help you. Call 866.262.0531 now for immediate assistance.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
