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Drug addiction is an insidious and non discriminatory disease that takes thousands of lives every year. Drug addiction is defined as a condition characterized by compulsive drug intake, and craving and seeking drugs regardless of harmful consequences associated with drug abuse. The Salvation Army offers a wealth of resources for drug addiction treatment. Thousands of crimes, including DUI's, thefts, assaults, and murders have been linked to drug addiction due to the psychomimetic nature of drugs and the uncontrollability of behavior while under the influence of drug addiction. Although it is a growing problem in our society today, drug addiction is a major social dilemma that many try to ignore due to desperation of addiction. The fact is that drug addiction is a complex brain disease and is treatable through hard work with the help of caring professionals in treatment centers wide spread throughout the world. Many people mistakenly believe that drug addiction is a lapse in moral character, but it does not discriminate with who it affects. While it does take an individual to make a choice to first use drugs, addiction can affect anyone, of any background, social status, or age. Drug addiction is a complex disorder that can destroy almost every aspect of an individual's stability in the family, at work, and in the community. There are many different factors to consider with drug addiction. Many drug addicts suffer from addiction because of the painful and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when drug use is stopped suddenly without medical assistance from a qualified treatment center. Drug addiction is also caused because some drugs have a higher addictive potential than others in many people due to as a result of many factors; speed of elimination from the body, biochemical make-up, level of “instant gratification” they produce, and severity of physiological and psychological withdrawal symptoms. The affects of addiction are vicious because they severely damage the brain areas that people need to think lucidly, act with good judgment and make productive decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Recovery from drug addiction is a difficult, long road, spanning the rest of the drug addict’s life and more often than not requires the drug addict to attend treatment centers multiple times during their addiction. The reason drug addiction is characterized as a brain disease is because once the drug is introduced to the system, the addict’s brain adapts to the presence of that drug and make acclimates accordingly, no longer using it’s natural means to produce the same feelings that drugs induce so rapidly. Drug addiction is a challenge to overcome in large part because it takes time for the brain to be “re-trained” to function properly without the presence of the drugs it had depended on for the length of the addiction.
Addiction is a disease that will crush self-esteem, jeopardize the accomplishments of goals, and cost a drug addict more money than is fathomable. In most all drug addict’s stories will be the discussion of how quickly finances became unmanageable due to the constant need for the addict to be high. Not only will drug addiction negatively affect these parts of life, but also careers will be lost due to the drugs taking over the addict’s entire thought process, and eventually taking his/her life. Addiction begins with the voluntary use of drugs, and spirals out of control from there. There is no determining who will become addicted to drugs and who will be able to use drugs “recreationally”, however addiction is such a debilitating disease that the choice of whether or not to take the risk could mean life or death. Addiction is not limited to illegal street drugs like heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines. Drug addicts these days come with an array of addictions, such as painkillers, anti-depressants, glue, and tranquilizers (benzodiazepines). Some of these addictions have proven to be the most dangerous, as it is not just a psychological addiction, but also a physical addiction, and therefore requiring the assistance of qualified medical staff for the process of detox either in a hospital or an addiction treatment center. Addiction is not a one-time, quick fix type of disease and unfortunately there is no “magic pill” to cure this rising problem. Part of the recovery process from addiction is relapse, making it much harder on the drug addict and his family. Addiction’s most powerful characteristic is that it does not allow the addict to recognize that they are addicted to drugs/alcohol. Addiction will convince the addict that they “need” the substance to function, with an endless supply of excuses for the addictive behavior.
Many times in treatment centers, therapists will focus on “triggers”, or things in an addict’s life that increase the urge for them to use drugs again. By focusing on these areas, many treatment centers are able to identify the factors that are more likely to cause a relapse and suggest ways the addict can avoid those situations. Addiction treatment is a life-long process and treatment centers are only the beginning, laying the groundwork for recovery. One of the many things addicts learn in rehab programs is that their addiction has split them into two separate beings. One person is the addict, constantly looking for reasons to use again and seek drugs. The other being is the real person, desperately struggling to be free of addiction and regain control of his or her life. It is a hard road, but with dedication, support of friends, family and treatment programs, recovery is possible for drug addiction.
Treatment for drug addiction is complicated depending on the drugs being abused, the individual seeking treatment, and the length of time of the addictive behaviors. For these reasons, each addict receiving treatment for their addiction requires several components in their recovery process.
With the growing demand for treatment centers, many options are available to addicts depending on their individual needs. Treatment for drug addiction is available in inpatient, outpatient, residential settings, as well as aftercare in sober living homes. Drug abuse and addiction are most commonly treated in treatment centers, also known as rehabs by a variety of providers, including certified drug addiction therapists, psychiatrists and other medical staff. For many addicts, co-occurring mental health disorders also require treatment known as dual diagnosis. This kind of addiction treatment focuses not only on the addiction, but also on any other mental health issues the addict may be struggling with. Dual diagnosis is becoming more and more widely demanded and available these days. The goal of addiction treatment centers is to first get the addict to understand that they do have a disease which has taken over their lives. Treatment center staff members work with the addict to understand his/her addiction and therefore, better diagnose and reduce the symptoms. Once the addiction can be properly diagnosed, a “blueprint” is drawn for the most affective ways the addict can overcome his/her addiction and lead a promising, productive, and drug-free life once released from the treatment center. Research has proven that in many addicts, addiction is not the cause, rather a result of underlying issues (dual diagnosis). Most commonly, these issues include lack of trust, anxiety, depression, and stress, all of which are addressed using various exercises and techniques. Drug addictions present our society with a perilous quandary as many people fail to understand the nature of addiction, whether they are the addict, family of an addict, or have had no contact at all with any aspect of addiction. With the help of committed professionals in treatment centers and the support of family and friends, many addicts are able to abstain from their addictive behaviors and regain control of their lives. Addiction can be instantaneous for many people, but for most all addicts, the path to recovery takes the rest of their lives, strong will and dedication, and in many cases, repeated admissions to treatment centers.
Whether illegal or prescription, drugs have a tendency to produce a feeling of peace and of power, the main source of their addictive nature. Drugs are usually classified based on their pharmacology and affect on the user for different symptoms. Drugs include prescription medications, illegal drugs, and alcohol, as all of these things are mind-altering substances, producing the euphoric feeling (high) that makes them addictive. Many individuals fall under the grip of drug addiction to escape reality or artificially produce feelings of pleasure and the illusion of a stress free environment. Different drugs affect each individual differently, depending on many factors, many of which are unknown to the user at the time of abuse. This variable is one of the things that makes drug addiction so dangerous. No individual can know prior to taking drugs, what kind of affect it will have on them. Some users can use drugs periodically and never become addicted, while others are instant drug addicts with the first use of a drug. Drug addiction is characterized as a dependency on a drug for “normal” functionality. This dependency can come in many forms; physical, emotional, and psychologically. The types of treatments available for drug addiction varies greatly with the increase in demand as well as the wide array of drug addictions that plague our society.
Rehabilitation centers are only the beginning step to recovery for drug addicts. One of the most successful methods proven in recovery is support groups which can be found in an addict’s recovery throughout the treatment and after-care process. Treatment centers are comprised of support groups through the therapists, other addicts looking to regain control of their lives, medical staff and Alcohols Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups. Substance-abuse treatment (or rehabilitation") centers offer a wide array of rehab programs including residential treatment programs for the severely addicted, outpatient treatment programs for those in need of less intensive treatment, inpatient treatment for addicts in need of more medical attention to their addiction, and sober living homes for all addicts in recovery once they have completed their program in a treatment center. Drug and alcohol rehab places it’s focus on abstinence and self esteem in living a drug free life, reducing the addict’s need to “escape reality” by using drugs or alcohol. Drug addiction treatment varies by intensity and length of stay, but most addicts with a serious drug addiction are advised to spend at least 30 days in an addiction treatment center. More severe drug addiction issues are better addressed through long-term rehab programs, lasting 60 – 120 days. Whether the individual’s drug addiction requires detox, long-term care, residential drug rehab or outpatient drug counseling, the decision to get help is the first and most important step. Next is the commitment to understand the addiction and learn to live a drug-free life.
There are several components of drug rehab programs:
Drug Detox Programs: Drug detox aims to safely rid your body of all toxins under medical supervision. Detox offers 24-hour nursing and medication to help alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms.
Inpatient Addiction Treatment: Drug rehab programs include inpatient addiction treatment. This is a step in the program after detox where the patient participates in group, individual and family therapy.
Outpatient Addiction Treatment: Outpatient addiction treatment often follows inpatient addiction treatment once the patient is well enough to return home and maintain his or her recovery. Addiction treatment services are still available, but the patient is not required to stay at the drug rehab facility.
Family Addiction Treatment: Family addiction treatment is vital to a patient's success in drug rehab programs. This is where most underlying issues of addiction are resolved.
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