Being addicted to drugs or alcohol not only causes problems for the addicted individual. When a person is addicted to one of these substances, families suffer, friends become frustrated and society is affected. While some people may be able to go cold turkey, or stop using and never go back to drugs or alcohol, for most quitting substances requires the help of others.
Many people who abuse alcohol and drugs or have a cell phone addiction are dealing with issues that require more than simply stopping the substance. For most, individual and group therapy that helps them build coping skills is the only way to beat addiction. There is no one size fits all program because substance abusers have diverse needs. However, drug and alcohol treatment centers are equipped with the professional staff, and resources to help alcohol and drug abusers get the fresh start, or a new lease on life.
To understand why intense treatment is needed for substance abusers, it is important to understand how and why some people become addicted to drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and drugs affect the part of the brain associated with reward of pleasure. When a person experiences a pleasurable event such as eating a favorite food, or a kiss from someone special, the brain releases a chemical known as dopamine. Normally, an individual is able to control the emotions that come from this release. However certain drugs magnify this pleasurable effect, causing the brain to release more dopamine–making the urge to have the event happen again very strong. Unlike food or a kiss, it takes more and more drugs to achieved the desired effect, thus an individual falls into a vicious cycle of using more substances, more often, and spirals into addiction.
Drug Addiction in America and Who it Affects
According to the National Libraries of Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, drug abuse affects every family and every community in some way. Easy access to street drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol in American makes it easy for individuals to become addicted. Some people become addicted as the result of recreational use of drugs or alcohol when they are young. Children who live in homes, and in neighborhoods where alcohol and drug use is common may develop an attitude that substance use or abuse is “normal.” In some cases they may be offered substances by parents, or persons who frequent the home. Even parents who “drink responsibly” may be unaware that little “Johnny” or “Susie” may be sneaking a sip of wine when home alone.
Adolescents often begin using substances to be fit in with their peers. What seems to be a harmless game of chugging a few beers, or smoking a “little” marijuana after a football game can turn into binge drinking. The college campus is where many young people get into the habit of drinking. In all of these circumstances, experimenting with gateway type substances like alcohol and marijuana can lead to risky behaviors such as having unprotected sex, stealing, and driving while impaired. All of these behaviors add additional baggage, such as criminal records, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. When substance abuse continues into adulthood, families suffer when the addicted member wastes money on drugs, or is physically, sexually, or verbally abusive.
Unintentional Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse can sometimes occur as a result of misuse. A growing number of people become addicted because of reasons other than experimentation or recreational use. When adults reach middle age, they are often plagued with aches and pains that require treatment with drugs from the opiate family. These include painkillers like hydrocodone and codeine containing drugs. Not only do these medications relieve pain, but as with other substances, they also affect the pleasure center of the brain. Eventually, it takes more and more to bring pleasurable feelings, and eventually the result is addiction. In other cases, prescription drugs may be misused by older adults who take too many doses. Additionally, when they are experiencing depression or severe forms of mental illness, some people use alcohol to self-medicate. This too, leads to addiction.
Whether a person is seeking drug rehab or alcohol rehab, overcoming addiction is a process. First the individual must admit that he or she has a problem. Then a commitment must be made to address the problem. Even though it sometimes takes the intervention of family, friends, and maybe the criminal justice system to point a person toward rehabilitation, the decision to seek help must come from within.
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers Can Help
One issue that many experts agree on is that more alcohol and drug treatment centers are needed to address the pervasive drug problem in the U.S. Alcohol and drug treatment centers can help people overcome addiction and get on the path to recovery. These centers offer a safe, non-threatening environment that allows individuals to stop using, yet they provide the discipline and structure that addicts need during the rehabilitation process. For the person who is seriously committed to rehabilitation, these centers work. Alcohol and drug treatment centers that engage in best practices for treating addiction will have professional medical staff, therapists and others who are trained in the latest therapeutic and counseling modalities to help addicts get clean. Clients come to terms with other issues that might have contributed to substance abuse, but they are strongly encouraged to take personal responsibility for their own actions. Group therapy provides an opportunity for support, as well as a safe place for the person who is blaming others to be confronted. This peer support is one of the hallmarks of drug rehab, and alcohol rehab.
Choosing the best Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center
It is important to choose the treatment center that can offer the best program. Ideally, a center should be located in a safe and protected area, where it would be difficult to obtain drugs. There should be rules that do not allow visitors to bring substances into the center. Some of the staff should have personal experience with addiction. Those who have been successful in overcoming addiction are in the best position to help others. The program should not use methods that cause clients to feel guilty or ashamed of having become involved with alcohol or drugs. It is also a good idea to find out about the success rate of the center. If clients have been successful at getting clean, and are having good success at recovery, chances are the center’s methods work.