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What To Know About Drug Use Disorder And Addiction

November 08, 2024

Nobody ever foresees developing a drug use disorder, but this serious disease impacts millions of Americans each year. Drug use disorders transform your mind and body and can ruin your life. Fortunately, there is assistance for anyone battling drug use. Expert drug addiction treatment is accessible in the Robbinsville area and can help you reclaim control of your life. Keep reading to learn more about drug use disorders and addiction and how people and their loved ones can overcome these conditions with professional help.

What Is A Drug Use Disorder?

A lot of people take illicit drugs for recreation or potent prescription drugs to manage medical conditions. But at what point does drug use develop into a life-impacting disorder?

Commonly, drug use develops into a disorder when a person exhibits problematic patterns of use and loses control of their use. Drug use disorders are mental health conditions that span from mild to severe. These disorders interfere with your life and severely impact your physical state.

There are different facets of drug use disorders:

  • Dependence develops when your system becomes so used to a drug that it struggles to perform without it. You will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you discontinue use of the drug.

  • Addiction is a mental dependency. Dependency-causing drugs modify your brain chemistry so that you persistently crave those substances and feel driven to consume them increasingly. You are no longer able to control your thoughts and actions. Addiction is the most serious part of drug use disorders.

All phases of drug use disorder are harmful to your relationships, mind, body, and wellbeing. If you think you or a person you care about has a drug use disorder, find skilled support for recovery. All people have a right to help.

What Drugs Are Addictive?

Addictive drugs contain potent chemicals that alter your brain. Some are hazardous enough to be outlawed. Others are approved prescriptions but can become hazardous when misused or consumed too frequently. Below are some of the frequently encountered addictive drugs in the U.S.:

  • Narcotics dull the senses, which makes them potent analgesics. Even so, some also take them to dull other uncomfortable feelings and can become addicted quickly. Narcotics are often classified as opiates or opioids. Opiates are naturally derived substances. Opioids are lab-created. Heroin is a well-known illegal narcotic. Legal substances like OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, fentanyl, and morphine have therapeutic uses but are addictive and frequently abused.

  • Benzodiazepines are mood-altering drugs often recommended for mental disorders. However, they can give rise to addiction when not taken correctly. Their sedative qualities make you feel relaxed. Xanax and Valium are familiar benzos.

  • Stimulants consist of prescriptions like Ritalin and Adderall, as well as illegal drugs like meth and cocaine. They stimulate your central nervous system, causing you to become animated, aware, and exhilarated. Taking too much of stimulants can be fatal.

Every one of these sorts of drugs can result in a drug use disorder. They all carry the potential to disrupt your life and create life-endangering medical conditions. Seek help for yourself or a person you care about at the earliest indication of dependence.

How Does Drug Addiction Start?

There are various reasons why individuals turn to dependency-causing drugs. Some do so for enjoyment because they relish in the effects those chemicals generate. Different individuals get addicted to prescription drugs they're taking for medical reasons. Another group of people begin using drugs to self-medicate undiagnosed mental illnesses and find short-term respite.

Whatever the reason for first taking these substances, the route to addiction is typically the same. Your body starts to be reliant on the drug, and you feel sick when you don't use it. You take more just to operate. You might gradually require greater doses for the drug to have an impact. You appreciate how it makes you feel. You feel distressed without it and continue using it. Eventually, those chemicals take control of the pleasure circuits of your brain, and you cannot feel good unless that drug is active in your body.

Once you're addicted, getting a steady supply of the drug becomes all that matters. Numerous people damage relationships, endure illness, lose jobs, and take serious risks as a result of drug addiction. Your addiction dominates you and everything in your life, and you are powerless to recover without skilled support.

What Are Signals Of Drug Addiction?

You might surmise that a drug use disorder would be clear. But, these disorders can look different among individuals, and those you care about will often try to hide their drug use from you. If you aren't sure if you or a relative have a drug use disorder, reflect on these indicators:

  • Having an overwhelming urge to take the drug

  • Failed attempts to slow down on or stop using the drug

  • Spending a great deal of time getting the drug, using it, or recovering from its effects

  • Consuming a prescription drug for longer periods or in larger amounts than ordered

  • Having difficulty handling responsibilities due to drug use

  • Giving up favorite pastimes to consume drugs

  • Continuing to use the drug even though it harms relationships

  • Continued use of the drug even though it takes a toll on your physical and mental health

  • Having to take more of the substance to attain its effects

  • Enduring withdrawal when making an effort to halt use

  • Taking risks to acquire or use the drug

Drug use disorders may look different between people. If you or someone you love are exhibiting any indications of drug addiction near Robbinsville , talk to an area doctor or addiction treatment specialist.

Where To Find Drug Addiction Treatment In Robbinsville

Drug use disorder treatment is a multi-tier process. The majority of individuals will endure relapses and have to revisit steps more than once. You won’t be “cured” of drug use disorder, but many people enter recovery and implement what they discuss during treatment to live a healthy, drug-free life. The solution is finding specialized, proven treatment that matches your needs.

No two addiction recovery journeys are identical. However, treatment typically includes the these steps at licensed treatment facilities:

  • Drug detox is the way to let your body cleanse itself of substances. Your system will do this automatically if you refrain from taking more drugs. But, if you have a dependence, you will experience withdrawal without substances. To securely complete detox, you should go to an inpatient detox treatment center that offers round-the-clock medical guidance and takes measures to keep you comfortable.

  • Drug rehab programs also offer inpatient support. Throughout rehab, you’ll still live at a treatment center and enjoy access to medical care for any ongoing withdrawal symptoms. You go to different sorts of counseling sessions daily with the aim of understanding your addiction, cultivating new positive habits, and managing any co-occurring mental disorders. You should continue in rehab until you become physically and psychologically strong enough to leave that drug-free environment.

  • When you depart rehab, you should still receive specialized addiction treatment. Outpatient addiction and mental health therapy will help you navigate your life without drugs. These programs offer continuing therapy and medication management. At first, you could participate in outpatient support daily and head home each night. Over time, you’ll need less support and could only go to therapy once a week or less.

Every person is entitled to expert, compassionate addiction treatment. Regardless of how severe your addiction is, recovery is possible. Getting professional therapy at a licensed facility is essential for your success. You don’t have to battle addiction alone. There are many choices for drug addiction treatment near Robbinsville .

How Can Families Support A Loved One Grappling With Drug Addiction Near Robbinsville ?

Those with a drug use disorder need all the assistance they can find. Family and friends can be important for addiction recovery. If you are close to an individual with a drug use disorder, here are some ways you are able to assist them:

Find Help For Drug Use Disorders Near Robbinsville Today

Nobody should face drug use disorders by themselves. If you or a family member are struggling with drug addiction, there is hope. Call The Counseling Center At Robbinsville at 609-806-5083 or complete the contact form on this page. One of our team members will respond right away to explore treatment. All calls are free and secure. We respond 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Find help today. We are ready for you.