In the United States alone, millions of people suffer from substance abuse and addiction. While many people seek out help and get diagnosed with drug or alcohol addiction, there are millions more suffering without getting life-saving treatment.
Those struggling with addiction may not realize the seriousness of their problem without getting treatment, but there is hope. If you or a family member are struggling with substance abuse and addiction, the information on this page will help guide you toward recovery.
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How Does Addiction Begin?
Addiction can take a person by surprise and can affect them before they even know it. Many people do not even realize that they are abusing a substance or that they have a problem.
Drinking alcohol or using drugs outside of a doctor’s directions can quickly lead to a substance abuse problem. What starts small can turn into a significant issue involving addiction and dependency. It can happen so fast that a person loses control before they know it.
Additionally, if a person suffers from depression, anxiety, or some other underlying mental or physical illness, they can turn to substances as temporary coping mechanisms. Trauma, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder are also other reasons people mention as initial reasons they began abusing substances.
Addiction is not usually anyone’s goal when they start drinking one too many beers, borrow a friend’s antidepressant, or try a new drug at a party.
What Are the Signs of Drug Abuse?
Depending on the type of substance, signs of abuse can differ. Despite differences, there are behavioral signs that span just about all substances.
Some of these signs of abuse include the following:
- Lying or being secretive
- Strained relationships with family and friends
- Poor performance at school or work
- Defensiveness or aggression about substance use
- Money problems
- Visits to multiple doctors
If these signs seem familiar to you, either with yourself or a loved one, it may be time to seek substance abuse treatment. It is essential to get help for substance addiction before it’s too late.
How Do Treatment Programs Help Stop Substance Abuse?
Many people that struggle with substance abuse either believe they don’t have a problem, or they think they can handle reducing their use or quitting on their own without any professional help.
Most people who try to deal with their addiction on their own are unable to overcome it due to the following reasons:
- Without education about the mental and physical impacts a substance can cause, an individual who has been abusing drugs is not in their best frame of mind to attempt to recover alone.
- They are also without the tools that are so helpful to navigate changing behavior and learning to socially participate in the world on a sober level.
- They are also more likely to relapse, which can be even more dangerous. This is due to not understanding how to handle triggers that affect their substance-seeking behaviors.
This is where a professional substance abuse treatment center can help.
The key to effective substance abuse rehab
- Getting to the underlying issues. By getting to the root of the problem in a safe and stable environment, those suffering from addiction have a much better chance at recovery.
- Receiving expert care and support. Addiction treatment specialists and other medical professionals can provide expert care and monitoring to keep a patient on the road to recovery and sobriety.
Without professional help, a patient is more likely to experience a relapse, which could also lead to a deadly overdose. It is vital for those suffering from substance abuse addiction to seek professional help.
What Drug Addictions Can Denver Recovery Treat?
Just as there are numerous types of substances abused, there are also many ways to treat addictions. Many of these treatments are available at Denver Recovery Center.
There are plenty of drugs out there that are highly addictive. Addiction can stem from both legal and illegal drugs, including alcohol. Anything can be addictive, but some drugs rank highly as those most abused by people.
Alcohol
People might not immediately think of alcohol when they think of drugs, but it is a drug in liquid form. Alcoholism is one of the most common forms of addiction. Though legal, alcohol is a depressant that makes users feel relaxed. It also reduces pain, which lends itself to the term “self-medicating.” Heavy drinkers often need to drink more and more to feel satisfied. Alcoholism is difficult to recognize and to stop, especially since alcohol is readily available just about anywhere.
Marijuana
Marijuana is another legal substance to which millions of people have become addicted. Once someone starts smoking weed or using other marijuana products regularly, they form an addiction that can be very hard to break without marijuana rehab. In addition to dependence causing issues with daily life, many health-related conditions and illnesses are caused by excessive smoking, like cancer. Chronic use of marijuana can lead to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which causes repeated and severe vomiting that stops if marijuana use is discontinued.
Cocaine
Cocaine is an illegal drug that acts as a stimulant, causing a rapid heart rate and increased production of dopamine in the brain, which causes the user to get high. Once the high has worn off, the body craves the drug. Crack cocaine is a form of drug that is formed into a rock-like substance and smoked. Crack and cocaine problems are severe and often require professional help to overcome.
Heroin
One of the most addictive drugs in the world is heroin. Unlike some other drugs, it only takes one use of heroin to become addicted in many cases. Using heroin causes a feeling of euphoria and eases pain. Heroin can be smoked or injected directly into the bloodstream for a faster effect. Injecting the drug causes a greater chance of becoming addicted than smoking it. There is also a higher rate of overdose death in users of heroin than for most other drugs.
Other illegal addictive drugs include crystal meth, amphetamines, methadone, and OxyContin®, among many others. There are plenty of legal drugs that people can also form an addiction to, including painkillers, anxiety medication, and even sleeping pills. As stated before, just about anything can become addictive when not used properly.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
While Denver Recovery Center may not have some particular treatment programs available in-house, our specialized counselors and intake professionals can guide patients that would benefit from these treatments to places that can help them with each specific step in recovery. While we cannot prescribe medications, we can support those already on medication-assisted treatments (MAT).
Is Substance Abuse Treatment Successful?
The success of rehab can be defined in many different ways, but it is usually based on whether or not the patient has gained the skills to live a more healthy and happy life. While there are many types of addiction treatments that have proven to be successful, it is not only about getting off drugs.
To have a fully successful treatment program, a person seeking help has to be willing to give the time and effort to recover. Overcoming addiction is not easy. If it was, most people wouldn’t need professional help and would be able to get better on their own. However, addiction involves a challenging mental and physical road to recovery, which is why Denver Recovery Center’s professionally-trained counselors work to help each patient individually.
People entering a treatment program should not expect to walk out the doors and be “cured” of their addiction. Recovery is a long process that is about getting better as a whole, not just stopping drug abuse. There is specific intention during the program in teaching our clients how to use the tools they learn in treatment during their aftercare as they assimilate back into their regular lives. This will help to avoid relapse, which can occur when a patient forgets to keep their recovery tools at the ready.
Maintaining a sober lifestyle takes a planned approach and careful attention, especially in the beginning time of leaving the facility. Revisiting these tools and recognizing when triggers may be present will go a long way to continued full recovery.
The first step to a successful substance abuse treatment and rehab program is for you to admit that you have a problem and need help. By working with trained professionals, you can start the road to a better life, free of addiction.
Where Can I Find Care in Denver With Substance Abuse Treatment?
Those looking for a substance abuse rehab facility in Colorado can visit the Denver Recovery Center located in Broomfield. The professionals at our facility will meet with you individually to come up with the best plan for you using traditional treatment with holistic balance and life skills training.
Our facility offers several different rehab programs, from outpatient, dual diagnosis, holistic, and group therapies, among others. The center provides a safe environment for people to focus on their recovery while being as comfortable as possible.
Find Your Health Again at Denver Recovery Center
If you or a loved one are looking for a way to overcome addiction and live a happier and healthier life, then Denver Recovery Center has everything needed to find success in overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. Call our trained admissions professionals to take your first step at (844) 602-3175.
FAQs:
- What Does Substance Abuse Include?
Substance abuse refers to using a legal or illegal substance in ways that impact job or school performance, cause problems with relationships, interfere with someone’s ability to function, and cause financial or legal problems.
- What Are the Different Types of Drug Therapies?
Drug treatment therapies typically include evidence-based processes such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. CBT is more common and focuses on helping you adjust your patterns of thinking that in turn affect the behaviors you choose as a result. DBT focuses more on accepting your thoughts and beliefs while managing them more mindfully.
- What Are the Main Symptoms of a Substance Abuse Disorder?
Common symptoms of a substance abuse disorder include
- Lying or being secretive
- Strained relationships with family and friends
- Poor performance at school or work
- Defensiveness or aggression about substance use
- Isolation
- Visits to multiple doctors