The Drug Addiction Reality
Drug addiction is an unfortunate reality that has been ravaging lives for centuries and continues to haunt individuals throughout the world today.
Risk Factors That Contribute to Addiction
One of the most challenging realities to grasp regarding drug addiction is that it truly can affect anyone.
There are a host of factors that can raise someone’s odds of having to deal with this disease but who struggles with addiction is certainly not black and white. Understanding some of the most common contributing factors to addiction is a great place to start. They are:
Age of First Use
Although one can become an addict at any point in their life, the younger someone is when they first experiment with drugs, the greater the odds they will suffer from this brain disorder. It is not until someone is in their mid-20’s that the portion of the brain that controls self-control, judgment, and decision making finishes developing. Intoxicating it with drugs during this precious time can do severe damage that will lead to problematic long-term side-effects.
Home Environment
According to the National Library of Medicine environment plays a significant factor in causing one to become an addict. They discovered that individuals were much more likely to become addicts if they were in a home setting where drugs were accessible, and there was hostility amongst family members. On the contrary, for someone coming from a home filled with love and encouragement, the odds of that person becoming an addict were much less.
Genetics: It’s in Your DNA
One of the most significant contributors to someone suffering from drug addiction is genetics. Between 40%-60% of cases are tied to someone’s DNA. Understanding your lineage and knowing if someone with your DNA had struggled with addiction will help you identify if you are susceptible to addiction. Years ago, generations casually accepted the idea that addiction “runs in the family” among most people. Now, scientists are beginning to understand the exact gene code in someone’s DNA that makes that person more at risk of addiction. But as we wait for the results of that science, it is best to look back at those in your family who came before you and if they ever suffered from addiction to see if you are at a greater risk.
It’s All Right in Front of You: Know the Signs of Addiction
Though different drugs have different side-effects, when someone has become dependent on any substances, there are common, recognizable tell-tale signs.
These indications can be behavioral, physical, psychological, or a combination of all three.
Behavioral Signs
Someone’s life may appear to be spiraling out of control. Their work or school productivity may begin to drop, they may become secretive about things in their lives and may find themselves getting into legal trouble. One of the more frustrating changes can be when the drugs are causing them harm, yet they deny that they have an issue altogether.
Physically:
As the drugs take over a body, the side effects can vary greatly. Someone may quickly lose or gain a large amount of weight, their eyes can become bloodshot, their speech can begin to slur, and they may start to appear unkempt.
Psychologically:
When someone is suffering from addiction, the drugs can cause their personality to change completely, resulting in random outbursts, sudden rage, losing all motivation, or becoming anxious and paranoid.
If you are considering treatment for yourself or a loved one, call us today.
Goals of Addiction Treatment
Sobriety is not achieved overnight. It is important however to keep the goals of recovery front of mind. This can help keep you motivated during the treatment process and any relapses that may happen along the way. The goals are:
- Stopping the use of drugs
- Remaining drug-free
- Re-entering regular family, social, and work-life without issue
How individuals achieve these goals will depend on them and their addiction, but the most effective treatment forms remain the same. There are a variety of treatment programs out there and it is important to find one that is right for you but that also incorporates treatment modalities that are known to help those struggling with addiction.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most effective recovery tools and should be a piece of all recovery programs. CBT therapy believes that a person’s thoughts, not outside stimulus, created their behaviors. For someone who cannot easily change their life circumstances, behavioral therapy can change their way of thinking. Therapists will help develop strategies to assist them with regaining control of their life while improving self-control and the ability to recognize high-risk situations where drug use may be tempting.
One of the biggest causes behind someone relapsing when recovering from addiction is their inability to cope with the withdrawal symptoms. During the first phase of recovery, the body detoxes, ridding itself of the drug. A series of intense withdrawal symptoms usually follow. These can include depression, sweating, anxiety, seizures, and nausea. Thankfully, there are doctor-prescribed medications that can alleviate these symptoms and cravings to assist patients in their recovery.
In addition to physical cravings, someone with an addiction issue will also spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about their drug of choice. These thoughts become a compulsion and impossible to control, which leads to drug-seeking behavior that can sometimes be criminal.
Feelings of depression, sadness, anxiety, despair, and the like are often at the root of substance abuse. The substance might temporarily mask these feelings, but they return once the high wears off, creating a vicious circle of drug abuse.
Taking a substance will temporarily stop the cravings and compulsion for it, but soon the same feelings return. In time, it takes more and more of the same substance to achieve the same effect it once had.
People addicted to drugs and alcohol may feel like they have no control over their drug use. Refraining from using or stopping seems to be an impossibility for them. The substance controls them, rather than the other way around.
Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol will continue to seek them out even if their addiction has made them lose friends, family, spouses, and jobs. Drug-seeking behavior can even lead to diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.
In addition to physical cravings, someone with an addiction issue will also spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about their drug of choice. These thoughts become a compulsion and impossible to control, which leads to drug-seeking behavior that can sometimes be criminal.
Feelings of depression, sadness, anxiety, despair, and the like are often at the root of substance abuse. The substance might temporarily mask these feelings, but they return once the high wears off, creating a vicious circle of drug abuse.
Taking a substance will temporarily stop the cravings and compulsion for it, but soon the same feelings return. In time, it takes more and more of the same substance to achieve the same effect it once had.
People addicted to drugs and alcohol may feel like they have no control over their drug use. Refraining from using or stopping seems to be an impossibility for them. The substance controls them, rather than the other way around.
Someone addicted to drugs or alcohol will continue to seek them out even if their addiction has made them lose friends, family, spouses, and jobs. Drug-seeking behavior can even lead to diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.
The Importance of Long Term Care for Addiction
Even after patients have gone through the rigors of early recovery, re-entering the world as a sober individual can bring a collection of stressors, which is why aftercare options are so important.
They can allow someone to continue being a part of a sober and supportive community, advance in their therapy, and even mentor someone who is just starting down their path to recovery. Recovering from addiction is not easy, but when done, it is incredibly rewarding. Participating in aftercare can help remind someone how far they have come while helping to ensure they have the support they need to avoid falling back into old patterns and potentially relapsing.
If you suspect someone you know is suffering from drug addiction, don’t wait to seek treatment. Nexus Recovery has numerous carefully curated paths to sobriety led by some of the world’s top therapists. No matter what the situation may be, Nexus is here to help.
For a free, confidential consultation with Nexus Recovery, call 310-881-9151.
If you or a loved one are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, we’re here to help. Contact us today and speak with one of our trusted recovery advisors.
