Whether you are a sufferer of substance use disorder or know someone who is, you might ask yourself, “How do I get treated for my addiction?” This article will help you understand what treatment is available for those affected by addiction and what you can do to get help.
Substance use disorder affects your brain chemistry.
Using drugs or alcohol can damage your brain and cause changes in your body. These changes can affect your decision-making, memory, and learning. If you feel you may be addicted, seek help.
Drugs affect the brain by altering neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers regulate mood, stress levels, and sexual desire. Drugs also affect the limbic system, which is involved in memory and learning.
Some substances, such as ecstasy, interfere with the regular transmission of neurotransmitters. This can make people crave the drug even after they stop using it. They will also experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be highly unpleasant and dangerous. Fortunately, detox can help restore the balance of chemicals in your brain.
In addition to changing your brain chemistry, drugs may also damage your neurons. They can affect your hippocampus, which is responsible for memory.
Drugs also disrupt the brain’s control of temperature, breathing, and coordination. They can also change your perception of the outside world.
Drugs can also affect your brain’s reward center. This center is responsible for identifying rewarding behavior. If you repeatedly use drugs, your reward center becomes less sensitive to pleasure. The reward center becomes less receptive to pleasure, making it harder to get pleasure from everyday activities.
You can treat substance use disorders by taking prescription medication. These medications may help control physiological symptoms of dependence, like cravings and withdrawal symptoms. You should always store your medications safely and follow your doctor’s instructions.
If you have a drug problem, see your primary physician. A licensed alcohol and drug counselor is also a good resource. You can also check the phone book for a helpline. You can also talk to an addiction medicine doctor.
Your brain will begin to heal itself after you stop using drugs. Detoxification is the safest way to restore the chemical balance in your brain. You will be able to learn new habits and begin to adjust to functioning without drugs. You can also learn to ignore drug cravings.
Your brain is good at rewiring itself. It takes time for the brain to reestablish the balance it needs.
Opioids are narcotic painkilling drugs.
Currently, the United States is in the grip of an opioid epidemic. Nearly 400,000 Americans die each year from overdoses of opioids, including prescription painkillers.
This epidemic results from the proliferation of “pill mills” where doctors sell prescriptions for potent opioids. These clinics have been the main target of federal efforts to crack down on opioid misuse. The Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act, signed into law in July 2016, supports criminal justice reform and treatment. It also allocates $181 million annually to prevent and treat opioid addiction.
The first federal legislation in nearly 40 years focused on opioid addiction. The Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act calls for an interagency task force to develop and promote public health policy recommendations to prevent and treat opioid abuse. While drafting these recommendations, the task force consulted with various stakeholders.
Its final guidelines apply to all adults with chronic pain, including cancer patients. They do not include specific guidance for sickle cell disease.
One approach to reducing opioid-related harms among those who have ever used prescription opioids is to reduce prescribing. This will reduce the number of patients who hold prescriptions and increase the incentive to seek treatment. Ultimately, reducing prescribing will also reduce the lawful supply of opioids.
Another approach to reducing opioid-related harms is to decrease the use of opioids in patients with chronic noncancer pain. This can be accomplished by issuing opioids in carefully controlled amounts and offering patients appropriate opioid therapy. While such a comprehensive approach may be challenging, it may be the best way to minimize opioid-related harms.
A third approach to reducing opioid-related harms involves legal regulations designed to discourage the unnecessary prescribing of opioids. These laws place drugs in one of five schedules defined by the Controlled Substances Act.
Schedules II-V apply to substances with no accepted medical use, substances with abuse potential, and substances with recognized medical value.
The CDC recently issued new guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. These guidelines apply to all adults, including those with cancer and those with palliative care. They focus on use, dosage, and duration.
Join a support group.
Whether you’re a seasoned addict or recently diagnosed, joining a support group can be a great way to help you recover.
This article will discuss the benefits of joining a group and the different kinds of groups available.
Peer support groups are a great way to get help and advice from others who have had similar experiences. These groups are also helpful because they can help you find the motivation to stick with a new lifestyle.
Some support groups are created to help people with drug or alcohol addiction. Others are more general. They can be found through physician referrals or nonprofit organizations. The internet can also be an excellent place to start.
You should take some time to research different groups before you decide which one is right for you. Most support groups meet once or twice weekly for a couple of hours.
The most effective groups have a combination of techniques. For example, a group may have members read journals or share their stories. They may also provide feedback, which can help you see problems in a different light.
Support groups aren’t meant to replace therapy or medications. They may work in conjunction with treatment programs.
The best support groups are open to the public, but some are private. For example, you can join a group tailored for spouses of substance abusers.
A group of five or ten is the ideal number. Some groups meet only once a month or once a week. If you can’t find a group that meets your needs, you can find a support group through your primary care physician.
Some groups are free. Others may ask for a small donation per meeting.
If you want to find a group in your area, you can call a treatment center or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The group’s website can also help you find a support group in your area.
Whether you’re a recovering addict or worried about someone you love, joining a support group can be a positive step in your recovery. Having sober friends is a significant factor in preventing relapse.
Interventions
Depending on the severity of the addiction, treatment may involve medical or psychological services or both. Interventions can also be done by family members or others who are concerned about the addict. The goal of the intervention is to get the loved one into treatment.
Addiction is a chronic condition affecting the brain, body, and behavior. When the brain’s reward system takes over, the individual becomes physically and psychologically dependent on the substance.
When the person suddenly stops using the substance, withdrawal symptoms can occur.
Drug and alcohol addiction is one of the leading causes of premature death. Interventions can be a powerful way to get the addict into treatment and help prevent more severe problems in the future.
Various treatment options are available, including outpatient, day treatment, and residential programs.
Interventions should be tailored to the individual. Working with a trained interventionist is crucial for a successful intervention.
Drug addiction is treated through medications and psychotherapy. Medications help control cravings, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and prevent relapse. Psychotherapy is also used to help patient understand their behaviors and learn how to cope with stress.
Interventions can be planned by family members or by professional interventionists. Intervention teams usually consist of four or six people. They discuss the problem with the addict and present a plan to solve the problem. The team can include members of the addict’s faith and family members.
The planning stage determines the content of the intervention. This stage also determines the timing of the intervention. The substance abuser may be asked to participate in counseling, family therapy, or an outpatient program.
Depending on the severity of the problem, more intensive treatment may be needed.
The treatment plan should be a positive step to improve the person’s life. The intervention team will discuss the consequences if the loved one doesn’t accept the plan.
Interventions can be a positive way to help a loved one overcome drug addiction. It can also be a powerful way to help the addict realize that treatment is available.