An Insight On Addiction And Its Treatment

Drug addiction can be considered a brain disease as the abuse of these drugs leads to changes in brain function and structure. While for most people, the decision to start taking drugs is voluntary, over time, changes in the brain function due to frequent drug abuse can affect the self-control and the person's ability to make informed decisions.

In order to stop these changes in the brain, it is necessary to stop the addict from abusing the drugs. Fortunately, there are addiction treatments to help people fight against the negative consequences of drug use.

What are the signs of addiction?

Depression and Anxiety

While addiction may seem uplifting at first, the toxicity quickly takes hold. Prolonged addiction eventually causes levels of happiness-inducing neurotransmitters, namely serotonin and dopamine, to plummet. The result is an inability to enjoy activities, feeling hopeless, a lack of motivation, guilt, anger and frustration. Much of the time, feelings of anxiety accompany the depression and tend to be more intense the longer addiction continues.

Nutrient Deficiency and Dehydration

After even a short time of excessive abuse, addicts may start to look haggard, sallow and unhealthy. They may also exhibit reduced cognitive performance and low energy. Much of this is due to the fact that drugs deplete many critical nutrients from the body. Zinc, vitamin C and water are essential to good skin health, so physical appearance is often the first thing that suffers when their levels become too low. Magnesium, sodium, B vitamins, calcium and potassium are important for energy production and nervous system function, so a deficiency in these can be blamed for cognitive impairment and fatigue.

Irresponsibility and Social Isolation

Addictive drugs are widely known for their ability to cause impulsive and irrational behavior. The fact that it lowers inhibitions means that it becomes very easy to ignore important responsibilities. For example, someone who is addicted to drugs might shun friends, fail to keep appointments or even skip out on work or school. Obviously, this sort of behavior can have serious consequences.

Essential components of addiction treatment

Studies show that a combination of drugs are helpful in addiction treatments. Therapeutic approaches can be adopted for sustained recovery and a life without drugs. Balancing the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects is the foundation for rapid recovery. Like a tripod, if one thing is missing, everything falls apart.

Medical detoxification

Medical detoxification (often simply referred to detoxification) is necessary for serious problems like drug addiction. Detox is effective only for certain types of drug addiction. If necessary, detoxification is only the first step in treating drug addiction. This in itself is rarely enough to help people with long-term dependence, but for some people it is a precursor of effective drug treatment.

Drugs

Drugs are an important part of treatment for most of the patients. (Suboxone) Buprenorphine Methadone and (LAAM) can be used, depending on the type of addiction. Naltrexone can be prescribed for alcohol and opiates. Acamprosate (Campral) is a good tool to assist in maintaining abstinence in people with drug dependence. Nicotine replacement products (such as patches or gum) or oral medications (such as bupropion) can be an effective treatment for nicotine dependence. For people with mental disorders, behavioral therapy and medication can be very important.

The Spirit

Spirituality is an important component for a healthy recovery. Some people have a problem with the concept of spirituality in recovery. Although the concept of a higher power is necessary in 12-step programs, spirituality instills the moral values in addicts and helps them cope with the problem.

Once all the spiritual elements are addressed, people often find that they are more stable in many aspects of their lives. By focusing on these elements, you can help an addict to feel calm and serene.

Support groups and counseling

Hundreds of self-help groups exist for all types of addiction, whether it's drug dependency or an addictive behavior. The Internet can be useful to find support groups. Counseling (individual and / or group) is often an integral part of treatment and relapse prevention.

Importance of a rehab center

A good rehab center specializes in the treatment of drug addiction. Treatment centers offer affordable drug addiction treatment for problems following different approaches. Success of the rehabilitation and relapse prevention is guaranteed if right rehab center is chosen for the addiction treatment.