Treatment for Substance Use

Substance use is one of the most serious problems facing our society today. And with the increase in both opioid abuse and drugs tainted with potent synthetic opioids, so too has the issue of overdoses increased. In fact, more than 50,000 people died of an opioid-related overdose in the United States in 2019 alone. For many people, the stigma still attached to this serious disease keeps them from seeking the help that they need. At Mind Body Wellness, we know how serious drug addiction is, and how important it is for you to have proper treatment and support on your recovery journey. You don’t have to worry about anyone judging you or turning you away. Our drug rehab is a safe place for you to seek help.

What is Drug Addiction?

Many consider drug addiction a chronic, relapsing disease because of the way that it changes your brain function. Drug abuse alters your brain’s reward system, so using drugs is the only way your brain releases the chemicals that make you feel happy and relaxed. This makes you have to take drugs just to feel normal, with cravings so intense you can’t ignore them. Consequently, you’re likely to feel uncomfortable withdrawal effects if you are addicted to drugs and stop taking them.

Withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant and make you feel sick until you use it again. All of these factors combine to make drug addiction one of the most difficult diseases to overcome. This is especially true without the help of a drug rehab center like ours.

Drug Addiction Statistics

Whether it’s opioids, cocaine, heroin, or another drug, addiction negatively impacts millions of lives each and every year–and leads to thousands of overdose deaths. An estimated twenty million Americans struggle with a drug addiction each and every year. However, only about ten percent of them seek help.

Overdose rates have more than tripled since the 1990s. This is largely due to intentional opioid abuse and accidental opioid use due to synthetic opioid-tainted drugs. All told, addiction costs our society an estimated $600 billion yearly in medical bills, lost wages, and emergency services.

Signs + Symptoms of Substance Use

One of the most difficult things for someone with drug addiction is admitting that they have a problem. Many addicts believe that they are “in control” of how much and how often they use, completely oblivious to the negative impact their substance abuse is having on their mental and physical health and personal relationships. Others may be good at hiding their drug use, leaving their family members wondering what is causing their unusual or erratic behavior.

If you are trying to decide if you or a loved one may have a drug addiction and need drug rehab, there are some signs you can look for. These include:

• Giving up hobbies/activities that you used to enjoy so that you can do drugs instead
• Spending a lot of time alone
• Completely changing friend groups or constantly having new friends that come and go
• Significant weight gain or loss over a short period of time
• Major changes in your sleeping patterns
• Feeling sad or tired most of the time
• Not paying attention to your personal hygiene or physical appearance
• Frequent or severe mood swings
• Resorting to stealing or lying to get money to buy drugs
• Constantly worrying about how to get drugs or the next time that you can use them
• Having withdrawal symptoms if you don’t use drugs often enough

Risk Factors for Addiction

As with many other diseases, there is not one single thing that leads someone to become addicted to drugs. Nevertheless, scientists have found that a range of risk factors can all contribute to someone’s chances of developing an addiction. These include:

Your Genetics

A family history of addiction usually shows a genetic predisposition to addiction. In fact, this increases the risk of drug addiction by forty to sixty percent.

Your Environment

Growing up in an unstable household, experiencing mental or physical abuse, seeing your parents or friends use drugs, or trying drugs before you’re an adult are all common environmental factors that can increase someone’s risk of addiction.

Your Mental Health

Having a mental health condition makes someone twice as likely to develop an addiction. This can result from how a mental illness changes your brain function. It can also be from using drugs as a way to try and self-medicate your symptoms.

Signs of Overdose

One of the most important reasons to seek help at a drug treatment center is the continued risk of overdose if you don’t get sober. While not all overdoses are fatal, they must be treated as soon as possible in order to give someone the best chance of survival.

The signs of an overdose will vary depending on the drug they used and if they combined more than one drug, but the most common signs are:

• Severe difficulty breathing, shallow breathing, or stopping breathing
• Dilated pupils
• Inability to walk or stand
• Chest pain
• Blue lips or fingers
• Nausea or vomiting
• Abnormally high body temperature
• Disorientation or confusion
• Paranoia, agitation, or violent behavior
• Seizures, convulsions, or tremors
• Unconsciousness or unresponsiveness

How is Substance Use Treated?

The most effective way to treat addiction is to seek help at a drug rehab. At Mind Body Wellness, we offer an outpatient drug rehab program that allows our clients to still live at home while receiving treatment. Treatment usually occurs on set days, for upwards of twenty hours per week.

Over time, the number of hours you must come in will decrease as you complete treatment. This occurs until you are ready to end treatment and begin your aftercare program. Although everyone’s treatment program looks a little different, it usually includes a combination of individual and group therapy and medical care for any health problems you may be experiencing.

Begin Treatment for Substance Use Today

At Mind Body Wellness, we know just how difficult it is to admit that you have a problem and how confusing it can be to find the right treatment. Our addiction treatment specialists are here to help you through the entire process, from your initial consultation to the day you are ready to handle things on your own.

Contact us today and visit our admissions page to learn more about our substance use treatment options and get yourself on the path to lasting sobriety.