Drug Abuse and Addiction by About Drug Rehabilitation

Addiction can be described as a compulsive or obsessive relationship to a substance or behavior. If you feel a “need” for something all the time or at specific times, you may be an addict.

Drug addiction is a complex but treatable disease. It is a brain disease as the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. It is described as a compulsive, uncontrollable craving, desire that persists no matter the consequences. It is true, for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, however, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person’s self control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take more drugs. For many people, their drug abuse is so severe it becomes chronic. When and individuals drug abuse crosses over to chronic, relapse is possible even long after an extended period of recovery. However, treatment tailored to an individuals specific needs can offer a significantly increased opportunity to recover and lead a productive life.

The ultimate goal of drug addiction treatment is to enable an individual to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce drug abuse, improve the individuals’ ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of drug abuse and addiction. Like individuals with a chronic disease such as diabetes or heart disease, those in treatment for drug addiction must also change their behavior and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

To spot the symptoms of substance addiction, consider the following:

• Constantly thinking about a specific substance.
• Frequently, or more often than before, using a substance.
• Use of substance is being hidden from people one cares about.
• Lying to oneself and/or others about using substance.
• One suspects substance is becoming a problem.
• There are specific times or circumstances that trigger desire to use substance.
• People or things of value in ones life are being sacrificed to have more substance.

If one can relate to any of the previous statements, there may be a concern of substance addiction in the near future. What makes recovery difficult yet reachable is it must be pursued with purpose, with discipline and with determination.

Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to promote habitual drug abuse. They mistakenly view drug abuse and addiction as merely a social problem and characterize individuals abusing drugs as morally weak. One common misconception is drug abusers should be able to simply stop taking drugs. What people often misunderstand is the complexity of drug addiction. It is a disease impacting the brain. Stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower.

Untreated substance abuse and addiction inflict significant costs to families and communities. These costs include, but are not limited to, those related to violence and property crimes, prison expenses, court and criminal costs, emergency room visits, healthcare utilization, child abuse and neglect, lost child support, foster care and welfare costs, reduced productivity, and unemployment.

Not only is drug abuse and addiction crippling many American families, it is a major burden to society. Estimates of the total overall costs of1 substance abuse 2in the United States, including health and crime related costs as well as losses in productivity, exceed half a trillion dollars annually. This includes approximately $181 billion for illicit drugs, $168 billion for tobacco, and $185 billion for alcohol. Staggering as these numbers are, they do not fully describe the breadth of lethal public health and safety implications, which include family collapse, loss of employment, failure in school, domestic violence, and child abuse just to name a few.