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What To Know About Drug Use Disorder And Addiction

November 08, 2024

No one ever expects to develop a drug use disorder, but this serious disease affects millions of Americans every year. Drug use disorders transform your body and brain and can devastate your life. Mercifully, there is support for anyone dealing with drug use. Specialized drug addiction treatment is accessible in the Clark area and can help you regain control of your life. Read on to learn more about drug use disorders and addiction and how individuals and their family members can overcome these conditions with specialized guidance.

What Is A Drug Use Disorder?

Many people take illicit drugs for social reasons or powerful prescription drugs to address health conditions. But at what point does drug use transform into a life-changing disorder?

Typically, drug use develops into a disorder when an individual exhibits concerning patterns of use and can no longer regulate their use. Drug use disorders are mental illnesses that range from mild to severe. These conditions interfere with your life and severely impact your physical state.

There are differing facets of drug use disorders:

  • Dependence occurs when your body becomes so used to a drug that it struggles to function in its absence. You will suffer distressing withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the drug.

  • Addiction is a psychological dependency. Dependency-causing drugs change your brain function so that you constantly want those substances and feel urged to take them in growing amounts. You are unable to regulate your mental state and conduct. Addiction is the most severe element of substance use disorders.

All phases of drug use disorder are harmful to your body, mind, relationships, and wellbeing. If you suspect you or someone you love has a drug use disorder, find skilled care for recovery. Anyone who is afflicted has a right to help.

What Drugs Are Dependency-causing?

Addictive drugs contain powerful chemicals that modify your brain. Some are threatening enough to be prohibited by law. Others are approved prescriptions but can become dangerous when used improperly or overused. Below are many of the most common addictive drugs in the United States:

  • Narcotics dull the senses, which causes them to be effective painkillers. However, people also take them to dull other uncomfortable feelings and can get addicted quickly. Narcotics are often categorized as opiates or opioids. Opiates are plant-sourced drugs. Opioids are synthetic. Heroin is a well-known illegal narcotic. Legal narcotics like Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin, morphine, and fentanyl have pharmaceutical uses but are habit-forming and frequently misused.

  • Benzodiazepines are mood-altering drugs frequently prescribed for psychological disorders. But, they can give rise to addiction when not managed appropriately. Their sedative qualities make you feel relaxed. Valium and Xanax are widely recognized benzos.

  • Stimulants include medications like Ritalin and Adderall, as well as prohibited drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine. They energize your central nervous system, leaving you feeling energized, alert, and euphoric. Taking too much of stimulants can be deadly.

All of these sorts of drugs can develop into a drug use disorder. They all possess the capacity to destabilize your life and cause life-endangering medical conditions. Find support for yourself or a loved one at the first signal of dependency.

How Does Drug Addiction Occur?

There are various reasons why individuals start using dependency-causing drugs. Numerous do so for enjoyment because they like the sensations those chemicals generate. Others develop dependency with prescriptions they're taking for medical treatment. Another group of people begin using drugs to self-medicate undiagnosed mental illnesses and discover brief comfort.

Whatever the primary factor for first trying these substances, the path to addiction is usually the same. Your body grows a dependency to the drug, and you feel unwell when you don't consume it. You take more just to get by. You may gradually require larger doses for the drug to work. You like how it makes you feel. You feel desperate without it and continue using it. Ultimately, those chemicals take control of the pleasure circuits of your brain, and you can no longer experience pleasure unless that drug is present.

When you're addicted, finding a steady supply of the drug becomes all that matters. Many people give up jobs, experience illness, damage relationships, and take serious risks as a result of drug addiction. Your addiction controls you and all aspects of your life, and you are unable to quit without specialized support.

What Are Signs Of Drug Addiction?

It might seem a drug use disorder would be clear. But, these disorders can look different among individuals, and those you love will frequently try to hide their drug use from you. If you are uncertain if you or a friend have a drug use disorder, review the following indicators:

  • Experiencing an uncontrollable urge to consume the drug

  • Failed efforts to slow down on or cease using the drug

  • Spending much time getting the drug, using it, or recovering from its effects

  • Consuming a prescription drug for longer timeframes or in greater amounts than intended

  • Unable to fulfill commitments due to drug use

  • Giving up cherished pursuits to consume drugs

  • Continuing to use the drug even when it harms relationships

  • Continued use of the drug even when it adversely impacts your mental and physical health

  • Requiring more of the drug to feel its effects

  • Enduring withdrawal when making an effort to quit

  • Engaging in risky behavior to obtain or ingest the drug

Drug use disorders can look different among people. If you or someone close to you are exhibiting any signs of drug addiction near Clark, consult with a local doctor or addiction treatment professional.

Where To Obtain Drug Addiction Treatment In Clark

Drug use disorder treatment is a multi-faceted process. The majority of individuals will endure relapses and have to revisit steps many times. You may not be “cured” of drug use disorder, but countless people find recovery and use what they explore during treatment to maintain a rewarding, substance-free life. The solution is locating skilled, proven treatment that matches your needs.

No two addiction recovery journeys are identical. However, treatment generally involves the these steps at accredited treatment facilities:

  • Drug detox is the method of letting your body rid itself of substances. Your system will do this naturally as long as you refrain from taking more drugs. However, if you have a drug dependence, your body will experience withdrawal without using. To properly complete detox, you should go to an inpatient detox center that offers round-the-clock medical support and takes steps to keep you comfortable.

  • Drug rehab programs also offer inpatient treatment. During rehab, you’ll continue to live at a treatment center and enjoy access to medical care for any persistent withdrawal symptoms. Every day, you participate in different sorts of counseling sessions with the aim of comprehending your addiction, cultivating new healthy habits, and addressing any underlying mental disorders. You should continue in rehab until you feel physically and mentally stable enough to exit that substance-free environment.

  • Once you finish rehab, you should continue to receive intensive addiction care. Outpatient addiction and mental health care will help you move forward in life without addictive drugs. These programs offer regular therapy and medication management. At first, you may participate in outpatient treatment every day and go home in the evenings. Over time, you won’t need as much care and could only go to therapy once a week or less.

Every person deserves specialized, supportive addiction treatment. No matter how advanced your addiction is, there is hope. Seeking appropriate treatment at an accredited treatment center is critical to reach your goals. You never have to fight addiction alone. There are many choices for drug addiction treatment near Clark.

How Can Families Support A Loved One Battling Drug Addiction Near Clark?

People with a drug use disorder need all the help they can get. Family and friends can play critical roles in addiction recovery. If you care for someone with a drug use disorder, here are many ways you can help them:

Get Help For Drug Use Disorders Near Clark Today

No individual should face drug use disorders alone. If you or a loved one are grappling with drug addiction, recovery is possible. Call The Counseling Center at Clark at 732-605-6029 or complete the following contact from. A member of our team will reply immediately to explore treatment. All calls are free and secure. You can reach us 24-hours a day, every day of the year. Find help today. We are here for you.