How Is Drug Abuse Or Dependence Diagnosed
A family doctor, psychiatrist, or qualified mental health professional usually diagnoses substance abuse. Clinical findings often depend on the substance abused, the frequency of use, and the length of time since last used, and may include:
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Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
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Expectations for the course of the condition
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Your opinion or preference
A variety of treatment programs for substance abuse are available on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Programs considered are usually based on the type of substance abused. Detoxification and long-term follow-up management or recovery-oriented systems of care are important features of successful treatment. Long-term follow-up management usually includes formalized group meetings and psychosocial support systems, as well as continued medical supervision. Individual and family psychotherapy are often recommended to address the issues that may have contributed to and resulted from the development of a substance abuse disorder.
Why Multiple Addictions Work The Same Way
Why do coffee and cigarettes go together like Mork & Mindy? Actually, the truth about that is pretty deep. Caffeine makes your brain significantly more receptive to dopamine .
When you have a coffee and then a cigarette, you get many times the dopamine you get from a cigarette alone. In other words, caffeine makes your smoking high that much higher. Were talking the Everest of highs .
Plus, caffeine makes nicotine leave your system faster than usual. This is why lots of people smoke more after having caffeine because the caffeine depletes the nicotine so they need another fix. That depletion also makes you feel more anxious, which makes you want to smoke even more.
This is why its a good idea to quit smoking and caffeine at the same time.
Addictions Started Out Like Magical Pets Pocket Monsters They Did Extraordinary Tricks Showed You Things You Hadnt Seen Were Fun But Came Through Some Gradual Dire Alchemy To Make Decisions For You Eventually They Were Making Your Most Crucial Life
Gibson does a great job of explaining how the rush of drug abuse can go from enjoyable to a full blown addiction that controls a persons waking thoughts and actions. Just like in a bad relationship, at the beginning, using drugs and alcohol may feel good. Love and addiction can have this in common. However, at a certain point, it becomes difficult to achieve the same initial high. As the body builds up a tolerance, increasing amounts of the substance are needed to feel the desired effects. At the same time, many begin to develop dependence, meaning without the drug, they will feel negative physiological and physical effects. These factors combined can lead to addiction. Things can quickly turn destructive as getting drunk or high becomes a priority.
Some try to recreate the feeling of the first time they used, struggling to recognize the level of control that alcohol and drugs now has over their lives. On a personal level, the costs of addiction are steep. Losing relationships, financial stability, personal freedoms, loss of custody of children, overdose and even death can be common outcomes for many. The societal costs of substance abuse are great at over $532 billion a year. This estimate includes costs from disease, premature death, lost productivity, theft, violence, law enforcement, prosecution, incarceration, and probation.
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Addiction Rarely Acts Alone
Stress, anxiety, trauma, and depression can also result in the development of substance use disorders, which can create new challenges for your mental health.
Studies show that many of those struggling with other mental illnesses also struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol. Many individuals with a substance use disorder also have other mental health symptoms or disorders. This is known as having a dual diagnosis.
The following have been known to co-occur with addiction:
- Bipolar disorder
- Personality disorders, like borderline personality disorder
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Alcohol Tobacco And Other Drugs
The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. SAMHSAs 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that approximately 19.3 million people aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year.
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Catastrophising About The Future
The past is gone, and there is nothing you can do about it unless you are in possession of a time machine! the future, however, hasnt happened yet, so really that leaves you with only one place to live. The present. It is called the present because it is a gift. Your ability to change your circumstances for the better is constantly revealing itself to you with every moment. This does not mean living in the moment with abandon, however!. It means affecting your future through the only tool you have with which to do that the present moment. If you direct all your attention to it your life will change in positive ways you can scarcely imagine.
Substitute Addictions Can Be Sneaky
If you attended an addiction treatment centre then you are probably aware of the dangers of substituting alcohol for another drug of choice or vice versa which is why complete abstinence from all substances is recommended. As well, it is important to be aware of the less talked about process addictions such as gambling, food, shopping, sex, or love that can also be used to fulfil the void of your previous addiction.
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Recovery Requires Lifestyle Changes
If you think you can live the same lifestyle as you did before addiction treatment while simply abstaining from using drugs or alcohol you are on the fast track to relapse. Addiction recovery requires a lifestyle overhaul including the activities you participate in, the people you hang out with, and the way you think.
Helping A Friend With Addiction
If you’re worried about a friend who has an addiction, you can use these tips to help him or her. For example, let your friend know that you are available to talk or offer your support. If you notice a friend backsliding, talk about it openly and ask what you can do to help.
If your friend is going back to drugs or drinking and won’t accept your help, don’t be afraid to talk to a nonthreatening, understanding adult, like your parent or school counselor. It may seem like you’re ratting your friend out, but it’s the best support you can offer.
Above all, offer a friend who’s battling an addiction lots of encouragement and praise. It may seem corny, but hearing that you care is just the kind of motivation your friend needs.
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Importance Of Being Happy In Recovery
All humans want to be happy even those who do things that move them away from this. It is often fairly claimed that it is this desire for happiness that drives the human race. In western culture there is the common assumption that people deserve to be happy, and that getting in the way of other peoples happiness is a bad thing.
Finding happiness is of particular important to people in recovery because:
* If people feel comfortable in their new life away from addiction they will fight harder to keep it. Those individuals who sober up but fail to find happiness are more likely to relapse.* Those individuals who have been through the hell of addiction will have suffered a great deal. They owe it to themselves to find happiness in recovery.* The family and friends of the addict are likely to have suffered as well. When they see this individual turn their life around and find happiness it will benefit them too even if it is only because they have less to worry about.* It is this striving for happiness that encourages people to grow and develop. The individual will continue to chip away at their character flaws because they feel certain that this will bring them towards greater happiness.* Those individuals who find happiness in recovery are inspirational people. They inspire those who are still struggling with addiction to give sobriety a chance.
Recognize That Theres A Lot To Learn About Substance Use Disorder
Experiencing feelings of fear, worry and anger are understandable and normal for someone on the sidelines trying to support a loved one. As with any other chronic illness, the more informed you are the better you will be able to support them. You can help them, and yourself, by seeking more education.
Learn more about substance use disorder, interventions, treatment methods and mental health terms to use, and which to avoid. And recognize that now is not the time to nag or lecture your loved one about what they should have done in the past or how things could have been better.
Seek professional help on how to approach your loved one about their substance use so they can get the proper treatment. Assistance in Recovery is one resource in our community that offers advocates who can help coach you on the best ways to do this. They can also explain the variety of treatment options out there for your loved one many of which include the involvement of family and other supporters.
Were here when you need us. HealthPartners has alcohol and substance use recovery treatment programs in Minnesota and Wisconsin:
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Why Is Quitting So Hard
Addiction affects the frontal cortex of your brain and alters your impulse control and judgment. The brain’s reward system is also altered so that the memory of previous rewards can trigger craving or increased “hunger” for drugs or rewarding experiences, in spite of negative consequences.
These changes in your brain can make quitting difficult, but it is important to remember that addictions are treatable. With the right plan and resources, recovery is possible.
The good news is that you can quit, although it’s a complicated process. There are many factorsphysical, mental, emotional, and biologicalthat make quitting difficult. This complexity is why so many people find treatment helps guide them through the process of quitting. Even still, many people are successful in quitting on their own.
Popular Quotes About Recovery
Use this list of drug addiction quotes about beating substance abuse to motivate you to continue your recovery journey and stay drug-free.
Inspirational Recovery Quotes / Drug Addiction Quotes 6-20
Get Your Life Back
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I Felt Bad But Good I Wanted To Quit More Addictions
The funny thing is, even though I had a headache and my stomach was trying to trick me into believing I was hungry, I felt great deep inside. Id done something excellent for my health. And even through the headache and food cravings, I felt optimistic and ready for a new challenge.
Giving up one thing had made me feel great. Time to give up something else. Yes, I was going to quit all addictions simultaneously. So what would come next?
I had my choices. I could have quit coffee, smoking and nicotine, alcohol The logical choice is to quit smoking, right? Cigarettes are the worst thing for your health. I mean even if we compare tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine, youd have to say cigarettes are the worst. So, quitting smoking would be the best thing I could do for myself.
I didnt choose to quit smokes. I wasnt ready. Before I could do that, I decided I would quit coffee because coffee and smoking go together like tea and biscuits.
Life Events And Trauma
Financial problems, a bad breakup, or the death of a close friend or relative are some of the situations that can push you to seek relief or escape with drugs or alcohol.
Also, people exposed to high levels of stress are susceptible to addiction. Research has found that 60-80% of people with PTSD also have substance use issues. People who experience PTSD may use drugs and alcohol to cope with stress or to relieve symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and irritability.
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Addiction Recovery Is Giving Up One Thing To Gain Everything Else
If you had told me ten years ago that to get everything I wanted out of life, I had to give up the one thing I thought I couldnt live without I dont think I would have believed you. This time ten years ago, I was in one of the darkest parts of my addiction. I was working a dead-end job I hated, living back at home with my parents as a grown adult, blowing each paycheck on drugs and alcohol, and living a life of full-blown addiction. I wasnt the stereotypical image people think of when it comes to addiction, but I was far enough down the rabbit hole that I had no idea how to get out or if I even really wanted to.
The tricky thing about addiction is that it is very often a war between what we need and what we think we want. This idea may not make sense at first, so I will break it down for you if you are unsure what I mean. On some level, I believe that we all want to have an extraordinary life. People want to have security and know where they will get their next meal. Its nice to have the necessities of food, clothes, and shelter. We all have a deep need for meaningful relationships and can only thrive when our basic needs are met. Addiction takes something that a person wants, be it alcohol or drugs, and makes them think it is something they need. When this change occurs, a person will begin to sacrifice the things they need and want to fulfill the lie of obtaining their addiction needs.
Understanding The Pleasure Principle
Whether it is a psychoactive drug, sexual experience, or any other form of pleasure, the brain perceives them all in the same way. It stimulates dopamine release from the brains pleasure center.
The difference comes in the speed, intensity, and reliability with which the brain releases dopamine. Typically, drugs of abuse stimulate a high dopamine surge. Thats why they will always be so addictive. The high levels create an alternative route to the brains reward system, which causes dopamine to flood the brainand ultimately intensifies addiction.
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I Quit Every Addiction What Happened Next Shocked Me
Two weeks have passed since I started quitting all addictions: drinking alcohol, smoking , sugar, and caffeine.
It was on the 9th of August that my journey into madness began. That day, a brilliantly bright and hot Tuesday.
That day was the day I:
- Finally quit cigarettes and nicotine because I found the best way to stop smoking .
- Beat my sugar addiction
- Drank Coca Cola for the last time
It was the painful beginning of my addition-free life. And yes, giving up alcohol, smoking, nicotine, and sugar simultaneously brutal. I only really got through by using meditation to stop cravings. I also learned that what matters, in the end, is how you control dopamine.
Let me share with you the story of my descent into hell. You wont believe what happened.
Quitting Addictions At The Same Time Works Because Of Dopamine
Coffee and cooking go together because of the effect they have on dopamine.
Dopamine makes your brain release dopamine quicker. Because of that, caffeine will make your cravings stronger for all dopamine-related habits.
All this put together meant that if I wanted to quit smoking, quitting coffee was an essential first step.
Wednesday morning, I threw my cup at the wall as hard as I could. It smashed into a million pieces. A waste of a cup. But it sent a clear message to my brain telling me I would not drink my Nescafe again.
How:
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Things You Need To Know About Addiction Recovery
After finishing alcohol or drug rehab, hopefully you feel prepared to start your road to long-term recovery. However, no matter how prepared you feel there are many aspects to addiction recovery that many addicts do not expect, and these can throw them off balance. To help you stay on track we have compiled this list of 21 things you should know about addiction recovery from the start.
