Posts Tagged ‘Experts on Addiction’

Experts on addiction understand that for a rehab program to work, the treatment modalities for addiction need to be tailored to the needs and particular circumstances of an individual. There are a wide variety of substances that people abuse and there are many kinds of people with different attitudes, backgrounds, and reasons for abusing drugs. An effective and efficient drug rehabilitation plan should be a balance between an established method and individualized treatment. Hawaii Island Recovery offers a Big Island rehab program with a variety of therapy options.

Addiction is a complex and complicated disorder. It is not simply an indication of a person’s failure to exercise moral or ethical judgment, or the absence of willpower to resist abusing substances. Rather, it is a debilitating disorder wherein an individual’s brain and body no longer function the same way as it did before the addiction has set in. When drugs and substances are abused, there are certain physical functions that have changed and have become dependent on the effects of the drugs. These substances also affect the way an individual’s brain functions, most especially the brain’s reward center, making it really difficult for abusers to resist any cravings and urges for those addictive substances. Because the brain and body has been altered by these substances, it may take a long time for people to control these cravings and urges. Even after several years of being off the addicting substances, these cravings and urges hardly ever completely disappear.

Experts on addiction say that the power of choice is taken away from substance abusers. The substances they abuse are put on a pedestal and everything else is of secondary importance to their drug of choice. There is no complete cure for addiction. Rather, there is only rehabilitation and the consistent practice of healthy habits and the ability to resist any stimuli or cravings, which may arise. Relapse is a fairly common thing among substance abusers. Treatment and constant support is necessary to prevent addicts from relapsing to their addictions.

Challenges Drug Addicts Face That May Cause Relapse

1.    For addicts, drugs are the basic necessities of life. They are needed for survival and living without drugs is a nigh impossible undertaking.

2.    For a lot of drug addicts, abusing substances is a better option than facing the realities of life. This is especially true if the life they are living now is full of stress and challenges.

3.    Addiction changes the brain’s chemistry. Majority of drug abusers experience Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome at the start of their treatment. They are so used to the “pleasurable’ effects of the drug that being sober feels not “normal” for them.
4.    When addicts begin to crave and seek for drugs, their thoughts become focused on acquiring and using the drugs. They tend to resent people and things that are not related to drug usage, forget any unpleasant experiences resulting from drug usage, and concentrate solely on using the drugs again.

There are several types of substances that people abuse. They range from simple organic substances to prescribed medications.

Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is a substance commonly abused by a lot of people. This is most likely because alcohol is a legal substance that can be easily bought and consumed by adults. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and lowers people’s social inhibitions. Regular and high amounts of alcohol ingestion may lead to cognitive impairment, vitamin deficiency, and liver cirrhosis.

Marijuana Addiction
In the United States, there are more than three million people who smoke marijuana almost on a daily basis. It is the most popular illegal substance in the US. Marijuana has several medical benefits. However, most people use it to feel relax or to make sensations more intense.

Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is a stimulant made from the coca plant that is highly addictive. It gives users a short and very intense high. It also stimulates blood pressure and heart rate, which is potentially very dangerous as it may lead to a stroke or a heart attack.

Opiate Addiction
Codeine, heroin, and morphine are strong analgesics. Not only do these substances lessen pain, they also give the users a feeling of pleasure and euphoria. When people begin to depend on drug-induced euphoria, they run the risk of being addicted to these drugs.

Meth Addiction
Meth is a type of amphetamine. A lot of people use meth so they can stay up and active while some use it to suppress their appetites. This substance is also highly addictive.

Prescription Drug Addiction
Long term usage of prescription drugs or taking more than the prescribed dose could lead to addiction. A responsible physician needs to limit the amount prescribed to a patient and check if a particular patient has been prescribed the same drug by other doctors. Painkillers are the most abused among the prescribed medications.

Persons who have abused drugs tend to have changes in their appearances due to either poor hygiene or failing health. They may also show changes in their relationships and may abandon friends not involved in their addiction for those that share the addiction. Sometimes they may even prefer being alone. They may also have frequent legal and financial troubles.

Treatment for substance abuse not only requires support from the family and friend of an addict. It also needs a comprehensive and well-planned recovery program. In treating drug addiction, the method used must be evidence based and has a well documented success rate. Treatment also needs to be suited to each individual’s unique needs and situation. At Hawaii Island Recovery’s Big Island rehab, an ideal environment is created and designed by experts on addiction to complement the treatment modalities used for an addict. While for some people, the setting for the treatment may not be as important as preliminary detoxification and actual controlled treatment, the importance of a good setting cannot be denied.

In treating substance abuse, experts on addiction need to possess extensive experience in the field of addiction. They also need to be able to communicate and work well together as a team as well as having the needed credentials to perform the job. Lastly, they need to have a thorough understanding of addiction and insight on the various factors leading to addiction, relapse, and individualized care.

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction please call Hawaii Island Recovery at 866-906-6911.