Many people may find themselves anchored to bad habits such as substance abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction. The ones who are most successful at ditching an addiction do so by way of a receiving professional addiction treatment at a qualified inpatient drug rehab center.

Is Inpatient Treatment Necessary?

An inpatient drug rehab center is best suited for those with a high dependency on drugs and alcohol. This type of rehab requires patients to reside at the facility for the duration of treatment. So-called anonymous 12-step peer support groups can be very helpful to anyone who sincerely wishes to shed an addiction to drugs or alcohol. For a relatively small selection of addicts, self-help peer group meetings and "the big book" are all they need to stop drinking and abusing drugs. Most addicts, however, are unable to give up addictive drugs without the sort of intensive help that is available only at reputable inpatient drug rehab centers.

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Drug Rehab

When the human body and mind are addicted to certain chemicals, the problem is virtually impossible to overcome with willpower alone. As the body metabolizes and discards the most recent dose of drugs, cravings set in. If these cravings are denied, the body goes into a very uncomfortable state known as withdrawal. If you've never been through it yourself, withdrawal is impossible to describe. You may imagine it as the worst sort of flu anyone ever had. Chills, nausea and muscle aches are just a few of the flu-like symptoms that are part of the withdrawal process.

Withdrawals are so awful that most addicts will do anything to make them stop. In the addict's day-to-day world, temptations may be everywhere. That's why most people who try to quit drugs without professional guidance fail in their efforts to become sane and sober. At a skilled inpatient drug rehab center, temptations are removed.

Why Addiction Happens

The human brain is a complex thing. When certain drugs enter the body, they 'fit into' specialized structures within the brain. Interestingly, some of these structures contain proteins that happen to be ideal receptors for opioid compounds. Derived from a strain of poppy flowers, opioid drugs are excellent at relieving pain. For many people, opioids may also trigger feelings of euphoria. Anyone who takes opiate drugs, whether doctor-prescribed or illegally obtained, is at risk of becoming addicted.

The condition of addiction is defined by Mayo Clinic as an irresistible craving accompanied by compulsive use. It doesn't stop there, though. Once the 'reward centers' of the human brain are habituated, they will not take 'no' for an answer. An addicted brain that is denied is very hard to control. In fact, most persons who attempt to stop taking addictive chemicals without medical help go right back to drugs as soon as the unwell feelings of withdrawal begin. Fortunately, medical intervention at an inpatient drug rehab center is available.

How Addiction Happens

People start taking drugs for all sorts of reasons. For many, the path to addiction began the first time they experimented with friends. For others, drug use was perceived as a way to fit in with a social group. Of course, not all addiction begins as a lark. For some addicts, the road to devastating drug dependence started when they accepted a physician's prescription for a strong pain relief medication such as OxyContin, Vicodin or morphine. Not everyone who takes these drugs, especially for very short-term treatment of pain, becomes an addict. Anyone, however, who takes prescription narcotics such as these is bound to get used to them. Eventually, more and more of the medicine will be needed to feel the same good feelings they used to get with far less.

Risk Factors for Addiction

Addiction experts at Mayo Clinic note a number of factors that are known to commonly lead to drug dependence:

* Poverty and unemployment

* Close family members who are substance abusers

* Youth and inexperience History of criminal activity

* Repeated social contact with high-risk people

* Mental disorders

* Thrill-seeking behavior

* Depression and anxiety

* Stressful circumstances

* History of drug or alcohol use

In most cases of drug addiction, the drug is at least as much to blame as the individual who has the habit. Certain medications, especially the ones that are made from opium poppies, are so habit-forming, it's virtually impossible to not become dependent after using them for even a short time. OxyContin, Demerol, and hydrocodone are quite effective at short-term pain relief, but they also present a terrifyingly high risk for addiction. If your doctor recommended a prescription for one of these drugs, and now you feel sick and anxious when you don't take them, take a deep breath and call an inpatient drug rehab center without delay.

How to Know if You're Addicted

Ask yourself a few pertinent questions, and be sure to answer honestly:

Are drugs the first thing to cross your mind when you wake up?

Do you spend money you can't afford to buy drugs?

Have your friends told you that they worry about your drug use?

Have you ever flunked a class or lost a job because you were high?

When you go without your drug of choice, do you feel sick?

If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, now is the ideal time to have a confidential chat with a compassionate drug treatment counselor.

Medical rehab options

Let's talk a little more about withdrawals. After that, we'll tell you how inpatient drug treatment makes the detox process easier. Drug withdrawal is not a single thing. It is a process accompanied by numerous symptoms, including but not limited to the following:

Anxiety and nervousness Insomnia and sleeplessness Aches and pains Nausea that gets worse and worse Dry heaves Shaking hands and kicking legs Headache

If you or someone you care about is afraid to quit because withdrawals are so difficult to deal with, please don't give up hope. Medical help is available along with counseling at numerous drug rehab facilities from coast to coast. Anyone who wants help can get it at a compassionate inpatient drug rehab center.

For many patients, their journey toward sobriety begins with medical detox. Some of the medicines that can help addicts kick the habit include Catapres, Buprenorphine, Vivitrol, and Suboxone. These and other doctor-prescribed medications can and do ease the abject agony of drug withdrawal and increase the addict's chances of successfully navigating the challenge of detox. It may take days or even weeks for the body to recover from sustained drug use, but a successful rehab is well worth the time and effort.

Is medical rehab right for you?

Not every person who checks into rehab requires medical detox. In situations where withdrawal would present a risk to the health of the inpatient, medical detox is a viable option. Medical detox may be appropriate to treat addiction to a number of drugs, including:

Prescription painkillers Heroin Alcohol Crack or powdered cocaine Methamphetamine, Ritalin or speed Benzodiazepines including Valium

A full-service treatment center for drug or alcohol treatment will help the addict stop abusing drugs while providing them the tools they will need to remain drug-free after discharge. Inpatient therapy is imperative, but a qualified treatment center will also offer post-discharge options such as a halfway house or outpatient counseling. 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous are also proven to be helpful to fresh-out-of-rehab addicts.

What to Expect in Rehab

When you check into an inpatient drug treatment center for the first time, you may tell your story to an intake counselor. Expect to be evaluated physically and mentally. Yes, addiction is a medical problem much in the same way that diabetes and high blood pressure are chronic conditions. Addiction is not, however, a purely physical condition. That's why the best inpatient drug treatment centers provide psychiatric care and emotional counseling that helps the addict learn -and deal with- the deep-seated causes of their personal addiction. Persons who present with one or more mental conditions along with a drug addiction are considered "dual diagnosis" and may be successfully treated at an inpatient drug rehab center that specializes in such conditions.

While in rehab, you won't have access to people and places that you associate with drug-taking behaviors. At first, this may seem strange, but it's the best way for you to focus on getting well. Don't worry, though. Most inpatient rehabs are comfortable places where they really do care about their guests. Some, in fact, are luxurious facilities that feel more like a health spa or five-star resort than a drug and alcohol treatment center. When you call around for help, be sure to ask about special rehab programs such as horseback riding, art classes, cooking classes, and yoga lessons.

Can Drug Addiction be Cured?

Addiction is a chronic medical condition that may be managed but not wholly cured. Think of drug addiction like you think of asthma, diabetes or hypertension. With proper medical treatment and lifestyle changes, persons who have these chronic conditions are able to live happy and productive lives. For many addicts, their brand new life began at an inpatient drug rehab center.