For those who have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, help from a substance abuse program is necessary if you want to overcome your addiction. Addiction is classified as a devastating disease that affects nearly 23 million Americans nationwide. It is one of the leading causes of the healthcare deficit in the nation as more and more individuals are becoming increasingly dependent on substances of abuse. If you or someone close to you is struggling with addiction, it's time to get immediate help.

What is Addiction?

Many people do not have a full and complete definition of what addiction really is. Addiction is classified as a disease of the mind that is chronic and progressive in nature. When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they have an overwhelming psychological craving to the substance of abuse and become dependent on this substance. Their brain and body then become reliant on a constant supply of the drugs or alcohol in order to simply live each and every day. It's important that if you feel as though you are addicted, that you seek help from substance abuse programs now. Just as there are other life-threatening diseases that can be managed and treated with the proper treatment and medication, the same exact rule applies to the disease of addiction. Without help, though, addiction is a disease that is also very devastating in nature. The key to recovery is getting help now.

If you are unsure of whether or not you are an addict or perhaps a loved one is an addict, there are some signs and symptoms that you can look out for:

Trying to quit but always relapsing Quitting your career or job Strong urges and intense cravings Becoming obsessed with getting high or drunk Continued use despite the fact that your health is suffering Withdrawing from responsibilities Experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms when you are not using

If any of these sound like you or someone close to you, it may be time to seek help from a substance abuse program. These programs incorporate working with trained addiction specialists and counselors who make it their mission to help you get better.

What Happens in a Substance Abuse Program?

During your time at one of the many offered substance abuse programs, patients will go through daily therapy and counseling. This is designed to help you work through your addiction as well as help you learn to manage and cope with future cravings. You may be attending AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) programs as well in order to learn from others struggles and success and apply them to your own success. By learning from others, you will be better able to overcome your addiction.

Part of your unique substance abuse program may mean going through a medical detox phase. This process works to safely wean your body off of the addictive substance with special detox drugs. The procedure occurs in a controlled environment and you will be evaluated by medical staff members at various times throughout the process which can last up to one-week long. Detox works to address the physical addiction rather than the psychological addiction and the anti-craving drugs will help to lessen the withdrawal symptoms that often come with detox. Once you are finished this part of the substance abuse program, it is time to begin a treatment plan.

The right substance abuse programs can change your life completely. If you are struggling with addiction, it's time to reach out for help.

The Addiction Rehabilitation Process

Attending treatment is not as simple as jumping directly into a treatment program. It involves several stages, each one having an imperative part of your recovery. Typically, the four stages of the rehab process are intake, detox, rehabilitation, and ongoing recovery. When you decide on an addiction treatment center to attend, they will work with you through each of these phases.

Intake: This part of the rehab process works to take the proper blood tests and evaluations in order to determine what sort of treatment you will require. After certain diagnostic testing and screenings, a treatment program will be made just for you. The evaluation during this time will also look at your family history in order to determine any sort of underlying causes of the addiction. Detoxification: This process will work to stabilize you prior to starting in your addiction treatment program. Some detox drugs that are used are methadone, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates. Rehab: This part of treatment can range from one month long to three months long and involves daily therapy and counseling as part of treatment. This may be inpatient treatment or outpatient treatment. Ongoing Treatment and recovery: This part of recovery comes after rehabilitation has been completed. You are urged to attending various aftercare and relapse prevention programs in order to strengthen your chances of long-term sobriety.

It's important that when treatment is complete that you attend with dedication the ongoing recovery part of sobriety. This involves attending aftercare programs and relapse prevention programs in order to keep you motivated to continue on in treatment.

Understanding Addiction

It's important that you never blame yourself for your addiction as there are many factors that go into reasons why some become addicted and others do not. Some of the key elements that should go into each and every addiction treatment program are:

Treatment that treats the mental and physical addiction Personalized treatment Dual diagnosis and mental health issues are treated Look at any coexisting diseases or illnesses Incorporate behavioral therapy Proper monitoring

Make sure to take these elements into consideration when looking for a treatment program. It's also important to ensure that the center in which you decide to accept treatment at offers compassionate care and operate in the best interest of you, the patient.

There are several different kinds of addiction treatment facilities that you may attend. Inpatient treatment typically takes place in a residential center or a hospital style setting. Many of the facilities offer around-the-clock care in the chance that you require medical attention. This is an important element to look for in a substance abuse program as treatment and recovery is a difficult process that can bring about anything from withdrawal symptoms to anxiety attacks. By having the appropriate staff available when you require them will give you the peace of mind needed to carry on in your treatment program.

What is Withdrawal Like?

Many addicts are terrified of the detox and withdrawal process as it usually means discomfort. Although withdrawal may not be the most comfortable period of treatment, there are ways in which to manage it and this is with the help of detox drugs. When an individual consumes substances of abuse on a regular basis for a prolonged period of time, their systems become dependent on the substance. Some symptoms that patients may endure during the first day or two of detox are tiredness, cramping, runny nose, and decreased appetite, among others. Medical staff will be available to help you through this process and it is possible to overcome your addiction is the appropriate help.

There are many different types of therapy that patients will go through during their time in treatment some of these are:

Individual therapy: This type of therapy involved the patient working one-on-one with their addiction counselors. They will be able to open up about any sort of personal struggles that they may be experiencing both in the present as well as in the past. Group Therapy: This type of therapy takes place in a communal, group setting where patients can open up to each other about their addiction, their struggles, and how they overcame their addiction. Typically, these types of therapy sessions occur in small groups of around 10 to 15 individuals and can last one or two hours. Family Therapy: Since addiction is considered a family disease, it's important that each family member partakes in the recovery process. This could mean each family member attending the family therapy session with the individual who is addicted in order to help overcome addiction as a family.

Getting Help Today

It's imperative to your wellbeing that you seek help from a substance abuse program now as your addiction will continue to get worse over time. You have the ability to overcome your addiction but it takes mental and physical strength in order to get there.

Remember that if you do not choose to get help, your addiction will depict your future and you can guarantee that it will not be a good one. In as little as three months, you can be a totally new person living a life that you have always wanted for yourself. It's time to get the courage to ask for help as this is the largest and most important part of the recovery process. If you do not, your addiction will control your life just like it has done so far. Don't wait any longer, get help from one of the many substance abuse programs available near you today.