How To Identify Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Drug Addiction Overview
In the past, those who were addicted to drugs and/or alcohol were stigmatized and sometimes perceived as weak or emotionally unstable. Advances in research and medical treatment have altered our perceptions and we now realize that addiction is a disease with a physiological as well as an emotional basis. Even though our perceptions may have changed, the fact remains that millions of Americans experiment with drugs and alcohol each year, many for the first time.
Alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and many other drugs can be addictive and many of those who experiment will become addicted. If you’re concerned about your own drug or alcohol use or that of a friend or loved one, we can help you at 247drugrehab.com or you can call us toll-free at 1-800-256-5483. We provide 24 hour drug rehab at our inpatient drug treatment center. You can also peruse our frequently asked questions, or FAQ section, to learn more about our inpatient addiction rehab program.
What’s the Difference Between Use and Abuse?
Drug and alcohol addictions are progressive diseases. Even though not every user becomes an addict from experimenting with substances, every addict started as an experimental user. These are the stages of addiction:
1. Occasional and/or celebratory use: At this stage, the user maintains control of both the quantity and frequency of his or her drug or alcohol use. During this stage, the user may experience some unpleasant or frightening sensations such as increased heart rate, confusion, memory loss or impaired judgment but the pleasurable sensations outweigh the unpleasant sensations so usage continues.
2. The next step in addiction is the need for an increasingly larger dose or a more frequent dose in order to achieve the same pleasurable sensations. During this stage, users become abusers and are vulnerable to becoming addicted to their substance of choice; their need is becoming more compulsive than recreational.
3. If the user continues his or her drug and/or alcohol use without seeking help, at this point addiction is likely to develop. Many users aren’t able to combat the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when they are without their substance and become full blown addicts. It’s very difficult to quit especially when withdrawal symptoms begin.
Symptoms of Addiction
Not all symptoms will be present with every substance, but these are the symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction and may present in varying degrees and combinations, depending on the substance and the individual. Symptoms include:
- Agitation
- Depression
- Fever
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Muscle and/or bone pain
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Paranoia
- Seizures
- Sweats
- Tremors
If you, a friend or a loved one are experimental users and exhibit one or more of these symptoms, you should call our 24 hour drug rehab center at 1-800-256-5483 to learn more about our inpatient drug treatment center. Don’t try to quit without professional help from an inpatient addiction rehab program. Quitting on your own can endanger your health and usually isn’t successful.
Consequences of Addiction
Many of the participants in our 24 hour drug rehab center have experienced serious health complications from their drug abuse but were unable to stop on their own. Many have lost their jobs, their relationships, and all of their material possessions due to their drug use but still were unable to stop. Without professional help, even those who manage to quit will relapse into their addiction.
Call Us Today
If you are an addict, call us toll free at 1-800-256-5483 and speak to a trained professional at our inpatient drug treatment center. Let us help you enroll in our inpatient addiction rehab program and start you on the way to clean and sober living.
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