Addiction is a chronic disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is a brain disease because it causes functional changes to brain circuits involved in stress, reward, and self-control.
When someone first starts using a drug, they usually have a positive experience. They may also feel they can control their drug use. Within a short time, drug use can take over a person’s life. The substance is in control, and other activities the person used to enjoy no longer feel pleasurable.
The person may find it difficult to control their need for drugs even if they are having difficulties at work or school due to their drug use. The person may be having relationship difficulties. Some people may need to take more of the drug to achieve the same pleasurable effect they previously achieved because they have a tolerance for the drug, even though they are in the early stages of drug use. These are all signs of addiction.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), addiction shares some traits in common with other chronic diseases, like heart disease. Both disrupt an essential body part’s normal, healthy functioning and have serious harmful effects. Addiction and heart disease are, in many cases, both preventable and treatable. If they are left untreated, they can last a lifetime and may have fatal consequences.
Addiction doesn’t discriminate; it can and does affect people from all backgrounds, beliefs, and income levels. It doesn’t start due to poor choices, bad parenting, or the person’s lack of willpower.
Age is another risk factor for addiction. Young people are at higher risk for developing an addiction to drugs since their brains are still growing and are more susceptible to being altered if exposed to drugs.
Certain drugs and their ingestion methods also play a role in whether someone will develop an addiction. Heroin and cocaine flood the brain with a high level of dopamine from the first dose to create a powerful high that makes the user addicted very quickly. When drugs are smoked or injected, they are more likely to be addictive.
Environmental risk factors like economic status, peer pressure, poor academic performance, and a hostile home environment while growing up can give someone a push toward developing a drug addiction.
There are physical, psychological, and behavioral signs that someone may be addicted to drugs. The more signs that someone is showing, the more likely they have a drug problem.
Some common signs and symptoms of drug addiction are:
The first step in treating drug addiction is for a client to go through detoxification (detox). This process ensures the person is free from the influence of any chemicals and is clean and sober before moving forward with their drug addiction treatment. At Willingway, our clients needing detox undergo a medically supervised program designed to keep them comfortable.
After completing detox, clients move into their inpatient rehabilitation treatment. At Willingway, our treatment program includes several features: individual and group therapy, spirituality and self-care, and recreational therapy. Our clients learn about relapse prevention and plan for their discharge from the program in advance.
Clients can expect to stay in our residential program for up to six weeks. However, some may remain for two to four weeks for a targeted, comprehensive drug treatment program.
Willingway offers two gender-specific programs for extended treatment. These programs provide clients with a supportive and structured environment where participants can build skills for living a sober lifestyle one day at a time.
Each client discharged from one of our treatment programs receives aftercare recommendations. Suppose a client is returning home to an area where one of our 13 continuing care community groups is easily accessible. In that case, we encourage them to attend these weekly meetings. Clients who don’t live near one of these community groups can attend Zoom meetings.
The meetings are a good place to receive encouragement and support from those familiar with the road to recovery from personal experience. They are willing to share their strength and hope with others. The continuing care community groups are open to anyone, not just former Willingway clients.
