In 2018, nearly 20% of Americans had used illicit drugs at least once.
Using drugs doesn’t necessarily make someone an addict. But when that drug use begins to negatively impact your life, it might be time to consider whether or not you have an addiction.
If you think you might have a substance abuse problem, you don’t have to face it alone. There is plenty of support and assistance for getting on the right path, you just need to know where to look.
Keep reading to find out how to get help for drug addiction.
Recognizing Addiction
An addiction is a chronic disease. It changes how your brain functions with regard to motivation, reward, and memory. Although it looks different in every individual, below are some of the more common symptoms of addiction:
- physical symptoms (i.e. withdrawal, tolerance, etc.)
- social isolation (i.e. ignoring responsibilities and relationships)
- engaging in risky behavior (i.e. sharing needles)
- inability to stop using a drug or engaging in a behavior
Perhaps the most obvious symptom of an addiction is the inability to stop using a drug or engaging in a behavior despite the negative consequences. Addicts may ignore the problems that their addiction has caused with their health, family, and work.
How to Get Help for Drug Addiction
Someone with addiction is less capable of identifying behavior that’s negatively impacting their life. Even when they can see the problem, it’s difficult for them to change the behavior due to chemical changes in the brain.
But recognizing the problem is the first step in getting help. After that, follow these simple steps for finding help for drug addiction.
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Talk to Your Doctor
If you have a good relationship with your GP, you might consider starting there. They’ll have an idea of your medical history and they can help advise on the best treatment for you. They’ll take into consideration things like age, drug-use history, and psychiatric conditions before helping you decide on the best course of action.
If you’re eager to get started, you can also head directly to a drug treatment facility. Most treatment facilities accept self-referrals. Or trying to find some nearest drug and alcohol rehab centers. There is also an online suboxone clinic where you can talk to a doctor if you feel shy facing them physically.
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Choose an Option That Works for You
There are many different treatment options to choose from. Knowing these in advance gives you a chance to think about what works best for you.
A residential treatment facility is an inpatient treatment where individuals live for a pre-determined amount of time, usually 30, 60, or 90 days. These facilities have doctors and multidisciplinary teams on the premises. Programs involve individual and group counseling and other therapies.
At outpatient drug rehab, patients visit a treatment center for 10 to 12 hours per week. An excellent option for people with mild addictions or as part of long-term treatment, this allows you to maintain outside commitments to family and work.
Day treatment programs are similar to outpatient programs in that you’re not required to live at the facility. Instead, you undergo treatment for 7-8 hours per day and spend nights in your own home. This is another flexible option that can be part of a long-term treatment program.
Make the Commitment
Throughout the process of getting help for drug abuse and drug addiction, remember that there’s no quick and easy fix. The process of getting clean and staying sober is a long one, but one that comes down to life or death.
There’s no one size fits all treatment. Consider that the longer you’ve had the addiction and the more intense the drug, the more treatment you’ll require. For most addicts, staying sober is a life-long commitment that you should be willing to make from the start.
More on Your Health
Recognizing and accepting that you have a problem is the first step to recovery. The second is knowing how to get help for drug addiction. That involves talking to a health professional, figuring out what type of rehab is best for you, and making the commitment to stay sober.
And for more information on your health and lifestyle, be sure to check our blog regularly.