Addiction/Substance Abuse Information & Discounts

How can I manage addiction or substance abuse?

Addictions of all types are best managed with counseling or therapy. Along with overcoming withdrawal, patients must learn how to cope with problems without the use of a substance, rebuild relationships that have been damaged or broken, and also discover the root problem(s) or cause of the addiction and what triggers the desire to use drugs or alcohol. In many cases of prolonged use, patients must also relearn how to behave in social situations without the use of a substance. Some may even face identity crises. Because of the different obstacles that may arise, most patients will require multiple courses of addiction treatment therapy before they can maintain a drug-free lifestyle on their own.

Addiction treatment often begins with recognition of the problem and then detox. Detox usually doesn’t take more than ten days and is sometimes accompanied by medication depending on the addiction. Then therapy or counseling must ensue. Everyone is different and will probably require different types of therapy depending on the type of addiction and the individual’s unique experience. Everyone has different causes that drive them to addiction in the first place. This cause should determine the therapy that will be needed. Several rounds of therapy are often required in order to maintain a life free of substance abuse. Types of therapy that are commonly used to overcome addiction include cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps patients recognize situations and thoughts that lead to drug use, interpersonal therapy which helps to rebuild relationships, and contingency management that involves rewards or positive reinforcement to refrain from drug use. To read about addiction medications and medication for alcohol abuse, see the types of medication section.

What are the different types of addiction medication?

Benzodiazepines-withdrawal treatment, anti-anxiety

Benzodiazepines are anxiety medications and they are also used as medication for alcoholism. They are often prescribed to treat withdrawal symptoms during the detox period, especially for withdrawal symptoms from alcohol. The first 2-3 days of alcohol detox are often the worst and can involve nausea, tremors, severe anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, headache, severe anxiety, and even seizures. These alcoholism medications should be tapered off after the detox period because they can also be addictive.

Opioids Antagonists

Some synthetic opioids such as Suboxone and methadone may be used as painkiller addiction treatments or addiction treatment for heroin or other narcotics. These medications are opioids just like heroin and most painkillers, but they do not have the same detrimental effects. They prevent withdrawal symptoms and trick the brain into thinking that it has received the drug of addiction. These drugs do not produce a sensation of euphoria like other drugs and they also block the euphoric effects of other opioid drugs, rendering addictive narcotic substances useless to the patient.

Negative Response Medications

These medications are usually prescribed as an alcoholism treatment. They block the pleasurable effects of alcohol to the patient and also cause a negative response if the patient consumes any alcohol while using the medication. These negative effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, and other symptoms resemblant of a hangover, except these symptoms take effect 5-10 minutes after consuming alcohol. This works well as an anti alcohol medication.

What are the symptoms of addiction and substance abuse?

Substance abuse can exist without addiction. Substance abuse occurs when a harmful substance is used repeatedly or a drug or medication is used for purposes other than those defined by a medical practitioner. Signs of substance abuse include having problems in relationships or a change or disturbance in everyday activities such as school, work or sports. Other signs may include legal problems such as being arrested for possession and finding yourself in hazardous situations due to a substance such as being in a car accident or being sexually compromised.  These are signs that substance abuse treatment should be pursued. Addiction occurs when an individual starts to develop a tolerance to a substance and needs more of it to achieve the same effects. They individual becomes reliant on the substance and begins to seek it compulsively. Symptoms of addiction include the inability to feel normal without using a substance, experiencing black outs, using a substance first thing in the morning, a lack of interest in previously interesting activities and relationships, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the substance is not available.