Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Obstacles that Can Lead to Relapse

About Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Millions of Americans suffer from dependency and addiction to drugs and alcohol, and the numbers continue to increase. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, In 2012, approximately 23.9 million people in America, 12 years of age and older, had used an illegal drug or abused a psychotherapeutic medication , such as a pain reliever or stimulant, in the past month. This is an 8.3 percent increase from a decade ago.

With the increase of sales from prescription painkillers and the downfall of the American economy, more people are addicted to drugs. Drug or alcohol addiction is a chronic disease that can cause a person to act in ways that are harmful to themselves and to the people around them. Both drug and alcohol addiction can lead to organ failure and result in fatalities, and both addictions can lead to person pulling away from loved ones, losing their job, losing their money and committing criminal acts.

Due to all of the negative consequences that stem from drug and alcohol addiction, at some point most people realize they need to stop, but stopping can be extremely hard for a person to accomplish. Due to the withdrawal symptoms and the control that addiction has on a person’s brain, many people need help in overcoming their addiction. However, even with help, overcoming an addiction will have obstacles that a person must conquer.

Obstacles that Every Recovering Addict Must Overcome

Emotional problems and cravings are two of the things that may derail recovery. You can overcome!

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, many people do not understand drug or alcohol addiction, and it is often mistakenly assumed that people who abuse drugs lack moral principles or willpower. The reality is that drug addiction is a complex illness, and stopping drug use takes more than strong will and good intentions.

When a person develops an addiction to drugs. Their brain will change in ways that will cause them to feel a compulsive need to use drugs, this makes overcoming a drug addiction extremely difficult.

When a person decides to stop using drugs or alcohol, there are three obstacles that they must overcome:

1. They must get through the physical withdrawals. The physical withdrawals from drug or alcohol addiction can be painful and exhausting. Most people fear going through them, but the physical withdrawal symptoms typically do not exceed a week’s time.

2. They must deal with emotional issues. Along with physical withdrawals there is also psychological withdrawals that a person must learn to manage. In addition, drug and alcohol addiction can alter a person’s brain chemicals, which may take time to heal, and that may cause a person emotional turmoil. A person should discuss their feelings to a therapist and deal with any emotional baggage they are carrying.

3. They must find the strength to stay away from drugs or alcohol once they leave a treatment program, and for the rest of their life. Support groups and therapy commonly help a person to stay strong.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

You Can’t Help an Alcoholic Until They’re Ready – Right?

For many years people, treatment professionals, family members and the like have all believed that in order for an alcoholic to recover from the alcoholism they have to WANT to recover. It’s been believed that you can’t help an alcoholic until they are ready to accept the help – right? This statement couldn’t be further from the….

Do You Have an Alcohol Problem? If You Answer Yes to Just One of These Questions Then You Do

Sorry to break the news but you may have a problem with alcohol. Even if you’re pretty sure you’re not an alcoholic you’d better think again about your drinking if you answer Yes to just one of the following questions. Do you ever worry that you tend to drink too much? Have any of your friends….

Overcoming Guilt in Substance Abuse Treatment

For many addicts and those in recovery, the feelings of guilt and shame that surround their addiction are not only powerful, they are also the motivating factor that either makes or breaks their recovery efforts. When it comes to overcoming guilt, substance abuse treatment is the beginning of a long road that includes counseling and….

Is Medication the Only Option in ADHD Treatment?

How does a physician decide to treat a patient with ADHD (Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder)? Different types of ADHD treatment are available. With detailed observation, the patient should be studied at length in order to discover which options work for that particular individual. The treatment of ADHD should be tailored with a consideration of special….

Growing problem of prescription drug abuse

Prescription painkiller abuse is a rapidly growing and widespread problem, recently coming into full view due to high profile stories and tragic celebrity deaths. Conflicting messaging and the degradation associated with addiction often mislead people from understanding it as a disease, caused by an imbalance of receptors in the brain. American Board of Addiction Medicine….