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

New Mexico turns a corner on drunk driving

Kenny Martinez demonstrates blowing into his ignition interlock to start his truck in Santa Fe, N.M. The state once led the nation in alcohol-related crash deaths. But tough measures, including an ignition-interlock requirement for all convicted drunk drivers, are paying off. For the last seven years, Horace, a four-time convicted drunk driver, has lived with….

Primary Care for Alcoholics

In treating alcohol abuse and alcoholism, “we haven’t yet reached the Prozac moment,” says Dr. Mark Willenbring, referring to the drugs that radically changed the treatment of depression. But Dr. Willenbring, an expert on treating alcohol addiction, predicts that the day is not far off when giving a pill and five minutes of advice to….

Australian Government Develops Strategy for Combating Alcohol Abuse

The Federal Government in Australia is developing a strategy for combating excessive alcohol consumption, spending $53.5 million dollars on a national strategy. This comes after concern about binge drinking amongst young people, a rise of alcohol-related violence and associated problems. The national approach follows state government strategies to combat alcohol abuse. One state government recently….

Anti-smoking drug may curb drinking too

The anti-smoking drug Chantix may also be able to help problem drinkers cut down on alcohol, a preliminary study suggests. In a study of 20 smokers who were also heavy drinkers, Yale University researchers found that those who took Chantix for one week became less interested in drinking. They reported less craving for alcohol, and….

The Disease Model of Addiction

If I went to my doctor with a set of symptoms, no one would question the fact that I was sick. No one would impose a moral judgment on me for having those symptoms, and I wouldn’t be viewed as a law breaker for being ill. But many people reject the idea of addiction as….