If you or a loved one has a substance abuse problem, you are not alone. In fact, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, close to 20 million Americans over the age of 12 struggled with some form of substance addiction in 2017, but only a small percentage were seeking treatment. It’s important to know that treatment for addiction is helpful and available to almost everyone. The following are some of the most common types of substance addictions that can be dealt with effectively through a rehab program.
Alcoholism
Alcohol is by far the most frequently abused drug due to its accessibility. Immediate effects of alcohol intoxication include impaired judgement, loss of coordination, and delayed reaction time. Consequently, alcohol abuse results in more injuries and deaths (often due to car accidents) than any other drug. In addition, longterm abuse of alcohol can lead to many serious health problems, including liver disease and heart failure. In pregnant women, alcohol abuse can cause serious problems for the fetus. People who abuse alcohol develop a dependency as they increase the quantity and frequency of their consumption. In young people, especially, binge drinking increases the risk of developing alcoholism.
Opioid Addiction
After alcohol, opioid drugs are the most commonly abused drugs in the U.S. today. Opioids are a group of drugs that are derived from the poppy plant, and they include opium, heroin, and many commonly prescribed painkillers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, fentanyl, and morphine. As painkillers, opioids effectively block the transmission of pain signals, and they are generally safe when used as prescribed. However, patients can easily become dependent on opioids, needing higher and higher doses to treat pain effectively, and some doctors are willing to continue prescribing them. At high doses, these drugs can cause severe respiratory depression, which can lead to death. In fact, opioids are involved in more fatal overdoses than any other drug.
Addiction To Tranquilizers
Tranquilizers are another commonly abused class of drugs. Known collectively as benzodiazepams, these drugs include Valium, Ativan, Klonopin, and Xanax. Doctors prescribe these drugs for anxiety, sleep problems, muscle spasms, and seizures. However, most patients develop a tolerance for these drugs quickly and need more to get the results they expect. Addiction to tranquilizers often leads to a worsening of the original symptoms the patient was trying to treat. Like opioids, tranquilizers depress the central nervous system, leading to a decrease in respiration; as with opioids, a tranquilizer overdose can be fatal. Thus, an addiction to tranquilizers should always be taken seriously and treated as soon as possible. If you or a loved one has developed any type of drug dependency, it’s important to find a drug rehab where you can get the help you need.
Substance abuse is a serious problem, but not a hopeless one. It’s important to remember that drug addiction is not a moral failing; it’s a disease that requires treatment like any other. There are drug treatment centers all over the country that are designed to help people get addictive substances out of their system in a medically supervised environment and go on to lead sober lives through intensive therapy and ongoing support. The majority of health insurance plans cover all or a large portion of the cost of rehab.
