Several emotional or psychological reasons may drive you into taking drugs. At times it is mere curiosity that propels you to develop an addiction to drugs over time. Drug addiction refers to the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs to such a level at which the user of drugs has no other way out and continues to use it.
Though addiction to drugs like opium have been common since historical times it is in recent times that the problem has been exacerbated significantly. This is mainly due to the cultivation of plants yielding drugs, advancements in biochemistry and improvements in means of getting access to drugs. The introduction of purified forms of active biological agents and the synthesis of new substances like methamphetamine has made drugs more widespread. Clinically, the word 'addiction' has been replaced by the word 'dependency' in relation to drugs.
It may be noted that not all persons are equally prone to addiction. Some persons are psychologically or genetically more predisposed to drug addiction. Again, some kinds of drugs get the better of some particular types of persons more easily. Similarly, the manner of treatment and method of recovery from addiction vary widely according to the types of drugs, amount of drugs, duration of drug addiction, medical complications and social necessities of the patient.
There is the 12-step program among the many recovery methods. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are prominent examples included herein. These are popularly used for a variety of addictions concerning the individual addicted and the family of the individual. Then there are the substance-abuse rehabilitation centers that frequently offer a residential treatment program for the seriously addicted and strive to isolate the drug addicts from other drug users and drug dealers.
The cognitive-behavior therapy, rational-emotive theory or other types of psychological behavior modification methods are employed in the treatment of drug addiction. Replacement drugs like methadone are also used. This methadone is in itself a drug but in order to reduce dependency on stronger drugs like opium it proves helpful. Acupuncture is also a treatment of choice that helps alleviate drug addiction symptoms.
Carrying out the suitable treatment from the various treatments available can bring about recovery from drug addiction. The object is to somehow bring about abstinence from the various addictive substances called drugs.
Drug Addiction Recovery Month
When Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith founded Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, they changed the approach to dealing addictions forever. They did it some forty years before the term ?substance abuse? was even coined, and they did it in the firm belief that those suffering from addiction cannot recover on their own. Drug addiction recovery, in their philosophy, demands that a very personal, painful failing cannot be eradicated until it has been brought into public view.
The Twelve Step Program which is the foundation of AA has now become the foundation of thousands of drug addiction recovery programs which treat dependency on every sort of drug, from prescription medications to speed, heroin, nicotine, and cocaine.
The AA program, and drug addiction recovery based on it, require that addicts admit their helplessness in the face of their addictions and that there is a higher power on whom, or which, they rely to help them struggle against their addiction and to forgive them for the harm it has caused.
Twelve Step Alternatives
For those addicts who have little religious sentiment, however, this approach to drug addiction recovery can be discouraging. Some addicts believe that a physical and emotional addiction requires physical and emotional, but not spiritual, intervention. For more info see http://www.drugtreatmentinfo.org/Drug_Addiction_Centers/ on Drug Addiction Centers
Another approach taken by some drug addiction recovery programs it to bring their patients, through a period of intensive counseling, to the understanding that having become an addict in no way diminishes their value as human beings.
This approach will work as long as the addicts have family and friends ready to embrace them when they finish their drug addiction recovery process, and to give them the support they need to stay off the drugs and rebuild their lives.
It also demands that the addicts be ready to walk away from the destructive friendships which led them into addiction, but getting to that point can be the most frightening part of their drug addiction recovery. Being able to say no to relationships base solely on mutual substance abuse, however, is essential if they hope to stay off drugs for good.
Behavior Modification
Behavior modification is also a big part of many drug addiction recovery programs. Behavior modification allows the addicts to understand that their addictions are not only physical but emotional, and that their drug use was driven by an emotional pain before it led to physical dependency.
Addicts learn that addiction is rooted in attitudes and emotions, and that recovery is the journey they must undertake, first to the place where they want to stop using, and finally to the place where they can actually welcome the idea of never using again.
Both Ryan Bombard & Wade Robins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ryan Bombard has sinced written about articles on various topics from Time Management Skills, Health and Addictions. Ryan Bombard writes about addiction causes and types and other drug addiction topics and. Ryan Bombard's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Wade Robins has sinced written about articles on various topics from Bathroom Decor, Motorola Cell Phone and Dieting. You can also find more info on and. Wade Robins's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.
