“Drug addiction is a disease that erodes a person’s self-control and ability to make sound decisions, while sending intense impulses to take drugs or alcohol.”
NIDA – National Institutes of Drug Abuse
A choice? Nope. It’s a disease.
We understand. Addiction is a chemically induced complex brain disease that disrupts the way you think. It messes with your decision-making and your behavior processes. Drug dependence chemically changes the structure of your brain. It totally changes the way you interact with your own judgement.
Misunderstood
A misunderstood disease, drug and alcohol dependence primarily manifests in a person’s behavior — unlike other diseases with their physical symptoms.
Your inability to regulate behavior is the key feature of this disease.
That’s why many people have a hard time understanding and accepting drug addiction as a disease.
Most people, and many medical professionals, still perceive dependence on a drug as poor choices and conscious decisions rather than a greatly compromised brain dysfunction.
Temporary fix
Using an addictive drug gives a feeling of well-being. It temporarily alleviates any bad feelings you may have. Because the feeling of well-being is so satisfying yet so temporary, use leads to “continued use.” That is until you commit to recovery.
Never mind that your substance abuse has catastrophic consequences. You can only think about your next score.
Addiction results from using mind-altering substances too much, too often and almost always – too young. The repeated use of drugs and alcohol ultimately changes your brain until it becomes normal with the substance present.
It’s not normal. Don’t be fooled.
Withdrawal
Dependent users experience withdrawal symptoms that can make “their skin crawl.” You’ve seen photos of people dependent on meth with their sores all over their bodies. If not, just search “meth user photos.”
Photo courtesy of PBS Faces of Meth (TM) where you can see more faces that have been ravaged by meth.
Withdrawal symptoms account for the major reason why recovery fails. Drug use is a short-term fix for a long-term destruction of your mind, body, and spirit. The original Rachael Leigh Cook public service announcement (PSA) says it best with her Brain on Drugs video.
She followed up with a Drug Policy PSA at
Hamster wheel
As the disease progresses, you have difficulty managing your feelings, thinking rationally, and controlling your behavior. To cope with feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem – you continue your abuse of addictive drugs trying to feel good again. It’s a “hamster wheel” existence.
Over time, you can lose control. Your behavior often becomes increasingly impulsive and unpredictable. Get help before you lose total control.
The powerful disruptive effect of this disease of addiction reaches all areas of your life. Ultimately it leads to addictive beliefs, defensiveness, guilt, shame, anger, and hopelessness.
Get help
Get help now. It’s easier to recover today than it will be tomorrow. Make the decision to be free of your addiction. It’s a decision and a commitment to one day at a time.
Let us help you help yourself. We will meet you where you are at in your recovery process. We can help guide you to freedom from drug dependence. It’s a wonderful feeling — freedom from addiction.
Call us at 316-295-4800 for more information on how we can help you — or fill out our contact form.
Be strong.