What To Know About Drug Use Disorder And Addiction

No one ever anticipates battling a drug use disorder, but this serious disease touches millions of Americans every year. Drug use disorders alter your mind and body and can ruin your life. Fortunately, there is help for individuals struggling with drug use. Expert drug addiction treatment is offered in the Philadelphia area and can enable you to reclaim control of your life. Keep reading to find out more about drug use disorders and addiction and how individuals and families can overcome these conditions with specialized help.

What Is A Drug Use Disorder?

Numerous people consume illicit drugs for social reasons or strong prescription drugs to treat health conditions. But at what time does drug use develop into a life-altering disorder?

Commonly, drug use becomes a disorder when someone displays troubling patterns of use and loses control of their use. Drug use disorders are mental health conditions that span from mild to severe. These disorders interfere with your life and negatively impact your health.

There are different aspects of drug use disorders:

• Dependence begins when your body becomes so used to a drug that it struggles to function when it’s not present. You will endure uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if you quit using the drug.


• Addiction is a mental dependence. Addictive drugs change your neural chemistry so that you continuously want those substances and feel driven to use them more and more. You are unable to control your mind and conduct. Addiction is the most severe element of substance use disorders.

All phases of drug use disorder are hurtful to your relationships, mind, body, and quality of life. If you think you or someone you love has a drug use disorder, seek competent care for recovery. All people are entitled to help.

What Drugs Are Habit-forming?

Addictive drugs contain potent chemicals that alter your brain. Various ones are hazardous enough to be illegal. Others are legal medicines but can become hazardous when misused or consumed in excess. Below are several of the commonly found addictive drugs in the US:

• Narcotics deaden the senses, which makes them powerful pain relievers. Even so, individuals also use them to dull other uncomfortable feelings and can become addicted quickly. Narcotics can be classified as opiates or opioids. Opiates are plant-sourced substances. Opioids are manufactured. Heroin is a common illegal narcotic. Legal substances like OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, fentanyl, and morphine have pharmaceutical uses but are dependency-causing and frequently misused.


• Benzodiazepines are mood-affecting drugs typically given for mental disorders. But, they can become addictive when not managed correctly. Their calming qualities cause you to feel relaxed. Xanax and Valium are widely recognized benzos.


• Stimulants include medications like Adderall and Ritalin, as well as illicit drugs like meth and cocaine. They energize your central nervous system, leaving you feeling alert, invigorated, and exhilarated. Taking too much of stimulants can be fatal.

All of these kinds of drugs can lead to a drug use disorder. They all have the ability to disrupt your life and cause life-threatening medical conditions. Seek support for yourself or a person you care about at the first sign of substance dependency.

How Does Drug Addiction Start?

There are many reasons why people start using habit-forming drugs. Some do so for pleasure because they enjoy the feelings those chemicals produce. Some people develop dependency with prescriptions they're taking for medical reasons. Additional people begin using drugs to cope with untreated mental illnesses and discover short-term respite.

Regardless of the reason for first taking these substances, the route to addiction is generally the same. Your body develops a dependency to the drug, and you become ill when you don't use it. You take more just to operate. You may slowly need higher doses for the drug to work. You like how its impact feels. You feel miserable without it and persist in using it. Ultimately, those chemicals take control of the reward system of your brain, and you cannot feel normal unless that drug is in your system.

Once you're addicted, obtaining a steady supply of the drug becomes all that matters. Multiple people endure health problems, damage relationships, give up jobs, and take serious risks due to drug addiction. Your addiction overpowers you and everything in your life, and you are powerless to stop without skilled assistance.

What Are Indications Of Drug Addiction?

It may appear a drug use disorder would be apparent. However, these disorders can look different among individuals, and those you care about will frequently try to conceal their drug use from family. If you are uncertain if you or a relative have a drug use disorder, consider the following indicators:

• Experiencing an uncontrollable urge to use the drug


• Failed attempts to cut down on or quit using the drug


• Dedicating a great deal of energy and time obtaining the drug, ingesting it, or coming down from its effects


• Taking a prescribed drug for longer timeframes or in larger amounts than ordered


• Finding it hard to fulfill responsibilities due to drug use


• Letting go of once-liked activities to consume drugs


• Continual use of the drug even when it damages relationships


• Persistent use of the drug even though it adversely impacts your physical and psychological health


• Needing more of the drug to feel its effects


• Going through withdrawal when trying to stop


• Taking risks to get or ingest the drug

Drug use disorders may look different among individuals. If you or someone close to you are exhibiting any indications of drug addiction near Philadelphia, consult with a doctor or addiction treatment specialist.

Where To Get Drug Addiction Treatment In Philadelphia

Drug use disorder treatment is a multi-faceted process. Most people will slip up and need to return to certain steps more than once. You may not be “cured” of drug use disorder, but many individuals find recovery and apply what they discuss during treatment to maintain a rewarding, substance-free life. The answer is getting specialized, proven treatment that aligns with your needs.

Everybody’s recovery journey will be distinct. Even so, treatment typically consists of the following steps at accredited treatment facilities:

• Drug detox is the way to let your body cleanse itself of substances. Your system will do this naturally as long as you refrain from taking more drugs. However, if you have a dependence, your body will experience withdrawal without drugs. To safely complete detox, you should check into an inpatient detox center that offers 24/7 medical supervision and takes measures to keep you comfortable.


• Drug rehab programs also give you inpatient support. Throughout rehab, you’ll still live at a treatment facility and enjoy access to specialized healthcare for any persistent withdrawal symptoms. Each day, you attend different sorts of counseling sessions with the goal of comprehending your addiction, cultivating new positive habits, and treating any underlying mental disorders. You should continue in rehab until you feel physically and psychologically strong enough to depart that drug-free environment.


• Once you leave rehab, you should still get intensive addiction treatment. Outpatient addiction and mental health therapy will help you live your life without addictive drugs. These programs offer continuing counseling sessions and medication management. At first, you may attend outpatient treatment daily and go home every evening. Eventually, you won’t require as much therapy and could only attend therapy once a week or less.

Everyone deserves expert, compassionate addiction treatment. No matter how serious your addiction might be, recovery is possible. Getting professional support at an accredited treatment center is necessary to reach your goals. You never have to battle addiction alone. There are multiple possibilities for drug addiction treatment near Philadelphia.

How Can Families Help A Loved One Battling Drug Addiction Near Philadelphia?

Individuals with a drug use disorder need all the assistance they can obtain. Friends and family can play crucial roles in addiction recovery. If you are close to an individual with a drug use disorder, here are many ways you are able to help them:

• Help them check into a treatment facility


• Help them make payments for treatment


• Attend family counseling with them


• Take part in aftercare planning


• Provide a safe, substance-free environment to reside in


• Avoid passing judgment


• Set limits around their drug use


• Offer transportation to outpatient treatment appointments

Request Help For Drug Use Disorders Near Philadelphia Today

No one should face drug use disorders by themselves. If you or a person you care about are grappling with drug addiction, there is hope. Reach out to The Counseling Center at Cherry Hill at 856-600-0951 or fill out our contact form below. A member of our team will answer you immediately to talk about treatment. All communications are free and secure. We respond 24-hours a day, every day of the year. Help is available now. We are standing by for you.