Emed News Sunday, April 25, 2010   Drug Addiction Disease is a Curable Complex Illness Addiction is a complex disorder characterized by compulsive drug use. People who are addicted feel an overwhelming, uncontrollable need for drugs or alcohol, even in the face of negative consequences. This self-destructive behavior can be hard to understand. The answer lies in the brain. Repeated drug use alters the brain causing long-lasting changes to the way it looks and functions. These brain changes interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs. These changes are also responsible, in large part, for the drug cravings and compulsion to use that make addiction so powerful. Drug addiction symptoms or behaviors include: Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly this can be daily or even several times a day Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug Spending money on the drug even though you can't afford it Doing things to obtain the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug Focusing more and more time and energy on getting and using the drug Effective Treatment for Drug addiction Medication and behavioral therapy, especially when combined, are important elements of an overall therapeutic process that often begins with detoxification, followed by treatment and relapse prevention. Easing withdrawal symptoms can be important in the initiation of treatment; preventing relapse is necessary for maintaining its effects. And sometimes, as with other chronic conditions, episodes of relapse may require a return to prior treatment components. A continuum of care that includes a customized treatment regimen addressing all aspects of an individual's life, including medical and mental health services and follow up options (e.g., community or family based recovery support systems) can be crucial to a person's success in achieving and maintaining a drug free lifestyle.   posted by emedinfo @11:19 PM permanent link   | |    Bookmark & Share     << Home

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