Overcoming Addiction and Dependence

One in four deaths in the United States each year is caused by substance abuse. It also causes more illness, disability, crime, and disruptions in the home than any other preventable condition.

Addiction

A substance use disorder is a complex medical condition that happens when you abuse substances repeatedly. Chemicals in drugs and alcohol can change how your brain works and cause addiction — when you continue to use substances even if they are causing serious problems.

Physical Dependence

You can also become physically dependent on something — like medicine — without being addicted. The difference is that while your body needs the medicine to live comfortably, the need for it does not get in the way of rational decisions.

How to Tell if You Have an Addiction

If you are unsure if you are struggling with an addiction, ask yourself these questions:

What happens if you don’t get the substance?
How long can you go without taking it?
Do you need to take more and more to get the same effect?
Do you ever need to lie about how much you take?
Does it interfere with how you function at work or school?
Do you crave it?
Do you feel guilty or ashamed about taking it?
Have you tried to quit using it and failed?

If you answered yes to these questions, you may be addicted and need help.

A Medical Problem

A substance use disorder is not the result of weakness or lack of willpower. Like other illnesses, addiction is very hard to overcome without professional help.

What You Can Do About Addiction:

Your medical team is an excellent resource to help you with an addiction. Your doctor may ask questions to check for a substance use disorder while you are in the hospital. They can give you information and refer you for therapy or treatment. Insurance usually covers medically necessary treatment.

Treatment does not always mean going to a care facility for an inpatient stay. There are many types of treatment, depending on what you need. It may mean peer support — talking to someone who has been through a similar struggle — or talking to a specially trained therapist.

Your doctor can also prescribe medicine to help with the physical symptoms of addiction. A combination of medicine and therapy is more effective than either method alone for some addictions.

What To Look For in a Treatment Center

Think about these questions when you’re looking for the right treatment center for inpatient recovery:

Are their treatments evidence-based?
Do they tailor their treatments to the individual needs of each patient?
Do they have a plan to adapt the treatment to the changing needs of the patient?
How long will it take? Research shows that inpatient treatment should last at least 3 months.

Find Help

For more information, talk to your doctor or social worker or visit:

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

References:

Treatment Options. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Teaching about Substance Abuse. American Medical Association.
Substance Use Disorders | CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Substance Use. JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
Medicare Coverage of Substance Abuse Services. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
MLN904084 – SBIRT Services. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Why are Drugs so Hard to Quit? National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Substance Abuse