How Alcohol Affects the Brain

Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant which depresses the brain’s ability to respond to situations and stimuli appropriately. When passing through the brain via the bloodstream, alcohol first impacts the frontal lobe (cortex) which controls judgment and reasoning. From there, alcohol impacts the midbrain (limbic system) which regulates muscle control and oversees emotions. The last stop in the brain is the brain stem which has the critical job of dealing with bodily functions such as heart rate, respiration, and body temperature. A person is not going to be able to think clearly when under the influence of alcohol which may account for the side effects of alcohol use which include the following:

• Inability to speak clearly
• Inability to walk in a straight line
• Inability to make informed decisions
• Unusual and erratic behaviors
• Passing out or blacking out

Dangers of Mixing Drugs with Alcohol

There are different risks associated with different combinations of alcohol and other drugs. Regardless of the substances involved, mixing drugs and alcohol is always dangerous. Taking another depressant while drinking can only make the side effects of alcohol worse by slowing down all body functions to dangerous levels. If a person is intoxicated, he or she is already at risk. Even a small amount of a depressant can cause significant interactions in the body that could endanger the individual.

Stimulant use may counteract some of the depressive impacts of alcohol, but combining the two substances leads to extremes in the body. Because your heart rate is fluctuating so substantially, a person is at risk for cardiac arrhythmias. Stimulants increase such side effects of drinking as vomiting, dizziness and headaches.

Getting Help for Your Alcohol Abuse

If you have taken drugs in an attempt to counteract the effects of drinking, you have to admit that alcohol has had an impact on your ability to make good decisions. If you must continue to drink, you may want to ask a friend to ensure that you do not make the choice to take a drug while drinking. Another option is to explore other social activities or relaxation strategies that don’t include drugs or alcohol.

Learn More about Alcohol Addiction

We are here 24 hours a day to provide information about alcohol abuse or the effects of drinking and using drugs. If you need assistance in getting started in finding the right treatment program for your drug and alcohol abuse, call our toll-free helpline today. We are here to help.

How Does Physical Addiction Work?

There are two distinct aspects of addiction that function independently but reinforce the disease together. Physical addiction is established when an external substance such as alcohol or illicit drugs replaces naturally occurring “feel good” chemicals in the brain. The body will not be able to feel normal until the addict’s chemical balance is reestablished. Depending on the chemical being used and the length of time the person has been addicted, withdrawal may take several days to multiple weeks. The fear of withdrawal keeps addicts using even after they decide it is time to get clean.

How Does Psychological Addiction Work?

The other aspect of addiction is psychological or emotional in nature. The high brought on by drug or alcohol use stimulates the part of the brain that manages anxiety, emotions, memory and the formation and reinforcement of behaviors. This part of the brain will crave the fleeting relief offered by the substance being abused and will use every psychological and emotional tool available to keep the substance present. Some of the psychological symptoms of addiction include the following:

• Obsession with getting and taking drugs or alcohol
• Distance from close friends and family
• New relationships with other substance users
• Skipping activities and hobbies that were once important
• Dishonesty about substance use and abuse
• Excessive energy followed by crash periods
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts or actions

Many people mistakenly believe that psychological addiction recovery is simply a matter of willpower, but the truth is that the psychological underpinnings of addiction are deeper and more powerful than rational thought. Many addicts are absolutely committed to getting clean and staying clean, but they relapse over and over. This is because these psychological aspects of the disease require special and professional treatment. Without comprehensive integrated treatment, long-term recovery from addiction is unlikely.

What Is Causing Addiction in My Child?

The following are factors that may work together or separately to cause or continue addiction:

• Biological predisposition: Some people are born with a genetic predisposition toward addiction. Anyone with a family history of substance abuse and addiction should be especially cautious when using addictive substances including prescription medications.
• Instant addictions: Some substances like heroin, methamphetamine and inhalants can cause addiction the first time they are tried.
• Periodic binges: Using substances in order to get noticeably high or drunk is a risk factor for addiction.
• Co-occurring psychological conditions: Behavioral or psychological conditions such as anxiety disorders, borderline personality disorder, depression, schizophrenia, self-harm or eating disorders may indicate that a person is at a higher than normal risk for developing an addiction. Self-medication is a common cause of substance abuse and often leads to additional psychological and physical health challenges.

How Can Addiction Be Conquered?

Long-term recovery from drug or alcohol addiction requires careful treatment of both physical and psychological aspects of the disease. Medically supervised detox allows doctors to carefully relieve many of the harshest symptoms of withdrawal. Fully integrated and holistic rehab from the emotional effects of addiction is necessary for lasting healing. Fortunately with the right treatment recovery is often achievable. The most successful treatment facilities treat an individual’s body, mind and spirit, taking time to identify and treat any co-occurring psychological disorders alongside the addiction.

Find the Right Help for Addiction Recovery Today

Our toll-free helpline is open 24 hours a day. Our specially trained counselors can answer any questions you may have about your child’s addiction. We can help you develop the best plan for intervening in your child’s addiction. You are not alone. Please call today.

Ending Physical Addiction Does Not End Addiction

Many people can understand physical addiction. Drugs replace naturally occurring chemicals that are required for proper brain function and emotion regulation. When the drug leaves the user’s system, he or she experiences potentially severe withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms usually last several days, but depending on the drug and the level of addiction they may last several weeks. Once the body reestablishes its natural chemical balance, withdrawal symptoms end and the physical aspects of the disease are over. Unfortunately this is not where the addiction ends, and the addicted individual cannot just stop using drugs and be done.

Ending Psychological Drug Addiction Requires Help

Drugs and addiction affect the chemical wiring and psychology of the brain. Neural pathways affect the choices we make, the emotions we feel and the actions we take. The euphoric high felt when taking drugs directly affects the pleasure center of the brain. This is the same area that does the following:

• Manages emotions
• Forms and recalls memories
• Regulates anxiety and stress
• Reinforces behavior and habits
• Manages impulse control

When a person gets high, he or she blocks feelings of pain or distress by washing the pleasure center of the brain with an overwhelming sense of euphoria and ease. The brain will crave this sensation and will use every psychological tool at its disposal to continue the experience. This is why an addicted individual is powerless to resist drugs. Ending drug addiction will require experienced, caring and professional help.

Anyone Can Stop Using Drugs

Addicted individuals may not reach out for help, until they reach their rock bottom. Unfortunately rock bottom often involves the loss of relationships, jobs, interests and finances, and it should not be necessary for an individual to reach this point before finding the resources needed to stop using drugs. If drug users are ready to change and find best treatment options available, their odds of achieving lasting recovery are good. If they listen to the psychological addiction that tells them they can wait another day, they can get clean on their own or they can have just one drink after attempting to end use, they may not live to experience the freedom they so crave. The important job of friends, loved ones and recovery professionals is to help addicted individuals realize the impact drug use has on their lives and that this impact can be ended.

Get Help Ending Drug Use Today

If you are struggling with an addiction or know someone who is, we can help. Our toll-free helpline is open 24 hours a day, and we are ready to answer any questions you may have. We can help you find the best treatment facility for your unique needs, and we can verify insurance benefits for that program if needed. We know about physical and psychological addiction and have experience helping people overcome both. Don’t wait another day or give yourself another excuse. Call now, and let us help you rediscover life beyond addiction.

The Effects of Addiction on Children

Children have a keen sense of their environment, and they are likely aware of the signs of addiction in parents. Children of addicted parents often display unique signs that can lead to a lifetime of difficulty, if they are not afforded the time and tools to help them heal. These signs include the following:

• Depression. Children of addicted parents often suffer from depression.
• Low self-esteem. Children of addicted parents are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and a sense of worthlessness.
• Negative attention seeking behavior. Children of addicted parents are likely to display negative attention seeking behaviors that could include running away, acting out, stealing or self-harming.
• Poor educational performance. Children of addicted parents are likely to struggle with their school work. Without a positive parental influence encouraging them to succeed with their studies, kids find it difficult to focus.

Children of parents with addiction problems may also display subtle signs of living with an addict. This could include lack of proper nutrition, lack of clean clothes or signs of abuse.

Treating Parents and Children Affected by Addiction

A portion of your addiction treatment and addiction recovery will be focused on mending broken relationships with your family, including the children who may have been directly impacted by your addiction, behaviors and actions. Rehab for parents should include family addiction counseling that will allow the addicted parents to see the full effects of addiction on their children. It is important to find a residential rehab program that encourages family weekends and include family counseling. Rehab programs offer a safe environment for children to express their feelings and their desires for healthy parents. Drug treatment for parents doesn’t just include getting the addiction help that they need, as it should also include the tools for talking to kids about addiction and rehab.

Mend Your Family by Getting Addiction Help Now

You can heal yourself and help your family. Call our toll-free helpline. Our counselors are non-judgmental and compassionate and will hold everything that you say in the strictest of confidences. There is no reason to delay getting help. Your children deserve to have healthy and whole parents. Please call now.

Anger, Addiction and Denial

Many people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol continue to stay addicted because of denial. Denial stops the addict from seeing the extent of the problem or seeking much-needed treatment. A person in denial may become angry if confronted about an addiction problem. If this is the case with your loved one, you may want to seek the help of a professional interventionist. An interventionist can do a few important things for you such as the following:

• Help you communicate with your loved one
• Help get your loved one into treatment
• Help you confront your loved one safely
• Help you deal with the emotions of handling an addicted family member or friend
• Help you prepare and plan for the future safely

Addiction, Mental Health and Support

Many people who struggle with addiction also struggle with mental illness. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia can cause a person to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse can also cause a person to behave in unusual ways, experience trauma or experience an increase in mental illness. If your loved one suffers from a mental illness or is directly under the influence of drugs, you cannot reason with that person. You need to take steps to understand how to handle a loved one with a mental illness and protect yourself from physical and emotional harm. It is absolutely important for you to seek support for yourself in dealing with this problem. A trained counselor can help you understand your loved one and separate your emotions from the present situation. Support and counseling can help you feel stronger and more secure. If your loved one needs treatment, consider integrated treatment. Integrated treatment is a new approach to addiction rehab that treats both the addiction and the mental and emotional causes of addiction. With integrated treatment each patient has a personalized treatment plan that works to treat mental illness and substance use in one location at the same time.

Find Addiction Treatment, Intervention Support and More

Would you like to learn more about rehab services, intervention or family support? We can help. Call our toll-free helpline to find reliable, licensed drug and alcohol counseling quickly. We are able to help each person find the best treatment fit possible. We can even help you work with your or your loved one’s insurance provider to arrange coverage for treatment. Please call now, and find out how we can help you.

What Happens When a Person Is Addicted?

Drug use usually begins when a person is unhappy or dealing with a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, trauma or bipolar disorder. In some cases, peer pressure or medical health problems will lead to drug use. Substance use affects a person’s mind and body. While each type of drug or substance has a different effect, our bodies respond by trying to adjust to the drug’s presence. As the body becomes accustomed to the drug, the user will develop a tolerance for the drug and require more of it to achieve the same effects. The dependent drug user will experience uncomfortable or even dangerous withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not available. A person is fully addicted when he or she is physically or emotionally dependent on the drug to feel normal. Once a person is fully addicted to drugs, substance use becomes the most important thing in that person’s life.

Why Can’t My Loved One Just Quit Using Drugs?

Addiction causes changes in brain chemistry, and it can lead to overwhelming cravings, dangerous withdrawal symptoms or mood and personality changes. Because addiction affects both the body and mind, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, for a person to overcome the effects of drug use by willpower alone. Addiction treatment has made great strides in recent years, and rehab care is the best way to find a reliable, long-term and effective way out of addiction.

What Caused My Loved One to Become Addicted?

Every addiction situation is different. Addictions begin for a number of reasons. The three most common causes of addiction are the following:

• Genetics and hereditary factors: There are multiple “addiction genes” which may make a person more susceptible to addiction, although these are not always a guarantee that addiction will begin
• Environmental factors: Peer pressure, cultural influences, stresses, careers and traumatic experiences all contribute to drug use
• Mental health issues: Issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD and bipolar disorder are all leading causes of addiction

Find Addiction Help Now

When you call our toll-free, confidential helpline you will reach one of our experienced recovery professionals who will take the time to learn more about your situation and find ways to help your loved one. We can find intervention and recovery resources that will meet your needs. We are here 24 hours a day, so please call us now and find out how we can help you.

How Denial Keeps You Trapped in Addiction

Denial is a defense mechanism that helps us cope with stressful situations, but it can also be dangerous. If you are in denial, you cannot believe in the “big picture” or the reality of a situation. When it comes to addiction, denial can kill you. Addiction is an illness just like diabetes or cancer. If you leave it untreated, it will destroy your life. Fortunately, addiction is treatable. It is up to you to decide when it is time to ask for help.

Drugs and alcohol are designed to trick our minds and our bodies. These substances give us a temporary feeling of euphoria that does not last. These substances help us continue to deny reality or the problems we face. Even when life seems impossible or when problems seem too big to handle, you are not alone. Every year, thousands of people find help through our treatment assistance program. They meet new people who understand what they are going through, and they find qualified and experienced professionals that can help uncover the causes of addiction and help build a new life in recovery.

The Consequences of Addiction

Addiction carries with it some serious consequences. Can you afford to deny a habit when it affects so much of your life? Some of the ways addiction controls your life include the following:

• Your career:

You cannot do your best or achieve your hopes and dreams when you cannot think clearly. Even if you remain sober at work, your thoughts of using or finding substances will affect productivity.

• Your family:

Even if you hide your drug or alcohol use from your family, you are robbing the people you love of quality time and an honest relationship. Children and spouses are especially vulnerable to this loss.

• Your freedom: Addiction only gets worse. Eventually, you will get a DUI, a DWI or experience legal troubles related to drug use.
• Your health: Substance use destroys your health and your appearance. It will age your body on the inside and the outside.
• Your finances: How much are you spending on your habit? Are you spending more now than you spent in the last few years? Addiction is an expensive problem, and drug use is often prioritized over saving money or paying bills.

How You Can Get Addiction Help Now

Call our toll-free helpline to learn more about our unique treatment placement services. When you call us, you will speak directly with an experienced rehab consultant who will help you learn more about addiction and the path to recovery. Find out how you can receive insurance coverage for rehab, how to help your family members and more. Find out how we can help you today. All calls are completely confidential, and we are available 24 hours a day.

• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Ecstasy
• Opium

Street drugs can also include prescription drugs that have been diverted through illegal channels. These drugs include medications such as the following:

• OxyContin
• Percocet
• Demerol
• Xanax
• Klonopin
• Valium
• Adderall
• Ritalin

Even if you have purchased drugs from a dealer you have known for some time, there are some serious dangers to buying street drugs. As an addiction to these drugs progresses, the dangers of these drugs become more serious. Be aware of the risks you take for your own safety.

The Risks of Street Drugs

The following are just a few of the many risks and dangers associated with purchasing and using street drugs:

• When you purchase illegal drugs, you never know what was used to make those drugs. Even prescription drugs that appear to be sealed in original packaging can be knock-off home-made products. Many dealers are tempted and motivated to substitute potentially toxic ingredients in place of drugs to save money. It is not uncommon to find bleach, cleansers, toxins or other materials in illegal drugs.
• Even if you trust the person who sold you street drugs, chances are that person purchased those drugs from someone you do not know or trust.
• Street drugs are illegal. Even if you are not sentenced to jail time for drug possession or intent to distribute, you may incur huge fines and legal fees.
• Street drug use can lead to substitute or multiple addictions. If your drug source is out of your drug of choice, you may try a replacement drug. Soon you may be addicted to multiple substances or taking toxic combinations.
• Street drugs can kill you. If you are dependent on or addicted to street drugs, it is difficult to break the cycle of drug use. You may be hiding your addiction, or you may be afraid to seek help or make a change right now. It is important to know that this is truly a life or death matter, and when you are in a health emergency, you need to seek help immediately.

End the Dangers of Street Drug Use

Please call us now to speak with an experienced addiction treatment specialist. Even if you would just like to learn more about your drug of choice or addiction treatment in general, we can provide the information you need. We can also help you find reputable and licensed rehab treatment programs and can verify insurance coverage for addiction care. Please call today to speak with someone who understands. End the cycle of addiction now.

Understanding Addiction

Addiction involves an uncontrollable urge to use drugs. This urge disregards the dangers of abuse and continues regardless of the consequences. Those looking in on addiction may have a hard time understanding why someone would keep abusing drugs even with their job and even family at stake.

Addiction can start in many different ways. Some people are prescribed medication for a legitimate medical need, and over time tolerance and dependence build. This will inevitably lead to addiction. Other drug use begins because individuals are curious or want to experiment. Drug use and addiction are also often related to a desire to escape. The escape could be from a family situation like a divorce or it could be from a mental illness like depression. It is important to understand the relationship between the physical and psychological when it comes to addiction, because they are almost always tied together.

The Warning Signs of Drug Addiction

Drug addicts try to hide their addiction. Many times they succeed, and no one around them knows that they are struggling with drug abuse. However, there are signs of addiction that make it possible to identify addiction in loved ones, so you can help them find the recovery they need. Some of the warning signs of drug addiction can include the following:

• Mood swings
• Loss of interest
• Weight loss
• Becoming abusive or aggressive
• Depression
• Spending more time alone

These signs are just a few of the warning signs of drug addiction. Anything out of the ordinary might be a sign that someone you know is using drugs. If you would like to find more information about the warning signs of drug addiction then please call an addiction helpline and speak to a counselor.

What to Do about Addiction

If you have noticed that someone you know has a drug addiction, help him or her before it is too late. When no one confronts users, they tend to think that it is ok to abuse or that they have everything under control. The best thing to do is to confront them, but you need to know the right way to do this. When approaching a drug user, consider the following:

• Never confront them while they are high
• Offer to walk with them through the rehab process
• Have an immediate plan for recovery in case they agree to treatment
• Never support their drug habit
• Call an addiction helpline for advice before you confront them
• Show them only love and support
• Advise them to get help immediately
• Consider enlisting the help of a professional interventionist

Are You or a Loved One Struggling with Drug Addiction?

If you or someone you know has a drug addiction then please call us today. You may be wondering if a friend has an addiction but aren’t sure. Call one of our counselors to discuss your concerns. We are standing by 24 hours a day, and the call is completely confidential and toll free. We want to help you or someone you know break free from drug abuse, before it is too late. We will even help you figure out the costs of rehab and talk to your insurance provider to see how much they are able to cover. Don’t wait until it is too late. Call us today.

Physical Repercussions of Drug Addiction

The physical aspects of drug addiction are the most noticeable and perhaps the most dangerous. Depending upon the type of drug and dosage, one of the first warning signs that physical addiction is taking place is tolerance. Tolerance happens when an individual takes large quantities of a controlled substance or uses a substance over a prolonged period of time. The brain begins to counteract the effects of the drug in an effort toward self-preservation. This means that the more someone uses a drug, the less effective that drug will become. Dependency happens when a person takes more of a substance to produce the desired effect in response to tolerance. Dependency is often linked closely with addiction and can be defined as the situation in which an individual feels that they need regular doses of the drug to function normally throughout the day. The processes of tolerance and dependence significantly increase the risks of unwanted side effects and overdose. Depending on the type of substance, an overdose can usually cause permanent damage or death.

Emotional Wellbeing Is Harmed by Drug Addiction

Long-term drug use can cause a gradual erosion of an individual’s emotional health. Sometimes addictions begin in an attempt to fight feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, provide an escape or increase productivity. If left unchecked, addictions ultimately rob an individual of his or her capacity to function in daily life. This produces greater feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, creates an increased need for an escape and changes goals and desires.

Drug Addiction Harms the Ability to Maintain Important Relationships

A gradual decrease in the ability to maintain important relationships accompanies drug use and abuse. The longer an addiction to a controlled substance is allowed to continue, the tighter its hold upon an individual will become. Soon there is little room for anything else in a person’s life but getting and using more drugs. Behavioral and emotional changes related to drug use make staying close to loved ones difficult if not impossible. Friends and family want to see you well, and do not want to watch you suffer.

Need Help Finding Resources for Drug Rehabilitation?

If you or someone you care about needs help fighting any form of drug addiction, we can help. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions, help you explore treatment options and point you toward quality treatment facilities. The call is toll free, and we may even be able to work with your insurer to verify coverage for treatment. Please call us today and begin your path to recovery.