What To Know About Drug Use Disorder And Addiction

No person ever anticipates battling a drug use disorder, but this serious disease affects millions of Americans every single year. Drug use disorders change your mind and body and can devastate your life. Fortunately, there is support for individuals battling drug use. Expert drug addiction treatment is available in the Fort Lauderdale area and can enable you to take back control of your life. Continue reading to find out more about drug use disorders and addiction and how people and their loved ones can conquer these conditions with expert help.

What Is A Drug Use Disorder?

Many people consume illicit drugs for recreational purposes or powerful prescription drugs to address medical conditions. But at what point does drug use become a life-altering disorder?

Generally, drug use develops into a disorder when a person displays concerning patterns of use and can no longer manage their use. Drug use disorders are mental illnesses that range from mild to severe. These conditions interfere with your life and adversely affect your health.

There are distinct aspects of drug use disorders:

• Dependence occurs when your body becomes so used to a drug that it struggles to perform without it. You will experience distressing withdrawal symptoms if you discontinue use of the drug.


• Addiction is a psychological dependency. Dependency-causing drugs modify your brain function so that you constantly crave those drugs and feel compelled to take them in growing amounts. You are no longer able to regulate your mental state and behaviors. Addiction is the most extreme part of drug use disorders.

All levels of drug use disorder are damaging to your body, mind, relationships, and wellbeing. If you suspect you or a person you care about has a drug use disorder, get competent support for recovery. All individuals are entitled to help.

What Drugs Are Addictive?

Dependency-causing drugs contain strong chemicals that alter your brain. Some are hazardous enough to be prohibited by law. Others are authorized medicines but can become dangerous when taken improperly or consumed too frequently. Below are several of the commonly found addictive drugs in the United States:

• Narcotics dull the senses, which causes them to be powerful pain relievers. But, people also use them to decrease other unpleasant feelings and can become dependent rapidly. Narcotics are often classified as opiates or opioids. Opiates are plant-sourced substances. Opioids are lab-created. Heroin is a well-known illegal narcotic. Legal drugs like Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin, morphine, and fentanyl have medical uses but are addictive and frequently abused.


• Benzodiazepines are mood-altering drugs frequently prescribed for mental health disorders. Even so, they can cause addiction when not managed correctly. Their sedative qualities make you feel relaxed. Xanax and Valium are widely recognized benzos.


• Stimulants encompass medications like Adderall and Ritalin, as well as prohibited drugs like meth and cocaine. They stimulate your central nervous system, causing you to become focused, exhilarated, and energized. Taking too much of stimulants can be fatal.

Each of these sorts of drugs can lead to a drug use disorder. They all possess the capacity to destabilize your life and trigger dangerous medical conditions. Get assistance for yourself or someone close to you at the initial sign of dependency.

How Does Drug Addiction Occur?

There are many reasons why people start using addictive drugs. Some do so for pleasure because they enjoy the sensations those chemicals create. Some people develop dependency with prescription drugs they're taking for medical reasons. Another group of people start using drugs to self-treat unmanaged mental illnesses and find brief respite.

Whatever the motivation for first trying these substances, the progression to addiction is generally the same. Your body grows a dependency to the drug, and you become unwell when you don't take it. You use more just to get by. You might progressively require greater amounts for the drug to be effective. You appreciate how it makes you feel. You feel desperate without it and persist in using it. Eventually, those chemicals dominate the pleasure center of your brain, and you can no longer feel normal unless that drug is active in your body.

Once you're addicted, obtaining a steady supply of the drug is all that matters. Many people experience illness, destroy relationships, lose jobs, and take great risks as a result of drug addiction. Your addiction overpowers you and everything in your life, and you are powerless to quit without skilled support.

What Are Indications Of Drug Addiction?

You might surmise that a drug use disorder would be clear. But, these disorders can appear differently among individuals, and those you care about will frequently try to mask their drug use from family. If you are uncertain if you or a loved one have a drug use disorder, consider the following signs:

• Having an overwhelming urge to consume the drug


• Failed efforts to cut down on or stop using the drug


• Spending much time and energy getting the drug, taking it, or dealing with its effects


• Taking a prescription for longer periods or in higher amounts than intended


• Unable to fulfill responsibilities due to drug use


• Abandoning once-liked pastimes to take drugs


• Continual use of the drug even though it affects relationships


• Persistent use of the drug even though it negatively impacts your mental and physical health


• Needing more of the drug to feel its effects


• Experiencing withdrawal when making an effort to stop


• Engaging in risky behavior to obtain or use the drug

Drug use disorders can look different among individuals. If you or someone you love are showing any indications of drug addiction near Fort Lauderdale, speak with a local doctor or addiction treatment expert.

Where To Get Drug Addiction Treatment In Fort Lauderdale

Drug use disorder treatment is a multi-tier process. Many people will slip up and need to return to certain steps many times. While there isn’t a “cure” for drug use disorder, many patients find recovery and implement what they explore during treatment to live a rewarding, substance-free life. The solution is finding expert, reseach-supported treatment that fits your needs.

Everybody’s recovery journey will be unique. But, treatment generally includes the these steps at authorized treatment facilities:

• Drug detox is the way to let your body rid itself of drugs. Your system will do this naturally as long as you don’t take more drugs. But, if you have a dependence, you will go into withdrawal without using. To safely complete detox, you should enter an inpatient detox facility that provides round-the-clock medical supervision and takes steps to keep you comfortable.


• Drug rehab programs also provide inpatient care. During rehab, you’ll keep living at a treatment center and get access to medical care for any ongoing withdrawal symptoms. Each day, you go to different sorts of therapy with the purpose of grasping your addiction, learning new positive habits, and treating any existing mental disorders. You should continue in rehab until you feel physically and psychologically ready to leave that drug-free environment.


• After you finish rehab, you should still receive intensive addiction support. Outpatient addiction and mental health therapy will help you navigate your life without harmful substances. These programs provide regular counseling sessions and medication management. Initially, you could go to outpatient support every day and head home each night. Over time, you won’t need as much care and might only attend therapy weekly or less.

Everyone deserves expert, compassionate addiction treatment. Regardless of how severe your addiction is, there is hope. Getting professional treatment at a licensed treatment facility is necessary for your success. You never have to fight addiction on your own. You will find many choices for drug addiction treatment near Fort Lauderdale.

How Can Families Support A Loved One Struggling With Drug Addiction Near Fort Lauderdale?

Individuals with a drug use disorder need all the support they can get. Friends and family can play essential roles in addiction recovery. If you care for an individual with a drug use disorder, here are several ways you can assist them:

• Help them check into a treatment center


• Help them pay for treatment


• Participate in family counseling with them


• Take part in aftercare planning


• Provide a safe, drug-free setting to reside in


• Withhold judgment


• Set limits around their drug use


• Offer transportation to outpatient treatment appointments

Request Help For Drug Use Disorders Near Fort Lauderdale Today

No individual should try to handle drug use disorders by themselves. If you or a family member are battling with drug addiction, recovery is possible. Turn to Sunrise Detox Fort Lauderdale at (954) 869-9759 or complete the contact form on this page. Someone will answer you immediately to discuss treatment. All calls are free and confidential. We respond at all hours, every day of the year. Find help now. We are here for you.