Can it be Too Late for Drug Addiction Treatment?

Sometimes people do not seek help for their drug or alcohol abuse problem because they feel it is too late for them. This may be because of a few failed attempts to get clean or because they have been addicted for so long they simply do not remember what it feels like to be clean and sober. They may have lost everything and alienated their family, leaving them feeling as though they have no support or anyone to help them. It is never too late to get help for an addiction. Quitting drugs or alcohol always has an immediate positive effect on your physical health, and in rehab you can learn to cope with the emotional issues that have caused the problem in the first place. No matter how long you have been using drugs, it is possible to get clean and live a sober, healthy life.

 

Detoxification

For people who have been addicted to drugs or alcohol for years, detoxification of the body is very important to successfully getting sober. People who check into a detox center are 20% more likely to complete their treatment program successfully. Going through detox clears the drug out of your system. Some people are able to go through detox on their own, but people who have been addicted to a substance for years often need professional help. Withdrawal can be psychologically and physically debilitating, sometimes even causing death. Some common withdrawal symptoms are:

• depression and anxiety
• mood swings
• hallucinations
• shaking or tremors
• fever, chills, and sweating
• blackouts
• seizures

Withdrawal symptoms tend to be more severe in people who have been using a drug for a long time, making it more difficult to quit. In addition, people who make multiple attempts to get clean find it is more difficult to do so each time they try. Doctors who supervise detox can give medications to ease the withdrawal symptoms and can even get the drug out of the body more quickly.

 

Recovery

Treatment after detox takes many forms. Most programs rely heavily on group therapy, which helps the addicted person form connections to other people who are undergoing treatment. Interpersonal support is crucial to recovery, and group therapy is especially beneficial for people who have become estranged from their families as a result of their addiction. People who do not enter an inpatient recovery program can seek help with drug addiction counselors who can refer them to twelve-step programs. Notices for twelve-step groups are also often available in community newspapers and websites.

 

Recovery Statistics

• Up to 700,000 people seek treatment for addictions each day.
• About one-third of alcoholics are able to get clean and sober on their own.
• Relapse is very common, with about half of people relapsing after completing a program.

It is important for people undergoing treatment to regard their addiction as a medical condition, and to remember that many people with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, find it difficult to stick to their treatment plan. Everyone makes mistakes and has moments of temptation. Although people in recovery live happier, healthier lives when they are sober, cravings for drugs and alcohol sometimes occur even years after they have completed a program. However, just as many people find that they can kick their drug or alcohol addiction; they find they can also live sober. It is a lifelong process, but it is never hopeless or too late to get on the path to recovery. Meta: Can it be too late for drug addiction treatment? It is never too late to get help for an addiction. Quitting drugs or alcohol has an immediate positive effect.

How the brain reacts to substance abuse

Once someone becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, the brain actually makes changes in the way it functions. Taking drugs or drinking alcohol are no longer merely used to get a pleasant feeling or experience, but substance abuse becomes necessary just for the users to feel normal.

 

Dopamine and Substance Abuse

When someone uses a substance such as drugs or alcohol, it releases dopamine into the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that works in the reward center of the brain causing intense pleasurable feelings, such as euphoria. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drugs or alcohol can release from 2 to 10 times more dopamine than natural rewards¹, such as favorite foods or sexual intercourse.When people continue to use substances over time, the memory center of the brain works with the reward center to associate the drug use with good feelings.

 

The Brain and Tolerance

Drugs and alcohol also affect other neurotransmitters and their nerve receptors in the brain. Some substances can attach themselves to certain receptors instead of the appropriate neurotransmitters. This causes mixed and confusing signals in the brain, as substances do not work the same way as neurotransmitters do. Some substances cause an excess of neurotransmitters, which increases or amplifies the signals in the brain. In an effort to try to fix the problem, the brain slows production of receptors and neurotransmitters, including dopamine. Suddenly, individuals need more of a substance to get the desired effect as dopamine levels have dropped. This is called tolerance.

 

Withdrawal

After using drugs or alcohol for a long time, the body gets used to the presence of the substance and withdrawal symptoms are caused when drugs or alcohol are not used. This can lead to an increase in use, not so that the person can feel good when using the substance, but to prevent from feeling bad when not using the substance.

 

The Brain on Drugs

The brain often tries to compensate for the substance abuse and changes the way it processes and utilizes certain proteins. This can cause damage to learning centers and memory in the brain. This can affect a person's ability to make appropriate decisions and use proper judgment in situations. This can lead to continued drug use even when it begins to have negative consequences on a person's life. The brain continues to send signals to motivate a person to use drugs or alcohol, while the substances continue to damage the ability to maintain self control over substance use.

 

Brain Damage

In a way, using drugs and alcohol is like reprogramming the brain to self destruct. Using the substance causes changes in the brain to encourage individuals to keep using the substance. Then, after long term use, the substance of abuse begins to damage the brain. Brain tissue can become damaged or die due to many factors of drug or alcohol use that include:

• Long term exposure to dopamine causes neurons to die
• Lack of oxygen causes lesions and cell death
• Decreased blood flow causes death of cells and gaps in brain tissue
• Nerve coverings are eroded leading to damaged nerve cells

 

Recovering from Substance Abuse

It is safer and less painful to detox from drug use at an addiction recovery rehab. Physicians can prescribe medication to most individuals to make withdrawals less painful, and to provide treatment for substance abuse. 1. National Institute on Drug Abuse; Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction META: The brain often tries to compensate for the substance abuse and changes the way it processes and utilizes certain proteins. ***123 CHARS***