Are You Addicted to Drugs?
How do you know if you use drugs recreationally or are “addicted” to a substance and require treatment? If you wonder “Do I need a drug rehab clinic?” ask yourself the following questions to find an honest answer:
- Do I take illegal drugs regularly?
- Can I stop on my own, or do I get physically sick when I try to stop?
- Can I get through a day without using or thinking about drugs?
- Do I hide drugs, just in case I can’t score any tomorrow?
- Have I ever skipped work, school or family obligations just to get high?
- Have I lost a job due to drug use?
- Have I ever stolen, lied or cheated to get drugs?
- Have I ever done anything I’m ashamed of while high, like having unintended sex without protection, driving while under the influence or getting arrested?
- Has my drug use increased?
- Have I ever ended up in a doctor’s office, rehab center or hospital emergency room because of my drug use?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you may have an addiction problem. It’s time to combat your drug addiction head on with the help of the professionals at Synergy Recovery Services.
Not sure if you’re struggling with a drug addiction? Click the button below to take our free Addiction Test.
How Does Addiction Happen?
Drug addiction isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a complex illness that affects your body, mind and spirit. When you take drugs or drink alcohol, it sets up a chain reaction in your brain that makes you crave more. Depending on the drugs you take, specific brain chemicals called neurotransmitters are changed. Sometimes, drugs make you release more of certain chemicals, while others are suppressed.
Your brain and body’s chief goal, however, is health and survival. It adapts to the new flood of chemicals entering your system by changing how much of any particular neurotransmitter it makes, or changing the number of receptor sites that can receive and process the chemicals. Over time, these adaptations make the original amount of drug useless. You start to need more to get high, and that’s when the cycle of addiction begins.
As you take more drugs, your body becomes physically dependent on a specific amount of the substance you’re using in order for you to keep functioning. If you don’t get the drugs or alcohol, you begin to feel physically sick. You may get shaky, nauseous, itchy or sweaty. Unfortunately, these sick feelings make you want more drugs just to feel “normal.”
Drugs and alcohol also cause psychological addiction. This means that you may crave drugs both for the physical sensations they produce as well as the mental effects they provide. You begin to need drugs to relax or socialize, or just to cope with daily problems. Soon, drugs take over your life.
What Happens if You Don’t Get Treatment?
- The sad fact is that addiction is a progressive, fatal disease. This means that if you don’t get treatment, eventually you can die from addiction. Nationwide, 2.5 million people die from alcohol-related diseases each year. Approximately 46,000 people die from drug use. Don’t become a statistic!
Even if you don’t die from drug or alcohol addiction, over time, addiction takes over your life. Soon, every waking minute is spent thinking about getting high or recovering from your last high. Many people use up their savings or sell their belongings just to buy drugs. Friendships revolve around drug use, and family members may gradually pull away.
You can end the vicious cycle by getting help. Even if you’ve been through rehab before, Synergy Recovery Services can examine your current and past addiction to determine the best path forward.
Make an Appointment
If you’re suffering from addiction to drugs or alcohol, call our office today at 661-878-9930. Our staff can help you work through any insurance questions you may have to determine which treatment options are covered.
