Legal, illicit, and prescription drugs all carry the potential for abuse. What makes addiction so difficult to prevent and treat is that it’s a progressive and incurable condition. The reason treatment is almost always necessary to recover is because symptoms like cravings and triggers occur long after your last use. Another potential hazard of addiction is acquiring mental disorders from drug abuse. Substance abuse disorders, addiction, and alcoholism alter your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and brain chemistry. Psychoactive substances not only create mood-altering effects but they also lead to changes to your pleasure reward center. While addiction may seem like an uncommon condition, the truth is 1 out of every 7 Americans will develop a substance abuse disorder in their lifetime.
Mental Disorders from Drug Abuse
Addiction develops in stages, starting with your first use. The first time you use a substance and have a positive experience, your brain associates that substance with pleasure. Every time you use the substance, your pleasure and reward center releases a rush of neurotransmitters that causes intoxication. However, when intoxication ends, you have a sudden shortage of neurotransmitters. Substances also have the potential to cause physical dependency. When you develop a physical dependency, you need to continue using to prevent withdrawal symptoms. As your tolerance builds during a physical addiction, you need to constantly increase your use to prevent withdrawal and experience intoxication. Common signs and symptoms of a substance abuse disorder include:
- Needing to use to feel normal
- Spending the majority of your time and money using and acquiring your drug of choice
- Prioritizing your drug use over personal, financial, and familial obligations
- Using as soon as you wake up
- Experiencing legal problems as a result of your drug use
Eventually, your brain becomes dependent on your substance of choice to release neurotransmitters. Addiction can also damage your neurotransmitter receptors. The complex changes to your brain chemistry can lead to mental disorders from drug abuse. Substance abuse can also lead to psychosis and other behavioral changes. Mental disorders from drug abuse require additional dual diagnosis treatment, as it’s necessary to stabilize your mental health for substance abuse treatment to be fully effective.
Treatment Options
When you have a mental disorder from drug abuse, dual diagnosis treatment is the best treatment option because it ensures your mental health and substance abuse disorder are both addressed. Mental disorders from drug abuse can present similar, if not identical, symptoms as a mental health condition. Since drugs and other psychoactive substances can influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, the first step in recovering is detoxing from your substance of choice. Your brain and body both need time to heal from addiction and this process can’t start until you’re sober. Detox symptoms are more intense if you have mental disorders from drug abuse because your brain slowly has to relearn how to properly release neurotransmitters. A lack of neurotransmitters can lead to anxiety and depression, as well as other negative emotions. Following detox, you can attend an inpatient or outpatient substance abuse treatment program. Residential treatment centers offer you the ability to have constant access to members of your treatment team while staying in a safe and supportive environment focused on your recovery. Outpatient programs, which allow you to return home each night, are an excellent way to continue treatment following completion of an inpatient program.
Reaching Out for Help Today
Substance abuse disorders can make you feel overwhelmed, depressed, and isolated. Mental disorders from drug abuse are another unfortunate consequence of addiction. Fortunately, with treatment, it’s possible to fully recover and regain control over your life. If you’re ready to begin your recovery journey, reach out to us today to find out more about our substance abuse programs and how we can help you beat addiction. Contact Promises Treatment Centers by calling 844.875.5609 today.