Drug Addiction Resources: Types, Symptoms and Treatments

At Free by the Sea, located in the State of Washington, professional counselors and associate staff members provide assistance for individuals struggling with a variety of drug addictions.

Serving the Nation, based in the Pacific Northwest.

Drug addiction is a type of addiction that occurs due to an individual’s increasing need for an illegal substance or medication. For an addict to function normally, he or she requires drugs at regular intervals. When the addict is unable to get the addictive substance, he or she will begin to experience negative side effects.

Despite the negative consequences of drug abuse, addicts are frequently unable to control their usage. In many cases, using drugs begins as a recreational activity but gradually becomes a serious problem. Those who suffer from addiction may begin to have problems at home with parents or spouses and begin missing time at work. This often leads to job loss and financial problems. Many people who suffer from addiction want to end their addictive behavior but require professional treatment to do so.

What Is Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction is classified as a brain disease. It’s a complicated condition that causes an individual to experience uncontrollable urges for prescription medications or illegal substances.

People with addiction are unable to stop abusing substances, despite the severe consequences that they’ll likely experience for doing so. Many individuals erroneously perceive drug addiction as just a loss of self-control or lack of morals. Unfortunately, it’s much more than this. It’s a disease that affects the brain’s chemistry. Therefore, the type of addiction that drug addiction is is a huge problem.

Drug addiction causes rifts in marriages as struggling individuals become more dysfunctional the more they abuse drugs. In addition to destroying family relationships, drug addiction also often causes domestic violence conflicts in work environments.

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse

No two cases of addiction are alike. As a result, the signs and symptoms of drug addiction can vary greatly. While some people may go for a long period of time without showing any signs of addiction, others may exhibit all of the symptoms of drug addiction immediately. Regardless of how long it takes you to exhibit them, the changes that get made to the brain of a person that’s suffering from drug addiction will eventually take its toll.

Drug addiction symptoms are particularly apparent when a person is going through withdrawals from substances. The type of addiction signs and symptoms can fit into one of four categories. These categories are emotional signs and symptoms, cognitive signs and symptoms, physical signs and symptoms, and behavioral signs and symptoms.

Emotional Drug Addiction Signs and Symptoms

• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Extreme sadness
• Unexplained euphoria

Cognitive Drug Addiction Signs and Symptoms

• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• A disconnect from reality
• Depression

Physical Drug Addiction Signs and Symptoms

• Chills
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Sudden weight loss
• Sudden weight gain

Behavioral Drug Addiction Signs and Symptoms

• Lying
• Stealing
• Erratic behavior
• Troubles sleeping
• Excessive sleeping
• Change in social circle
• Getting in trouble with the law
• Declining performance at work or school
• Being secretive about one’s whereabouts
• Manic energy followed by an emotional and physical “crash”
• No longer being excited or interested in things that they once were

Treatments for Drug Addiction

The first type of addiction treatment stage is detoxification. The purpose of this stage of addiction treatment is to remove the substances from the body. After the detoxification process, addiction treatment specialists assess addiction treatment patients. They do this to determine the severity of their addictions and mental health.

With the information from the assessments, the specialists can develop treatment plans to help the addicts overcome their addictions. During this time, the addiction treatment specialists will also address any co-occurring illnesses that they may have.

Once addicts enter the rehabilitation process, medical professionals can prescribe non-addictive medications to the addicts to help them get through. In addition, physicians can manage any chronic health conditions that people may have during rehab. Examples of common chronic health conditions that addicts exhibit include heart disease and diabetes mellitus.

With a carefully managed treatment plan, recovering individuals can achieve sobriety while simultaneously improving their overall health. But once addiction treatment is over, rehab patients are responsible for making their own lifestyle choices.

The life choices that those in addiction recovery make every day, should be made with the intention of preventing relapse. To help make the proper lifestyle choices, people in addiction recovery should establish a support system.

Why Choose Free by the Sea?

Free by the Sea is an addiction treatment center that’s dedicated to providing care to all of its patients with dignity and respect. Here at Free by the Sea, client-centered care that’s respectful of patient needs and concerns is the foundation of our approach. We also adhere to evidence-based practices that are focused on successful outcomes for long-term recovery.

Take Advantage of Our Customized Recovery Treatment Plans

Addicts enter the professional rehabilitation program at Free by the Sea to end the devastating cycle of their drug addictions. Failure to end the cycle of addictive behaviors destroys both addicts and their loved ones. This, in turn, may cause the addict to lose everything. Don’t let this happen to you. Receive addiction treatment at Free By the Sea today.

At Free By the Sea, we believe in providing customized recovery treatment plans for all of our residents. With an individualized approach to treating drug addiction, we ensure that all addicts that attend rehab at our treatment center are able to get the help that they truly need.

The type of addiction treatment programs that we offer here at Free By the Sea includes everything from inpatient and residential treatment, to dual diagnosis treatment, to partial hospitalization treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and regular outpatient treatment. Thus, we have an addiction treatment program that can work with your schedule and individual needs.

Thus, if you’re the type of person that feels more comfortable being vulnerable around people of the same age group or gender as you, you can receive the care that you need to thrive here at Free By the Sea.

Get Your Life Back on Track By Attending Drug Addiction Treatment at Free By the Sea

By providing Free By the Sea residents with the knowledge, treatment, and therapy required to maintain their sobriety, they’re able to overcome the different types of addiction to enjoy a fulfilling life. To help you receive the care that you need to start living your best life, contact Free By the Sea today. Our staff is available to take your calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.