What To Know About Drug Use Disorder And Addiction

Nobody ever expects to struggle with a drug use disorder, but this serious disease impacts millions of Americans every year. Drug use disorders transform your mind and body and can ruin your life. Fortunately, there is help for anyone battling drug use. Specialized drug addiction treatment is available in the Fair Lawn area and can empower you to regain control of your life. Keep reading to discover more about drug use disorders and addiction and how people and their loved ones can overcome these conditions with expert help.

What Is A Drug Use Disorder?

Many people use illicit drugs for recreation or powerful prescription drugs to treat medical conditions. But at what point does drug use become a life-impacting disorder?

Commonly, drug use transforms into a disorder when a person shows concerning patterns of use and can no longer regulate their use. Drug use disorders are mental health conditions that range from mild to severe. These disorders interfere with your life and have an adverse impact on your health.

There are different aspects of drug use disorders:

• Dependence develops when your body becomes so used to a drug that it struggles to perform in its absence. You will endure unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you discontinue use of the drug.


• Addiction is a psychological dependence. Addictive drugs alter your brain chemistry so that you persistently crave those substances and feel driven to take them in growing amounts. You are no longer in command of your mental state and conduct. Addiction is the most severe element of drug use disorders.

All phases of drug use disorder are damaging to your relationships, mind, body, and wellbeing. If you think you or a person you love has a drug use disorder, get competent support for recovery. Everybody has a right to help.

What Drugs Are Habit-forming?

Habit-forming drugs contain potent chemicals that modify your brain. Various ones are hazardous enough to be illegal. Others are approved medicines but can turn hazardous when misused or consumed in excess. Below are some of the most common addictive drugs in the U.S.:

• Narcotics diminish the senses, which enables them to be potent painkillers. However, individuals also consume them to dull other uncomfortable feelings and can become addicted swiftly. Narcotics are often grouped as opiates or opioids. Opiates are nature-based substances. Opioids are lab-created. Heroin is a well-known unlawful narcotic. Legal drugs like Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin, morphine, and fentanyl have pharmaceutical uses but are dependency-causing and often used improperly.


• Benzodiazepines are mood-changing drugs frequently recommended for mental health disorders. But, they can lead to addiction when not used appropriately. Their sedative qualities cause you to feel relaxed. Xanax and Valium are well-known benzos.


• Stimulants include medications like Adderall and Ritalin, as well as illicit drugs like methamphetamines and cocaine. They stimulate your central nervous system, causing you to become vigilant, exhilarated, and invigorated. Overdosing of stimulants can be fatal.

Each of these kinds of drugs can lead to a drug use disorder. They all have the capacity to disrupt your life and create life-threatening medical conditions. Find support for yourself or someone close to you at the earliest indication of dependence.

How Does Drug Addiction Occur?

There are numerous reasons why individuals begin using dependency-causing drugs. Some do so for enjoyment because they like the sensations those chemicals generate. Others become dependent on prescriptions they're taking for medical purposes. Additional people begin using drugs to cope with untreated mental illnesses and experience short-term comfort.

Regardless of the reason for first using these substances, the route to addiction is generally the same. Your body develops a dependency to the drug, and you get sick when you don't take it. You take more just to operate. You may slowly take higher amounts for the drug to be effective. You appreciate how it makes you feel. You feel miserable without it and persist in using it. Over time, those chemicals dominate the pleasure circuits of your brain, and you are unable to experience pleasure unless that drug is active in your body.

When you're addicted, obtaining a steady supply of the drug is all that matters. Numerous people destroy relationships, experience health problems, forfeit jobs, and take serious risks as a result of drug addiction. Your addiction dominates you and all aspects of your life, and you are helpless to recover without specialized assistance.

What Are Signals Of Drug Addiction?

It could look like a drug use disorder would be obvious. However, these disorders can look different among individuals, and those you care about will frequently try to mask their drug use from you. If you have doubts if you or a friend have a drug use disorder, review these warning signals:

• Experiencing an irresistible urge to consume the drug


• Failed tries to slow down on or stop using the drug


• Dedicating much time getting the drug, ingesting it, or coming down from its effects


• Consuming a prescription for longer periods or in greater amounts than intended


• Having difficulty fulfilling obligations due to drug use


• Abandoning cherished activities to take drugs


• Persistent use of the drug even though it damages relationships


• Continued use of the drug even though it adversely impacts your mental and physical health


• Requiring more of the substance to attain its effects


• Experiencing withdrawal when making an effort to stop


• Engaging in risky behavior to acquire or use the drug

Drug use disorders often look different between people. If you or a loved one are exhibiting any signs of drug addiction near Fair Lawn, talk to a doctor or addiction treatment professional.

Where To Obtain Drug Addiction Treatment In Fair Lawn

Drug use disorder treatment is a multi-step process. The majority of individuals will experience setbacks and have to return to certain steps many times. While there isn’t a “cure” for drug use disorder, numerous patients acheive recovery and implement what they discuss during treatment to live a rewarding, sober life. The key is finding specialized, reseach-supported treatment that fits your needs.

Every person’s recovery journey will be uniquely their own. Even so, treatment usually includes the these steps at accredited treatment facilities:

• Drug detox is the process of letting your body rid itself of drugs. Your body will do this on its own as long as you refrain from taking more drugs. However, if you have a drug dependence, you will experience withdrawal without using. To properly complete detox, you should enter an inpatient detox center that supplies round-the-clock medical supervision and takes steps to keep you comfortable.


• Drug rehab programs also give you inpatient care. Throughout rehab, you’ll keep living at a treatment center and get access to clinical support for any lingering withdrawal symptoms. You go to different types of counseling sessions daily with the goal of grasping your addiction, cultivating new healthy habits, and managing any co-occurring mental disorders. You should continue in rehab until you feel physically and mentally stable enough to exit that substance-free environment.


• After you leave rehab, you should still receive intensive addiction care. Outpatient addiction and mental health therapy will help you move forward in life without drugs. These programs provide ongoing counseling sessions and medication management. Initially, you might go to outpatient treatment each day and head home each night. Gradually, you’ll require less therapy and might only participate in therapy on a weekly basis or less.

Every person deserves expert, compassionate addiction treatment. No matter how serious your addiction is, recovery is achievable. Seeking the right support at a licensed treatment center is essential for your success. There’s no need to face addiction alone. You have many options for drug addiction treatment near Fair Lawn.

How Can Families Assist A Loved One Battling Drug Addiction Near Fair Lawn?

Individuals with a drug use disorder need all the support they can find. Family and friends can be crucial to addiction recovery. If you care for an individual with a drug use disorder, here are some ways you can assist them:

• Help them enter a treatment program


• Help them cover the cost of treatment


• Attend family counseling with them


• Take part in aftercare planning


• Give them a safe, drug-free environment to live


• Avoid passing judgment


• Set ground rules around their drug use


• Help them get to outpatient treatment appointments

Find Help For Drug Use Disorders Near Fair Lawn Today

Nobody should confront drug use disorders on their own. If you or a loved one are grappling with drug addiction, recovery is possible. Call The Counseling Center at Fair Lawn at 201-389-5326 or fill out the contact form on this page. A member of our team will respond promptly to talk about treatment. All communications are free and secure. We answer 24/7, 365 days a year. Help is available today. We are standing by for you.