An Overview of Addiction Treatment

Addiction Treatment

The 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 8.7 percent (21.8 million ) of all Americans over the age of 12 were illicit drug users. This is an increase for 2008 of 8.0 percent. With a growing number of narcotic medications and steady, continuous use of common recreational drugs like marijuana, the need for drug addiction treatment is increasing with each passing year. As the number of illicit drug users in the United States continues to grow, the need for quality treatment programs grows with it.

Types of Drug Addiction

No two drug addictions are exactly the same and therefore no two types of treatment are exactly alike. To understand what type of addiction treatment program you need, it is important to understand what type of addiction you have.

• Physical Drug Addiction
  A physical drug addiction occurs when the body physically adapts to the presence of the drug. Hormones, neurotransmitters and internal biochemical processes adjust to accommodate the effects of the drug. Physical addictions begin with an increased tolerance to the substance, meaning the individual has to take more of the drug to achieve the same results. Physical addictions cause physical withdrawal when you stop using the substance. Physical withdrawal is essentially the body’s reaction to the lack of drug in your system. Symptoms can range anywhere from headaches, nausea and vomiting to increased heart rate, heart attack, seizures and stroke. Physical withdrawal is potentially life-threatening, and the risk increases in individuals who have underlying health conditions. Some physically addictive drugs are opioids like morphine and heroin, benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax, and alcohol. Physical addictions benefit from intensive detox treatment programs.

• Psychological Drug Addiction
  A psychological drug addiction means the drug does not cause a physical dependency or addiction. Psychological addictions cause cravings but the body does not physically adapt to the presence of the substance. Instead, the individual becomes dependent on the psychological “high” the drug provides. A person may become addicted to a particular feeling or emotion they experience when high. Psychologically addictive substances do not cause physical withdrawal symptoms. Some psychologically addictive substances include amphetamines like crystal meth and cocaine, marijuana and hallucinogens like LSD.

Recognizing the Need for Drug Addiction Treatment

It is important to make yourself aware of the signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse so you can spot them in yourself or your loved one. While the physical signs vary depending on the substance being abused, there are some key behaviors that most people suffering from addiction will exhibit at some point.

California Addiction Treatment

California is probably the most breathtakingly beautiful states in the country. With everything from mountains, beaches and deserts, California has something for everyone. However, its border with Mexico and largely urban population also makes California a target for drug dealing and trafficking. From 2002 to 2003, it was estimated that 855,000 Californians had a problem with illicit drug abuse and addiction, with that number continuing to grow in recent years. The survey also estimated that in one month over 2.5 million Californians had used illicit drugs at least once. Drug abuse continues to be a problem for California residents and available drug treatment facilities are a necessity.

Drug Trends in California

Drug trafficking in California is relatively easy because of the number of large, urban centers and the closeness of the Mexican border. Drugs like heroin and cocaine are widespread throughout the state, with the latter being particularly available in San Francisco and Northern California. The quality of the heroin found in California is particularly pure, meaning it can be snorted instead of injected. This is principally common in younger addicts.

The report done by the Office of the National Drug Control Policy in 2008 also suggests that methamphetamine is the primary cause for concern in California. Purity levels can range from 10 percent to 100 percent, and certain populations (namely Hispanics and Caucasians) are the highest consumers of methamphetamine.

The primary area of growth for illicit drug use in California was pharmaceuticals. Drugs like Vicodin and OxyContin comprised 4.63 percent of illicit drug use in California in 2008.

Alcohol abuse continues to prevail over all other types of drug abuse. From 2005 to 2006, the majority of admissions to drug addiction treatment programs were because of alcohol abuse. Young people, between the ages of 12 and 17, were common abusers of alcohol. From 2005 to 2006, 35.8 percent of 11^th graders who were surveyed abused alcohol.

In 2008, 9.0 percent of all Californians – ages 12 and up – had used illicit drugs once in the last month. This is higher than the national average of 8.0 percent.

Drug Addiction Treatment for California Addicts

The diverse drug culture of California means California addicts need to have multiple different types of treatment options available. Inpatient addiction treatment requires the patient to live at the facility and is best suited for physical addictions like alcohol, heroin and prescription pharmaceuticals. Outpatient programs are ideal for someone with a psychological addiction, such as those to drugs like marijuana or cocaine – two of the most commonly abused drugs in California.

Detox is also extremely important for anyone suffering from a physical addiction. Detox eliminates the physical addiction so the individual can focus solely on treating the psychological aspect of their addiction. In 2006, 10.0 percent of people who checked into rehab did so for a double addiction (alcohol with a secondary drug). Any drug rehab program should have a quality detox facility with ample supervision to treat these types of patients.

Drug rehab can last anywhere from several months to over a year. Because of the high exposure to drug culture for Californians, multiple addictions are always a possibility. Patients suffering from multiple addictions or with an underlying mental health condition generally spend longer in treatment than the average person does. The average stay in drug rehab is between one and two months, with the majority of that time being spent in counseling.