Abuse

Abuse and Addiction? Where is the line between the two and what is the difference? In terms of drug use, ‘abuse’ is the harmful or illegal use of non-medicinal use of drugs or alcohol. If we define addiction as a mental or physical dependence or drugs or alcohol we can see that the lines are often blurred. Many people feel Drug Rehab is only for those with an addiction. A comprehensive drug rehab such as Narconon Arrowhead will also address those with an abuse problem and in fact many people who feel they only have an abuse problem are in fact in the deadly grasp of addiction without realizing it. Drug abuse is always part of the addiction cycle. A quality rehab program is able to evaluate the underlying causes of substance abuse problems and help the abuser put workable solutions into place before their entire life crumbles around them. Narconon Arrowhead successfully helps the individual help themselves – no matter the stage of abuse or addiction.

Addiction withdrawal is the term applied to the process of terminating or ceasing the use of the drug or alcohol causing the addiction. Withdrawal symptoms are those physical, mental, and emotional discomforts occurring as a result of this process. Some procedures attempt to ease withdrawal with the use of additional drugs or chemicals. This can and does complicate the process as now there are new substances that are creating dependencies along with the intense cravings for the original drug of addiction. In most cases withdrawal can be accomplished with adequate medical monitoring and proper nutrition. Drugs severely deplete vitamin and nutritional stores in the body and when properly addressed will reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms without the dangers of using additional drugs.

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition, characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and drug use which is accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain. In addition to being addicted to methamphetamine, chronic methamphetamine abusers exhibit symptoms that can include violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. They also can display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions. The paranoia can result in homicidal as well as suicidal thoughts. With chronic use, tolerance for methamphetamine can develop. Users may take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change their method of drug intake. In some cases, abusers forego food and sleep while injecting as much as a gram of the drug every 2 to 3 hours over several days until the user runs out of the drug or is too disorganized to continue. Chronic abuse can lead to psychotic behavior, characterized by intense paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and out-of-control rages that can be coupled with extremely violent behavior.

At Narconon Arrowhead we do not use the term rehab patient when referring to our program participants. Instead we use the word “student” as it more accurately reflects what is occurring in our program. At Narconon Arrowhead once withdrawal from use is achieved and is followed by a full bodily detoxification then student is then ready to gain the life skills and abilities needed to pursue a drug free productive life. Cravings, guilt and depression must be confronted, dealt with, and eliminated is one is to achieve a lasting drug free existence. These skills and abilities can be learned and successfully applied. Our students enjoy a 76% success rate that speaks for itself.

If you or a loved one are in need of an addiction recovery center Narconon Arrowhead is here and ready to be of assistance. We are a long term, drug free, non-traditional addiction recovery center. We operate from the firm foundation that addiction is not a disease and full addiction recovery for a lifetime is no only possible but the norm for the majority of graduates from the Narconon Arrowhead program. We operate off of results and not merely time spent in a rehab. Our addiction recovery center is a multi-phase comprehensive program handling all aspects of addiction, especially the cravings, guilt, and depression that are the major contributing factors to drug and alcohol addiction