Addiction occurs when a stimuli, such as alcohol or drugs such as opiates, drives extensive use through repeated exposure. The result takes a toll on the brain and body and has adverse effects on one’s life through long-term complications and a reduction in productivity.
Addiction to drugs or alcohol is a disorder that affects millions of people in the U.S. every year. Abuse can range from mild to severe, depending on the number of signs and symptoms a person exhibits. The earlier the addiction can be diagnosed and treated, the better a person can avoid a more severe level and the serious mental and physical problems that come with it.
Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use disorder, known in its most severe form as alcoholism, is a pattern of alcohol use that involves problems controlling drinking, preoccupation with alcohol, continued use despite negative consequences, increased drinking to reach a consistently desired effect or exhibiting withdrawal symptoms with a rapid decrease in or abrupt suspension of drinking.
Signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder include:
- Difficulty limiting the alcohol consumption
- Inability to reduce alcohol consumption
- Inordinate amounts of time spent drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use
- A strong desire or urge to drink alcohol
- Failure to meet major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use
- Continued alcohol use despite resulting physical, social or interpersonal problems
- Reduction in social and work activities and hobbies
- Unsafe use of alcohol such as when driving or swimming
- Increased alcohol tolerance that leads to increased use to feel its effect
- Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating and shaking
- Increased drinking to avoid withdrawal symptoms
Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
If you or someone you know exhibits any of these signs and symptoms as a result of repeated alcohol use, then it’s a good idea to discuss with a qualified mental health provider. Every patient’s combination of symptoms and experience with alcohol addiction is different. Our team at The Grant Group will perform the most thorough analysis possible to develop the most effective combination of medicine, counseling and support to treat alcohol addiction.
Opiate Addiction
Opiates or opioids are commonly used to treat pain. However, many people who are not medically prescribed these drugs use them recreationally. Some addicts began as patients whose tolerance for the drugs increased to an uncontrollable level of addiction. This abuse has dire consequences, including dependency that negatively affects one’s physical wellbeing and everyday functioning.
Common opiates include:
- Codeine
- Vicodin, Hycodan (hydrocodone)
- MS Contin Kadian (morphine)
- Oxycontin, Percoset (oxycodone)
- Dilaudid (hydromorphone)
- Duragesic (fentanyl)
Withdrawal symptoms, which can last from one week to one month, include low energy, a runny nose, agitation, muscle aches and cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia and hot and cold sweats, among others. Though opiate withdrawal feels extremely uncomfortable, it is not life threatening on its own. When a high dose is taken, however, opiate addiction can result in death from cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Treatment for Opiate Addiction: Suboxone
Our caring mental health professionals at The Grant Group will conduct a series of tests and analyses to determine the severity of a patient’s opiate addiction. Taking into account personality, biology and life story, they then provide a treatment plan that is tailored to the patient’s clinical needs and lifestyle.
Suboxone Sublingual Film® is a prescription medication used to treat opiate addiction. In combination with counseling and psychosocial support, Suboxone reduces a patient’s physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings while helping him or her begin a life towards better health and living.