Addiction and Treatment Resources
The following is taken from the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.
It's common for a person to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and should be adjusted based on how the patient responds. As with most other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment for drug addiction generally isn’t a cure. However, addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed.
The links below provide more information on addiction and treatment. SAMSHA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Al-Anon Family Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Narcotics Anonymous
National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse
SAMSHA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
SAMSHA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
State-by-state resources (via The Addiction Recovery Guide)
Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.
It's common for a person to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and should be adjusted based on how the patient responds. As with most other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment for drug addiction generally isn’t a cure. However, addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed.
The links below provide more information on addiction and treatment. SAMSHA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Al-Anon Family Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
Narcotics Anonymous
National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse
SAMSHA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
SAMSHA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
State-by-state resources (via The Addiction Recovery Guide)