Substance Abuse Treatment at Dedicato

Drug and alcohol abuse is far from uncommon. In fact, around ten percent of people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with drug use disorder during their lifetimes. However, many of them will never get the help that they need.

Of those who make the attempt to “get clean,” around half will experience a relapse. Many addicts have difficulty managing the problems that encourage their substance abuse. That’s why it’s important for addicts to seek a substance abuse treatment program that can guide them through the process of quitting drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse disorders can take a large toll on the addict. Often, the individual struggling with drug or alcohol abuse has difficulty maintaining steady employment. Their interpersonal relationships usually suffer as well.

Friends and family of an addict often act as enablers, frequently without realizing it. The “help” they give their loved one only makes matters worse. With the best of intentions, they make excuses for the addict’s behavior, give them money to support their habit, and sometimes even cover up the destructive results of their actions. As a result, the addict has no incentive to change their behavior.

For many people, their drug or alcohol use is linked to one or more mental health conditions. These conditions can include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and bipolar disorder. The relationship between the patient’s mental disorder and their substance abuse is often difficult to determine. It should not be assumed that one “causes” the other, or that treating one condition will automatically help the other. Treating these co-occurring disorders should be performed under the supervision of mental health professionals and counselors while in a substance abuse treatment program.