Drug addiction is a disease characterized by an irresistible urge to take psychotropic substances, a tendency to increase the doses used (tolerance), the formation of withdrawal symptoms in drug addicts, mental and physical dependence to varying degrees. From the point of view of generally accepted sociology, drug addiction is one of the forms of deviant behavior, that is, behavior that deviates from generally accepted moral and ethical norms.
In drug addiction, many find a solution to their internal problems. Escaping reality seems so simple, and the risks so minimal, that a person quickly becomes a slave to drugs. That is why it is incredibly difficult to get rid of drug addiction, because the patient still does not notice this drug addiction in himself. He is confident that he can quit drugs at any time. In addition, the signs of drug addiction may not be felt immediately. Sometimes drug addiction hides behind stress and other bad habits.
Stages of drug addiction development
There are 4 main stages of addiction:
- Experimentation;
- Accidental reception;
- Habit.
Experimenting with drugs can lead to accidental further doses. The intermittent phase of consumption can lead to habit. At this stage, the drug user feels the need to reach a certain addictive substance, but he can overcome this compulsion. Addiction is the phase when the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal are unable to overcome the addiction on their own.
Typical symptoms of drug addiction
The main symptom of drug addiction is the presence of a painful urge to achieve ever higher doses of drugs. The addict quickly loses control over the drug, despite the fact that it is impossible to stop the abuse even with the most dangerous consequences of this addiction.
A warning sign for the environment can be a change in the nature of a dependent person, his irritability, unjustified nervousness, indifference to those areas of life that were previously most important (contacts with friends, hobbies, school or professional duties).
Narcologists identify a number of symptoms that accompany drug addiction:
- An increase in the amount of substances used (the body of the addict spontaneously increases the tolerance to the drug);
- Constant craving for drugs at any cost;
- Continued use even against the background of awareness of their harmful effects on the body;
- Withdrawal symptoms after cessation of another drug addiction.
How does drug addiction develop?
Narcologists note that with the use of lightweight drugs, people practically do not develop physical dependence. Only in 10-20% of cases, people who use marijuana or hallucinogens can be diagnosed with this phenomenon. Sometimes young people with salt or other strong chemical addiction simply do not live to see physical withdrawal.
The addiction to marijuana use develops slowly, while the weed-smoking addict goes through the following main stages:
when smoking “grass” for five years, a person practically does not develop physical dependence. If he gradually increases the dose, then the emergence of mental dependence is inevitable;
if a person smokes “weed” for more than five years, then he will necessarily develop addiction at the psychological level. If he does not receive his next dose, he becomes angry and nervous;
physical dependence develops after 10 years of using marijuana, which implies constant and frequent smoking.
As for spice and salt, in such situations, addiction is formed on an individual basis. Great influence is exerted by:
- health status;
- the age of the addict;
- mental health condition.
Sometimes 2-4 months are enough to become a complete chemical addict.
From the use of nasvay, dependence does not develop immediately. The rate of its formation can be compared to smoking cigarettes. If chemical compounds are added to the composition of this drug, the addiction will develop at a rapid pace.
How to get a person to undergo drug addiction treatment
The patient will deny, to the last, first the fact of taking drugs, then the fact of dependence on them, and then the need for hospitalization. To resolve the issue faster, you should:
Develop and articulate a unified family position on treatment. If some relatives insist on placing the patient in a hospital, while others – to “protect” him, this will only aggravate the situation. It is good if someone speaks to the patient whose opinion matters to him.
Choose in advance a clinic or a rehabilitation center that is suitable for the conditions and prices.
To achieve the drug addict’s consent in principle to treatment, try to convince him to go to the clinic at least for a short time. Mention such an opportunity as anonymous addiction treatment.
Engage a professional psychologist and motivator who visits your home.
What not to do
To get rid of drug addiction successfully, you must not lose the patient’s trust. And it is very difficult to keep it in such conditions. Therefore, in order to maintain a trusting relationship, relatives need to know what not to say and how to behave correctly. The following actions become harmful and completely useless in relation to addicts:
- pressure and attempts to play on pity;
- threats and aggressive warnings;
- constant monotonous and boring notation;
- attempts to completely control a person.
In this situation, it is imperative to limit the free access of the dependent to the family budget. To deprive the addict of the right to sign any important papers for the sale of large things, property and real estate. All opportunities to pick up, sell, give something should be limited as much as possible.
Rehabilitation period
Overcoming addiction is a difficult and long way, and getting rid of withdrawal symptoms is a responsible, but only the first significant step. There are many cases when a person, despite painful sensations, was able to defeat withdrawal, but after a while he returned to the destructive path for no apparent reason.
A former addict is always at risk of breakdown. It is due to the memory of the euphoric state, imprinted in the brain of everyone who has tried a drug at least once. And a person who has gone through a chronic stage will have personality deformation forever. Returning to a familiar social circle, to a past lifestyle, helps to awaken dangerous memories. Therefore, the constant assistance of the family, sensitive and careful, but tactful control from loved ones is so important.
Undoubtedly, the most successful, safe for the patient and sparing for his environment way to get rid of drug addiction is to contact specialized treatment and rehabilitation centers. Experienced professionals will correctly assess the stage of the disease, draw up the most effective combined treatment regimen, provide protection from temptations on the basis of an equipped complex, competent medical support for the healing and rehabilitation process.
Stages of drug addiction recovery
To recover, an addict needs not only medical procedures, but also psychological support, spiritual and social assistance. The duration of rehabilitation in the center is set individually for each patient. It depends on the patient’s condition and the desire to return to a healthy life. The center’s specialists divide the treatment into three components:
- Pre-rehabilitation part;
- Psychological assistance;
- Post-rehabilitation part.
Each of these components includes certain actions required to treat addiction. It happens gradually and orderly. Only the joint work of our highly qualified specialists is capable of giving a positive result and directing the addict in the right direction. The treatment process includes:
- Cleansing the human body with the help of special drugs from the presence of the drug, experts help to overcome physical pain;
- Motivation of the patient by professional psychologists for recovery, setting life goals, fighting the depressive mood of the addict;
- Social rehabilitation. A person seems to begin to re-establish contact with the outside world, psychotic and behavioral symptoms are eliminated. The best psychologists, narcologists and psychotherapists work with the patient.
How to get rid of drug addiction forever?
The first is to realize and accept the fact that you are a drug addict, and your lifestyle and your addiction are the result of irresponsibility, lack of conscience and moral values. And the latter do not appear by themselves – they are brought up in society. Therefore, every addict needs the help of a specialist.
The second is to have a desire to get rid of drug addiction. Only their own efforts and understanding of the seriousness of their problem will help the addict to stay among people and lead a healthy lifestyle.
The third is the realization that even after treatment, rehabilitation and adaptation, you still remain a drug addict. Understanding this fact helps to resist the temptation to use the drug again. The return to real life periodically forces a person who has been treated for drug addiction to make a choice in favor of a drug illusion or a real life – rich not only in difficulties, but to a greater extent – in wonderful moments.
