8 Ways You Can Recover From Drug & Alcohol Addiction

Drug & alcohol addiction is a medical condition that affects both the health and lifestyle of an individual in a negative way. Drug addiction is one of the most common problems that many people around the globe fight. However, significant challenges appear when the individual with the addiction tries to overcome the same.

For an individual struggling with substance use disorder (SUD), looking for the best possible remedies to overcome the issue becomes quintessential. In this context, different ways to recover from drug abuse have been mentioned along with other crucial aspects.

What Is Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction is a chronic situation driven by an uncontrollable urge to seek a specific drug. This urge to consume these substances affects brain functioning and brings significant behavioral changes. Moreover, considering its relapsing nature, this addiction not only involves illegal drugs, heroin or cocaine. In addition, one can get addicted to anti-anxiety medicines, prescription drugs, and other legal substances.

The effects of drug addiction are detrimental to health, and it impacts the relationship with close ones. Moreover, as the changes in the brain drive behavioral change in humans, it affects intelligence quotient, retention ability, learning power, etc. Hence, seeking practical solutions and overcoming strategies for substance misuse addiction is essential.

What Are the 8 Ways to Recover From Drug Addiction?

The response to different recovery methods will vary across individuals and the effect of the drug on their brain and health. However, here are the top 8 effective ways to recovering drug addiction:

Get Along With Supportive Individuals

Surrounding yourself with supportive individuals who keep an optimistic approach is extremely important. This is a pivotal part of drug addiction recovery. Removing all unhealthy relationships and indulging in people who provide constant motivation to maintain a healthy lifestyle is essential.

Engage in New Creative Hobbies or Sports

Keeping yourself busy by adapting to new hobbies or sports can help an individual stay clear of the desire to consume any drug. Moreover, indulging time in pursuing different hobbies or sports will allow the mind to relax and create a diversion to replace unhealthy habits.

Yoga and Meditation

Yoga and meditation are popular modes recommended by therapists in the duration of drug addiction treatment. Through meditation, one can experience complete mindfulness and peace and find ways to fully release stress and anxiety. Moreover, performing yoga regularly helps boost the immune system and stabilizes blood pressure.

Adopt Healthy Eating

The daily diet that one consumes affects mood and brain activities to a great extent. Hence, nutritionists and doctors recommend consuming a vitamin and protein-enriched diet for both mental and physical well-being. In addition, clean eating reduces stress and anxiety that triggers the urge to consume drugs.  

Exercise Regularly

To combat teenage drug addiction, therapists recommend that young adults and individuals suffering from addiction exercise regularly. By making exercises a daily habit, one will naturally experience high endorphins that will keep one encouraged throughout the day and elevate the mood.

Talk to a Loved One

A lot of the time, sharing the problem with someone close helps release stress and improves emotional stability to a great extent. Therefore, it is important to talk about the consequences and trouble that he or she is facing and allow the loved one to offer help as required. In this case, you can reach out to any local group or friend with a supportive mentality and open to conversation.

Join a Supportive Community

Joining a likable community is one of the pivotal tips provided during counseling for drug addiction. Multiple organizations have taken an initiative to form a community to help individuals suffering from drug abuse. With the support of preliminary psychotherapy, they try to offer help and relief to a significant extent.  

Opt for Professional Assistance

If in case the symptoms of drug abuse have become a threat to life and overall lifestyle, it is essential to consult with a licensed healthcare professional. By opting for authorized professional assistance, an individual will be able to receive proper support when and what is necessary.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction?

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) in the United States has profoundly mentioned the various signs and symptoms to create awareness of the ailment.

Moreover, it is important for the family or caregiver of an individual suffering from drug abuse to identify symptoms to look for better remedies. As addiction affects the behavior of an individual, here are the noteworthy signs that one must never ignore:

• Having a constant urge to consume the drug regularly, maybe several times a day

• Consuming a particular drug for a longer period of time

• Ensuring a constant supply of this specific drug

• Spending a lump sum amount on buying this drug, even when money is tight

• Becoming socially inactive or losing the motivation to meet any responsibility or participate in any recreational activity.

• Continuing consumption of drugs while knowing that it is a threat to the current lifestyle.

• Indulging in risk-worthy activities like driving while under the influence of a drug

• Lastly, one of the crucial signs of drug addiction is that individuals experience withdrawal symptoms while attempting to stop the same drug.

In order to choose drug addiction treatment at the right time, it is pivotal to understand these symptoms and how they affect an individual's behavior and thought process.

Who Is at Risk of Drug Addiction?

Though the way body and mind respond to certain things in an individual is different, a plethora of factors trigger the craving for drug addiction in people. These include:

Genes play a significant role in triggering the urge for a specific drug. This is why medical professionals check the family history to see whether any family member possesses such an addiction.

In today’s time, drug addiction in teens is mostly driven by the consequences of troubled relationships. Whether with parents or close ones, an individual primarily uses drugs and alcohol to escape a problematic relationship.

Mental disorders like depression and anxiety act as pivotal risk factors for substance misuse addiction. As per recent research, it is found that around 25% of people having a major depressive disorder are under the influence of drug abuse.

In a rehabilitation center, the alcohol and drug recovery procedure starts with understanding the potential risk factors, as mentioned above. This offers a clear perspective in understanding the case history of a specific individual and plans the treatment process accordingly.

What Are the Treatment Methods Available for Drug Addiction?

There is no standard treatment for drug abuse, as the effect of it varies from person to person. Moreover, the results of one set of treatments might not bring equal essence to all people as a drug creates unique effects on individuals. However, here the most prevalent treatment method available that a drug addiction rehabilitation center chooses to cure an individual:

Detoxification

Individuals with addiction will be given a medically prescribed detox routine to eliminate all the toxins of the drugs that have accumulated in the body. However, this whole treatment procedure is done under the guidance of a professional and in a safe environment. This is important because many times, people experience life-threatening substance withdrawal symptoms.

In addition, this detoxification step is used as a preliminary step in the treatment procedure along with other therapies.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an important treatment procedure used to combat different types of addiction.

Not only limited to prescription drug addiction, but CBT also allows you to understand the unhealthy behavioral changes towards a certain drug. In addition, CBT helps identify the triggers and symptoms of drug abuse and is combined with different therapeutic procedures.

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) helps individuals to understand the negative thoughts and the factors that are affecting them the same. It allows us to fight with these negativities but instigate a feeling of self-defense. The objective of this procedure is to make oneself aware about the ability of rational thinking that is brewed within themselves.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

An authorized drug addiction treatment center channelizes the powerful effect of dual diagnosis among individuals. Dual diagnosis treatment involves treating a person with both drug or alcoholism and mental disorder.

A lot of times, individuals suffering from substance use disorder also suffer from mental issues. As both conditions are simultaneously related, it is important to get dual diagnosis treatment under the care of a facility to combat both conditions.

Medication

Medications play a vital role in treating drug abuse in people. The effect of these meds not only helps individuals to control their urge to consume drugs but helps with withdrawal symptoms.

In addition, FDA-approved lofexidine is being widely used to decrease drug cravings and deal with withdrawal consequences without any hassles.

What Are the Principles of Effective Treatment Processes?

In order to look for an ideal rehab for drug addiction, one must focus on the effectiveness of the treatment process that it offers. In this context, the principles of a successful treatment program have been mentioned for better comprehension:

• Despite its complex nature, addiction is a treatable disease

• There is no specific set of treatments that will generate equal results for everyone

• There should be swift access to treatment for drug abuse

• Sticking through the treatment program under a facility, in the long run, is essential

• Treatment programs must undergo modification whenever necessary as per the patient’s need

• The facility must review the drug usage during the treatment diligently

• Counseling and behavioral therapy for drug addiction should be considered an essential part of the treatment process

With the proper care and timely intervention, any type of drug addiction is curable, as per different research. Moreover, this requires an immense amount of patience and support from loved ones to experience a speedy recovery.

Contact The Forge Recovery Center Today for Complete Recovery From Drug Addiction

If you want to help your loved ones from the hands of drug abuse, The Forge Recovery Center is the ultimate destination. At this facility, you will find several resources as we offer group therapy, education and awareness, and consistent contact throughout the processes. So, if you or your loved ones are struggling with any type of addiction, feel free to contact The Forge Recovery Center today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are some people more prone to addiction while others are not?

The risk of getting addicted to drugs depends on genetics, immunity, and the external environment that the individual is exposed to. Furthermore, this is also based on the severity of addiction and on individual physiology.

What are the most commonly used drugs for addiction?

Some of the most commonly used drugs for addiction are buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and other prescription drugs for treating anxiety and stress.

What are the levels of drug addiction?

Generally, therapists divide the levels of drug addiction into four groups – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

What are the risk factors of drug abuse?

Some significant risk factors for drug abuse are anxiety and depression, genetics, family history, and troubled relationships.

What is the primary cause of Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?

The primary cause of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is chronic stress. In addition, the incidence of mental illnesses or inability to handle one’s emotions effectively also leads to substance misuse.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

January 10, 2023