How Do I Know If I Have an Addiction?

If you are feeling as though drug and alcohol use may be causing problems in your life, it is possible you could be suffering from addiction. An estimated 21.5 million people in the United States age 12 or older have a substance use disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. If you think you may be one of these individuals, a drug and alcohol rehab center can help you fight addiction using a range of evidence-based therapies and therapeutic activities.

What Is Addiction?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use despite harmful consequences. Over time, regular use of drugs and alcohol can change the brain’s structure and function in ways that increase the risk for mental illness and other problems that compromise one’s health and overall well-being. Many people are unable to recover from addiction on their own without getting professional help at a drug rehab center.

Questions to Ask Yourself If You Think You Have an Addiction

In order to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, one must meet at least two of the 11 diagnostic criteria within a 12-month period as specified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. You may be suffering from addiction if you answer yes to two or more of the following questions:

1. Have you been using higher amounts of drugs or alcohol for a longer period of time than you initially intended?

2. Have you tried to stop using drugs and alcohol, or wanted to reduce the amount you use, but cannot?

3. Do you devote lots of time to using drugs and alcohol, obtaining these substances, and recovering from their effects?

4. Do you experience strong cravings, desires, or urges to use drugs and alcohol?

5. Has drug and alcohol use interfered with your ability to fulfill major obligations related to work, school, and family?

6. Are you continuing to use drugs and alcohol despite the fact these substances are contributing to problems between you and your family and friends?

7. Have you given up important or interesting hobbies and activities so you can spend more time using drugs and alcohol instead?

8. Are you continuing to use drugs and alcohol even though doing so keeps getting you into situations that are dangerous and physically hazardous?

9. Are you continuing to use drugs and alcohol despite worsened physical or psychological health that may be driven by substance use?

10. Are you having to use higher amounts of drugs and alcohol because you have become tolerant to the amounts you have used in the past?

11. Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you are not using drugs and alcohol, or do you ever use these substances for the sake of avoiding withdrawal symptoms?

If you answered yes to two or three of these questions, you may have a mild substance use disorder. If you answered yes to four or five questions, you may have a moderate disorder. If you answered yes to six or more questions, you may have a severe disorder. Regardless of where your addiction level may fall, please understand that a drug rehab center can help you get your life back on a healthier, more positive track.

How Can Drug Rehab Help?

Drug and alcohol rehab centers use a variety of interventions to help people safely recover from drug dependence and addiction. Treatment usually begins with drug and alcohol detox, which manages the physical symptoms of withdrawal such as nausea, restlessness, and drug cravings. Medications are often used in drug detox to relieve your symptoms and reduce your risk for withdrawal-related complications.

Following medical detox, you can transition into an addiction recovery program in which you can receive substance abuse education, attend individual and group therapy sessions, and learn new ways to manage stress without having to use drugs and alcohol. Many drug rehab centers develop individualized treatment plans for each patient and are devoted to helping everyone from all walks of life experience a fulfilling, long-lasting recovery from addiction.

If you think you may have an addiction, Indiana Inpatient Rehab is here to help. Call us today at 765-345-8884 to learn more about our many available drug rehab programs, or fill out our free insurance verification form to learn more about your benefits.

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