Alcohol and Drug Abuse: When Enough is Enough
By: Lakeview Health
Published: August 1, 2016

Addiction is a disease that completely takes control of a person’s life. Not only does it affect the user, but it also affects everyone else in his or her life. This can include friends, family, spouses, children and co-workers. Addiction takes hold and doesn’t let go, and it can leave many people feeling completely powerless in their situation. Many people addicted to drugs or alcohol sincerely want to quit, but they have no idea how. 

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Centers in the Mind

There’s a physical dependency with alcohol and drug addiction, but the disease actually begins in the mind. Those who are physically dependent can go through a detox process, but many people relapse soon after. When you think about it, the only other issue that can possibly lead people back to drugs or alcohol is their way of thinking. Once the drugs and alcohol are out of their system, the only thing leading them back to drugs are the thoughts and impulses they have. Addiction has been classified as a legitimate mental illness due to the scientific findings of how addiction affects the brain. Humans depend on the pleasure system of the brain to sustain life. The problem is that the prefrontal cortex, which counter-balances the pleasure system, doesn’t function properly in someone who is addicted. Those who are addicted have a mind that tells them they need alcohol or drugs in order to survive.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Leaves People Feeling Hopeless

Many people have tried to quit before, and it often doesn’t go well. This leaves men and women feeling hopeless in their situation, and they want to give up. Not only do they want to give up, but their loved ones may grow so resentful that they want to give up on the person as well. Many chronic relapse victims haven’t learned to think differently. This new way of thinking is what helps someone sustain their sobriety and learn a better way of living without the use of alcohol or drugs. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, Lakeview Health offers a wide range of services to help people overcome their drug or alcohol addiction. We provide a medically monitored detoxification process, which is followed by evidence-based treatment to help people retrain their brain into learning how to deal with life on life’s terms without the use of mind-altering substances. Put a stop to your addiction before things get out of hand. Call Lakeview Health today at 866-704-7692 for more information.