Addiction Today

What is addiction? Most people think the question is resolved with a simple answer, as in: 'it's someone who can't stop drinking; it's someone who uses heroin; it's someone who is taking too many pills. While these certainly can be precursors to a formal diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder, these are merely how society typical looks at and labels individuals that may be acting different than the average person in the community. In fact, this way of thinking comes too often with stigmatizing and labeling. Depending on where you live, and what your personal belief system tells you, a person who injects himself with narcotics is a 'junkie,' while an alcoholic is the guy you see sitting in unkempt clothing on the street corner, holding a sign letting you know he would gladly be of service for $$$. Indeed, such images are partly responsible for how we have looked at addiction in this country until recently. And, as we know, if it does not hit our home, it does not exist for us. But, it does.

In fact, addiction to various chemicals, including alcohol and opiates, is now rampant in our communities and gaining a grip on all levels of our population. Indeed, the country has declared Opiate use an epidemic and a matter of critical concern to its citizens. Indeed, Congress has declared it intends to attack the problem by enacting various forms of legislation to help combat the importation of these drugs, as well as increasing the amount and type of education for people (including school-age children) in order to make them informed about the extreme harm that may result from chronic, or even, short-term use.

In a nutshell, addiction is something to be reckoned with. And, to do that we must learn what it truly is. Addiction in a diagnosed state, is a brain disorder that leads a person to drink/use too much of a substance to the point where the person's tolerance is raised, requiring more and more of the substance to achieve the desired sensation. In addition, the person will have great difficulty in stopping the substance use on her own and, most importantly, continued use begins to create dysfunction in the user's life, from as small as a person missing work every once in a while, to a complete breakdown of the family system, loss of job, financial wreckage, and legal consequences. Today, addiction is something that can be reckoned with. We utilize a combination of therapies, in conjunction wiith medical and other therapies in helping an individual work toward ending use and taking their lives back. We work with individuals at all stages of addiction, and will gladly meet with you to discuss where you are at to see if chemical use has somehow gained a foothold in an aspect in your, or a loved one's, life. Addiction can be managed. You can return to the life your formerly enjoyed. We can help.