Flagstaff, Arizona Addiction Treatment

Addiction is a severe substance use disorder. It’s complicated, and everyone’s situation can be different, but addiction is generally known as a chronic condition affecting many aspects of your life. When you have an addiction to drugs or alcohol, it affects your mental and physical health, career, and relationships.

Addiction is considered a chronic condition, meaning while it’s lifelong and not necessarily curable, it’s very treatable. The American Society of Addiction Medicine says addiction is a chronic brain disorder. It doesn’t come from a lack of personal willpower. Rather, addiction changes the chemistry of your brain. As with other chronic conditions, addiction is progressive and worsens over time the longer it goes untreated.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, sets the criteria for diagnosing a substance use disorder.

Some of the substances that people are most often addicted to include:

• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Sedatives, such as benzodiazepines
• Prescription opioids like codeine and oxycodone
• Non-prescription opioids like heroin
• Prescription stimulants like Adderall
• Illegal stimulants, including methamphetamine and cocaine

There are differences in the effects of all these substances, yet they all activate the brain’s reward center strongly and create pleasurable and even euphoric feelings. That reward center activation is why these substances can be addictive.

The signs and symptoms of addiction to a substance include:

• Developing a tolerance and needing more substance over time to feel the same effects experienced initially.
• Not being able to stop using a substance even when attempting to.
• Being deceptive or lying about substance use, or trying to hide it.
• An intense focus on the substance takes attention away from other aspects of a person’s life.
• A loss of control over substance use.
• Having problems in relationships, work, or other areas of life because of substance use.
• Withdrawal symptoms occur when cutting back or stopping.

There’s not one single cause of addiction. It’s complex, and a big part of the development relates to your brain chemistry and the changes it goes through with exposure to certain substances.

As humans, we are wired to want to seek rewards. These rewards can come from healthy behaviors, like eating a great meal. Your body releases dopamine in response, so you feel pleasure. You continue seeking out rewarding experiences because they make you feel good. Unfortunately, substances create huge dopamine surges much greater than natural stimuli can. You’re then motivated to continue using those substances as a result.

Addiction can arise from changes in brain chemistry, genetics, and environmental factors. There’s a strong association between mental health conditions and addiction too. Around half of people with a mental health condition also have a substance use disorder.

Terra Nova Treatment is a solution if you’re seeking a drug rehab center in Flagstaff. Our center is the best Flagstaff addiction treatment facilities, offering comprehensive, research-backed care in an expert-led environment.