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    What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?
    What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?
    What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?
    Ebook95 pages1 hour

    What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?

    By SoCal Detox

    ()

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    About this ebook

    At SoCal Detox we know that finding help for addiction, whether for yourself or a loved one, is a confusing and overwhelming process. With that in mind, we have spent the past few years gathering information for individuals and families in order to help them have the best information possible in their search.

    Here we have compiled information on some of the most important topics people need in order to take the best first step in their recovery journey, and made it available for free in this eBook format.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSoCal Detox
    Release dateNov 29, 2017
    ISBN9781386616870
    What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox?

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      Book preview

      What Is Drug and Alcohol Detox? - SoCal Detox

      Part 1:

      Addiction

      Chapter 1

      What Is Substance Use Disorder?

      LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT. How we see things in this world, their importance, and their influence is directly connected to what we name them.

      Where addiction is concerned, the stigma of the disease is often enough to keep a person from seeking treatment. Admitting to struggling with addiction means a person is akin to putting themselves at risk of losing their job, their family, the respect of their community, and more.

      Even though it is a disease, the possible disgrace of being labeled an addict is a heavy burden. This one reason to begin to change our language.

      Beyond that, the better we define addiction, the better we can treat it and make a difference in the lives of everyone affected.

      Accurate Definition

      The American Psychiatric Association (APA) compiles the DSM, which is the official guideline for all mental disorders (the current one is the DSM-5). In 2013 they began using the term Substance Use Disorder (SUD) to better name and define the disease of addiction. The APA didn’t make the name change simply to revise semantics. The description is intended to provide a more accurate definition of the struggles of addiction.

      There are eight specific categories of substance use disorder, these include the use of marijuana, opioids, alcohol, inhalants, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and even tobacco. The actual diagnosis of the disorder comes after a thorough and careful examination of a person and an assessment of their symptoms.

      What Constitutes Substance Use Disorder?

      A doctor must confirm the presence of specific issues that indicate a serious disorder that requires equally serious treatment. There are 11 symptoms examined to make a reliable diagnosis of the disorder. The presence of at least two of these symptoms indicates a substance use disorder. The severity is graded: mild, moderate, or severe.

      Mild: The presence of 2 to 3 symptoms.

      Moderate: The presence of 4 to 5 symptoms.

      Severe: The presence of 6 or more symptoms.

      The Symptoms

      1. Taking the substance in larger amounts or for longer than you intended

      2. Wanting to cut down or stop using the substance but not being able to do it

      3. Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from use of the substance

      4. Cravings and urges to use the substance

      5. Substance use severely impacts your responsibilities at work, home, or school

      6. Continuing to use even when it causes problems in social situations and personal relationships

      7. Giving up or greatly reducing important social, occupational, or recreational activities in preference to substance use

      8. Using substances again and again even when it causes dangerous situations

      9. Continuing to use even when you know you have a physical or psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance

      10. Needing more of the substance to get the effect you want (tolerance)

      11. Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance

      Major Issues

      Taking the above list into consideration, it is pretty clear how substance use disorder completely devastates a person’s life (and the lives of those close to him or her). Marriages, friendships, and business relationships can suffer dramatically when a person succumbs to addictive behavior. The individual could even slip into a life of isolation separating him/herself from others as substance use takes precedence over everything else.

      Physicians look at numerous behavioral displays to determine if the actions fall under the established criteria for SUD. Someone whose substance use contributes to consistently missing workdays, engaging in risky behavior, or unable to function because of substance use likely has a disorder.

      Impaired control might be the most noticeable to family members. Impaired control refers to when the user wants to quit or reduce his/her consumption but is not capable of doing so. A preoccupation with drug or other substance use overcomes all other desires and wants. When this happens, it may seem that a loved one has become a completely different person.

      Fighting the Stigma

      The important thing to remember is that drugs and alcohol change the brain. This is why it can be classified as a disease. Someone with a substance use disorder is not a bad, lazy, or unlawful person. Drugs and alcohol manipulate the brain’s structure and how it works. The person is in there, but their life is completely influenced by the effects of this disease. And treatment is absolutely necessary for any kind of recovery to be possible. However, many times people with addictions are too ashamed or afraid to reach out for help.

      Understanding the disease of Substance Use Disorder, overcoming the stigma, and asking for help are the first crucial steps to find help for you or your loved one.

      Chapter 2

      Confronting the Fear of Going to Rehab

      D on’t let the fear of what could happen make nothing happen.

      It’s human nature to avoid pain and seek pleasure. We sit on the comfortable chair rather than stand. We put off doing our term paper until the last minute. We eat the piece of cake rather than go to the gym. People who have developed an addiction to drugs or alcohol may know this the best. It is one of the driving forces in the life of an addict: to seek pleasure in order to numb our pain. Of course, simultaneously, this reveals the real suffering deep inside. The pleasure/pain principle can keep a person shackled to the chains of their substance for years, even when they have recognized its power for destruction in their lives. They need to avoid pain and find pleasure, no matter what the cost.

      Ultimately, a person who knows that it is time to get clean but doesn’t do it is afraid of one or more possibilities. And this is a common aspect of addiction treatment. This fear takes precedence over the long-term pleasure possible and causes them to do nothing—except

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