Facts
- 23 million Americans suffer from addiction, yet 88% of Americans with addiction are not treated.
- 50% of individuals suffering from addiction have a co-occurring mental health condition such as severe depression, severe anxiety, trauma or bipolar disorder.
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is a chronic, progressive and sometimes fatal disease. It causes emotional, physical, financial, employment and social problems that can destroy relationships and ruin lives. Addiction can affect men, women and youth of all ages, intellects and income levels.
Research demonstrates that genetics, brain physiology and the ways the brain processes the neurotransmitters responsible for emotions, physiological cravings and behaviors combine to leave approximately 10 percent of our population at risk for addiction to mood-altering substances. That physiological risk, combined with environmental events and situations, and exposure to the mood-altering substance, can lead to an addiction to one or more of these substances.
Addiction is treatable. With an opportunity to learn about the illness, develop coping skills and establish alternate behaviors, many individuals addicted to alcohol and other substances can stop the progression of the disease, manage their addictions and live lives of recovery. Treatment provides the opportunity to stop the cycle of the disease and offers hope for a bright future.
Substance use disorders symptoms or behaviors include, among others:
- Feeling that you have to use substances regularly — daily or even several times a day
- Having intense urges for substances that block out any other thoughts
- Over time, needing more of the substances to get the same effect
- Taking larger amounts of substances over a longer period of time than you intended
- Making certain that you maintain a supply of your substance of choice
- Spending money on substances, even though you can’t afford it
- Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of substance use
- Continuing to use substances, even though you know it’s causing problems in your life or causing you physical or psychological harm
- Doing things to get substances that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing
- Driving or doing other risky activities when you’re under the influence of substances
- Spending a good deal of time getting substances, using substances and recovering from the effects of substances’
- Failing in your attempts to stop using substances
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking substances
Addiction is a disease with identifiable, diagnosable symptoms which can be effectively treated in a medically monitored, multi-disciplinary environment utilizing proven therapeutic techniques. Depending on the stage and severity of illness, CenterPointe Behavioral Health System’s programs provide treatment services for the following substance use disorders:
- Alcohol
- Benzodiazepines
- Prescription Drugs
- Opioids
- Poly-substance Use
- Dual Disorders (both substance use and mental health issues)
