There is a growing number of people who do not see the benefit of a war on drugs, especially with addiction affecting all races and classes, family members and friends. It is no longer a far away problem, it is something that directly affects us whether we are the one addicted or know someone who is. The more time that passes the more people learn and understand addiction. Addiction used to have a negative stigma associated with it and at the time when drugs were first criminalized they were direct racial targets and because of the war, using drugs made you a criminal. When in fact, someone who abuses and is addicted to substances needs help and treatment just as any other ill person. Substance addiction is now looked at more commonly as an illness that people suffer from instead of a choice they make to be criminals. Currently, the cons of the war on drugs outweigh the pros. The majority of people who deal and use drugs are within or below the poverty line. When they do not have the means to go to school, college, and get a well-paying job the easiest and most profitable thing that they can find is drug dealing and can also fund their own habits. When a mother or father cannot feed their children because they don’t make enough money, a quick drug sale may seem like a quick and easy fix, until they are locked up as a criminal for the next ten years. Those who are addicted to substances are ill and need medical help for their condition. You cannot expect someone who is extremely sick to just get better on their own, they need medical attention and treatments to help them recover and become healthy again.
The Disease of Addiction Affects Millions
Addiction is a disease that affects millions of people. Yet, very few actually seek treatment for it. Also known as substance abuse, addiction is defined as a medical and/or mental condition characterized by uncontrollable and overwhelming engagement in the seeking out of certain stimuli. This behavior is consistent and continually progressive regardless of the known and/or negative consequences. These negative consequences can be exacerbated when the addiction is to drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse and addiction are diseases that do not see race, religion, sex, financial or societal standing. Addiction can affect anyone at anytime. Genetics, environment and medical history can also play a direct role. Mental health is also a large factor in addiction, as many people start using addictive substances out of PTSD or incurred trauma. Some people end up addicts completely by accident using legally obtained medications prescribed by their trusted doctors and physicians. Addiction also affects more than the addict themselves. A person’s addiction can affect their friends, family, community, and loved ones. It’s becoming more and more evident that an effective treatment plan includes family integration and therapy. If the family is included in addiction rehab they can learn more about their loved one’s disease, become a supportive pillar to the addict, and begin to mend and heal in their own way.
New Research on Addiction & Substance Abuse
Most people nowadays understand that addiction is not a choice. With new research about the effects of drugs it is easier for people who do not suffer with addiction to understand those who are afflicted by it. For many people maybe the first use is a choice but by the time it is a full blown addiction it is no longer a choice. Addiction is because of the rewiring in the brain due to the substance and the body becomes dependent on the substance. When the body and brain are dependent on the substance it is no longer a choice but a disease and a need. The only thing that matters is getting their next fix to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. The only way to escape its grasp is with the right treatment and a healthy withdrawal from the substance. With sobriety, a healthy diet, physical exercise, and the right coping mechanisms the brain will begin to rewire itself and the brain and body will start to heal. Every moment sober is another moment towards a second chance. Once someone is addicted to a substance, the only choice they have is the choice to get sober and most of them don’t think that they can. With the support of family and friends and the right treatment they can get through it.
Getting Help for Addiction
If you or a loved one is suffering from the disease of addiction, we can help you find the best options available. Recovery Ways, the premier drug rehab in Utah, is state licensed and accredited by top organizations to treat both addiction and mental health issues. Our admissions coordinators can walk you through our treatment program, review your insurance, and find the best addiction treatment for you or your loved one. Please call 1-888-986-7848.
