Can Drug and Alcohol Addiction Be Cured?

This may seem odd because high-income women should be better able to afford help with child care, chores, and other responsibilities that can cause stress. But although this group has more resources, the standards for child-rearing, housing, and career achievements in this cohort are also ratcheting ever higher. The strain of keeping up with the Joneses depends on which Joneses you’re keeping up with. Alcoholism affects over 17 million people in the United States, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Unfortunately, many people who suffer with alcoholism are reluctant to get the treatment they need. This is usually due to a variety of reasons, from not understanding they actually have a problem, to worrying about being stereotyped as an alcoholic.

Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives. We learn to connect with people, push our egos aside, and to ask for help if we need it.

Medical Professionals

Chemical dependency, the body’s physical and/or psychological addiction to a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance, such as narcotics, alcohol, or nicotine. Physical dependency on such chemicals as prescription drugs or alcohol stems from repetitive use followed by the gradual increase in the body’s tolerance to, or ability to assimilate, that drug. Thus, increasingly larger doses must be consumed to maintain the drug’s desired effects, which may include the temporary alleviation of depression or anxiety, or the induction of euphoria.

If someone you love is experiencing a substance use disorder, please bear in mind that they have a chronic illness and need support and help. Learning about addiction and how not to enable a person is one way you can help them. Having the ongoing support of loved ones and access to professionals can make all the difference. Loved ones who are concerned about a person’s drug or alcohol use may consider an intervention. Ongoing support and follow-up care are important in the recovery process to prevent relapse.

How Does Addiction Develop in the Brain?

Detoxification alone without subsequent treatment generally leads to resumption of drug use. Similarly, a beer or two can, at least temporarily, help you tolerate a day on which day care is closed, work is nuts, your husband is playing video games, and an elderly relative is having a health scare. But what if you didn’t need the alcohol, because child care was ubiquitous and affordable, health care was cheap, and gender norms were more balanced? Maybe the “mother’s little helper” we all need is a little actual help. Problem drinking has risen fastest among women in their 30s and 40s, the age at which many are squeezed between careers, motherhood, and aging parents. Overwhelmingly, high-income, highly educated women are the ones who drink.

Overcoming drug addiction is a process that requires time, patience, and empathy. A person will want to consider actions they can take such as committing to change, seeking support, and eliminating triggers. Depending on the addiction, medications may also be available to help. Drug addiction is dangerous because it becomes all-consuming and disrupts the normal functioning of your brain and body. When a person is addicted, they prioritize using the drug or drugs over their wellbeing. This can have severe consequences, including increased tolerance to the substance, withdrawal effects (different for each drug), and social problems.

Can Alcoholism Be Cured?

In my experience, people who are addicted tend to have a particular affinity for a particular class of drug, not for all drugs and alcohol. This is probably based on some combination of their neurochemistry and their psychological makeup. I was addicted to opiates, but didn’t have difficulties with substances in other classes.

From there, preparing, planning, finding support, and talking to a healthcare provider can help put you on a path to a successful recovery. You may have lost touch with old friends and loved ones, and changing your behavior may make it difficult to spend time around people who are can alcoholism be cured still using substances or engaging in certain behaviors. But finding people who support your recovery can be very helpful and may improve your outcomes. The two most common forms of chemical dependency are alcoholism and addiction to nonnarcotic central-nervous-system drugs.

Stress Drinking Has a Gender Divide

While in rehab, I was actually told a lot of other things that turned out to have no basis in scientific evidence. Many people addicted to alcohol also turn to 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). There are also other support groups that don’t follow the 12-step model, such as SMART Recovery and Sober Recovery. These complications are reasons why it’s important to treat alcohol addiction early. Nearly all risks involved with alcohol addiction may be avoidable or treatable, with successful long-term recovery. Stopping drug use is just one part of a long and complex recovery process.

For example, combining alcohol and benzodiazepines can result in fatal poisoning, an effect not seen with either substance alone. Alcoholism and its symptoms can be successfully managed with effective treatment. It’s important to note, however, that the most effective treatment for alcoholism will vary for each individual. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/mash-sober-living-eco-sober-house-is-now-mash-certified/ Bear in mind that stopping taking drugs is only one part of recovery from addiction. Strategies that help people stay in treatment and follow their recovery plan are essential. Along with medical and mental health treatments, the following are steps you can take to help overcome substance use disorder.

Prepare to Change

Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. When is it common in society, it can be hard to tell the difference between someone who likes to have a few drinks now and then and someone with a real problem. Unlike cocaine or heroin, alcohol is widely available and accepted in many cultures.