Is drug addiction a disease? How can addiction be the same as heart disease or cancer? In fact, addiction is a disease because it’s progressive and can be life-threatening. For someone facing the difficulties associated with addiction, including physical pain and mental anguish, there’s no doubt this is a very serious condition. At Painted Desert Recovery, we offer the tools you need to overcome drug addiction.
Why Drug Addiction Disease Is Legitimate
Many people have misconceptions about what exactly addiction is. That’s because some people can use drugs or alcohol without ever forming an addiction. Yet, for those that it does impact, drug addiction disease can be quite difficult and even life-threatening. Some of the reasons for this include:
- Addiction is progressive. Left uncontrolled and unmanaged, this is a life-threatening condition due to the physical nature of it.
- It’s not due to a lack of willpower. A person with addiction can’t just stop using. It may be impossible to do so.
- Addiction isn’t a moral weakness, either. A person doesn’t set out to develop addiction and dependence. It happens to them over time and often without a way to slow its progress.
- A person with addiction often wants to stop using. They don’t want to continue to suffer. They want a cure.
- The physical damage created by addiction is intense, often causing a person intense pain, mental health complications, and organ failure. Over time, this disease causes other conditions to develop.
There’s no cure for this disease, either. There’s no way to make it just go away by not picking up a drink or using a drug again. However, help for this disease is available at Painted Desert Recovery.
Drug Addiction Recovery and Dependence
The core component of whether or not addiction is a disease is the concept of dependence. When a person uses drugs or alcohol for a period of time, these substances interact with the brain, changing the way it functions. Hormones that make us feel good are released. The brain wants to keep experiencing them because it is programmed to do so. As it does, a person needs to use more of the drug and use it more frequently to feel normal. This physical and chemical change in the brain makes addiction a true disease – it’s not something a person can control.
More so, once dependence forms, it’s nearly impossible to stop using on your own. The cravings are so intense that nothing else in life can be more important. A person may take drastic measures to get the substances they need because their brain is telling them to do so.
Drug Addiction Treatment Can Break the Dependence
In a treatment center, it’s possible to help the brain to get back on track. It may be possible to help a person’s body and mind heal from this disease through detox and therapy. The damage is often significant. The therapy need is often extensive. Yet, with proper care in the right setting, it’s possible to recover from addiction.
At Painted Desert Recovery, we offer a wide range of therapy options to help make addiction recovery possible. It’s up to you to seek out treatment from our team, but you can begin to feel empowered by the changes possible there once you do. Some of those therapies include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Experiential therapy programs
- Equine therapy programs
- Nutrition and food therapy programs
- Group therapy programs
Learn How to Embrace Treatment at Painted Desert Recovery
Drug addiction disease is a serious condition. When you realize it’s not much different than other diseases, it’s clear that getting professional help is critical to recovery. At Painted Desert Recovery, we offer a wide range of therapy options to help you achieve this goal. Learn more about them and our dedicated team of professionals when you call 844.540.0357 or reach out to us online today.
