Drug Substance Abuse

We can’t help but wonder what causes one person to become in drug or substance abuse while another person can walk away from it. Drugs or alcohol are use in an effort to handle a problem or physical/emotional pain of some sort. The drug is found to offer short term relief to the problem or pain. What happens in many cases is the individual continues to use drugs and alcohol to mask the symptoms and obtain relief rather than handle the actual source of the problem or pain. Most drugs used have a tolerance factor where it takes more and more of the drug more and more often to achieve the desired results. This leads to abusive and addictive use which adds additional problems and pains and yet at this point the person thinks there is no other solution or relief available. Thus the person enters the downward spiral of abuse drug and substance abuse and addiction.

All drug rehab programs are not created equal; there are many different types and formats. There are long term, short term, in-patient, out-patient, traditional 12 step, and non traditional to name but a few. One big difference to be aware of is whether or not the drug rehab programs you may be looking at are drug free or whether the program embraces the use of other or substitute or additional drugs and ‘medications’ in an effort to control or alleviate addiction. Narconon Arrowhead is a long term, non traditional, drug free approach to the problems of abuse and addiction. These points set us apart from many of the other drug rehab programs available. We start with the assumption that the being is basically good and despite any appearances to the contrary actually wants to attain a completely drug free productive life. The Narconon program embraces many, many different factors that stop or inhibit the individual from reaching this goal. The majority of Narconon staff are ex-addicts and alcoholics themselves and know what it takes to get lasting results – we’ve been there! When examining the various drug rehab programs look for one thing – LASTING results and success.

Addiction withdrawal is the term applied to the process of terminating or ceasing the use of the drug or alcohol causing the addiction. Withdrawal symptoms are those physical, mental, and emotional discomforts occurring as a result of this process. Some procedures attempt to ease withdrawal with the use of additional drugs or chemicals. This can and does complicate the process as now there are new substances that are creating dependencies along with the intense cravings for the original drug of addiction. In most cases withdrawal can be accomplished with adequate medical monitoring and proper nutrition. Drugs severely deplete vitamin and nutritional stores in the body and when properly addressed will reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms without the dangers of using additional drugs.

The effects of addiction of course impact the addict himself, of which he or she is usually painfully aware. Deterioration of health, loss of energy and drive, and uncontrollable cravings for drugs or alcohol are just a few of these. The effects created on friends and family can be just as devastating but are generally less well known to the addict. The reason for this is that drugs and alcohol reduce awareness of the environment more and more as addiction continues. The cravings, guilt and depression that go hand in hand with drug addiction are the reasons for continued use and relapse. The addict or alcohol usually is not malicious in terms of the damage caused to family and loved ones, he or she is simply not fully aware of the effects being created. There world is centered on obtaining and using more and more drugs and alcohol.

Drug statistics abound in government, educational, and private studies. These can be enlightening and informative. The drug statistics from these studies are generally disheartening and leave one without much hope a good amount of the time. When is comes to drug statistics the one you are probably most interested in is that of yourself or a loved one. If you’re looking at this website then it has become personal for you in one form or another. Well here is a statistic that may engender a little hope for you; Narconon Arrowhead has a 76% success rate among our program graduates, one of the best in the field. We do not believe that rehabilitation is fleeting and subject to relapse. We work from a strong foundation of routinely creating drug free productive individuals for a lifetime!