Drug use is a complex issue that has often changed peoples’ lives for the worse. Some people make the mistake of assuming that drug users lack the morality or willpower to quit. However, the truth is that repeated drug use can lead to strong physical and psychological addictions. People consider substance abuse to be a disease because of the way it transforms the user’s brain, making drug use a compulsive behavior.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, drug and alcohol use impacts the reward circuit of the brain. This reward system is what controls your ability to feel pleasure or pain. Repeated drug usage can overstimulate this reward system and influence the way you think over time. After a while, a drug user may only feel large amounts of dopamine (the pleasure hormone) when they ingest drugs. Eventually, drug cravings become uncontrollable to the point where you cannot live a normal, productive life.
Addiction can negatively impact a person’s life in numerous ways. Someone who tries to quit can experience intense withdrawals and mood swings. Long-term substance abuse can lead to a decline in physical and psychological health. Those suffering from an addiction may begin to behave in a dysfunctional manner, and this can impact their relationships with friends and family. Addiction can also lead to problems with employment and finances.
However, recovery from drug addiction is possible. Substance abuse in Los Angeles can be especially widespread because of the number of people living here. If you live in the L.A. area and suffer from substance abuse problems, there is help available. There are Los Angeles drug rehab programs for drug rehabilitation and drug addiction recovery. Drug abuse programs are able to perform drug treatment, alcohol detox and drug detox for patients.
There is also the option of drug and alcohol inpatient treatment in Los Angeles. Inpatient drug rehab can be particularly effective because of how closely the patient is monitored. For some patients, it is much easier to overcome an addiction when they have a constant presence there to help them.
Friends and family of someone with a substance use disorder are quite often unequipped to assist that person through drug rehabilitation. Some people find that being removed from both access to drugs and their social network of others with substance use disorders can make it much more likely for them to succeed.
