Abuse

Abuse and Addiction? Where is the line between the two and what is the difference? In terms of drug use, ‘abuse’ is the harmful or illegal use of non-medicinal use of drugs or alcohol. If we define addiction as a mental or physical dependence or drugs or alcohol we can see that the lines are often blurred. Many people feel Drug Rehab is only for those with an addiction. A comprehensive drug rehab such as Narconon Arrowhead will also address those with an abuse problem and in fact many people who feel they only have an abuse problem are in fact in the deadly grasp of addiction without realizing it. Drug abuse is always part of the addiction cycle. A quality rehab program is able to evaluate the underlying causes of substance abuse problems and help the abuser put workable solutions into place before their entire life crumbles around them. Narconon Arrowhead successfully helps the individual help themselves – no matter the stage of abuse or addiction.

There are three major components to the Narconon Arrowhead chemical dependency treatment. 1. A full and complete handling of the mental and physical cravings that come from any form of dependency. There is more to this than mere withdrawal from use, though this is a vital starting point. 2. Handling the guilt and depression that comes from the dependent life style and the damage done to self and loved ones. Most addicts, given the know-how and chance will jump at the chance to relieve these devastating feeling that have been keeping them using more and more drugs and alcohol in a failed attempt to find some relief. 3. This involves having the needed skills and abilities to fix what damage they can and then go on to create a truly drug free and productive life. Once the individual feels better without drugs or alcohol than they do with them the need for these substances fade away. This is what chemical dependency treatment is all about.

Marijuana is to most commonly used illegal drug in the world. Marijuana contains more than 400 different toxins and cancer causing chemicals. During the 1970’s researched uncovered the fact that marijuana’s active ingredient ‘THC’ lodged in the fatty tissues of the body for months and years. This puts the person that smokes two or three joints a week constantly under the influence of the drug. Next to alcohol, marijuana is the second most frequently found substance in the bodies of drivers involved in fatal automobile accidents. With stronger and stronger strains of marijuana hitting the streets it is no wonder that more and more individuals are seeking treatment for marijuana addiction.

Any drug could be an addiction drug if the individual finds himself unable to control the use of it. An addiction drug causes physical addiction, mental addiction, or both. Drugs are essentially poisons. The amount taken determines the effect. A small amount of a given drug acts as a stimulant, a larger dose will act as a depressant, and enough of any particular drug can kill one dead. An addiction drug becomes addictive when the individual’s attempt to handle mental or physical pain becomes dependant on the use of the drug, and the individual craves the relief that only ‘appears’ to come from the use of the substance. The substances in the long run will be found to escalate the discomfort and create new emotional and physical side effects in many cases, thus not only are dosages increased but one often finds himself using new drugs to try and counteract these new side effects. Once an individual is restored to an ability to feel better (mentally and physically) without the use of the drug, then one no longer requires the drug and rehabilitation can progress to an address of the underlying causes.

When looking for addiction treatment centers it is important to know what one is looking for as there are lots of options. There are treatment centers that deal with withdrawal only, and some of these use additional drugs and some are drug free. There are 28 day treatment centers working primarily with the 12 steps. There are out-patient programs, for those who have the discipline to benefit from them. Then there is residential treatment centers both short and long term. At Narconon Arrowhead we are a long-term, residential, and drug free treatment center. Those coming here proceed at their own pace; there is no limiting time factor. The entire stress as Narconon Arrowhead is creating drug free productive lives that last for a lifetime. Some will take longer than others to achieve this result. Results are the important factor here, not amount of time spent.