Addiction is a chronic disease which entails the psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a chemical, drug, activity, or substance, despite the fact that it causes harmful consequences to the brain and body. Common symptoms of addiction comprise severe loss of control, continued use despite serious consequences, failed attempts to quit, preoccupation with using, increased tolerance and withdrawal.
Symptoms of addiction:
· Lack of control: Cravings and strong urges to use the substance and the desire or failed attempts to cut down or control substance use.
· Risky abuse: Using the substance in risky settings/situations and continued use despite being aware of the problems.
· Social issues: The incessant abuse of substance causing inability to complete tasks at work, school or home; giving up responsibilities and daily activities as a result.
· Drug effects: Developing tolerance (body becomes tolerant to the drug resulting in the need for higher amounts of the drug for the same effect); and experiencing withdrawal symptoms (negative effects on body while withdrawing from substance use.)
Addiction is a complex issue, which affects almost all areas of a person’s life including work, relationships and health. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American people (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. About 38% of American adults in 2017 battled an illicit drug use disorder. An issue that is often more detrimental than heart disease, shall be treated with utmost priority.
For those who don’t have a severe addiction, outpatient treatment programs are recommended. Outpatient treatment programs are especially suited for those individuals who are motivated to quit using the substance they abuse, but also want the flexibility of the treatment program that can be undertaken according to their schedules. An outpatient treatment program offers treatment sessions that can be fixed at various hours throughout the week. That way, the patients can continue taking care of their other responsibilities like work and living at home, while also going for their treatment sessions at allotted times.
Benefits of outpatient treatment for addiction:
Flexibility & Convenience: Outpatient programs are usually designed to work according to your schedule. For those who do not want to quit their job and other responsibilities for an extended period of time, this is a blessing.
Proximity to Family: With the outpatient addiction treatment program, the patient can stay at home with their family. Family involvement and support is encouraged in this program, as loved ones can help and support the patient to recover from their addiction.
Cost: Outpatient treatment programs are considerably less expensive than impatient rehab programs. Since the patient can stay at home during the outpatient treatment, they don’t have to pay the costs of lodging and round-the-clock care at an inpatient facility.
To seek outpatient treatment for addiction in Fort Lauderdale, book an appointment with our addiction treatment experts at La Noce Psychiatry here. Our experts are happy to help you with the best practices and services.