Drug Abuse

If you or a loved one is living with a drug abuse problem, help should be sought immediately. The reason for this is because without proper treatment, drug abuse can quickly evolve into an addiction. Once addicted, recovery can prove even more difficult. Recovery Connection® can help you find the specialized care you or your loved one so desperately needs. Just call our toll-free helpline today at 1-800-99-DETOX (1-800-993-3869) and speak to one of our counselors. The call is confidential and we’re here to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Find drug abuse help today, call now!

Early Drug Abuse Help can Prevent Addiction

The key to preventing a drug abuse situation from turning into a full-scale addiction is to find and accept professional treatment as early on as possible. While individuals who are addicted to drugs can still experience long-term recovery, the process is much smoother and presents a higher success rate if the treatment is administered prior to the addiction forming. For most people, understanding the difference between drug abuse and drug addiction is what is most confusing, and in some cases, they may believe them to be one and the same.

Finding Drug Abuse Help: Understanding the Difference

Simply put, drug abuse is when an individual uses an illegal or prescribed drug in a way in which it was not intended. An example of prescription drug abuse would be when a patient takes a greater than recommended dose of their medicine.
At this point, even though the patient is taking more than what their doctor prescribed, they can still control their desire for the medication. Once the drug abuse transforms into an addiction, the patient no longer can control their need to use the drug. As the effects begin wearing off, another dose is immediately taken. Without the drug in their system, the individual feels as if they cannot function.

The Psychological Difference Between Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction

Individuals who live with drug abuse generally exhibit the following:

They take the drug as a means to help them change the way they feel about themselves and/or some aspect of their life.
They still have the ability to set limits on how much and how often they use after experiencing some problems associated with their drug use.
They seldom repeat any drug-related behaviors that have caused them problems in the past.
They can accept complaints they receive about their using as expressions of concern for their well-being.

Individuals who are addicted to a substance react quite differently. They will generally exhibit the following behaviors:

The individual will continue to use despite any negative consequences associated with using.
They set limits on how much or how often they use but unexpectedly exceed those limits.
They will routinely break promises to themselves and/or other people that they will use in moderation.
They may feel guilty or remorseful about their using but still fail to permanently alter the way they use.
They will usually resent, discount and/or disregard any comments or complaints they get about their using.

Drug Abuse Help is Here

As you can see, the differences between drug abuse and addiction are quite clear but often these signs can prove difficult to determine in a loved one. Call Recovery Connection® today at 1-800-99-DETOX (1-800-993-3869). We can help you get through this difficult time. We have referred thousands to drug detox and drug abuse and addiction treatment centers throughout the country and we can help you, too. Our helpline is nationally-recognized, confidential and the call is completely free. We’re here to help you 24/7 so why not find drug abuse help today? Call now!