There are many drugs that are integral parts of our everyday experiences. Getting a beer with some friends may help you unwind at the end of a long workweek. Certain drugs are a treatment for symptoms of chronic pain or mood disorders. These can offer you solace and a feeling of well-being. But when does the helpful nature of certain medications or the casual use of some substances morph into a dependency issue? Clearhaven Recovery Center can help you better understand the timeline between drug use and addiction if you are concerned that you may need treatment. Our drug addiction programs support your comprehensive drug detox by giving you the coping mechanisms you need when you have completed your physical detox.
The Drug Addiction Timeline and the Cycle of Drug Use
The drug addiction timeline is dependent on the cycle of drug use. The cycle of drug addiction is based on two important factors, physical dependence, and emotional dependence. If you are physically and emotionally dependent on a substance this means that you cannot cope with life without using the drug. When you are physically dependent on a drug, you may experience painful withdrawal symptoms when you cease using the substance. When you are emotionally dependent on a drug, you have made it a necessary habit to complete certain tasks in your daily life. These two factors make drug use and addiction extremely difficult to overcome.
Shifting the Timeline of Drug Addiction
When you become physically and emotionally dependent on a drug may depend on both personal factors and environmental factors. Whenever you use an addictive substance, you are taking a chance that you could become addicted. But there are certain factors that can shift the timeline. This can include the frequency of use and the strength of the drug. Certain personalities may have a genetic propensity for drug use and addiction, as well. You can control the timeline of dependence by recognizing genetic predisposition for drug use and addiction. If you know that your father, grandfather, and your grandfather’s father were all alcoholics, there’s a strong chance that you may struggle with moderation.
Timeline of Addiction for Fast-Moving Drugs
With certain types of substances, this timeline can be a very quick one. Certain drugs can become addictive after just one use. These can include pain medications and stimulants. Awareness of your genetic factors can mean that you may have to set strict limits or abstain altogether from the consumption of alcohol or certain types of drugs. But this is complicated when the drug is a necessary one like drugs that treat pain after a serious injury. You can form a physical dependency on many types of pain medication after a single use. If you suddenly face chronic pain because of an injury, you have learned to become emotionally dependent on treating that pain with that drug after one use, as well.
Drug Detox and Treatment
The drug addiction timeline can be fast-moving, but it can take much longer to stop drug use. Finding alternative ways to process emotional dependency is paramount in fighting drug use and addiction, but this can only be effective after you have undergone a comprehensive drug detox. Medically assisted drug detox helps you to remove drugs from your body so that you can overcome your physical dependency. It is unlikely that you will be able to process treatment for emotional dependency without first completing a full drug detox.
Because there are so many factors that lead a person to start using a drug to cope, treating the emotional dependency is an integral part of the recovery process. An individual may start using drugs to cope with any of the following:
- Trauma
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Mental health issues like bipolar disorder, depression, or schizophrenia
Some of these co-occurring issues may require separate treatment. This is why Clearhaven Recovery Center offers you a personalized treatment plan when you seek our care.
Overcome Drug Use and Addiction Today with Clearhaven Recovery Center
If you have been struggling with drug use and addiction, Clearhaven Recovery Center can help overcome your dependency. Clearhaven’s time-tested techniques of care are personalized for your needs so that your treatment will have meaning for you. Call us at 833.970.2054 to learn more about our unique programs for drug addiction care. By setting goals for your care with the experienced professionals at Clearhaven Recovery Center, you will be enabled to move past drug use and addiction.
