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Drug addiction
Addicted to drugs
Medication is prescribed to relieve pain or to help relax during a hard time. Therefore, a single pill or short-term use often does no harm. However, many types of medication contain addictive substances. There is then a danger of becoming dependent on the medication and not being able to stop using it. We distinguish addiction to inhalants, to opioids (strong painkillers), hypnotics (sleep aids) or anxiolytics (sedatives, or benzodiazepines). The most common drug addictions are those to painkillers, sleep aids and tranquilizers.
Recognizing a drug addiction
Symptoms:
– Depression
– Nervousness
– Increased irritation
– Anxious behavior
– Restlessness
– Insomnia
Symptoms of drug addiction
When do you know if you are addicted to drugs? We speak of an addiction when you need an increasing dose to achieve the same effect and when cessation of use leads to withdrawal symptoms. Just the thought of stopping is often unbearable. Medication, however, does not solve the cause of a problem. People with drug addiction often go into a kind of slumber. They make a dazed impression and have concentration problems. Life kind of pulls at them and often make an absent impression. In addition, acute withdrawal symptoms often occur with drug addiction when use is stopped. Examples include:
Consequences of drug addiction
Different types of drug addictions
Painkillers (analgesics, opioids) are drugs that relieve or eliminate pain. They block electrical currents in the nervous system (pain) and stimulate parts of the brain that produce a good feeling (a "high" feeling). The most effective painkillers are opioids such as morphine, codeine, pethidine and methadone.
Painkillers are insidious because they initially provide a euphoric feeling. With long-term use, however, your body becomes dependent and withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop taking them. Moreover, an increasingly higher dose is needed to achieve the same analgesic effect.
The consequences of analgesic addiction are often:
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Indifference
- Nausea/vomiting
Sleep and sedatives belong to the benzodiazepines. Well-known drugs are diazepam, temazepam and oxazepam. They are true tranquilizers, or drugs with a sedative or narcotic effect. The medication has a calming, muscle relaxing effect and promotes sleep. This decrease in tension can be very pleasant when, for example, you have stress at work, sleep problems or tension in the home situation.
Benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed for anxiety or sleep disorders, as well as depression and burnout. Benzos can also help against certain forms of epilepsy and work against alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
The insidious thing about these medications, however, is that they suppress underlying feelings. This does not make them go away, nor does it address the causes of the problems.
When you are addicted to drugs, you are dependent on them and cannot stop taking them. Therefore, when abstinent, various withdrawal symptoms may occur:
- Sleep problems
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Acute depression
- Insult
Medication withdrawal
Intensive course for medication addiction
At U-center, you receive personalized treatment. We start with phasing out the medication, investigate the triggers and work with you to change the patterns that maintain the symptoms. The underlying problems, your physical condition and your social life play an important role in the treatment. We strengthen your mental state and help you stop the medication.
In an intensive program, we do everything we can to help you so that you can go off medication in a short period of time. We also expect a lot of commitment on your part. Residential treatment offers the advantages of short-term, intensive, integrated treatment of all disorders simultaneously. In every phase of treatment, e-health is an integral part of your treatment program.
The first six weeks you will stay at our clinic in Epen. In a personal treatment plan, you will draw up what you want to achieve and how you and your treatment team are going to achieve it. The welcoming environment and numerous facilities within the clinic ensure that you have every opportunity to work on yourself. In the following eight weeks you will put your new insights and acquired knowledge into practice (when indicated) under the guidance of your outpatient therapists.
Get a grip on your life again
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Last updated on 26-09-2023
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