Most people experiment with drugs and alcohol at certain times in their lives. However, if using drugs has become a destructive force in your life, chemical dependency is probably preventing you from quitting. A drug rehab facility in Portland like Crestview Recovery will help you learn how to fight your addiction and move on to a better life. To learn more about how our drug rehab programs can support you, reach out by calling 866.262.0531.
There are many warning signs that drug or alcohol use is an addiction. Below are some early warning signs that you should seek drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
When to Seek Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Using Drugs Is Your Main Priority
One of the most significant signs of addiction is when using drugs or drinking alcohol consumes your life. If you are exhausting your time, energy, and resources trying to get and use drugs or alcohol, this is a sign of addiction.
When drug or alcohol abuse becomes your number one focus, you do not have time to pursue your educational or goals. Interests such as extracurricular activities will also not be a priority in your life. Finally, your friends and family, who you once loved spending time with, will take a backseat to your substance use.
You Need to Take Large Amounts of Drugs to Get High
Another sign of addiction is needing to take drugs much more frequently to get high. When you first begin abusing drugs, your body is not used to the effects, and you will feel a great sense of euphoria. However, as you continue to use drugs, your body will build a tolerance. As a result, you will need to use drugs much more often or in greater doses to get the same feeling of euphoria you got when you were first introduced to the drug.
If you are using drugs frequently, you can overdose. Therefore, if you feel you need to use drugs often, you need to seek help through a drug rehab program.
You Are Abusing Drugs to Medicate a Mental Illness
Drugs and alcohol are often used to change the way we think, feel and even behave. It is not uncommon for people to use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. As a matter of fact, self-medicating to support a mental illness is why many people start and continue using drugs and alcohol. While using drugs or alcohol may make us feel better or numb the pain, they can do more significant damage to someone suffering from mental health illness. There are programs providing mental health support as well as drug and alcohol rehab in Portland to support people who are self-medicating.
You Ignore Your Health
Abusing drugs and alcohol can harm your physical and mental health. Drugs and alcohol can impact your physical health in many ways, including sleep problems, memory, digestive problems, and in some cases, cancer. In addition, because drugs can often make users much more impulsive, the opportunity to contract a sexually transmitted disease or HIV increases.
Drug and alcohol use can also change your mental health. Substance use can increase your anxiety and enhance the feeling of depression for many users. When you enroll in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, medical and therapy professionals will support your physical and mental health as you reach sobriety.
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment Program in Portland, Oregon
Seeking help to fight your addiction is not something you should attempt alone. There are many drug and alcohol rehab programs in Portland. Crestview Recovery will support your journey from addiction to sobriety. We offer a broad range of programs and services to meet a variety of needs, including:
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization
- Intensive outpatient program
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Solid alumni network
Contact us today at 866.262.0531 and take your life back.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
