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A study published in 2016 shows that about 21 million Americans have a substance use disorder. In 2018, there were about 15,000 addiction treatment centers in the U.S. Despite this, 90% of people with substance use disorders do not get treatment.  

There are various reasons why people fail to get addiction treatment. Here we explore some of the most common excuses they use to avoid going to get treatment. They use these excuses to reassure those around them and even themselves. It is essential to get treatment when you need it. Addiction is a disease, and it only gets worse if you avoid treatment. 

What are the excuses addicts use to avoid treatment? 

1. I Can Stop Whenever I Want

It is one of the most popular reasons addicts use. It gives them and their loved ones a delusion of control of the situation. However, it is hard to control symptoms like cravings, or the effects substances have on our bodies. 

Furthermore, there are those who get to quit but eventually relapse. They will use this reason to avoid taking steps of recovery after they relapse. The excuse is an entire myth because the longer and more substances you abuse, the more severe the addiction case. It will be much harder to stop because your body has become overly dependent on the substances. 

2. There Are People With a Worse Case Than Mine

We usually compare ourselves with others. Some people may avoid getting addiction help because there are people who are more addicted than them. We typically do not compare ourselves with total strangers but people in our social circles. However, you should know that their case of addiction is unrelated to yours. Rather than examining their issues, some people take some comfort in pointing fingers. 

3. It Will Be Shameful if People Find Out

Secrecy is a prevalent sign in people with a substance use disorder. They do not want people to find out about their substance use because they may feel judged or become social outcasts. It is wrong to treat people struggling with addiction with judgement because addiction is a disease. 

On the other hand, you should not feel ashamed to approach a loved one to get addiction help and support. There will be minimal long-term damage if you get help as soon as possible. 

4. I May Lose My Job

Some people worry about their job security if they take a noticeable leave to go into rehab. However, there should be no much cause for worry. You and every other employee can ensure job security during addiction treatment using the Family Medical Leave. It dictates that you can take unpaid leave for a maximum of 12 weeks to receive medical attention. Addiction treatment is part of the medical attention defined in this act. All public entities with at least 50 employees must observe this law.  

5. I Don’t Have The Financial Capability To Pay for Rehab.

Some addiction treatment programs are more costly than others. The cost of addiction treatment depends on various factors, including:

It would be best if you treat addiction like any other medical issue. Therefore, you should devote your resources usually to get help for yourself or a loved one.  You can also ask the addiction treatment centre if they have any friendly payment plans. 

6. I Am Using It (the Substance) For My Stress & Depression

Some people abuse substances as a coping mechanism for their stress, depression, and other issues they face. However, medication and substances are a temporary fix for depression and stress. You need to get to the root cause of the stress, for example, relationship issues, to eliminate it completely. Some useful treatment programs to consider are family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, group counselling, and more. 

7. I Am Not an Addict

Denial prevents many people from getting addiction treatment. Most people in this stage experience little or no effects from their substance use disorder. For example, their finances are okay, family issues are minimal, and more. Denial increases the risk of developing a severe case of addiction. 

8. People Go to Rehab and Still Relapse

Relapse happens often. Research shows that the rate of relapse falls between 40% and 60%. Moreover, studies shows that the rate of relapse in addiction is similar in other chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes. Relapse is not the end of the journey. You should not give up because someone else relapsed. It would help to enroll in aftercare programs to minimize the risk of relapse. 

9. It’s My Life; I Can Do What I Want

It is an excuse to avoid treatment and a dangerous mentality at the same time.  The mentality triggers risky behavior like drinking and driving, polydrug use, and more. It is your life but it is also important to trust the words of experts who have spent years in training and polishing their skills. 

 

Conclusion

Addiction is a disease. Therefore, it would be best to avoid making excuses and get the appropriate treatment. People hide behind numerous excuses. Examples include i can stop when i want, relapse is possible, i have no money, I may lose my job, and more. 

It is sad that 90% of 21 million Americans with a substance use disorder fail to get treatment. Get over these excuses or help a loved one to get over them and get treatment. 

 

Substance Use Disorder Treatment in California

Coastline Behavioral Health offers addiction and mental health treatment in Orange County, CA. we dedicate our expertise, services, and facilities to creating personalized treatment programs for our patients. You can benefit from programs like detox, inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and therapy. 

Avoid making excuses and contact us today at (714)841-2260 to get help for substance use disorder. 

Detox is the process of removing alcohol and drugs from your body. The process involves reducing the amount of a substance in your body and eventually eliminating it. During this process, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms will depend on the substance you use, the quantity, frequency, genetics, and more. 

Withdrawal symptoms make drug detox very uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Therefore, it would help to know how to cope with the withdrawal symptoms for a successful detox. Some of the key ways to cope with detox include getting professional help, maintain a healthy, mindful meditation, and communicate with your family and therapist for support. 

 

Common Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms make drug detox almost unbearable. They can get very intense because your body has become dependent on the drug. Therefore, your body needs the drugs to feel ‘normal’ and will portray withdrawal symptoms without them. 

Withdrawal symptoms usually vary with the drug, the quantity you use, and the individual. However, Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:

 

How To Cope With Drug Detox

The following steps will help you cope with drug detox, complete it successfully, and advance to other treatments.

Professional Help vs. Self Detox

You can use either detox cold-turkey by yourself or with the help of a professional. Cold-turkey means stopping the use of a drug immediately. It is a risky approach because the withdrawal could have some painful symptoms, and you can easily relapse. 

Thus, it would be best to get the help of a professional. They will use appropriate detox techniques and medication to make withdrawal more bearable. The medication they use depends on the drug and severity of the substance abuse. For example, they may use opioid withdrawal medication like methadone to taper off opioids from your body.  

Moreover, professional detox may include ultra-rapid detox, which helps the patient avoid the pain and discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Individuals struggling with addiction lack essential nutrients and vitamins. Due to lifestyle changes that lead to poor diet, or the substance could affect your body. A healthy diet will help to restore your body functions to normal.

Studies show that it would help eat foods rich in vitamin A, C, D, E or nutrients like iron. Try to avoid foods and drinks with caffeine, refined sugars, processed oils and foods, and saturated fats. 

 

Hydrate Often

Dehydration is a common drug withdrawal symptom. Moreover, we may experience drug cravings as a result of hunger or thirst. Therefore, you can reduce cravings if you stay hydrated. Furthermore, water facilitates important functions in our bodies. 

Get Plenty Of Exercise

Research shows that exercise can reduce cravings, compulsive drug use, and the risk of relapse. Exercise triggers the brain to release endorphins which are happy hormones. They also help to restore the chemical balance in your brain. 

Moreover, exercise can reduce tension and stress, which can easily trigger a relapse. You will also sleep better if you exercise often. Some of the useful exercises include walks, runs, aerobics, and more. 

Observe a Structured Sleep Schedule

Almost 70% of detox patients struggle with sleep problems. Proper sleep is important for addiction recovery and your mental wellness. You need to be well-rested to control your cravings, mood swings and think clearly. It would help to adopt a sleeping schedule with a constant time for waking up and going to sleep. 

Moreover, it would be best to avoid stimulating activities like watching TV or exercising right before you sleep. Try to be relaxed right before you go to bed for better sleep. 

Mindful Meditation and Relaxation Techniques

Anxiety, depression, and physical pain are common withdrawal symptoms during detox. Studies show that you can alleviate them through various holistic treatments like mindfulness meditation and relaxation. Mindfulness meditation can help strengthen the bond between your body, mind, and spirit. Moreover, it can relieve muscle pain, tension and stimulate blood flow and circulation. It would also help to consider yoga to help with your meditation and relaxation. 

Get Appropriate support

You need various levels of support to cope with drug detox. The support will help you address various challenges you encounter during detox and your recovery journey. You will come across various personal challenges. It would help to talk to a therapist to help you overcome them to stay sober. 

Moreover, many people in detox and recovery have family issues. It would help to communicate with them on various matters. In case there are many differences, you can go for family therapy to help with reconciliation. 

We also have peers and other individuals undergoing similar challenges in detox and recovery. You can join various support groups to give and receive support. Some of these groups include 12-step groups like Alcoholic Anonymous and more. 

 

Conclusion

Withdrawal symptoms make drug detox very challenging. Many people relapse during detox because the symptoms become uncomfortable or painful. The withdrawal symptoms usually vary with the substance of abuse, the severity of abuse, an individual’s genetics, and more.

 

However, there are some general drug withdrawal symptoms. They include cravings, hallucinations, dehydration, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, aches, nausea, and more. There are various ways to cope with drug detox. They include getting professional help, maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, often exercising, setting a proper sleep schedule, mindful meditation and relaxation, and getting the appropriate support.

 

Do You Need An Effective and Safe Drug Detox in California?

You can get effective and safe detox services in California from Coastline Behavioral Health in Orange County, CA. We use a personalized approach to detox and addiction treatment. It helps us address your individual needs in treatment for an effective recovery. 

We address substance abuse and mental health issues like codependency, dual diagnosis, and more. Our treatment programs include inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, luxury rehab, executive rehab, and therapy services. Call us today at (714)841-2260 to get detox and additional treatment for you or a loved one. 

 

Prescription drugs are drugs that you should strictly use according to the doctor’s instructions. However, there is a huge misconception that prescription drugs are not harmful. Therefore, people will use prescription medication contrary to the doctor’s instructions. A 2017 study shows that over 18 million Americans abused prescription medicines in the past year. 

There are three main classes of the most addictive prescription drugs. Each of these classes has some similarities. The most addictive prescription drug groups include:

Addiction is a disease, and it would be best to get professional medical attention to overcome addiction to illegal and prescription drugs. If abuse and minor addiction are left untreated, it can lead to severe addiction, overdose, fatalities, or other consequences. 

Let’s take a look at the most addictive prescription drugs in detail.

1. Opioids

Opioids are medications that doctors prescribe for pain. Opioids have a high risk of abuse and addiction. Moreover, they are dangerous and have lead to many overdose fatalities.  In 2010 alone, 60% of drug overdose deaths were associated with prescription opioids. Some of the symptoms of prescription opioid abuse include:

Some of the most commonly abused prescription opioids include:

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a useful yet dangerous synthetic opioid. Doctors usually prescribe it for chronic pain, especially for cancer patients. Fentanyl gives the user euphoria and relaxed feelings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that it is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine as a painkiller. 

However, its traits make people use it and manufacture it for recreational purposes. Some manufacturers mix fentanyl with cocaine, heroin, or both. According to a 2017 report from the CDC, fentanyl was responsible for more than 50% of opioid overdose deaths in 10 states.  

Oxycodone (OxyContin)

Oxycodone is a painkiller that also gives you euphoria and a sedating effect. These effects are similar to heroin’s effects. Oxycodone is commonly available under the brand Oxycontin. Some manufacturers mix it with acetaminophen to form a product with the brand name Percocet. Research shows that oxycodone is a major contributor to the opioid crisis because there was an increase of almost 900% in oxycontin sales between 1997 and 2007. 

Codeine

Doctors usually prescribe codeine for mild and moderate pain. Codeine also features alongside other medications to treat cold and flu symptoms. A common mix that contains codeine is cough syrup. High quantities of cough syrup with codeine can cause a sedative effect and altered levels of consciousness.    

Moreover, people add soda or candy to cough syrup with codeine to form an illicit concoction known as ‘lean,’ ‘purple drank,’ or ‘sizzurp.’ 


Meperidine (Demerol)

Meperidine is a synthetic opioid that doctors prescribe for moderate to severe pain. It is commonly available under the brand name Demerol. Meperidine usually causes euphoria, just like other opioids. 

 

2. Stimulants

Stimulants are prescription medications that increase your brain activity, energy levels, and alertness. Some common signs of abuse of stimulants include:

Some commonly abused stimulants include:

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Methylphenidate is a stimulant doctors prescribe for ADHD and narcolepsy. It helps with attention by increasing the levels of dopamine in your brain. Methylphenidate is commonly available under the brand name Ritalin. A report by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) shows that doctors gave about 20 million methylphenidate prescriptions between 2016 and 2017. Ritalin and other stimulants are commonly abused because of their availability. You may experience effects like trouble sleeping and agitation if you misuse methylphenidate. 

Amphetamine (Adderall)

Amphetamine is also known as speed. Doctors also prescribe it for ADHD and narcolepsy. People abuse amphetamine for its energizing effects. It can mix with dextroamphetamine to form a product known ad Adderall. Most people who use it have sleep deprivation. Examples include college students working on deadlines, shift workers, and drivers. 

Misuse of amphetamine has the following symptoms on top of the common signs of stimulant misuse:


3. Depressants

Depressants or central nervous system (CNS) depressants are medications that have a calming effect on users. They are also known as tranquilizers. Some symptoms of depressants misuse include:

CNS depressants can be categorized into benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Some of the most abused prescription depressants include: 

Alprazolam (Xanax) 

Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine usually available under the Xanax brand. It helps with panic disorders and anxiety. People mainly abuse alprazolam because of its sedating effects. Additional signs of alprazolam misuse include tremors, trouble sleeping, and swelling of the hands or feet. Studies suggest that benzodiazepines have a high overdose risk, especially when mixed with opioids. There was a four times increase in overdose cases between 2002 and 2015. 

Clonazepam (Klonopin) and Diazepam (Valium)

Diazepam and clonazepam are benzodiazepines doctors prescribe for seizures, panic disorders, and anxiety. They are usually on sale under the brand names Valium and Klonopin, respectively. They are also known to have effects similar to alcohol. People experience feelings of relaxation, drunkenness, and talkativeness. 

Conclusion

Prescription drugs are medications that you should take only under the doctor’s instructions. Many people believe they are harmless, which exposes them to great risk. You can easily get addicted, especially prescription opioids, build a tolerance for drugs, and overdose. Prescription drugs can also be addictive, and you need to get the best addiction help if you feel you are becoming overly dependent on prescription drugs. Some of the most addictive prescription drugs include opioids like codeine, stimulants like amphetamine, and depressants like alprazolam. 

You can get help for any addiction, including addiction to prescription drugs, at Coastline Behavioral Health in Orange County, CA. We offer various drug treatment programs to help overcome various forms of addiction. They include detox, inpatient rehab, intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, executive rehab, and luxury rehab. Call us today at (741)841-2260 to get addiction treatment for you or a loved one.

Addiction is a disease, not a choice. It is a condition where an individual keeps engaging in a specific behavior or substance use despite experiencing adverse effects. Addiction effects are vast and can be categorized into social, legal, health, and financial effects. 

When a loved one is addicted to a behavior or substance, it could also affect us. However, they need help rather than judgement, rebuke, or isolation. 

Some of the steps you can take to help a loved one include educating yourself, being compassionate, offering your support, encouraging them to get help, don’t enable their addiction, setting realistic expectations, supporting their recovery, and taking care of yourself.  

It would help us understand the signs of addiction and factors or excuses our loved ones use to avoid getting help. 

 

Signs of Addiction

It is essential to know the signs of addiction if you suspect you or a loved one is addicted. There are different types of addictions, for example, alcohol, drug, or gambling addictions. Therefore, the signs and symptoms may differ slightly, but there are some general ones to consider. 

It is easier to ignore the signs of addiction for some people but could cause some serious long term effects. On the other hand, many people hide their addictions so well that even those closest to them fail to notice. The signs and symptoms of addiction could either be behavioral or physical. 

Physical Signs of Addiction

 

Behavioral Signs of Addiction

 

Reactions Your Loved One Uses to Avoid Getting Help

If you approach your loved one about their addiction and getting help about it, they will react. The reaction could be positive or negative. The adverse reactions are usually some form of defense mechanism to avoid addressing the issue at hand. Some of the negative reactions to anticipate include:

Avoidance

Some people will avoid speaking about their issues and avoid you entirely and other loved ones who raise the issue.

 

Denial

Acceptance is the first step in recovery. However, it is hard to get ourselves, let alone our loved ones, to get help. Therefore, your loved one could refuse to acknowledge their addiction as an issue. It may get frustrating to watch them self destruct, and it would be best to get the help of other family members or a professional. 

 

Anger

Some loved ones will have an angry reaction even if you approach them politely. There are those that even get aggressive, so it would be best to be careful.

 

Tips For Arranging An Intervention 

Some of the steps you can take to get a loved one help include:

1. Educate Yourself

It is important to learn more about addiction and addicts. For example, you will learn that addiction is a disease and not a choice. Research shows that addiction affects the brain’s part responsible for executive functions like self-rewarding and self-monitoring. Studies show that addiction hijacks our reward systems. 

Make use of the many online resources like blogs to treatment centers, university websites, and more. 

2. Approach Them Compassionately and Offer Your Support

We have looked at various reactions our loved ones can give if we approach their addiction issue. A compassionate approach may avoid reactions like avoidance and denial. You may need to use some tough love, but you should express your compassion through your support for their treatment. Research shows that an individual’s social relationships can influence the effectiveness of the treatment. Some of the ways to show your compassion include:

 

3. Don’t Enable Their Addiction

As much as you want to show compassion and support to a loved one, you should not enable their addiction. Sometimes, addiction can get worse, and they may stop performing their normal duties and responsibilities. 

As a loved one, the urge to step in and help with their responsibilities is strong. For example, you may feel like giving them money, doing their chores, apologizing for their actions, and more. Many people accept they have an addiction and that they need help when they experience the consequences. It may be hard to draw the line between support and enabling, but you should try. 

4. Encourage Them To Engage in Healthy Habits

A structured environment with a healthy diet and exercise can motivate a loved one to get help. These healthy habits could motivate them to seek treatment to maintain a fully healthy lifestyle. 

5. Take Care of Yourself

It is not selfish to take care of yourself. You also need to be okay to be able to support your loved one. Some of the steps you can take for self-care include:

 

6. Contact an Addiction Professional

It would help to reach out to professionals like Coastline Health Behavioral in Orange County, CA. Professionals have a lot of knowledge and experience, which could be the key to encouraging the addict to seek help. Oftentimes detox is required, for information on ultra rapid detox this article lays out the phases of this method and compares it to standard detox processes. A licensed and experienced treatment professional will be able to guide you to the most suitable solution for the individual's case. 

 

Conclusion

It can be hard to convince a loved one to get help with addiction. You can have a better chance if you educate yourself about addiction to understand what they are going through, approach them with compassion and be supportive, draw the line between support an enabling their addiction, encourage them to engage in healthy habits, and take care of yourself. 

If your loved one needs help with addiction, you can reach out to Coastline Behavioral Health in California. We are a treatment center that offers various addiction treatment programs like detox, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, executive rehab, and luxury rehab. Contact us today at (714)841-2260 to learn more and get help for your friend or family member. 

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