Addiction was once seen as a “personality flaw” that an individual could change if they wanted to. Research has transformed that outlook by discovering the biopsychosocial model of addiction and emerging treatment modalities to address the psychological, biological, and social causes of addiction.

Abusing drugs or alcohol is not something anyone wants to do, just like no one wishes to suffer from a chronic disease. Addiction is a disease, much like high blood pressure or cancer are both diseases. All types of addiction require professional treatment provided by addiction specialists, prescription medications to lessen cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms, and addressing difficulties before they arise.

What Is Substance Use Disorder?

The clinical substance use disorder definition says it is a treatable medical disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to an inability to control their use of legal or illegal substances (e.g., drugs, alcohol, or medications).

When a substance use disorder (SUD) is left untreated, it can negatively impact work, school, and relationships.

What Are Symptoms of Substance Use Disorder?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, substance use disorder symptoms include the following

Mental

  • Intense desire or urge to use the substance
  • Difficulty controlling or stopping substance use despite negative consequences
  • Inability to limit or control substance use
  • Preoccupation with substance use
  • Abandonment of previously enjoyed activities

Physical

  • Increased tolerance to the substance
  • Withdrawal symptoms when not using the substance
  • Significant changes in eating patterns
  • Insomnia or excessive sleepiness
  • Impaired motor skills and coordination

Behavioral

  • Withdrawal from friends, family, and social activities
  • Hiding the extent of substance misuse
  • Engaging in risky or illegal activities to get or use the substance
  • Difficulty managing finances
  • Decline in performance at work or school
  • Strained professional and personal relationships

Types of Substance Use Disorders

Every year, millions of Americans lose their lives to addiction, whether from an overdose or medical complications related to chronic substance misuse. You don’t have to let an SUD affect your health, relationships, and emotional well-being.

At Beach House Center for Recovery, we offer treatment programs for several types of addiction that are customized to meet the specific requirements of each patient who enters our facility. Whether there is a pattern of drug or alcohol misuse or if this is the first attempt at recovery, our skilled team of therapists and medical professionals work closely with patients to develop effective, sustainable rehabilitation strategies.

Beach House Center for Recovery helps patients address several different types of drug addiction.

Alcohol

Alcohol use disorder, known commonly as alcoholism, is among the leading causes of premature death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol overuse causes more than 380 deaths per day in the United States. Indications of alcohol use disorder include difficulty concentrating, memory loss, slurred speech, impulsive or risk-taking behaviors, compromised brain function, and reduced motor skills.

Cocaine

Cocaine is a potent and highly addictive stimulant. It produces a euphoric sensation and can cause high-risk behaviors and a reduction in impulse control. Over time, the body becomes tolerant of cocaine, with continued use inhibiting the brain’s reward pathway. This phenomenon causes increased feelings of depression and despair when the drug is not being used. Heavy, continual use can cause anxiety attacks, hallucinations, and paranoia.

Heroin

Heroin, classified as an opioid, is arguably the world’s most notorious illicit drug. Heroin is extremely addictive and has high rates of overdose and physical dependency. Continued heroin use can severely impair the physiology of the brain, causing a permanent reduction in impulse control and behavior regulation. Other effects include depression, increased susceptibility to infections, collapsed veins, disordered sleep patterns, and reduced fertility.

Opioids

Opioids are a class of drugs that interact with the brain’s opioid receptors; they activate pleasure signals and inhibit pain signals, simultaneously relieving pain and causing feelings of euphoria. While many are derived from the poppy plant (morphine and codeine, for example), extremely powerful synthetic versions (fentanyl) are becoming increasingly common.

Benzodiazepines (Benzos)

Benzodiazepine drugs, sometimes called tranquilizers or “benzos,” are sedatives prescribed for medical use. Benzodiazepines are prescribed to reduce anxiety symptoms, but they can trigger physical dependence after only a few months of use and cause severe physical withdrawal symptoms. These include seizures, loss of focus, hallucinations, depression, and sleeplessness.

Xanax

Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, a type of benzodiazepine drug prescribed for panic disorders and depression-related anxiety. It has an extremely high potential for addiction and, according to a report published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, causes more severe withdrawal symptoms (in addition to symptoms of rebound anxiety) than other types of benzodiazepines due to its dosing and accessibility. Physical withdrawal symptoms from Xanax can be life-threatening.

Methamphetamine

Another type of addiction is methamphetamine or crystal meth. This is a dangerously addictive narcotic that gives users a euphoric high. Methamphetamine elevates dopamine levels and adrenaline, which elevates mood, heightens energy levels and increases feelings of confidence. The powerful stimulation can alter neurological pathways and inhibit dopamine production, effectively triggering feelings of severe depression when not using the drug. Long-term methamphetamine use can lead to psychotic episodes that might continue months or sometimes years after cessation.

Prescription Drugs

Addiction to prescription medications occurs when people become physically and psychologically dependent on the drugs, even when the drugs are taken to treat legitimate medical symptoms. While the euphoric sensation of some categories of prescription drugs can lead to addiction, people who suffer from chronic, severe pain often become physically dependent upon prescription painkillers. 

Marijuana

Marijuana is a commonly used substance in the United States due to its affordability and accessibility. Though it is largely viewed as a less harmful substance than opioids (heroin, morphine, fentanyl) or stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine), increasingly powerful cannabis strains can lead to addiction and dependency.

How Is Substance Abuse Treated?

Several types of addiction can be treated with evidence-based therapies at Beach House Rehab in Juno Beach, FL.

Our skilled addiction care specialists, mental health clinicians, and psychiatric and medical care providers are at the forefront of addiction treatment. They use a combination of leading-edge techniques to help those struggling with substance misuse overcome their addiction and begin their path toward recovery.

At Beach House Rehab, we collaborate with you and your loved one to create a personalized addiction treatment plan that meets your unique needs. We offer the following treatment programs

  • Medically supervised detox
  • Inpatient (residential) rehab
  • Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
  • Mental health treatment
  • Military addiction treatment
  • Aftercare programs

Medications for Substance Use Disorders

In addition to providing a highly personalized treatment program to help you overcome different types of drug addiction, we also offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in Juno Beach. We use FDA-approved medications in combination with individual and group behavioral therapies to help you heal from the inside out.

Medications can help manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings, and support long-term recovery from several types of addiction.

The specific medication prescribed depends on your overall health and SUD. Here are some that are commonly used for opioid and alcohol use disorders

Opioid

  • Methadone—to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
  • Buprenorphine—to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
  • Naltrexone—to prevent relapse once detox is complete

Alcohol

  • Disulfiram—to create an adverse reaction to alcohol
  • Acamprosate—to reduce cravings and normalize brain activity
  • Naltrexone—to reduce cravings and the rewarding effects of alcohol

Beach House Rehab Center’s Approach to Therapy for Addiction

Beach House Center for Recovery is a nationally recognized center for clinical excellence and is committed to being at the forefront of effective, accessible treatment for multiple types of addiction.  

We provide each patient with an individualized treatment plan that addresses every facet of the desire to use. From our medically supervised detox to our latest advances in medication-assisted treatment to our alumni support program, we help you through every step of your recovery journey.

At Beach House, we believe the opposite of addiction is love and connection. Learn to love yourself again, discover the powerful connections within the recovery community, and find freedom from addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with an SUD, please contact our compassionate and helpful admissions counselors today.