Hickory Treatment Center proudly serves Indiana by offering substance abuse and addiction treatment to those who need it. Making treatment as accessible as possible is extremely important as drug addiction becomes a worsening problem in our state. 2021 was a challenging year for all of us so please never hesitate to seek help when times get difficult.
Substance Abuse’s Impact on Indiana
As 2022 begins, it’s time to look back at the last year and see how drug addiction has changed. The number of opioid prescriptions have been on the rise since the opioid epidemic began. Prescribing addictive substances to individuals that aren’t aware of the potential for dependence is a recipe for disaster that has proven to be a challenge to reverse.
Indiana had 3,599 deaths involving drug overdose between 2020 and 2021, truly highlighting how hard the pandemic has been for those battling drug addiction. 80% of these deaths can be attributed to opioids alone furthering the damage done by prescription opioid abuse and cementing it as the most abused drug for 2021.
Why Drug Addiction Is So Difficult To Overcome
If you’ve known someone that has struggled with drug addiction then you can understand how difficult it becomes at times. Even the thought of drug addiction is enough to put many people off due to the negative stigma it carries.
Addiction is more than simply lacking the willpower to stop using drugs. Understanding the various facets of addiction can help those becoming addicted identify the signs and for their loved ones to be able to do the same. For those with a substance use disorder, it’s not an option to just force your mind to not want a particular drug.
Addiction Forms Dependencies Within the Brain
The long-term effects of drug use on the brain can leave lifelong changes that alter how the central nervous system functions. Our brain is smart enough to adapt to changes in its environment such as the presence of outside substances.
Drugs and alcohol are the most common sources of addiction due to the brain adapting too much to their presence. When drug use ends and the body is able to remove it fully, the brain panics. Up until that point, it had a constant supply of a particular drug and changed how it worked to compensate.
Dependencies born between the brain’s processes and drug exposure can cause pain and discomfort when broken. These are known as withdrawal symptoms and range in severity, being fatal in the most severe cases.
Addiction and Mental Health Issues Often Coincide
Known as a dual diagnosis, various mental health conditions have a high comorbidity with addiction and substance use disorder. These include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Untreated Trauma
- ADHD
Often used as a method of self-medication, drug use is how many Indiana residents choose to escape from other problems plaguing their mind. Leaving any amount of mental health concern untreated can be an issue but combining drug abuse with it leads to worsening states.
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse, take a moment to reach out to our team here at Hickory Treatment Centers. Make the coming year the year you find the help you need to overcome addiction.
