Addiction: A Condition that Extends Beyond Drugs and Alcohol

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Advanced Spine & Rehab’s professional physicians are dedicated to your Addiction treatment and recovery.

Derived from the Latin word for “enslaved by” or “bound to,” the word “addiction is one that many people still fail to understand completely. While experts once believed that only alcohol and powerful drugs could lead to addiction, they have since discovered that a variety of other pleasurable activities, including gambling, shopping and more, can also lead to an addiction. This is because addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that can manifest itself in three ways. These include:

  • Loss of control over the use of the drug or activity
  • Craving for the object of the addiction
  • Continued use of the drug or involvement in the activity despite the adverse consequences

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The reality is that nobody begins using a drug or starts engaging in an activity with the intention of becoming addicted. Nonetheless, nearly 23 million Americans are addicted to alcohol or other drugs. That comes out to nearly one in every 10 Americans. While more than two-thirds of those who suffer from addiction are addicted to alcohol, the top three drugs associated with addiction are marijuana, opioids and cocaine.

The good news is that recovery is possible. With the right treatment program and the proper support system in place, a person suffering from addiction can move on to a normal, healthy life. If you know someone who is suffering from an opioid addiction, Suboxone may be the right form of treatment that person needs to aid in the recovery process. Contact Advanced Spine & Rehab to learn more.