Addiction

Addiction is a condition characterized by repeated, compulsive seeking and use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances despite social, mental, and physical consequences. It is usually accompanied by psychological and physical dependence on the abused substance and the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when the addictive substance is rapidly decreased or terminated. When addiction exists, the drug use controls the individual rather than the individual controlling the usage. Many of today’s illegal drugs are extremely addictive as well a many prescription drugs – particularly ones for depression and sleep problems, as well as painkillers.

Substance abuse treatment on any type begins to be more and more effective as the addict or alcoholic becomes more and more willing to be helped and to help themselves. Most interventions prior to treatment have this goal in mind, to get at least some willingness on the part of the addict. This willingness is often tenuous and fleeting at the start of substance abuse treatment. Part of effective withdrawal would be the actions taken to extrovert the addict from current pains and discomforts that can and do play havoc with any willingness. At Narconon Arrowhead our substance abuse treatment continually involves fortifying the existing willingness of the participant as well as actions designed to increase willingness all along the way. The being himself always is seeking to do better and beat the addiction despite any appearances, statements, or actions to the contrary. The more the addict wins at the battles of addiction the more willing he becomes and the more energy he will expend on his own survival. Substance abuse treatment is about much more than simply ceasing drug or alcohol use.

Addiction clinics are generally out-patient facilities which offer various services to aid in addiction recovery. Some, such as methadone clinics, are actually involved in simply substituting one drug or another. This is misguided help as replacing one drug with another is never a long term solution to drug addiction. This is not to say that addiction clinics don’t offer some valuable services, most of them do. An addiction clinic can be a starting point in confronting addiction. Following up clinic services with a comprehensive long term, impatient drug rehabilitation program is the best insurance for a drug free productive life. Narconon Arrowhead is such a facility.

Rehab programs come in all sorts of flavors and sizes. There is inpatient vs. outpatient, long term vs. short term, drug free vs. drug use, traditional 12 step vs. non-traditional approaches. Narconon Arrowhead is a long term, drug free, non-tradition, inpatient facility. We operate from the viewpoint of results obtained and not time spent. The individual stays until a drug free productive life is obtained. Average time is 90-120 days, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer. We are drug free and non-traditional in our approach, never considering replacing one drug with another as anything else but foolishness. Many replacement drugs used are more harmful and potentially addictive than the ones they seek to replace. All rehab programs are not equal, ask questions and insure your loved one is getting what they need to not only get clean, but stay clean.

Relapse all too often in the rehab community is considered almost inevitable. This comes from a defeatist mentality after year of failure in addressing the situation. Relapse CAN be prevented and is not a forgone conclusion. If one fully address and handles cravings, guilt and depression then relapse fades away as a point of concern. This may sound over-simplified but really isn’t. Narconon has a 76% success rate and over 40 years experience in handling exactly these factors with a long term, drug free and non-traditional approach to these exact three points. A Narconon Arrowhead we create drug free productive lives for a lifetime.