Alcohol and drug addiction are classified as chronic diseases. Being trapped by harmful habits is very frightening, as it affects all aspects of life. Moreover, it can destroy it. Learn more at i-dallas.
The treatment of alcohol and drug addiction is a long and complex process. It involves not only intervention from specialists but also support from loved ones. However, often, these attempts can be futile without the genuine desire of the individual to overcome their addiction.
How does addiction to alcohol and drugs develop?
Many people try alcohol and drugs for the first time at a young age. However, there are also cases where individuals become addicted later in life. Regardless of age, people find certain reasons that lead them to start using substances. Some were influenced by friends, while others wanted to experiment and escape from problems.
The development of alcohol and drug dependence is divided into three main stages. They can be different for each person, but the general characteristics remain more or less the same.
Stages of alcohol dependency formation
- The first alarming sign indicating the onset of alcohol dependency is a dulling of the vomiting reflex. This means that the body gradually adapts to the amount of alcohol consumed and no longer perceives it as a poison.
- In the second stage, there is a need for regular alcohol drinking, as a person cannot relax without it. Short-term binge drinking episodes also begin to occur.
- The third stage is the most dangerous for the life and health of the addicted individual. Professional help is essential here. This stage is characterized by prolonged binges, a disheveled appearance and complete indifference to everything except alcohol.
Stages of drug dependency formation
- It is important to note that drug addiction develops much faster than alcohol. A person cannot relax or interact with others without drugs already at the first stage.
- In the second stage, the individual is no longer able to control their behavior. Drugs no longer bring pleasure, yet they cannot function without them.
- The third stage of drug addiction is marked by pathological changes in the person’s body. They constantly feel weakness and emptiness. Drugs provide only short-lived pleasure, which makes people take things out of their homes or even steal.
The biggest problem in Dallas is fentanyl
According to information from the Texas Department of State Health Services, an average of 5 residents of the state die from fentanyl every day. This statistic often includes teenagers and young adults. Therefore, in 2023, The Dallas Morning News launched a project titled “Deadly Fake: 30 Days Inside Fentanyl’s Grip on North Texas.” In this project, the scale of this problem is explored. People who have lost loved ones due to drug addiction also share their stories.
One of the heroes of The Dallas Morning News project was a freshman named Jacob, who died in 2021. He had trouble sleeping, so he was searching on social media for medication that could help him. Unbeknownst to him, he bought fentanyl. After taking it, Jacob didn’t make it to his bed before collapsing. It was later determined that he died from an overdose of this drug.
Thus, fentanyl is the biggest problem in Dallas for a reason. Often, residents consume it without even realizing it. Moreover, they are unaware of the consequences. However, thanks to quality healthcare and modern rehabilitation centers in the city, it is possible to overcome this terrible drug addiction.
Where and how is alcohol and drug addiction treated in Dallas?
The best thing you can do for someone suffering from harmful habits is to help them undergo the necessary treatment. There are plenty of rehabilitation centers in Dallas that approach this process responsibly and are not afraid of the most challenging patients. Here’s some information about some of them:
- Positive Recovery Centers. This network of rehabilitation centers has been operating in Texas for many years. Recently, one of their facilities opened in Dallas. Former patients note that the sincerity of the center’s workers significantly helps in the treatment process. The center offers the following programs: medical detox, inpatient or long-term treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, as well as online therapy. If a patient pays for treatment out of pocket, the hospital commits to providing free support for one year in case of relapse.
- Lighthouse Recovery Texas. This Dallas rehab center offers residents a scientifically-based approach to treatment. Additionally, it ensures that the treatment is developed individually according to each patient’s needs. Hundreds of people have overcome alcohol and drug addiction thanks to Lighthouse Recovery Texas.
- Dallas Detox Center. The exterior of this center, which resembles a cozy home, sets patients up for recovery. It becomes a safe space where they can start a new life free from harmful habits. Among the unique therapeutic offerings at Dallas Detox Center are art and music therapy and even equine therapy. Overall, the center combines traditional, holistic, and scientifically-based practices for treating substance and alcohol abuse.
- Greenhouse Treatment Center. It is hard to believe, but nearly 20,000 people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction have left this center completely healthy. An integral part of the treatment at Greenhouse Treatment Center is considered to be family involvement. Doctors believe that the support of loved ones plays a huge role in rehabilitation.
Tree of Life at Maggie’s House
Maggie’s House is a shelter that has been open since 1987 for every woman suffering from alcohol addiction. It is located in the Little Forest Hills area.
This establishment helps fight addiction only in women. There is staff in the house, but most seminars and other events for women are conducted by volunteers. Every day, from 7 AM to 11 PM, interesting activities and meditation sessions take place within the walls of Maggie’s House. For example, one of these activities involves women writing positive words on small sticks, which they then use throughout the day. This focus on goodness and love helps them forget about their alcohol addiction and take the first steps toward a healthy life.
To record the thousands of grateful testimonials from former patients, the volunteers at Maggie’s House came up with a wonderful initiative — the Tree of Life. On one of the walls of the establishment, women who have managed to overcome their harmful habits leave a green leaf. On it, they write their name and the date when they last drank. Such actions are believed to help women say goodbye to their past once and for all.