Is Addiction a Disease? | Houston TX

Now more than ever, the state of Texas struggles with alcohol addiction. As the single most abused substance, individuals all over the state have begun seeking treatment for their addiction. But, they may continue to wonder, is addiction a disease? Here is some information to help you see that it is.

Addiction Disrupts Physical Health

Addiction to alcohol damages the brain and most of the organs in the body. Over time, you can become physically dependent on alcohol, causing potentially fatal effects if you discontinue using it too suddenly.

Prescription medications can also cause physical dependence. Your body develops a tolerance for these substances, requiring you to ingest more with each use to achieve the same feelings of relief or euphoria. Often, this can lead to overdose as individuals begin to abuse increased amounts of the substance over time. Overdose with prescription medication can potentially be fatal.

Amphetamine abuse can lead to high body temperatures and serious heart problems. Seizures are not uncommon for individuals who frequently abuse these substances.

Is Addiction A Disease That Affects Mental Faculties?

Methamphetamines are particularly harmful to the brain even over a short period. Individuals who regularly abuse this substance over time often develop significant anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and violent behavior.

The brain’s “reward” circuit is almost always affected by drug abuse. Part of the limbic system, it is hijacked by the cycle of abuse. Unusually large amounts of dopamine are often released when a cycle of abuse has solidified itself surrounding a drug. And additional behavioral problems often develop as a result of drug abuse, including:

Loss of self-control
Impaired judgment
Hallucinations
Aggressiveness
Paranoia

Often, someone suffering from a substance use disorder or addiction is also experiencing mental health issues. Individuals frequently are unaware they are experiencing depression, an anxiety disorder, or are going through PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). There are many reasons for this. Mental health issues still carry a stigma in many parts of the country. However, good mental health is vital in preventing and treating addiction. When an individual has both a substance use disorder and a mental health issue, they have what is termed co-occurring disorder. This disorder is treated through dual diagnosis. When an individual seeks treatment for co-occurring disorder, dual diagnosis treats both the addiction or substance abuse as well as the mental health issue causing or exacerbating it. Thus, patients get the treatment they need to make a lasting recovery.

Detox And Treatment Facilities Treat the Disease of Addiction

The existence of detox and addiction facilities offering addiction treatment helps to solidify that addiction is a disease. These facilities often utilize evidence-based techniques proven to assist with the treatment of chronic illnesses and disease. These techniques may be behavioral therapies or pharmacological therapies.

Serenity House Detox, located in Houston, Texas, can assist you with treating your disease of addiction. Whether you suffer from addiction to opioids, alcohol, or another substance, Serenity House Detox has a program we will tailor to your needs. Also, we provide the following services:

Gender-Specific Detox for Men and Women
Inpatient Rehab
Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program
Relapse Prevention Program

Don’t wait any longer to start breaking down your harmful habits. Reach out to Serenity House Detox at 866.516.8356 today to see how we can get you started on the path to wellness from your disease. There’s no better time to seek sobriety than right now.

We Stand for Equality - A message from CEO Mark Gold

Amatus stands in solidarity with all of the people across the globe mourning the death of George Floyd and countless others who lost their lives unnecessarily. We are outraged and heartbroken. We support those fighting to combat hate, discrimination, and unfair treatment of our fellow humans. We stand with our staff, our clients, and all those who live in legitimate fear that they and their loved ones may be targeted based on race. We empathize with the anxiety, fatigue, and frustration of the African American community. We acknowledge that these lives matter.

Racism infiltrates every aspect of our lives. We would be remiss not to mention how it impacts the addiction community. Spurred on by The War on Drugs, African Americans and other people of color are often incarcerated for similar practices for which the white population receives treatment.

Nearly 80% of people in federal prison for drug crimes are black and brown people. This is why Amatus supports Drug Abuse Response Team (D.A.R.T.), a program that connects people willing to enter addiction treatment to resources and help to minimize jail time.

We know that dealing with systemic racism, fear of violence, and discrimination is traumatic. We are committed to supporting people in our communities in need of compassion and trauma-informed care. As an ongoing commitment, we will continue to develop meaningful ways to use our voice and resources to support reforming the drug policies that so negatively impact African American communities. In addition, we have set up a Social Justice Scholarship Fund, as a way to provide treatment for individuals who are facing jail time for drug-related offenses.

As a company, Amatus embraces diversity and wholeheartedly believes in the power of inclusion. We acknowledge that we do not have all the answers. We may never be perfect, but we resolve to work to make Amatus the best version of itself. We are dedicated to leading peaceful and positive change in our workplace and across the communities we serve. We have the responsibility to create a culture where there is no place for hate and discrimination.

We take a knee with those who fight oppression and who demand to make our country a more perfect union.

To a brighter future, upward and onward.

Amatus Health