Substance Abuse Treatment

Overview | Treatment Staff | Drug and Alcohol Rehab | Substance Abuse Treatment | Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Substance abuse is a pattern of harmful use of any substance for mood-altering purposes. According to Mosby's Medical, Nursing, Allied Health Dictionary substance abuse is defined as the overindulgence in and dependence of a drug or other chemical leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual's physical and mental health, or the welfare of others.

The most difficult thing to understand about using substances, such as, alcohol and drugs is that not everyone becomes addicted. However, many people do. As defined by professionals, substance abuse involves repeatedly seeking to use either alcohol or drugs, both legal and illegal, regardless of the potentially negative social, psychological and physical consequences.

Indications of a substance abuse problem often include three major categories, which appear below:

Physical/Emotional Indicators:

• Has smell of alcohol on breath or marijuana on clothing
• Has burned fingers, burns on lips, or needle track marks on arms
• Slurs speech or stutters, is incoherent
• Has difficulty maintaining eye contact
• Has dilated (enlarged) or constricted (pinpoint) pupils
• Has tremors (shaking or twitching of hands and eyelids)
• Is hyperactive and overly energetic Appears lethargic or falls asleep easily
• Exhibits impaired coordination or unsteady gait (e.g., staggering, off balance)
• Speaks very rapidly or very slowly
• Experiences wide mood swings (highs and lows)
• Appears fearful or anxious; experiences panic attacks
• Appears impatient, agitated, or irritable
• Is increasingly angry or defiant

Personal Attitude/ Behavior Indicators:

• Talks about getting high, uses vocabulary typical among drug users
• Behaves in an impulsive or inappropriate manner
• Denies, lies, or covers up
• Takes unnecessary risks or acts in a reckless manner
• Breaks or bends rules, cheats
• Misses interviews, appointments, or meetings or arrives intoxicated
• Fails to comply with program requirements without easily verifiable reasons (may be verbally uncooperative to disguise the problem or divert attention)

Cognitive Indicators:

• Has difficulty concentrating, focusing, or attending to a task
• Appears distracted or disoriented
• Makes inappropriate or unreasonable choices
• Has difficulty making decisions
• Experiences short-term memory loss
• Experiences blackout
• Needs directions repeated frequently
• Has difficulty recalling known details
• Needs repeated assistance completing ordinary paperwork

Breaking the cycle of drug addiction is difficult, but not impossible. At Creative Care, our highly trained clinical team work together to create a treatment plan based on your specific needs. This allows us to help our clients change addictive behavior patterns. Together, we can address the underlying causes and effects. We strongly believe that by discovering the "why" of these behaviors, we significantly reduce the chances that a client will relapse chemically and emotionally.

One of the most crucial decisions in one's lifetime is to enter treatment for substance abuse. The results of this treatment process, either for drug or alcohol abuse, can affect the rest of your and the lives of many of your loved ones. If you think that Creative Care might be the substance abuse treatment center for you or your loved one, call today at 800-832-3280.

For more information about our program, call us today at 800-832-3280.