About Addiction Treatment

Addiction: a disease of the mind and body

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by the need to seek addictive substances, even at the cost of health and happiness. Addiction to substances like drugs and alcohol is now described as the disease of the mind and body. Similar to other chronic diseases, addiction to drugs and alcohol often involves the twin cycles of relapse and remission. And without proper diagnosis and treatment, the problem can become progressive, result in disability and can even be fatal.

How addiction works

When a person consumes drugs or alcohol by choice, the nature of these substances changes the working and functioning of the brain. Though the initial decision to take the substance might be voluntary, a person soon starts taking drugs and alcohol involuntarily or out of compulsions. This happens because most of the drugs target an integral part of the brain called the “reward center” and flood it with a chemical called dopamine. As the “reward center” controls the body’s ability to feel pleasure and often motivates the user to repeat such behaviors, the overstimulation of the reward center causes the user to experience an intense “high,” leading them to experience frequent urges to consume the substance repeatedly, making the user prone to addiction.

With continued consumption of drugs and alcohol, the brain stops releasing dopamine on its own and instead relies on the addictive substance to do so. Over time, the user stops experiencing the “high” he/she experienced initially. Thus, he/she needs to take more of the substance for achieving the normal level of dopamine. This situation is known as tolerance. The compulsive nature of addiction sets in when the brain learns that taking drugs is the only way to increase the dopamine levels. The disease of addiction soon takes over a person’s life in a way that everything he/she does revolves around the act of procuring drugs, even at the expense of personal and professional lives. Long-term usage of drugs can also affect brain functions, including one’s behavior, decision-making, memory, learning and judgment.

Treatment for addiction

While it may seem obvious, simply stopping one’s drug use does not cure one’s dependence or addiction. As the person, struggling with addiction is not completely aware of the painful withdrawal symptoms, he/she is recommended to immediately undergo detox to be prepared to stop or reduce the usage of the drug. A comprehensive treatment for drug addiction should not only treat the physical symptoms of addiction but also target the multiple needs of an individual and aim at long-term recovery.

As there is no standardized treatment plan, the treatment program for drug addiction should be individualized and should address not only addiction, but also co-occurring illnesses, such as depression. It should also help the patient master necessary life skills to live a drug-free life. Given the addictive nature of drugs and the probability of a relapse, one’s treatment plan may evolve over time as well. However, every treatment program for drug addiction should consist of a medically supervised detoxification and behavioral therapies.

Detoxification treatment: Considered the first step to tackling substance use disorders, detoxification helps get rid of the toxic substances and prepares the patient for the next level of treatment. Owing to the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that one might face, detox is often performed under the guidance of certified medical professionals who often use FDA-approved medications to lessen the painful and, at times, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. As detox is only one of the steps of the treatment plan, it must be followed with therapy.
Therapy sessions: Addiction treatment must include therapy. It plays a key role in helping the recovering patient understand how addiction works, how to combat it, and the skills necessary to ensure a successful recovery. Post a successful detox, an individual undergoes intense behavioral therapies. Multiple types of therapy can be advised, including individual therapy, group therapy, process groups, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), expressive arts therapy and yoga. After the initial therapy treatment, the recovering patient is recommended to join support groups like 12-step programs, which can support them until they recover completely.
Additional treatment: Patients who suffer from more than one illness, such as addiction and depression must seek treatment for the co-occurring disorders. A treatment plan that addresses both the illnesses helps not only in addressing the addiction but also in treating the secondary illness, thereby, minimizing chances of a relapse.

Why choose Sovereign Health

A leader in behavioral healthcare, Sovereign Health of El Paso, Texas offers a comprehensive addiction disorder treatment for adult men and women (aged 18 or above) with addiction-related, behavioral health disorders and co-occurring illnesses. In addition to offering individualized treatment to all our patients, our state-of-the-art treatment centers address all underlying mental health issues that may prevent a complete recovery.

Located close to the Franklin Mountains State Park and the Mexican border, we welcome both English and Spanish-speaking patients. Our trained staff consists of licensed doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, dieticians, and nurses, who utilize evidence-based treatment modalities to meet the goals and needs of our patients and their families.

Our staff is dedicated to providing result-oriented treatment in a caring and confidential environment. We understand how difficult recovering from addiction can be and thus, try all possible means to give our patients the treatment and tools they need to lead happy, healthy and drug-free lives. Following are the amenities that our state-of-the-art treatment facilities offer:

24/7 crisis intervention
Gender-specific living quarters
Chef-prepared meals
Central air conditioning
Comfortable patient accommodations
Personalized treatment plans
Bilingual substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment services
Daily schedule encompassing therapies as per individual requirements
Continuing care after treatment

What differentiates us from other behavioral healthcare providers is the fact we provide individually tailored treatment to meet patients’ specific needs. In addition to offering medically supervised detox program, we also offer our patients a range of innovative, evidence treatment options, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), neurofeedback, family therapy, relapse prevention, life skills, anger management, and experiential therapies like art therapy and expressive arts therapy. Our holistic approach to treatment has been the pillar of our strength and continues to help us serve more patients in a better manner.

To learn more about our top-notch treatment programs, the admissions process or the financial options available, call our 24/7 helpline and speak with our admissions counselor. You can even chat online with our trained representatives for further assistance.

Addiction: a disease of the mind and body

How addiction works

Treatment for addiction

Why choose Sovereign Health

Stay connected with Sovereign Health