Addiction is a horrible, chronic disease that unfortunately can have fatal consequences. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, whether it be alcohol or drugs, it’s imperative to seek professional help. 

There are numerous types of rehabs and addiction treatment programs available for those looking to start their journey to sobriety. Treatment can include inpatient, outpatient, 30-day, 60-day, 90-day, and or peer led support groups.  Today we’d like to discuss what 90-day drug rehab is, why we recommend 90-day treatment at Atlanta Recovery Place, and how we can help you overcome addiction for good! 

What Is a 90-Day Drug Rehab?

A 90-day drug rehab program provides people with a solid foundation for the recovery process when overcoming an addiction. This type of addiction treatment program is best for individuals who are suffering from a severe addiction and long-standing addictions. A 90-day drug rehab program can be done in both inpatient and outpatient treatment, and is considered a long-term treatment. 

If attending an inpatient treatment program, individuals will spend 90 days with 24/7 care that is supervised by a professional. An inpatient treatment program is appropriate for those who are struggling with a severe addiction, co-occurring disorders, different medical issues/recommendations, or even issues involving genetics and family history. 

A 90-day outpatient treatment program will vary with services offered and usually costs substantially less than an inpatient treatment program. Outpatient treatment is best for those who have social support (friends,family) or have a job that they can not afford to take time away from. Within an outpatient treatment program, there is usually the utilization of group therapy, social support, and much more. Outpatient treatment is also a great follow up to inpatient treatment. 

It is important to consider different things when choosing from a 90-day inpatient rehab program and a 90-day outpatient rehab program. These factors include which drug you are abusing, the severity of the addiction, how long you have been suffering from an addiction, how much your insurance covers your treatment, how much you have to pay out of pocket, etc. 

An inpatient rehab program and outpatient rehab program are both beneficial in different ways, so it is important to research both of the benefits and come to a conclusion on which treatment program will best fit your schedule and your needs. It is also important to realize that even if you have a busy schedule, your health should come first and making yourself a priority every once and a while is not a bad thing. 

Why We Recommend 90-Day Drug Rehab

We recommend a 90-day treatment program because long term treatment helps our clients have a stable foundation for their recovery and long-term sobriety goals. This treatment program provides a great layout on how the structure of treatment is, and is an awesome form of long-term recovery. Through research, long-term treatment has been known to produce important outcome factors including remaining abstinent and successful completion of the treatment. 

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help You or Your Loved One

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we provide our clients with various addiction treatment options when it comes to getting sober. We currently offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient treatment programs. We also have sober living homes for our clients to reside in while they receive treatment. All of our programs include time management, work, social support, the substance being abused, co-occurring disorders, and much more. To find a 90-day recovery program, or if you are interested in other forms of recovery, reach out to us today to get the information you desire and the support you need! 

DBT Therapy has many similarities to cognitive-behavioral approaches, but is also a very unique form of treatment. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want our clients to explore different forms of treatment and therapy while at our facility. No two addictions are alike, which is why we offer a variety of therapies and treatment techniques. Within this article, we provide information and resources on what DBT therapy is, how DBT therapy is used in addiction treatment, and how we can help you overcome addiction at Atlanta Recovery Place! 

DBT Therapy Definition

DBT therapy is short for Dialectical Behavior Therapy. The “D” stands for “dialectical,” which basically means a synthesis or integration of opposites. When using a dialectical strategy approach in therapy, it can help with balancing the idea of acceptance and change. The “B” stands for “behavior,” which means that this focus is to target behaviors by pulling some apart and rebuilding others. This therapy is an evidence-based therapy and has been promising in treating borderline personality disorder (BPD), substance use disorder (SUDs), binge-eating disorder, and even depression in the elderly. Although DBT therapy is similar to cognitive -behavioral approaches, it differs in some elements. These elements include:

•  The five functions of treatment
•  The biosocial theory and a focus on emotions in treatment 
•  Consistent dialectical philosophy
•  Mindfulness and acceptance interventions

The five different functions of DBT therapy include:

• Enhancing capabilities: This is used to improve important life skills including those involving regulating emotions, being more mindful, which includes paying attention to experiencing the present moment, effectively navigating interpersonal situations, and tolerating distress without making the situation worse.
• Generalizing capabilities: This involves generalizing the treatment gains to the client’s environment. This is accomplished within skills training at home (like homework) and with practicing/troubleshooting these skills while improving upon these skills.
• Improving motivation and reducing dysfunctional behaviors: This helps to improve clients with their motivation to change and reduce their behaviors that are inconsistent with the life that they want to live. This is accomplished through individual therapy and self-monitoring. 
• Enhancing and maintaining therapist capabilities and motivation: This involves the maintaining of motivation and the skills that the therapy has created for them. This also helps the therapists in providing support and encouragement for the therapists and their clients.
• Structuring the environment: This involves structuring the environment in a manner that can reinforce effective behavior, while not reinforcing problematic behavior. This will involve structuring treatment in a way that promotes progress within their treatment. 

How Is DBT Therapy Used in Addiction Treatment?

Within addiction treatment, DBT therapy is used when changing behavior (i.e., drug use) and structuring the clients’ environment so that they can maintain sobriety without the distractions. This type of therapy helps those suffering from a substance abuse disorder by helping them to quit using the drug they’re addicted to, to help them to develop life skills in relation to this addiction, and to help them change their environment to prevent a future relapse. When changing the clients’ environment, the therapists help their drug-free clients to modify and avoid certain social circles that promote drug usage. This treatment/therapy can vary between different therapists and facilities.

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to equip our clients with everything they need to be successful within their recovery, whether that be treatment options, social support, and more. We try to help our clients, during and after treatment, find social support to help them throughout their recovery process. We also build a treatment program that fits your individualized needs. Reach out to us today to find a treatment that works for you!

When starting the recovery process, it’s important to research treatment/rehab programs to find the one that best fits your needs. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we individualize our addiction treatment programs for each of our clients, fitting each of their unique needs when it comes to sobriety. We understand that each person and their addiction is different, so we want to address those needs while making our clients comfortable throughout the recovery process. Within this article, we describe what drug rehab is, why we think you should go to drug rehab in Atlanta, different types of drug rehab, and how we can help. 

What Is Drug Rehab?

Drug rehab/treatment is a way to help addicted individuals to stop engaging in destructive behaviors while stopping compulsive drug seeking and use. There are many different forms of addiction treatment that occur in many different settings over various periods of time. Drug addiction is considered a chronic disorder which is characterized by occasional relapse. That is why a short-term or one-time addiction treatment is not sufficient in treating a substance abuse disorder. Drug rehab programs and treatments can include modalities such as medications, behavioral therapies, or a combination of both. 

Different Types of Rehabilitation Centers in Atlanta

There are many different types of drug rehabilitation programs/ treatment programs that can treat addiction in Atlanta. Some of these treatment/rehab programs include:

Long-Term Residential Treatment 

At a long-term residential treatment program, care is provided 24 hours a day and the length of stay could be between 6 and 12 months. Treatment is usually very structured and provides social activities. This type of treatment has activities that help with damaged beliefs, self-concepts, and destructive behaviors/patterns. 

Short-Term Residential Treatment 

This treatment provides intensive treatment that is usually based on a modified 12-step approach. This treatment is around 3 to 6 weeks within a facility. This is then followed by outpatient treatment and possibly group therapy sessions.

Outpatient Treatment Programs 

There are many different types of this treatment and vary in intensity and price. These programs allow you to continue your normal life while remaining sober. This type of program involves counseling/therapy and group therapy sessions. 

Individualized Drug Counseling 

This type of counseling focuses on reducing and or stopping drug and/or alcohol use while addressing related areas of impaired functioning. Impaired functioning meaning employment status, illegal activity, family/social relations, etc. This program helps the clients to develop coping strategies, make short-term behavior goals, and gain tools that can help abstain from drug use. This counseling also may encourage their clients to participate in a 12-step program.

Why Should You Go to Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta?

There are numerous reasons why one should go to drug rehab in Atlanta. Specifically, at Atlanta Recovery Place, we offer truly individualized care for all of our clients seeking sobriety. Upon entering our program we take in account the type of drug the client is using, the client’s background, how long they have been abusing the drug, how much environmental and social support that each client may have. After a comprehensive evaluation we put together a plan of action for the client. All of our staff approach recovery with professionalism, empathy, compassion, and love. We go out of our way to provide a safe healing environment for our clients with a structured approach that focuses solely on recovery. 

By choosing to go to drug rehab in Atlanta, you’ll have access to our partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient, outpatient, and sober living home. During these programs you’ll participate in individual therapy, group therapy, meditation, etc.  

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we can help you find which treatment program best suits your recovery needs. We work hard daily to help all of our clients achieve long lasting sobriety. Give us a call today to learn more about our drug rehab in Atlanta. We are waiting for your call!

Each and every day people are prescribed prescription pills by their doctors. Whether these prescriptions are used for sleep aid or for pain relief, these drugs can be very addictive when used improperly. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we understand how hard it can be to overcome an addiction to something that has been prescribed to you.  We want to make this recovery process easier for our clients and help them every step of the way.  within this article via provide information on why prescription pills can be so addictive, how individuals obtain prescription pills, and signs that someone you may know could be addicted to prescription medication.

Why are Prescription Pills Addictive?

Prescription pills, such as sleeping pills and tranquilizers, drug abuse if very common. One of the reasons why prescription pills are so addictive is because of drug dependence and tolerance. Individuals take prescriptions for a certain reason and over a certain period of time. During this time, one’s body can become dependent on a drug whether psychologically,  physically,  or both. This can cause an uncontrolled desire to experience the euphoric effects that the drug causes and can even be used to prevent some of the unpleasant effects of withdrawal from the drug.  When abusing this drug the body will build up a tolerance and the individual taking the drugs will have to increase the dosage to receive the same results. Because this person has become physically dependent on this prescription,  the body has adapted to the strength of the drug that when this person tries to quit it will cause withdrawal symptoms. 

How Does Someone Obtain Prescription Pills?

Prescription pills can be obtained through a plethora of different ways. One way that someone Could obtain prescription pills is from someone that they trust and may see often such as Physicians, Healthcare professionals, pharmacists, etc. Another way to get prescription pills is from patients, students, and even White Collar criminals. People also get pills from drug dealers,  tourists, nightclub owners, and many other kinds of people. When someone gets hurt they may receive medication from their physician and after they cannot receive that medication anymore (because they don’t have the injury anymore) they may turn to drug dealers or other individuals to receive their pills.

Signs My Friend is Addicted to Prescription Pills

There are many different signs of prescription pill abuse and opioid abuse. When people become addicted to drugs they may change their behavior. Some of the possible signs are:

• Changing friend groups or socializing with different people.
• Spending much more time alone and avoiding family/friend activities.
• Losing interest in activities that they once enjoyed.
• Not having good hygiene such as bathing, changing their clothes, or brushing their teeth.
• Being very distant, tired, and sad.
•  Differences in appetite such as eating more or eating less.
• Being overly energetic, and doing things such as talking too fast or saying things that don’t make sense.
• Being nervous, anxious, cranky, Etc.
•  Having mood swings / changing moods very quickly.
•  Sleeping at odd hours.
•  Missing important events, or appointments.
•  Getting in trouble with the law and doing illegal activity.
•  Not retaining their schedule or attending work/school.
•  Financially in need/experiencing hardship financially.

If you know someone who is experiencing these signs make sure that you are loving them and supporting them while helping them overcome the addiction. It may be important to help this individual seek help or even have a professionally handled intervention with them.

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to help you get help, or help you to get help for someone you love.  Addiction can be scary and hard, but we want you to know that you are not alone throughout this process. We provide individualized treatment plans for each of our clients because we realize that each of our clients’ needs are different. Reach out to us today to get help,  to start your recovery process, and to gain support along the way.

It’s a huge life decision to decide to overcome a heroin addiction. Once you decide you are ready to quit using heroin, the next big decision to make is finding the right addiction treatment center for you. Well, look no further as  Atlanta Recovery Place, located in Dunwoody, Georgia, is a great option for you. Today we will provide you with information about what heroin addiction is, how to find the right heroin rehab program for you or someone you love, and how we can help you! 

The Signs of Heroin Addiction
There are various signs of heroin addiction/ heroin use. The most common signs include:

• Sleep/dream-like state (Heroin can make people feel sleepy)
• Slow cognitive response
• Slow physical movements
• Someone’s eye pupils become very small
• Physical marks on one’s body/skin from where the needle went (when people inject heroin

Please note the above mentioned isn’t a comprehensive list as addiction and signs of addiction can be different for everyone. Heroin has also been known to change the function of one’s brain (or change the way in which your brain works). This change in function can make it hard to stop using heroin, and the body can become very confused and get sick when trying to stop. These illnesses are called withdrawals. Withdrawals from heroin may include things such as:

• Pain in one’s muscles and bones
• Chills
• Get sick/nauseous/throw up
• Have insomnia or be unable to sleep
• Feel nervous or anxious
• Feelings of being itchy

How to Find the Right Heroin Rehab Program for You

When searching for the best heroin treatment program for you, it is important to consider many different things. These things include finding a treatment program that is individualized to you and meeting your specific needs. Some things that you should consider when looking into a treatment program is:

• Your age: If you are an older adult or a teenager, there may be places that you can receive treatment with people who are around your age.
• Your gender : Depending on your gender there may be certain inpatient facilities/sober living places that are just for your gender. Some people prefer to only be around their gender while getting sober, others do not. 
• The drugs/drug that you are abusing: There are certain treatments that may be better depending on the drug that you are using.
• Your health history/whether or not you have mental health issues : There are treatment programs that can treat co-occurring disorders (treatments that will treat your addiction while treating your mental health issue/mental illness).
• The cost of treatment: This is important in considering especially if you don’t have insurance. It may also be important in looking into whether or not they have some form of financial support for individuals with low incomes or no insurance. 
• How much your insurance covers: If you have insurance, but are still on a tight budget you should consider different treatments that have cheaper options or treatments that have more coverage through your insurance company. 
• The amount of social support you need : If you don’t feel like you have enough support from family or friends, it may be beneficial to receive treatment that comes with peer support. If you don’t have a safe place to live, you may want to consider inpatient treatment or an outpatient program with a sober living home.

Different treatments for drug addiction at rehab may include things such as:

• Behavioral counseling/therapies (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, multidimensional family therapy, motivational interviewing or incentives, recovery housing, short-term residential treatment, etc)

• This can help to modify one’s attitude or behavior related to drug use
• Increase one’s healthy life skills
• Receive this treatment with other forms of treatment (this could include medication)

• Medications
• Treatments for withdrawal symptoms and skills training
• Treatment for co-occurring disorder/mental health disorder
• Long-term follow-ups to prevent a future relapse

How Atlanta Recovery Can Help With Your Addiction

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we give our clients many different options for their addiction treatment and their recovery process. We know that no two addictions are alike, and will treat everyone as an individual. Please reach out to us today to learn more about our addiction treatment program. Our staff is waiting for your call! 

The Holidays are a fun and joyous time of the year, but it can also bring about memories or stressors that lead to substance abuse. In short, the holiday season can be extremely triggering for recovering addicts.  Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we understand that the holidays can be stressful and bring about pressures that are unwanted. Today we’d like to provide some tips on how to keep your recovery strong and prevent relapse around the holidays. 

What Is a Drug Relapse?

Drug relapse is when an individual who stops using a drug returns to drug use. Relapse is very common and normal for individuals who are recovering from drug addictions. It takes practice, discipline, and patience when learning to live without drugs. There are three different forms of relapse: emotional relapse, mental relapse, and physical relapse. 

Emotional Relapse 

Emotional relapse occurs when an individual remembers their last relapse/worries about relapsing again. This worrisomeness leads to overthinking. This influx of emotions and their resulting behaviors start to lay the foundation for this individual’s next relapse. Signs of emotional relapse are isolation, such as not attending meetings or sharing at meetings, focusing on other people’s problems, and poor sleeping & eating habits. During this stage of relapse there are two main goals. The first goal is to help the individual understand just how important self-care is. The second goal is to help with the patient’s denial on understanding their risk of relapse and to avoid the progression through the rest of the stages of the relapse. 

Mental Relapse 

Mental relapse occurs when an individual has an internal struggle between their desire for the drug and their desire to remain abstinent. The signs of this internal struggle includes the craving of the substance, thinking about different things in which are associated with their past, exaggerating the positive of drug use/minimizing the negative consequences, lying, bargaining, seeking out opportunities for drug use, planning a relapse, etc. 

Physical Relapse

Physical relapse is the final stage of relapse and it occurs when an individual resumes the use of the drug/substance. 

Tips for Preventing a Relapse Around the Holidays

The holiday season can be very joyful, but it can also be an uphill climb for individuals who are struggling with an addiction. Holiday traditions, customs, or even memories may bring back the want for the substance or lead to a future relapse. Below we have provided some tips on preventing a relapse during the holiday season.

Plan Ahead of Time

Preparing a plan that will help you to feel supported during the holidays is crucial in maintaining sobriety. This may entail going to therapy or a 12-step meeting before or after attending an event where the pressures of substance use may occur. 

Understand the Emotions in Which the Holiday May Bring

This may involve talking with a therapist, friend, or trusted individual. This could involve understanding that the holidays can be a stressful time and bring back unwanted memories. Having support whether from friends, family members, or others can help to lessen the stressors that this season may bring. 

Practice Self-Care

It is important to take time for yourself during the holiday season. Making sure that you are cared for mentally, emotionally, and physically can help to prevent a future relapse. Do things that will help you to continue to remain strong while going to the recovery process. 

Avoid Triggering Situations

If you know that you will experience a situation in which you will feel vulnerable or pressured into doing something that could cause a relapse to occur, try to avoid that situation at all costs.

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help You

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want our clients to feel like they are prepared when going into the holiday season. Recovery during the holidays can be difficult, but it’s important to make sure you have a plan and support when facing the pressures and stressors that may occur during this time. Reach out to us today to find more tips and support for the holiday season!

Finding a treatment program that fits your individualized needs is crucial when wanting to get sober and going through the recovery process. We understand that knowing the benefits of these programs helps our clients to decide which program may be best for them. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we know that addiction treatment isn’t one size fits all. There are many types of addiction treatment available that all meet different needs. Within this article, we describe the difference between inpatient rehab and outpatient rehab while giving the pros of each different treatment.

What Is the Difference Between Inpatient Rehab and Outpatient Rehab?

Inpatient rehab/treatment is a treatment program where clients are checked into a treatment facility. This means that clients will spend time within a treatment facility for a structured treatment that occurs around the clock. This treatment provides structure that can help the clients avoid a future relapse, while preparing them to return to “normal” life. This treatment is more intensive and helps with withdrawal, tolerance, and how to overcome an addiction. 

Outpatient rehab/treatment is a treatment program where clients are able to live at home while maintaining a sort of “normal”/flexible life schedule. Outpatient can involve things such as therapy, counseling, group sessions, etc., within an offsite facility. Individuals within an outpatient treatment facility may partake in individual or group counseling sessions that are less intensive and less frequent. This treatment program is usually used after an individual receives treatment from an inpatient facility. This treatment is to help prevent future relapse and help the clients succeed within their recovery while living their “normal” life.

Pros of Inpatient Rehab

• Helps clients with detoxifications
• Prepares clients for life after treatment
• Provides clients with 24 hour care
• Treatment is very structured. It focuses on all of the aspects of an addiction (this could include things such as social, biological, and psychological factors).
• Medical attention available 24 hours a day

Pros of Outpatient Rehab

• Flexibility of living within your home while receiving treatment
• The cost of outpatient treatment is cheaper in comparison to inpatient treatment
• Ability to choose many different types of treatment (counseling and therapy) that are offered within this setting
• Accommodations for schedules such as treatment/counseling on the weekends and nights for work purposes
• Treats clients with co-occurring disorders, depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorders, post-traumatic disorder, etc. 

Should I Choose Inpatient or Outpatient Rehab?

So, what treatment should you choose? Inpatient rehab or outpatient rehab? Ultimately, the choice is up to you! An inpatient treatment program is helpful for individuals who are suffering from other mental health conditions. If you are prone to relapsing, inpatient rehab may be helpful to avoid falling for the temptations of substance abuse. Outpatient treatment is a wonderful option after completing inpatient rehab. It’s also good for treating milder addictions that don’t necessarily require detoxification. If you have a safe living place, outpatient rehab can be a great option to help you get sober. If you have personal obligations that you need to continue with while getting sober, outpatient is also the best option for you. 

How Atlanta Recovery Place Can Help With Addiction

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, our clients and their recovery are our top priority. We offer outpatient treatment services such as partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient addiction treatment, and sober living homes. We’re located in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Clients are welcome and encouraged to complete all levels of our treatment. If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today. A member of our team will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding our program. We look forward to your call! 

It’s not simple going back to ‘normal life’ after getting addiction treatment, and we completely understand that. In all honesty, it can be a struggle to find the support that is needed to continue remaining sober post addiction treatment. Recovery and sobriety are a lifestyle, some to be worked at daily in order to maintain it. 

Sober living homes are a way for recovery addicts who have gone through treatment to continue to be surrounded by others who have been through the same type of things, and have the same type mindset when it comes to sobriety. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we have many different addiction treatment options available, including sober living to help our clients succeed in their recovery process. Within this article, we describe what sober living homes are, the benefits of sober living, and how we can help.

What Is a Sober Living Atlanta? 

Sober living is a type of aftercare which provides recovering addicts with a safe space/community of like minded individuals. Within a sober living community, staff and residents encourage each other to remain sober during the early stages of sobriety and independence after recovering from substance abuse. A sober living environment has many different benefits and offers long term care after inpatient addiction treatment to ensure that recovering addicts are being set up for success. 

At our facility, Atlanta Recovery Place, we provide an atmosphere where residents are allowed leave to go to work, to see family and friends, and to go to different leisure activities, while living in our sober living community. This type of freedom is allowed as long as residents follow the house rules. When living in a sober home, you are committing to a sober lifestyle. This means that sober living rules basically state that you should remain sober while living in this sober community (which makes total sense). When someone within the sober living community/house is not committed, it affects everyone and everyone’s recovery process.

Benefits of Living in a Sober House

There are many different benefits of living in a sober house. Some of the benefits include things such as:

Having Extra Support After Treatment 

Once addiction treatment ends and normalcy comes back into play, it can be difficult to still feel the same amount of support while gaining more freedom. Living in a sober home/community can grant the residents with the support that they need while becoming more independent.

Sober Peers

Living within a sober home/community can provide residents with opportunities to build friendships with others who have the same recovery goals in mind.

Sober Environment 

A sober environment is crucial for individuals who are overcoming an addiction and going through the recovery process. This type of environment is known to help recovery addicts hold each other accountable for their actions. When living in a sober home or in a sober community, this can provide an environment which does not pressure individuals to go back to using the substances that they once did.

Reducing loneliness

Sober living homes are also known to reduce loneliness amongst recovery addicts. It can be difficult for individuals who feel like they are going through this recovery process alone to remain sober, so living with others who are going through the exact same recovery process  can provide a sense of togetherness. 

Find Your Home at Atlanta Recovery Place

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we have a sober living option for our clients to continue their recovery process after treatment. This provides the residents with freedom, but also a sense of accountability. Within our sober living, there is privacy but also house meetings, check-ins, and follow-ups with staff that will help you within your recovery. 

Sober living is a safe place where you can value freedom, gain support, and continue the journey within sobriety. Reach out to us today to gain more information about this sober environment after treatment and gain more accountability (while gaining freedom)!

College. What is portrayed in the movies as a fun, carefree time in someone’s life, it ultimately can end up being very stressful. College is often the first time in someone’s life where they create their own schedule. No parents are around to make sure they get up on time and attend class. The freedom of coming and going whenever you please can be overwhelming. One way college students stay organized and focused is by using Adderall. Today we’ll discuss the dangers of abusing Adderall, what an addiction looks like, and how we can help you. 

Why Do College Students Use Adderall?

There is a growing problem in college students where they are using prescription stimulants in a nonmedical way. College students usually abuse Adderall for the benefit of academics. Students believe that taking this drug helps them to focus when they have to stay up late completing assignments and studying. College students also believe that taking Adderall can help with scoring high on exams. Ultimately, Adderall is viewed as a tool to succeed in college.

Some Adderall users also say that they experience an improved attention span and find it easier to concentrate for long periods of time. Afterall, it can be fairly difficult to ‘pull an all nighter’ without the aid of a stimulant.

Adderall Addiction Symptoms

Adderall is a very well-known drug of abuse and is legally prescribed for certain medical diagnoses. These diagnoses/conditions include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Adderall abuse occurs when an individual uses adderall and they don’t have a prescription for the medication. Adderall abuse happens because it contains amphetamine which is a potent stimulant. 

People who abuse Adderall are subdivided into two groups.  The first group are those who are prescribed due to a medical condition. These people will not usually develop a substance abuse disorder or develop an addiction as long as they follow the doctor’s instructions on how to use the substance safely. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t abuse the drug ever. If you know someone who is prescribed Adderall and begins to take it more than prescribed, they may need help.   

The second group are people who buy Adderall illegally. This could be purchasing Adderall on the street or through a friend who has a prescription. The main motive for someone abstaining Adderall illegally is usually to get high or stimulated. This type of user has a greater chance of developing a substance use disorder. 

Signs of an Adderall Addiction

• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety, panic, and nervousness
• Actively seeking out the drug
• Manipulating the drug’s format
• Being fearful of not having Adderall
• Sleeping difficulties (this could be falling asleep or staying asleep)
• Being hyperactive or having sensations of excitement
• Weight loss/malnutrition
• Shrinking important responsibilities that are related to the core spheres of life to use Adderall. These core spheres of life include family, work, school, etc.
• Taking higher doses of Adderall/taking Adderall frequently due to the tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms even when using the usual amount of Adderall consumption.
• Continuing to use Adderall even though this drug abuse is causing physical and psychological issues/problems.

College students are also notorious for partying.  When using Adderall at parties and combining the drug with alcohol, there can be serious consequences. If you or someone you know is abusing adderall, don’t wait to seek help as it can be a dangerous addiction. 

Atlanta Recovery Place Works With You to Overcome Addiction

Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we realize that stress comes in all shapes and sizes for college students. Our goal is to provide our clients with safe ways to manage stress that is occurring in their lives, without the aid of drugs. We offer many different types of addiction treatment including intensive outpatient and outpatient programs. Contact us today to start your journey to recovery! 

When understanding addiction, it is important to know how certain substances affect the brain/cause an addiction. Here at Atlanta Recovery Place, we want to help you gain more knowledge about substances, substance abuse, and addiction. It is important to be able to comprehend why someone with an addiction is struggling to overcome, and more importantly, how to help that person. Within this article, we have provided information about cocaine, how it is addictive, and what to do if you or someone you love is  addicted to cocaine.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a very powerful and addictive stimulant drug. Cocaine is considered a schedule 2 drug, which basically means that it is very high in the potential for abuse, but it can also be administered by a doctor for medical usage. This medical usage can be things such as local anesthesia for ear, eye, and throat surgeries.  

Cocaine as a street drug appears to be a fine white and crystalline powder that is also known as Coke. There are two different chemical forms of cocaine that people abused. The first being water-soluble hydrochloride salt and the second being water-soluble cocaine base or ‘freebase’. The hydrochloride salt is a powder, which is snorted or injected. The freebase cocaine is considered crack, which is smoked.

How Is Cocaine Addictive? 

Cocaine is addictive because it increases the levels of the neurotransmitter/chemical messenger, dopamine, in the brain. Dopamine is related to the control of movement and reward. Normally, the dopamine neurotransmitters will “recycle” back into the neuron that released it. This then would shut off the signal between nerve cells. Cocaine prevents the dopamine from being recycled back into the neuron, which then causes large amounts of dopamine to build up in the space (synapse) between the two nerve cells. This large amount of dopamine will affect the brain’s reward circuit which then would strongly reinforce drug-taking behaviors. This enforces drug-taking behaviors because the reward system/circuit will adapt to the excess amount of dopamine caused by cocaine, and the brain/body will become less sensitive to it. This tolerance will cause individuals to take more frequent or larger doses of cocaine to receive the same high that they once did, or even to just have relief from withdrawal.

What to Do If You’re Addicted to Cocaine

If you or someone you know is addicted to cocaine, it is important to get professional help, find support, and to receive treatment. Reach out to someone who you trust and respect to help figure out your treatment options and to help you feel supported. This person can help to support you throughout your recovery process. If you don’t have a person like this, you can always find treatment and help for yourself (which can be part of taking responsibility for your addiction). Some of the different types of treatments that are good to look into are:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – This therapy is an effective approach for preventing relapse and helps patients to develop skills that support long-term abstinence. These skills include things such as the ability to recognize and avoid situations in which cocaine usage is likely to occur, and the ability to cope more effectively with problems that are associated with drug use.
• Contingency management (CM) – This program uses a reward/prize-based system that rewards patients who remain abstinent from cocaine and other drugs. This way patients earn points/chips/rewards that can be used to “buy” items that encourage healthy living. These items could be things such as a gym membership, movie tickets, or a nice dinner. This treatment program helps individuals stay abstinent from cocaine and to stay in their treatment program.
• Therapeutic communities (TCs) – These communities are drug-free residences where people can recover from substance use disorders. These communities are very supportive and provide assistance in helping each other to understand and change their behaviors. TCs may require a 6 to 12-month stay. 
• Community-based recovery groups – This recovery group could be a group such as Cocaine Anonymous that used a 12-step program that can be helpful within maintaining abstinence. Within this group, individuals may benefit from supportive fellowship and sharing experiences with those who are going through common problems.

Get Help With a Cocaine Addiction at Atlanta Recovery Place

At Atlanta Recovery Place, we are a premiere outpatient rehab with a sober living community. We currently offer partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs. Reach out to us today to learn more about our programs and how we can help you beat addiction once and for all!