UNDERSTANDING ADDICTION

• Why won’t you just stop? • Don’t you love us enough? • You are so selfish. •

There is no one answer to why individuals continue to use drugs and alcohol. Research states that the brain contributes greatly to addiction; different triggers arise in an individual’s life that send chemicals, such as dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) of the brain; its affects are comparable to adrenalin. The dopamine system of the brain is the pleasure center; it stimulates the senses and contributes greatly to feeling euphoric, calm.

TOLERANCE

After extensive drug use, an individual's reaction, both physically and emotionally, decreases. They develop a tolerance for the drug. Larger doses of the drug are then needed to receive the same affect; this contributes to why individuals continue to use.

“You always want to find that first high. Nothing ever competes with the first time and you just spend the rest of the time chasing and trying to reach it; it never happens. And before you know, you’re addicted.” –Anonymous

DEPENDENCY

Once the drug becomes a habit, or part of one’s daily or even weekly routine, they become dependent on it. Many individuals have a hard time even functioning because their body becomes so dependent on this drug. In many cases, individuals simply continue to use because of the physical symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea or loss of consciousness, that arise are so painful, that finding the drug and continuing to use is easier.

Once an individual has become addicted to drugs or alcohol, it can become very scary, very quickly.

“I came into the room and thought that my daughter was dead. I looked at her; she was slumped on the floor and blue. I screamed so loud, but we were alone in the house. I called ‘911’ and began CPR. She had overdosed. The paramedics were able to revive her, but I have never been so scared in my life. I didn’t understand how much of a problem she really had. I am listening now.” –Cheryl P. (regarding 21-year-old daughter)

WITHDRAWL

Individuals that begin to withdrawal from not having drugs or alcohol in their system and the side effects of this can be very painful and uncomfortable. The side affects vary depending on the drug of choice, but common side affects include: trembling, vomiting, insomnia.

Because individuals cannot simply stop, this is why an effective treatment program is needed. ALPINE TREATMENT SERVICES has developed a program that encompasses every tool that an individual would need to become successful.

RELAPSE

Drug and alcohol relapse occurs for many reasons. Relapse is when an individual chooses to return to using after having a stint of sobriety.

We designed our program to slowly integrate individuals back into reality.

“What I saw happening, was so many people were in treatment for 30 or even 60 days and they would graduate. These people would walk out the door of the facility, and they were on their own. Even with some facilities, in order to receive ‘After Care,’ people had to come in for that. No one was checking in on them or holding them accountable any more.

It was like – for 30 days – you had staff watching you 24 hours a day; and then, in a moment, you are alone. I saw people relapse and almost die. This is why we have transitional care and sober tracking built into our program. We don’t want people to ever feel alone; ever.” – Justin Makin, Executive Director

OVERDOSE

Every year, millions of people overdose on drugs and alcohol; millions die as a result. Overdosing occurs when a lethal amount of drugs is ingesting into an individual’s system, or body.

“What’s happening today, that is a shame, is these (kids) are getting their hands on drugs that are mixed. Say it’s heroin; it’s 50% heroin and 50% something else because it has been cut so many times. By the time it gets to the dealer it’s been got over a dozen times.

These kids are using and thinking it’s 100%. So they only use a certain amount to get high. What happens is, these same (kids) are getting the drug in a pure form, so it’s only been cut twice instead of a dozen times, and though they use the same amount, it’s a larger dose and they overdoes and die.

In Orem, four people overdose and die every week on average. This isn’t just Orem, this is every city in America; something has to change.” –Orem City Police Officer

ALPINE TREATMENT SERVICES has developed a program that is designed to support individuals through every phase of addiction. It is our goal that individual’s begin to build a life worth living, a find the desire to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

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