- Firstly, the person takes the drug.
- Secondly, the drug takes the drug (it sustains itself).
- Finally, the drug takes the person.
Long-term drug use leads to significant changes in brain function that persist long after the individual stops using drugs. Recognizing that addictions have a crucial biological component can help explain why achieving and maintaining abstinence without help is so challenging. Psychological stress from work or family issues, social cues (like meeting people from one’s drug-using past), or environmental triggers (such as encountering places, objects, or even smells associated with drug use) can interact with biological factors to hinder sustained abstinence and increase the likelihood of relapse. Research indicates that even the most severely addicted individuals can actively participate in treatment, and active participation is essential for positive outcomes.
Choosing a drug rehab center is one of the most important and difficult decisions you will make in your lifetime. Many of us are unsure of what to look for in a quality rehab program, and not all drug rehabilitation centers are the same. Each rehab center has its own program options, staff qualifications, credentials, costs, and effectiveness. There are no quick fixes for drug abuse or alcoholism. Recovery is an ongoing process. The skills learned during intensive rehabilitation must be integrated into everyday life, and this takes time.
Teen Challenge’s addiction programs for substance abuse or alcohol are open to everyone, both men and women, who need help. Wilkerson House Center in London and Drayton Hall is open to men only, while Hope House Center in Wales is for women. Both are residential programs with a term of 18 months, and the program is free to enter.
