What is Substance Abuse?
What is substance abuse, exactly? A quick Google search will yield dozens of pages dedicated to answering this question. Maybe you just need information or education. However, if you or a loved one are struggling with an addiction, a more important question follows: “Where can I find help?”
What Is Substance Abuse, Exactly?
Whether it’s drugs or alcohol, substance abuse relates to consumption in dangerous excess. In 2015, approximately 20.8 million Americans aged 12 or older had a substance abuse disorder. Information is plentiful about the dangers of drugs such as cocaine or heroin. However, substance abuse can also mean misusing medications and other substances that have been gained legally.
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How Much Is Too Much?
It’s not an easy question to answer. Some people have a few drinks during special occasions and don’t drink again for months. Some may use medication for legitimate reasons and stop after recovering. In fact, some may even try illicit drugs once without ever trying them again.
The answer doesn’t lie in how much is used. Rather, it’s how using affects a person’s life. If your use is getting in the way of your job, your family life, or your health, it may be time to consult with a professional.
Where to Find Help
If you answered the question of, “What is substance abuse?” and have come up with an answer that identifies you or someone you love, there’s hope. Getting qualified addiction treatment is the first step. Recovery centers offer a safe, supervised environment for sufferers to get the medical and psychological services needed to overcome addiction and regain dignity.
What Is Substance Abuse Treatment?
What is substance abuse treatment? There are multiple steps, from detox to total recovery. After going through withdrawal during detox, the next step in addiction treatment is therapy. Therapy builds on the physical sobriety created by detox by tackling the psychology of substance abuse.
One addiction treatment is behavioral therapy, an evidence-based method centered on retraining your brain. A therapist guides clients in understanding and then changing self-destructive thoughts and behaviors. The goal of behavioral therapy is creating a template of positive behavior and healthy coping mechanisms. Another addiction treatment is holistic healing, including massage, expressive arts, and meditation. Holistic therapy uses positive experiences to allow patients to clear their minds and express repressed emotions. The goal of holistic healing is to let clients overcome the triggers of their substance abuse.
Group therapy is a near-universal feature of addiction treatment. Group therapy gathers clients and united them around the mutual goal of recovery. With the help of a therapist, the group opens up about their experiences and moves forward towards sobriety. Therapies offered to clients at Serenity Lodge include, but aren’t limited to:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT, a type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) asks people to alter negative behaviors. ACT at a substance abuse treatment center improves clients’ well-being by teaching them how to overcome negative thoughts and feelings.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT therapists help substance abusers develop coping strategies to discourage negative behavior. Clients also learn new, more highly productive ways to deal with life without coping with substance abuse.
- Relapse Prevention
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Experiential Therapy
- Family Support Program
- Group Therapy Program
- 12-Step Meetings
Where Do I Find a Recovery Center?
For men in California, or even all-around the country, struggling with substance abuse, Serenity Lodge in Lake Arrowhead, California, is a great place to start healing. We offer our clients access to safe, comprehensive addiction treatment programs and highly-trained therapists to help them through the recovery process.
Our therapies and various levels of care give you the best chance at not only overcoming your addiction, but also learning to maintain your sobriety even in the most challenging situations.
Our Lodge offers comfortable, private Client rooms along with a pool, sauna, fitness center, movie room, library, and recording studio, all nestled in a serene 22-acre setting just outside San Bernardino.
Addiction doesn’t have to control your life. Help is available! If you or someone you love needs help, take the first step and give us Serenity Lodge a call at [Direct] to discuss your options and learn how we can help you sustainable recovery.
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