Addiction Treatment & Rehab: Find Recovery Help. We Do Recover

Learn about alcohol and drug addiction. Find comprehensive treatment and rehab centres. WeDoRecover addiction recovery clinics Johannesburg.

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The progression of addiction typically moves from initial experimentation to a point where control over substance use is lost, making effective treatment increasingly complex. Defining drug addiction as an overwhelming and unmanageable craving for drugs that persists despite harmful impacts underscores its serious nature. For individuals with severe dependencies, complete abstinence is often the most viable path to sustained recovery.

As leading substance abuse expert Dr. Kathleen Brady aptly points out, addiction is not an instantaneous development but rather a gradual erosion of control. Recognising addiction as a treatable brain disorder is crucial for reshaping public perception, fostering a more compassionate understanding of those struggling with addiction as individuals in need of comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery programs, much like any other medical condition, rather than as moral failures. The timeline for this transition from “normal” use to dependence varies significantly from person to person.

Prolonged drug use fundamentally alters the brain’s baseline, shifting it towards an addicted state. This results in a persistent mental obsession and an overpowering physical compulsion to continue using drugs, regardless of the detrimental consequences. The time it takes to reach this stage is unique to each individual. Once addiction takes hold, the person develops a profound reliance on addictive habits and maladaptive behaviours – the very essence of a substance use disorder. The intensity of these cravings can be so overwhelming that individuals use drugs against their own will and despite their best intentions. Often, professional intervention becomes necessary to create an opportunity for crucial counselling support and the beginning of the healing process.

Unfortunately, individuals struggling with addiction to alcohol or other drugs are often unfairly labelled as having weak character, low intelligence, or simply being immoral. Harmful stigma and negative stereotypes surrounding addiction continue to be pervasive. However, contrary to these inaccurate portrayals of weakness or immorality, dependence is characterised by an uncontrollable and intense craving for substances, even when faced with severe, harmful consequences, including significant health deterioration and serious social or legal problems.

You are not alone. Addiction is a complex brain disease, and recovery is possible with the right support and treatment.

Individuals with addiction cannot control their intense craving for their substance of choice, despite experiencing negative outcomes such as declining health and social or even legal issues. As the addiction deepens, it becomes increasingly challenging to treat, and the individual’s physical and mental health deteriorate further. Leading addiction researchers and scientists worldwide now affirm that addiction is a brain disease that causes tangible changes in both brain structure and brain function. Consistent drug use over time leads to these changes, which, regrettably, can persist even after an individual stops using drugs. This underscores the critical need for comprehensive long-term recovery resources, effective solutions, and ongoing support services to facilitate genuine wellness. Individuals struggling with addiction often lack the self-awareness to fully comprehend the severity of their dependence without external intervention that helps them to stop using, gain crucial awareness, and begin to recognise their need for professional help.

It’s also common for individuals with addiction to experience co-occurring mental health disorders. It’s often only after the initial detoxification phase that psychiatrists and the full multidisciplinary clinical team can accurately assess for any underlying behavioural addictions, co-occurring conditions (comorbidity), and begin to develop a comprehensive aftercare and support plan tailored to the individual’s specific needs.

This change of the brain from”normal” to “addict” or “alcoholic” will vary in time for each individual. Often, people addicted to alcohol or other drugs are seen as weak characters, intellectually deficient or just plain immoral. Stigma and stereotypes around addiction still abound. Contrary to stereotypes of weakness or immorality, dependence is often characterised by an uncontrollable craving for substances despite harmful consequences, including health deterioration and social or legal issues.

Addicts cannot control their craving for the substance to which they are addicted to despite the negative results like ill health and social or even legal issues.

The addiction worsens and becomes increasingly difficult to treat, and the individual’s health deteriorates. The world’s leading addiction support researchers & scientists now say that addiction is a brain disease which results in changes to brain structure and brain function. Frequent drug use over time causes these changes that, unfortunately, can persist after the addict has discontinued the use of drugs. That’s why long-term recovery resources, solutions and services need to be brought to bear to restore wellness. Addicts very rarely comprehend how bad their dependency has become without an external force helping them to stop using and grasp awareness, begin to identify and know that they need help.

Often addicts have co-occurring mental health disorders, and it’s only after the detoxification that the psychiatrists can begin to work with the full multi-disciplinary clinical team and assess for any behavioural addictions, co-morbidity and start planning for aftercare and support groups.

The Definition of Drug Addiction

One of the definitions of drug addiction is an uncontrollable and compulsive desire for drugs, including the search for and use of drugs despite all the negative health and social consequences. Once addicted, the vast majority of users cannot return to occasional use. Absolute abstinence seems to be the only way to recovery.

Dr Kathleen Brady, an expert on addiction, says that addiction does not develop overnight. “Generally, there’s a series of steps that individuals go through from experimentation and occasional use to the actual loss of control of use. And it really is that process that defines addiction,” she says.

Understanding Addiction shows how addiction is a treatable brain disorder and needs to be viewed in light of this. The public’s perceptions need to be re-educated not to regard addicts with little compassion as losers in society, but rather to support them in their process to recovery as people who need treatment, much like any other illness.

The “rock bottom” lie we tell ourselves

There is a fatal and deceptive notion that addicted individuals need to hit “rock bottom” before they are admitted into a facility for treatment. This means that an addicted person must have reached the end of their tether with regards to their addiction and that their consequences should be severe before they ‘qualify’ for help.

The falsehood is widespread and will continue to claim untold lives until you and I do all we can to change it.

Addiction is a brain disorder that changes the shape and workings of the brain. It is a chronic and primary illness. Treatment results are MUCH better with long-term treatment and ongoing monitoring. Leaving an individual addicted to either drugs or alcohol to continue self-destruction unchecked is both irresponsible, negligible and insane.

If we understand addiction as a brain disease, naturally, many patients present as unwilling to enter rehab centers or even think that they have a problem. Denial is commonplace and a hurdle that is overcome in treatment. It is vital that family, significant others, colleagues and friends understand that the sooner help is sought, the better.

Addiction Recovery Resources

Getting help for addiction is an entirely different experience for each and every person. Below are the different types of rehabilitation for substance abuse. We Do Recover can aid you or your loved one with any of the following problems and can suggest the right rehabilitation treatment and centre for the particular addiction at hand.

If you are ready to begin your process to recovery, contact us via email or call us.

Effective addiction help near me focuses on the whole person, combining medication, therapy and social support to address both psychological and physical needs. Importantly, external pressure from various sources can positively influence recovery, even if the addict initially lacks personal motivation. Relapse is a common part of the recovery process, often accompanied by emotional challenges and requires ongoing support rather than judgment. Recognising that different types of addiction treatment combine together therapeutically to deal with the brain disorder is key in shifting public perception, encouraging empathy and support for addicts as they navigate their path to recovery.