If you or a loved one are suffering from an opiate, benzodiazepine or alcohol addiction, know this one key fact: You are not alone!

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These drugs and alcohol, including pain medications (opiates) and anti-depressants (benzodiazepines) are the most addictive drugs, and they can cause dependence the first time a person uses them. Often, people judge addiction as a sign of weakness. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Addiction is not a personality flaw, it’s a chronic disease.

 

When someone becomes addicted to alcohol or drugs such as heroin, Oxycontin® or other drugs, the drug hijacks the brain’s chemical production. As a result, their brain stops making enough of the endorphins needed to feel happy and reduce pain. Detox removes these harmful chemicals, so endorphin levels can eventually return back to normal.

 

The misery you feel from trying to detox on your own is natural. It is very painful to do on your own, often times resulting in other medical issues. But it is the path toward the addiction-free life you deserve and is a very needed step to recovery.