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Treating Addiction

A Life Free from Addiction Is Possible
Addiction is a chronic condition that can affect your body, mind, and emotions. Left untreated, it can impact your life, your family, and future generations. The good news is that treatment works. Break the cycle and take back your life today.
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Substance Use Disorders

Understanding Addiction's Many Forms

Addiction can appear as abuse, dependency, self-medication, functioning substance abuse, or a number of other forms. If you’ve never faced addiction, here’s what you should know: most people stuck in addiction wish they weren’t there. If quitting alone were possible, they’d do it. Typically, they’re in survival mode, going from one fix to the next, just trying to make it through each day.

It's Time To Shift Your Perspective

In the past, we used judgmental and unkind names for those fighting addiction: drunks, junkies, druggies, potheads, and burnouts. These labels are harsh and lack empathy, and they don’t reflect how people with alcohol or substance use disorders see themselves, or who they really are.

Most people struggling with addiction believe things like:

“I’m not one of them. Those names don’t apply to me – only other people.”

“I drink every day, but I’m fine. Just fine.”

“I have the pills under control – two at night after dinner to relax, and that’s it. I promise.”

“I only get drunk on weekends.”

“I just smoke weed to take the edge off.”

“I’m not as bad as that other person.”

If you’ve heard these from a loved one – or said them yourself – it might be time to consider that there’s an alcohol or substance use disorder at play. Getting help now can stop the situation from escalating into a crisis – or worse.

  • Substances We Treat

  • Symptoms of Addiction

    There are as many paths to addiction as there are people addicted. Every case is different, but there are signs and symptoms common to all cases of addiction which, when present, mean it’s time to take action.

    Physical Signs

    • Unexplained accidents or injuries
    • Shaking hands or other physical tremors
    • Neglect of appearance and hygiene
    • Sudden weight loss or gain
    • Slurred or agitated speech
    • Clammy palms
    • Red, watery eyes
    • Dilated pupils
    • Poor physical coordination
    • Unusual odors on breath, body, or clothes
    • Needle marks on arms, legs, or feet

    Behavioral Signs

    • Emotional instability
    • Significant personality changes
    • Decline in work or academic performance
    • Increased anger, resentment, and sensitivity
    • Decreased ability to focus
    • Failure to keep commitments
    • Apathy
    • Stealing
    • Lying
    • Loss of interest in lifelong hobbies or passions
    • Secretive activity/hiding things
  • Interactive Drug Guide

    Our Interactive Drug Guide is a way for those struggling with addiction, or their loved ones, to learn more about different types of drugs. We have compiled important information on each drug type including:

    • Drug Background
    • Types
    • Side Effects
    • Withdrawal Symptoms
    • Overdose Symptoms
    • Signs of Addiction
    • How to Help a Loved One
    • Treatment Options

    Education can be a great foundation for change. The more we learn, the more able we are to help ourselves and our loved ones in the most effective way. Visit our comprehensive Drug Categories and Classification Guide to learn more.

  • Treatment for Addiction

    It bears repeating: addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition. Other chronic, relapsing diseases include cancer, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, arthritis, COPD, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease – to name just a few.

    The days of treating people struggling with an alcohol and/or substance use disorder as if their condition is the result of poor decisions, a character flaw, or a simple lack of willpower are behind us.

    We don’t punish, insult, or degrade people with cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. We treat them with the latest medications and evidence-based techniques.

    When they make positive progress, we share their joy. When their condition returns, we don’t blame them: we look at their treatment, lifestyle, and any other contributing factors to find out why the condition returned. Then we adjust the treatment, support them to the best of our abilities, and help them find hope for a healthy future.

    The same should be true for people working to overcome addiction: we should treat them, support them, work to understand them, and do everything we can to help them.

    If one treatment approach is unsuccessful, it doesn’t mean another approach will be too. If you relapse – which is common with a chronic disease – our job is to find out why. Then we do everything we can to help you return to a state of health.

    At Pinnacle, our goal is treating the whole person. Your success is our success.