Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Drug Addiction Treatment Program

Addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that causes drug-seeking behavior that seems compulsive or difficult to control. Even when someone experiences harmful consequences, their addiction doesn’t let them stop. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people. Still, repeated drug use causes changes in the brain that challenge someone’s self-control and eventually make it impossible for them to resist the urge to take drugs. Brain changes make addiction a “relapsing” disease, which places them at higher risk for returning to drug use even after not taking the substance. It’s prevalent for someone to relapse, but relapse doesn’t mean treatment was unsuccessful. As with other chronic conditions, drug addiction treatment is ongoing and needs adjustment as someone progresses through their recovery journey. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit each person’s changing needs.


At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our Florida drug rehab provides a comprehensive approach to drug addiction treatment that heals the mind, body, and soul. If you or someone you care about might benefit from a holistic drug addiction treatment program, reach out to our team by filling out our online contact form or calling 866-308-2090. For most people, the first step in recovery is identifying an addiction that requires help from a team of professionals.

Criteria for Diagnosis of a Drug Addiction

In essence, drug addiction is a substance use disorder. Like many other disorders, it follows a diagnosing criterion that falls into four categories, which are:

  • Impaired control
  • Social impairment
  • Risky use
  • Pharmacological criteria

Common Risk Factors for Drug Addiction

Anyone can become addicted to a substance, but some people have a higher likelihood of doing so. Some of the risk factors include:

  • Community risk factors like living in an area with high drug use rates
  • Minority status risks like discrimination and problems with assimilation
  • Family environment risks like having an unstable environment or parental abuse
  • Behavioral risks like having problems with stress, violence, and resisting authority 

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction

Addiction is an all-consuming disease that depletes people. Most people can recognize many physical, mental, and emotional signs of addiction. Understanding these symptoms can be the first step toward identifying addiction and helping someone who’s struggling with substance use disorders.

Mental Effects of Addiction

Drugs can affect how someone thinks, behaves, and feels. Common cognitive symptoms of addiction include:

  • Solitude
  • Fatigue
  • Sadness
  • Mood changes
  • Losing interest in things that were once enjoyable
  • Changes in energy levels

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction

Addiction is an all-consuming disease that depletes people. Most people can recognize many physical, mental, and emotional signs of addiction. Understanding these symptoms can be the first step toward identifying addiction and helping someone who’s struggling with substance use disorders.

Mental Effects of Addiction

Drugs can affect how someone thinks, behaves, and feels. Common cognitive symptoms of addiction include:

  • Solitude
  • Fatigue
  • Sadness
  • Mood changes
  • Losing interest in things that were once enjoyable
  • Changes in energy levels

Physical Effects of Addiction

Each drug causes its distinct physical symptoms. However, overall, drug abuse can be recognized by signs such as:

  • Dental problems
  • Visible track marks
  • Nasal irritation or nosebleeds
  • Poor hygiene
  • Noticeable pale or grayish complexion
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Dilated pupils

Social Effects of Addiction

Drug addiction also impacts people around the addict, usually family members and friends. Some signs to look for include:

  • Isolating from family and friends
  • Hanging out with a new social circle
  • Having interpersonal problems with family members and friends
  • Spending more time alone than usual
  • Getting in legal troubles more often

Types of Addictions

There are various reasons individuals turn to drugs and alcohol in their lives. Older adults are becoming addicted to prescription pills at alarming rates, young adults are using synthetic designer drugs and opiates, and overdoses are skyrocketing for all age groups. Drug and alcohol addiction is a dangerous and possibly deadly disease. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, we help you create a treatment program that best meets your needs.

Occasionally addiction co-occurs with mental health disorders that require a different type of treatment than straight forward drug addiction.

Alcohol

Addiction to alcohol is a medical disorder because, like any other drug, alcohol affects the brain’s chemistry. Alcohol can be a highly addictive substance, particularly when consumed in large amounts within a short period. Dependence is when someone cannot discontinue drinking without feeling withdrawal symptoms.

Ambien

Ambien is a prescription drug that supports people who have issues falling asleep. Taking the drug can help stabilize a person’s sleeping patterns, but it can also become addictive if depended on for too long of a period. Misuse of this medication can result in serious side effects, including Ambien addiction or overdose.

Amphetamines

Crystal meth is a common amphetamine abused across the country. It is typically smoked but can be snorted or injected. Continued use of meth destroys the brain’s dopamine and serotonin receptors, making it difficult for users to experience the same pleasure. Cognitive-behavioral intervention therapy is an effective treatment for amphetamine addiction.

Ativan

Ativan is a powerful anti-anxiety medicine that is part of a class of substances called benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepine drug addiction is a severe disorder that can be damaging without professional ativan addiction treatment. Medication like Ativan assists people with symptoms of short-term anxiety and is not intended for long-term use.

Cocaine

Cocaine is a highly addictive Schedule II drug with a high potential for abuse. There are three standard methods of cocaine use, which are snorting, injecting, or smoking the drug. Like other illicit drugs, cocaine can be fatal, even after the first use.

Dilaudid

Dilaudid is a prescription medication used to reduce moderate to severe pain caused by cancer and other medical conditions involving chronic pain. The generic name for Dilaudid is hydromorphone, a highly addictive substance.

Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a prescription opioid painkiller that is so potent that doctors use it for patients who have fatal cancer. It is available as a transdermal patch and in oral and injectable formulations.

Heroin

Heroin is one of the leading contributors to the opiate epidemic. Similar to many highly addictive drugs, is that heroin can be ingested in three ways, injecting, smoking, or snorting. The “high” from heroin will last a short amount of time, making the user need more of the substance.

Marijuana

Long-term use of marijuana can lead to physical and psychological dependence. The treatment for marijuana addiction is vast and effective, and cognitive-behavioral therapy and addiction counseling can be helpful.

Methadone

Methadone is a drug that is often used to ease the severity of drug withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process. Methadone assistances people addicted to other drugs experience a reduction in withdrawal symptoms.

Oxycontin

OxyContin is the prescription version of an opioid narcotic pain medicine called oxycodone. This opioid is used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Young adults and older adults alike struggle with OxyContin addiction.

Percocet

Pharmaceutical opiates are a severe threat to public health. Prescription drug addiction is fairly common. The associated risk of overdose, respiratory depression, and accidental death is as high as heroin.

Suboxone

Suboxone is used to treat opioid addiction. It is called a partial opioid agonist because it binds to the same brain receptors as opioids but is not an opioid itself. Suboxone strips are prescribed to treat opioid dependence.

Tramadol

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid pain reliever prescribed in pill or capsule form to manage moderate to severe pain. Patients have greater trust in Tramadol than other opioids, but this medication can be highly addictive.

Valium

Valium is a prescription medication that, taken in small doses, helps manage insomnia and anxiety symptoms. When used in combination with other drugs, severe effects can result. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms can last months.

Xanax

Xanax is a prescription drug that falls into the category of benzodiazepine. The medication is used to induce sleep, treat anxiety and panic disorders, and alleviate alcohol withdrawal. Prolonged use results in physical dependence.

Seek high-quality drug addiction treatment at lighthouse recovery institute

Our Lighthouse Recovery Institute team is ready to help you or someone you care about begin the road to recovery. Learn more about our Florida drug rehab from our friendly admission specialists today by completing our online form or calling 866-308-2090.
Scroll to Top