What is Addiction?

Substance use disorder, or drug addiction, is a brain disease that affects a person's ability to control legal or illegal drugs or medications despite harmful consequences. 

These disorders are often tied to other mental health disorders, and they can make daily activities difficult, or impair a person’s ability to work or interact with family.

Symptoms include sudden changes in behavior, withdrawal from friends and family, engaging in risky behaviors, trouble concentrating, and confused thinking. 

People can develop an addiction to:

• Alcohol

• Marijuana

• Opioids

• Cocaine & Amphetamines

• Benzodiazepines

• Hallucinogens

Treatment is behavioral counseling, treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, and medication. Because addiction is a chronic disease, most people will need long-term care to prevent relapse.