Side Effects of Addiction

Each alcohol or drug can and does have its own set of side effects; however there are some side effects that are common to any form of addiction. These can be classed under the broad categories of cravings, guilt and depression. Cravings are the intense feeling of physical or emotion need for more drugs or alcohol. Guilt and depression are the inevitable side effects of all the things the individual has done to hurt or harm himself, his family and loved one, friends, associates, and others in general. These feelings along with cravings make it very difficult for the individual to stay away from drugs or alcohol. As he or she has a very hard time confronting the reality of the harm created, the drugs appear to be the only solution to remove the physical and emotional pain. It is a deadly trap as the drugs are the main contributor to these feelings.

Attempting to detoxify self from Morphine can be extremely dangerous. Morphine addiction withdrawal can cause physical and emotional trauma including stroke, heart attack, and even death. To ease the pain from withdrawal from Morphine addiction Methadone is often used. The substitute use of methadone typically results in an addiction to methadone, and continued Morphine use with out detoxification from either substance. Inpatient withdrawal without the use of additional drugs or medications offers the most workable scenario for beating a morphine addiction and allowing for a drug free lifestyle with out the dangers and side effects of continual substitute drug use.

True and lasting drug addiction recoveries involves handling the three factors that lead up to and then continue addiction. These three factors are 1. The cravings, mental and physical for the drugs and/or alcohol; 2. The guilt that comes from the lifestyle of addiction and the things done to loved ones that haunt us; and 3. The depression that comes from reduced health, lack of self-control, broken lives and relationships, as well as financial and criminal burdens. Unless these three factors are fully addressed and fully resolved there is little chance of lasting drug addiction recovery. There really are only three options when it comes to drug or alcohol addiction – jail, death, or sobriety. Narconon can return you or your loved one to a drug free productive life of sobriety.

Prescription drug addictions are on the rise, not only as primary substances of abuse but also as secondary substances of abuse. At Narconon Arrowhead statistics show significant numbers of program participants involved in multiple prescription drug abuse along with any other reported drug addiction or alcoholism. This is no small problem when one takes into account the severe debilitating effects occurring on both the mental and physical levels from the abuse of these ‘medications’. Couple this with severe and often deadly side effects from mixing these substances and the clear rise in violence and suicide that can accompany withdrawal and ones sees a whole new level of treatment needed in handling today’s addictions.

In the Encarta dictionary recovery is defined as ‘the return of something to a normal or improved state after a setback or loss’ and ‘the regaining of something lost or taken away’. When speaking of drug addiction recovery what exactly are we recovering, regaining or returning? How about physical health and the natural balance of the body to begin with? Follow this with the return and improvement of extroversion to the individual, accompanied by a renewed zest and vigor for life minus the cravings, guilt, and depression that so often accompany addiction. Drug addiction recovery should also mean recovery for relationships with loved ones of the addict as well. Narconon Arrowhead uses a drug addiction recovery program that not only ends drug use but returns the individual home in not just a normal state, but actually a vastly improved state. This is not our opinion but is proven out by the addicts own statements as well as statements from the loved ones. Drug addiction recovery does not mean tolerable existence but actually an improved drug free productive life!