Drug and Alcohol Rehab Harpenden

Living with drug and alcohol addiction is an extremely tough experience. It takes its toll on not only the person suffering first-hand but also those around them.

Often addiction to drugs or alcohol will eventually need professional support to overcome as the effects can destroy lives and even be fatal.

Negative impacts of drug and alcohol addiction can come in many forms. Some people suffering from addiction may become mentally or physically unwell, some may lose jobs, homes and even have their relationships suffer, some end up in severe debt and struggle financially.

Addiction is a disease that progressively gets worse and may end up in some or all of the negative impacts mentioned, that is if it remains untreated.

 

How Addiction Takes Hold

Addiction should be treated like any other illness, with professional support and recovery time. Unfortunately, there is sometimes still a stigma around addiction which can make things more difficult when deciding whether or not to get help.

The key to ending the stigma around addiction is education. When you are educated about your addiction and those around you are also educated, this leads to a better understanding and you are more likely to receive the full help and support that you need to recover.

It is important to remember that addiction is a very real illness just like any other, if you had a broken leg you wouldn’t be expected to run on it. Addiction works in a similar way as it is not only a mental health issue but also a physical issue.

When you use a substance such as alcohol or drugs, your brain sends you positive endorphins to your brain and rewards you with a good feeling. Of course, you will like this feeling, so will your brain.

So you will use it again and again, but each time you use it takes longer to get those endorphins going, so you may use a higher quantity or potency of the substance.

Every time you use it takes longer to get those positive feelings and you will spend a long time chasing a feeling your body refuses to give you, your brain will eventually create a hunger for this substance, giving you an insatiable appetite for the substance you are using.

Your body will begin to get used to the substance and use it to function daily, it will use it for energy and other things in your body to keep you functioning, however, the chaos it is doing to your body is terrible.

 

The Negative Long Term Effects of Alcohol and Drugs

Alcohol and drugs wreak havoc on your body and mind, here are just some of the negative, long term effects of alcohol and drugs that can affect your mental health.

• Anxiety 
• Paranoia
• Depression 
• Memory loss
• Psychosis
• Dementia

There are also a variety of physical long term effects of alcohol listed below.

• Heart attacks
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Pancreatitis
• Breast cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Mouth cancer
• Liver cancer
• Liver disease
• Liver failure

Over time, drugs and especially alcohol will have a detrimental impact on both your mental and physical health. Your brain, liver, heart pancreas and all other organs will surely be affected and can be destroyed by alcohol or lead to fatal diseases.

When binging on alcohol your liver is the organ that filters the toxins from the alcohol out of your system, however, when you drink too much alcohol, the liver isn’t able to perform as well and cannot keep up, this leads to hangovers and eventually alcohol poisoning.

When abusing alcohol or drugs your immune system is compromised, this results in you being more susceptible to infection and serious diseases and illnesses. Substance abuse can also lead to accidents and injuries resulting from lack of coordination, inhibitions and risk-taking while under the influence.

 

Getting the Help and Support You Need

When suffering from addiction it is important to remember that you are not in this alone. There are many people out there going through the same thing and every day those people are getting better with support from professionals.

You can get better too. You must know that recovery is not something to be taken lightly, it is very serious and demands your full compliance to get better. You must really want to get better to overcome your addiction.

You may be wondering how you even begin to get the help you need, it is important that you do not attempt to detox and begin recovery without help from professionals as this can lead to mental and physical issues moving forward.

The best place to receive full treatment is through rehab. During a stay in rehab, you will be fully assessed and helped through your detoxing phase. You will attend group therapies and have 1-2-1 talk therapy with a professional. Overall rehab is the best place for you to begin your recovery journey.

 

Finding A Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centre in Harpenden

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you may be interested in finding out more about attending a drug and alcohol rehab centre for recovery. If that is the case, you should think about getting in touch with us today. Do not delay your contact as this will only delay your recovery.

Our team of friendly and helpful staff are here ready to answer your call. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the admissions process, what life in a rehab is life, and any other questions you may want to ask before attending rehab.

If you are happy to go ahead with a rehab treatment, we will help you every step of the way so that the entire process is as easy and comfortable as possible for you.

Are you ready to go back to a happy and healthy lifestyle that is not dependant on drugs or alcohol? If so, what are you waiting for? Give us a call today and start your recovery process now.