Let’s Talk About Addiction

Let’s talk about addiction.  How do you describe a person with addiction?  A description for the typical person with addiction, that’s easy.  They are usually between the ages of 12 to 90.  They are generally male or female.  They typically live in large cities or rural areas, or somewhere in between.  There socioeconomic status can vary from highly educated and wealthy to those lacking both education and wealth. They can have any race or ethnicity. They can have supportive families or no family ties at all. They come from all religious backgrounds or they may have no religion at all.  In other words, within any variable that describes people, you will find individuals with addiction.

Addiction doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all definition, everything about it varies.  Some people become addicted very quickly, and for others, the addiction is a slower process with substance use slowly crossing the line to substance abuse and then full-blown addiction.

The substance of the addiction can vary too with caffeine and nicotine being the most common and probably still the most socially accepted, followed by alcohol, marijuana, and the whole arsenal of opioids, benzodiazepines, and other prescription medications and going on to a variety of constantly changing drugs du jour.

Psychology Today defines addiction as follows:

Addiction is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance or in a behavior for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeatedly pursue the behavior despite detrimental consequences. Addiction may involve the use of substances such as alcohol, inhalants, opioids, cocaine, nicotine, and others, or behaviors such as gambling.

Now let’s talk about those consequences of addiction.

Addiction typically begins to take away the things in life that people value most.  It tarnishes their self-respect, grinds away at their physical and mental health, destroys their relationships, and depletes their finances.  The fortunate ones get treatment before everything they care about is gone.

Finally, let’s talk about addiction treatment.

Treatment options are as varied as the type of things that people abuse.  Finding the right treatment option can be the difference between successful and unsuccessful outcomes from treatment. Treatment options can include pharmaceutical interventions that require ongoing and medically supervised use of another substance.  Some people simply go to 12-step meetings that are peer-run and voluntary with no professional intervention at all.  Some people choose outpatient programs while others choose residential programs.

Finding the right program takes time and effort to compare what each program offers, and which is the best fit for the individual.  Remember that the easiest is not always the best.  It takes time to develop an addiction, and it takes time to recover from addiction.

As you compare programs, Gulf Breeze Recovery invites you to compare what we offer to other programs you are considering.  At Gulf Breeze Recovery we are constantly working to improve our program with the most cutting-edge research-based treatment modalities for the best possible outcomes.

Gulf Breeze Recovery is a non-12-step, holistic treatment program that treats the whole person, not just the addiction.

With a well-trained and qualified staff of medical, clinical and support staff, expert care begins with medically supervised detoxification if needed, and continues with one-on-one counseling, professionally led group sessions, spa treatment, neurofeedback, meditation, exercise, nutrition and specialized care for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), if needed.

Gulf Breeze Recovery offers a nurturing environment in a beautiful setting where each guest is treated with dignity and respect.  We strive to offer the best and most comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse treatment options in the country, with plans of treatment tailored to fit individual needs.

If you or someone you care about, has an ongoing history of alcohol or substance use and/or relapse(s), contact Gulf Breeze Recovery or call: 833.551.2356 to speak to an addiction expert to learn more about their residential program, out-patient program, and intensive out-patient program, and which of these can best fit your individual needs.  Our programs help people overcome addiction and embrace a new happy, healthy, substance-free lifestyle.

We help people not just to survive, but to THRIVE!