Habit vs Addiction: Understanding the Difference

A split-image composition with two halves. On one side, a person engaging in a healthy habit, such as exercising, reading, or practicing a hobby. This side is shown with bright colors, positive imagery, and a sense of balance. On the other side, a person struggling with addiction, with visual cues like empty pill bottles, a tangled web of substances, or a person in distress. This side uses darker tones and more chaotic elements to convey the negative impact of addiction. In the middle, the two sides are blended with a gradient or a visual representation of the fine line between habit and addiction. Symbols like a scale, a blurred boundary, or a spectrum are used to illustrate the nuanced difference between the two concepts.

Ever wonder why you can’t stop checking your phone or find yourself mindlessly snacking when you’re not even hungry? The line between habit and addiction can be blurry, but understanding the difference is crucial to gaining control over your behavior.

Habits and addictions are shaped by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Here are some key data and statistics:

  • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 130 people die every day in the United States from drug overdoses. Drug addiction affects millions of Americans across all demographics.
  • Research has found that people who are genetically predisposed to seeking out novel experiences and sensations are at higher risk for developing addictions. However, genes are not destiny, and the environment plays a large role.
  • Habits are formed through neural pathways in the brain that strengthen with repetition. It takes an average of 66 days for a new habit to form, but habits can be broken with focused effort and replacement with new routines.
  • Addictions involve changes in the brain’s reward system that go beyond habitual behaviors. Addicted individuals often experience intense cravings and a loss of control over their behaviors.
  • About 9% of Americans over age 12, struggle with a substance use disorder, while only 0.2% to 0.3% have a gambling disorder, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. However, many people exhibit addictive behaviors related to things like social media, video games, sex, food, and more.

In this article, we’ll explore habits and addictions in depth to help you determine if you’re exhibiting a harmless habit or need to make a change due to an addiction.

Get ready to learn all about the psychology and science behind what drives your daily actions, pick up useful strategies for building better habits, and find the motivation and tools you need to overcome addictive tendencies for good. Whether you’re simply curious or seriously concerned about yourself or someone you care about, this guide will provide the answers and advice you’ve been looking for.

Defining Habit vs Addiction

A habit is a routine behavior that becomes automatic over time, while an addiction is a compulsive behavior that is difficult to control. Although habits and addictions share some similarities, there are a few key differences to understand.

Habit and Addiction
Habit and Addiction

1. Loss of Control

The main distinction between a habit and an addiction is loss of control. With a habit, you remain in control of your actions and can choose to stop the behavior if needed. An addiction, on the other hand, involves a craving that becomes uncontrollable, often continuing the behavior even when there are negative consequences.

2. Impact on Daily Life

Another sign of addiction is if the behavior begins to interfere with work or relationships. Habits typically do not cause issues with day-to-day functioning, whereas an addiction can become the main focus of someone’s life and compromise responsibilities.

3. Difficulty Quitting

It is relatively easy to break a habit through conscious effort and willpower. An addiction is much harder to quit, often requiring professional help or a customized treatment program. The urge to relapse into addictive behaviors tends to be very strong.

4. Underlying Cause

Habits develop from repetition and reinforcement over time, serving a utilitarian purpose. Addictions tend to be linked to an underlying issue, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or low self-esteem. The addictive behavior acts as an escape or way to cope with negative emotions or or events.

The good news is there are strategies for overcoming addictions and replacing unhealthy habits with positive ones. Understanding the difference is the first step toward making lasting changes and living a balanced life. With support, commitment, recover from addiction. and the right resources, people can and do recover from addiction. 

The Psychology Behind Habit Formation

Habits form gradually, through a process of reinforcement and reward. As we repeat behavior and experience positive outcomes, neurological pathways in our brain strengthen, making that behavior automatic.

Once a habit forms, we can do it without having to think about it consciously. Our habits shape a huge portion of our daily lives, from how we wake up in the morning to what we choose to eat. While good habits can benefit us, bad habits and addictions negatively impact our health, relationships, and quality of life.

The psychology of habit formation involves several key factors:

  • Cue: A trigger that prompts the habit to start, like a time of day, emotional state, or place. The cue signals your brain to go into “autopilot” and perform the habitual behavior.
  • Routine: The actual habit or sequence of behaviors. This can be physical, mental, or emotional. The routine is the most important part of the habit loop.
  • Reward: The benefit you gain from the habit. This could be physical (like a cigarette), emotional (like comfort from a daily routine), or mental (like satisfaction from checking email). The reward further reinforces the habit loop.
  • Craving: The desire and anticipation of the reward. Cravings drive habits and make them hard to break. They activate the reward centers in our brain, even before we engage in habitual behavior

Understanding how habits form is the first step to gaining control over them. By Identifying the cues and rewards that drive your habits, you can work to build healthy new routines and overcome unhealthy addictions. With practice and persistence, you can rewire your habits and transform your life for the better.

How Addictions Hijack the Brain’s Reward System

Addictive substances hijack your brain’s reward system, flooding it with dopamine and tricking it into craving the substance. Your brain remembers the rush of dopamine and associates it with the addictive drug, cementing the addiction.

Addictive drugs release dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, in the brain’s reward pathway, the nucleus accumbens. Normally, the reward pathway releases dopamine in response to natural rewards like food, sex, and social interaction. Addictive drugs, however, can release up to 10 times more dopamine than natural rewards.

This flood of dopamine feels highly pleasurable and rewarding. Your brain remembers this dopamine surge and associates it with the addictive substance, essentially rewiring itself. The brain now links the drug with survival by remembering the dopamine rush. This fuels craving and compulsive drug-seeking behavior.

The brain’s prefrontal cortex, responsible for self-control and judgment, is weakened. The amygdala, involved in emotional regulation and stress, is strengthened. This Imbalance makes it much harder to quit using the substance. The brain has adapted to expect the drug.

Addictive drugs have a crucial addictive-drug-sensitive component in the brain’s reward circuitry. They activate a specific receptor, the dopamine D2 receptor, that is critical for addictive behavior.  Blocking this receptor can help overcome addiction.

To overcome addiction, the brain must relearn natural rewards by re-strengthening connections between neurons. This difficult process takes time and conscious effort through lifestyle changes, counseling, medication, and support groups. Understanding how addiction affects your brain can help motivate you or a loved one to commit to recovery and build new neural pathways of health and wellness.

Identifying Unhealthy Habits vs Harmful Addictions

The difference between an unhealthy habit and a harmful addiction can be subtle. Here are some ways to determine if a behavior has crossed the line into addiction.

1. Loss of Control

With an addiction, you feel unable to stop or limit the behavior, even if you want to. You may make repeated attempts to quit or cut back, but ultimately fail. An unhealthy habit is something you can choose to stop, even if it’s difficult. You’re still in control.

2. Consequences Don’t Matter

When addicted, you continue the behavior even when it causes significant problems in your life. Addiction becomes more important than relationships, health, work, or financial stability. Unhealthy habits may have minor consequences, but you can weigh the pros and cons and make adjustments.

3. Physical Dependence

Addictions often involve physical dependence, meaning you need the substance or behavior to function normally. Quitting abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Habits typically do not cause withdrawal symptoms or the inability to feel normal without them.

4. Time Spent

Addictions occupy an increasingly large amount of your time and mental space. You may spend hours engaged in the behavior each day, constantly thinking about it or planning how to do it next. Unhealthy habits do not take over your schedule or dominate your thinking. You can still enjoy and focus on other life activities.

5. Secrecy

Addictions are often kept hidden from others due to feelings of guilt or shame. You may lie to cover up the depth of your addiction. Unhealthy habits, while problematic, are usually not kept a secret or a source of strong shame. You remain open about the behavior with close ones.

The path to overcoming addiction starts with recognizing the problem. Be honest with yourself about whether a behavior has become an addiction, then seek help from medical professionals. Building awareness and a strong support system are the first steps to recovery. There are always alternatives to unhealthy habits and addiction. You have the power to create positive change.

Warning Signs You May Have Crossed From Habit to Addiction

If your habit has crossed into addiction, several warning signs may become apparent. Addiction means you feel unable to stop the behavior, even when you want to or know you should. Some key signs you may have an addiction include:

1. Loss of Control

You find yourself unable to stop indulging in the habit when you intend to. For example, you plan to have just one drink but end up drinking excessively. You feel a compulsion to continue the behavior that overrides your self-control.

2. Continuing Despite Consequences

You continue the behavior even though it causes problems in your relationships, health issues, financial troubles, or other negative impacts. Yet you feel unable to quit or cut back.

3. Cravings and Preoccupation

You experience intense urges and cravings for the habit or substance. When you’re unable to engage in it, you feel restless, irritable, and discontent. The habit occupies your thoughts constantly.

4. Hiding or Lying About the Behavior

You hide the extent of your habit from others or lie about it to avoid judgment or Intervention. This secrecy and deception is a sign the habit has become unhealthy.

5. Increased Tolerance

Over time, you need more of the substance or habit to get the same effect. For example, one drink used to give you a buzz, but now it takes three or four. This tolerance indicates your body and mind have adapted to the behavior in an unhealthy way.

6. Withdrawal Symptoms

When you stop or cut back, you experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms like nausea, shaking, mood swings, and cravings. Withdrawal shows your body has become dependent on the habit or substance.

If several of these signs resonate with you, your habit may have progressed into addiction. The good news is there are many resources to help you overcome addiction and build healthier habits. Speaking with a medical professional is often the first step.

Building Healthy Habits: Tips and Strategies

Building healthy habits and overcoming addictions is challenging, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can succeed. Start by focusing on small changes and track your progress to stay motivated.

1. Start small and build up gradually

Don’t try to overhaul your life overnight. Pick one habit to focus on, like going for a 15-minute walk 3 times a week or drinking an extra glass of water each day. Once that habit sticks, build on your success by adding another small change. Taking incremental steps will make the process feel more achievable and help you stay consistent.

2. Find your motivation and reward yourself

Identify why you want to build this habit or break an addiction. Do it for your health, relationships, finances, or productivity. Remind yourself of your motivation regularly to maintain your determination. Also, give yourself rewards along the way to stay on track, whether it’s a nice meal out or an evening of watching your favorite show.

3. Track your progress and be accountable

Use a habit tracker, calendar, or journal to record your progress. Note how often you do your new habit or avoid addictive behavior. Seeing your progress in black and white will keep you accountable and motivated to continue improving. Tell a friend or family member about your goal so they can check in on your progress too.

4. Learn from your mistakes and try again

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Everyone falls off the wagon sometimes. The key is to not give up completely. Acknowledge what went wrong and get back to your routine the next day. You may need to revisit your motivation or modify your approach. The more you practice, the easier it will get. Success is a journey, not a one-time achievement. Stay determined and never stop trying.

With practice and perseverance, you can retrain your habits and overcome addictions. Stay focused on your motivation, start small, track your progress, learn from mistakes, and keep trying. You’ve got this! Make each day a chance to build on your success and become your best self.

Overcoming Addiction: Treatment and Recovery Options

Once you’ve identified an addiction, the path to overcoming it typically involves treatment and a long-term recovery process. There are many options available for addiction treatment, including:

1. Inpatient Rehabilitation

Residential rehab facilities provide 24-hour care and support. Patients stay on-site while receiving intensive treatment through counseling, therapy, and medication (if needed). Inpatient rehab allows you to focus fully on your recovery in a controlled environment.

2. Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient programs provide care and treatment while allowing you to live at home.

Options include Individual or group counseling and therapy. Meet with a counselor or therapist on your own or join a support group.

Partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment. Receive treatment during the day but return home at night. Useful for those transitioning from inpatient rehab to independent living.

Medication and medical care. Work with doctors or psychiatrists to manage withdrawal symptoms and health issues related to your addiction.

3. Recovery Support Groups

Groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) offer ongoing support through the challenges of sobriety and addiction recovery. Connecting with others struggling with similar issues can help provide motivation and accountability. Support groups are free to join and available in most communities.

The recovery process often lasts a lifetime. Making long-term lifestyle changes and learning coping strategies to avoid relapse are key. It may take trying different options to find what works for you. Don’t get discouraged if you relapse-just get back to your treatment plan and focus on your motivation for becoming and staying sober. With time and dedication, you can overcome your addiction and maintain a healthy life free from substance abuse.

Creating a Supportive Environment for Change

Creating a supportive environment is key to making positive changes in your life, whether it’s developing a new habit or overcoming an addiction. The people around you and the places you frequent can have a huge impact on your success.

Surround yourself with a strong support system of people cheering you on. Let close friends and family know about your goal so they can encourage your efforts and check in on your progress. Consider joining an online community or local group with similar goals. Having accountability partners and a team of like-minded individuals will make the journey much easier.

Similarly, spend less time in environments that enable unhealthy behaviors and more time in those that promote the changes you want to make. If certain friends or locations trigger cravings or temptations, avoid them when possible. Out of sight, out of mind.

Your environment also includes the online spaces you inhabit. Follow social media accounts and subscribe to websites that provide motivation and helpful information related to your goal. Mute or unfollow anything that glorifies addictive tendencies or distracts from what you’re trying to achieve.

Every small change you make to build a supportive environment will help ensure your success in developing better habits and freeing yourself from addiction. Surround yourself with positivity, seek out accountability, and limit exposure to triggers and temptations. With the right mindset and environment, you’ll be well on your way to lasting change.

Habit vs Addiction FAQs: Your Top Questions Answered

1. What’s the difference between a habit and an addiction?

A habit is a behavior that you repeat regularly, often without thinking about it. Habits are generally harmless or even helpful. An addiction, on the other hand, is a compulsive behavior that you have little control over. Addictions negatively impact your life and health.

2. How do I know if I have an addiction?

Some signs of addiction include:

  • Losing control over the behavior. You can’t stop even if you want to
  • Continuing the behavior even when it causes problems.
  • Craving the behavior or feeling restless or irritable without it.
  • Finding that you need to increase the behavior to get the same effect. This is known as tolerance.
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop. This could include anxiety, sweating, shaking, etc.
  • Spending a lot of time engaging in the behavior or recovering from its effects.
  • Giving up important activities because of the behavior.
  • Continuing the behavior even when it puts you in danger.
  • Lying to others to hide the extent of your behavior.
  • Feeling unable to limit how much you do something.
  • Needing the behavior to relieve bad feelings like stress, anxiety, or depression.

3. How do I build healthy habits and break addictions?

The keys to building good habits and overcoming addictions are:

  • Awareness. Pay close attention to your triggers and behaviors. Monitor how often and why you engage in them.
  • Accountability. Tell a friend or loved one about your goal and ask them to check in on your progress. Consider working with a therapist or support group.
  • Replace the behavior. Find an alternative behavior to do instead of the habit or addiction. Keep your hands and mind busy.
  • Reward yourself. Give yourself reinforcement and incentives for your accomplishments and milestones. Celebrate small wins along the way.
  • Make a plan. Decide how you will avoid triggers and temptations ahead of time. Have strategies in place for cravings and slips. Planning and preparation are key.
  • Take it day by day. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the big picture. Focus on the current day and the behaviors you want to change right now. You’ve got this! One day at a time.
  • Get support. Connecting to others who share your struggles can help keep you accountable and motivated. Find online communities or local support groups.
  • Be patient and compassionate. Significant change takes time. Avoid harsh self-judgment if you slip up. Learn from your mistakes and get back to your goal. You deserve to lead a happy, healthy life free from addiction.

Conclusion

Now you have a deeper understanding of the critical differences between habits and addictions. Remember that habits are healthy behaviors that you are in control of and can modify as needed to suit your needs and goals. Addictions, on the other hand, are compulsive behaviors that are out of your control and negatively impact your life.

The good news is you have the power to build positive habits and overcome addictive tendencies. Start small by choosing one habit or addiction to focus on, set a concrete and realistic goal, and track your progress. Celebrate your wins, learn from your slip-ups, and stay committed to continuous self-improvement. You’ve got this! With knowledge and determination, you can achieve a balanced and fulfilling life free from addiction. The journey may not always be easy, but it will be worth it. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to be the healthiest and happiest person you can be. Now go out there and make it happen!

How much can we blame our genes for addictive behavior?

The Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr., star of countless films including Chaplin, the Iron Man series, Tropic Thunder and Zodiac, started making movies when he was just five years old. He’s also famous for his descent into drug addiction, which he says started even earlier than age five.

Downey has told a number of interviewers that he believes he has an addictive personality, and that he may have passed that personality on to his son, Indio, who recently pled guilty to felony cocaine possession and entered a rehabilitation program. Meanwhile, Downey (the elder) has talked about how his own father introduced him to drugs.

Downey’s stories beg critical questions about how humans handle drugs and addiction:

  • Is addiction inherited, and genetic?

  • Is addiction more a cultural and environmental phenomenon?

  • Is there such a thing as an addictive personality?

Drug rehabilitation, medical and psychological treatments and even the criminal justice system depend heavily on the right answers to those questions.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (one of the National Institutes of Health), illegal drug abuse costs the United States more than $181 billion each year “in health care, productivity loss, crime, incarceration and drug enforcement.” And these costs are based on an assumption that drug addiction, as NIDA puts it, “is a chronic, relapsing brain disease.”

But that doesn’t necessarily make it genetic. Nor does a pattern of heritability for, say, alcoholism, make that disorder entirely genetic. Researchers are looking at addiction as a complex interaction of genes, metabolism, environment and behavior. This has come a long way from the early 20th century, when addiction was seen more as a morality problem, or even since the 1980s, when we witnessed the primitive eggs-on-a-frying pan “this is your brain on drugs” advertisements. Researchers have largely abandoned the search for an overarching addictive personality, in which a person shows an archetypal vulnerability for any addiction, be it cigarettes, alcohol, heroin, or gambling.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, contact us today by calling 732-702-2242.

Case for genes

Of all the people who try alcohol or illegal drugs, only 10 to 20 percent get addicted. No single gene has ever been isolated for people who get hooked on alcohol, drugs or other substances. But a number of studies show that genetics does play some significant role:

  • Identical twin studies have shown a fairly strong concordance (sharing a behavior and genetic trait), but even these show some variability. For example, a Medical College of Virginia twin study on cocaine use showed a 54 concordance rate for identical twins versus 42 percent for fraternal twins, but for cocaine abuse showed a 47 percent concordance for identical twins and only eight percent for fraternal twins.

  • Other studies showed some differences depending on type of substance. A Washington University, St. Louis, review showed that 33 to 71 percent of the variation in nicotine addiction was inherited, while 48 to 66 percent of variation in alcohol addiction was inherited, and 49 percent of variation in gambling addiction was inherited.

  • A search for genes has uncovered a number of genetic clusters that affect behavior and mood, and could be connected with addiction. Genes on no fewer than eight chromosomes have been tagged for some role in chemical dependence.

Related article:  Plant-based meat industry start-up Daring targeting chicken-free ‘chicken’, the world’s favorite protein

Case for the environment

Also taking a step away from the early focus on moral fiber, behavioral scientists have been examining external factors that could lead to addiction:

  • Twin studies, this time looking at identical twins who did not have the exact same upbringing, showed that the twin who had experienced childhood sexual abuse did show a strong tendency toward substance abuse, while the twin who did not have these experiences did not share this addiction.

  • Some researchers have pointed to social structures as a key factor in addiction. Monkey studies have shown that those who were dominated by other monkeys are more likely to take cocaine than more socially powerful monkeys. Others have looked at poverty, and living on the fringes of society as something that prods addiction.

  • Certain behavioral disorders, like anxiety or impulsive behavior, have been suspected of driving addiction. Feeling anxious can fuel the need to consume drugs that alleviate these feelings and other social fears, while teenagers may become addicted because they can’t yet control their emotions effectively.

     

Case for nature and nurture

  • Many alcohol abuse studies have focused on the gene ALDH2, which controls the conversion of acetaldehyde, a rather toxic metabolite of alcohol. Some variants of ALDH2 don’t convert acetaldehyde into acetate very well, particularly in Asian populations. While some studies show that people with this version of ALDH2 were far less likely to get addicted to alcohol, the heavy-drinking business culture that developed in Japan and other Asian nations in the 1980s and 1990s forced businessmen (mostly men) to drink anyway.

  • While addicts may behave as if they have a disease state (compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences), and addiction does change how certain neurotransmitters like dopamine are metabolized, they also can completely recover on their own, at rates up to 80 percent.

  • Epigenetic changes, as we’ve written about in the Genetic Literacy Project, have been shown to also affect who becomes an addict and why. Excessive cocaine and alcohol use can determine how genes that protect against addiction are regulated, while increases in dopamine receptor numbers (and activity) can help prevent addiction.

Was Robert Downey Jr. right?

Recently, a NIDA director estimated that the genetic risk of addiction averages about 50 percent. So, Downey may have passed on a tendency for substance abuse to his son, but it may have just as much been the same way he was influenced by his father as it was through his own DNA.

  1. How much can we blame our genes for addictive behavior?

What is Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a prescription opioid used to treat opiate addiction, and prescribed under its brand name, Subutex or Suboxone, among others. This drug is an opioid partial antagonist, meaning that it produces an effect similar to narcotic opioids without getting the user high. Buprenorphine essentially tricks the brain into thinking that addictive chemical substances like heroin are being introduced into the bloodstream; it does this by binding to certain receptors within the brain. Some might take excessive amounts of buprenorphine in attempts to get high – this will not work for several reasons. The reasons are as follows:

  • Buprenorphine has a much lower potential for abuse than addictive chemical substances like heroin and prescription painkillers.

  • This prescription medication affects the way opiates interact with the brain and body by putting a ceiling on the effects of opiates. This means that no matter how much of an addictive substance an individual takes while on buprenorphine, he or she will not experience a high past a certain point.

  • It is much harder to become physically dependent on buprenorphine, and those who take this medication in excessive amounts will not experience the side effects they would experience when taking an addictive opiate like heroin, such as euphoria or central nervous system repression.

  • Those who take this medication will experience less intense symptoms of withdrawal upon ceased use.

When taken as prescribed, buprenorphine will result in the following:

  • Reduced withdrawal symptoms, including physical symptoms like muscle cramping, stomach issues, profuse sweating, and sleep-related issues such as insomnia.

  • Decreased opiate cravings. When an individual is undergoing heroin withdrawal, buprenorphine may be used to prevent relapse that would otherwise result from unmanageable and intense psychological cravings.

  • A reduced propensity for illicit opiate abuse, usually based on a reduction of cravings.

  • Increased propensity to stay engaged and active in addiction treatment.

Taking Opiates While on Buprenorphine

Some individuals may attempt to take opiates like heroin or prescription painkillers while they are actively taking buprenorphine or a similar opioid antagonist. They may do so thinking that the prescription medication will enhance the effects of the opiate they are ingesting. The drug is taken sublingually (meaning it is placed under the tongue and dissolved), so an individual may assume that taking another opiate via a different method of consumption (such as intravenous injection) will lead to a more intense high.

This is not true – as previously mentioned, buprenorphine reduces the effects of other opiates. If the two are taken in conjunction, an overdose is possible, seeing as the individual will take the addictive opiate and greater amounts in an attempt to combat the lack of a high. It is extremely dangerous to take this medication other than as prescribed or to take it in conjunction with an opioid narcotic.

What is tramadol?

Potent and Fast-Acting

Tramadol is considered a fast-acting painkiller, meaning the effects take hold rather quickly – generally within 30 minutes to an hour. This is part of the reason why the medication is used to treat short-term pain, like the pain that results from a surgical procedure or the pain that sets in after an injury (an injury that will quickly heal). When it comes to prescribing this specific medication, physicians will determine an appropriate dosage. The dosage will vary on a person-to-person basis. Prescribing physicians should conduct an in-depth assessment before administering a drug as strong as Tramadol, taking things like genetic propensity for addiction and all underlying disorders into account. However, because the drug is so addictive, it is impossible to determine who will develop a substance abuse disorder and who will not.

There are simply certain factors that make the development of a serious issue more likely. If you or someone you love has been struggling with a Tramadol addiction, seeking professional help at your earliest possible convenience will be necessary. At Relevance, we have extensive experience treating those who have developed physical and psychological dependencies to Tramadol and all other potent painkillers. Simply give us a call to learn more about our comprehensive Tramadol addiction recovery program.

Call Us Today: 732-702-2242

Tramadol Addiction Recovery

If the signs of Tramadol abuse are recognized and treated early on, the development of physician dependency will be less likely. Some of the more common symptoms of Tramadol abuse include changes in appetite that often lead to weight loss, drowsiness, slurred speech, and an inability to focus the eyes/loss of vision, nausea and vomiting, intense headaches, and impaired coordination. Some of the more common symptoms of Tramadol addiction include extreme gastrointestinal issues, high fever, profuse sweating, dizziness, muscle spasms, anxiety, and depression.

As previously mentioned, the highest dosage that should be consumed in one day is 400mg. Those who take this specific drug in higher doses are likely to experience serious and often life-threatening health-related complications, such as seizures, strokes, and coma. In short – Tramadol is strong. It is a potent painkiller, and those that take it for an extended period will generally experience some degree of consequences – whether those consequences have to do with severe side effects or the ultimate development of a Tramadol addiction disorder. If you or someone you love has been struggling with painkiller addiction and is looking for a way out, give us a call today to learn more about our comprehensive and effective addiction treatment programs at Relevance.

Individuality in Addiction Treatment

As a child, most of us were given a choice of a variety of toys to play with.  Some just for play, others to help us develop certain skills.  They would help us develop our hand-eye coordination, our understanding of colors and numbers, and even a basic working understanding of shapes.  As we grew older, those early teachings were expanded upon in school and maybe even through family members.  Our foundations were laid and built upon with more information.  (Follow me here as I make this connection…)

One of those early teachings was about shapes.  Simply put, we learned that the square blocks, no matter how hard we tried to make them fit, would not fit in the round holes.  To delve a bit deeper, we also learned (although we didn’t realize at the time) that there were circles, and rectangles, and stars as well.  Other shapes, all different and unique.  (ok, ok, I will land the plane)

Fast forward to adulthood. Currently our country is faced with battling the worst drug epidemic the world has ever seen.  Too many lives are lost every day to the evils of addiction.  Lives are lost, families are destroyed. The “just say no” campaigns and the “war against drugs” have proven to be simply not enough.  Treatment for addiction, if we really think and look at it, has not really evolved all that much. Six or seven decades ago, two men started a group which would be later known and generally accepted as the standard for successfully treating alcoholism and drug addiction.  Twelve-step programs were born.  Then came the therapeutic communities, which the Eagles sang about in “Hotel California” (research it, it’s true).   Oversimplifying a bit, there were a few other theories that came out until a few years ago, we as a country thought we arrived at THE answer.  Fueled by many things, including the prevalence of addiction, the reduction in stigma, and even the financial needs of big pharma and commercial insurance, addiction was now a Disease.  This was HUGE.  We, as a society, felt as if we have made headway, and we did.

Addiction was finally getting the attention it needed.  No longer was society turning a blind eye.  Treatment programs wanted to help.  Many still held on to the successful tenets of 12 step, while others looked to develop new ways of thinking about addiction treatment only to really all wind up doing very similar things.

If you have read this far, stay with me, my wheels are down and I can see the runway…

A few years ago, we started hearing the some catchphrases in the addiction field.  Good treatment programs were going to be “holistic”.  That even sounded cooler.  But what did that mean, unfortunately for many, even those with the best of intentions, it meant simply nothing more that eating granola and meditating to a CD for an hour a week in “meditation group” and then back into a step-group or Big Book meeting.

While that may work for the round blocks, putting them in the round hole, what about the squares, the stars, the triangles.  Where do we put them?  What do we do?  Now more than ever, our society has realized the differences in the needs of our population and treatment must mirror this.  Now more than ever, good treatment programs need to provide the square holes, the stars, the triangles and even the circles too.  Yes, treatment for addiction needs to be all-encompassing.  What we have done up to this point, has not worked.  Let’s do it differently.

Let us embrace the idea of differences and true individualized treatment whereby what works for one may not work for another.  Some may do very well in 12-step while other may do better in a SMART recovery meeting.  Further to the point, others may do well with medication and psychotherapy.  The idea is simple, good treatment programs must offer it all.  Meet folks where they are at, find out what it is will best help them, and do it.  Get away from treating from a “one-size-fits-all approach” to something truly individualized gives us all the best chance to succeed in making a difference.

Thanks for flying, you may now exit the plane.