If you are seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one with a chronic drug or alcohol addiction problem, you should be educated on the subject of chronic drug or alcohol addiction in order to make an informed decision about the correct treatment option. The following facts and information are provided to fulfill this need. We hope you find it helpful.

Chronic drug and alcohol addiction is a constant and unrelenting effort to obtain drugs or alcohol in order to alter the feelings and perceptions of the person using them. Simply put, if an individual is basically happy with their life and has the ability to identify and solve problems where they exist, they are far less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol. Drug and alcohol abuse is a symptom of other underlying problems. The individual abuses drugs and alcohol in an attempt to relieve themselves of the underlying problem. Of course the underlying problem goes undetected as their chronic drug or alcohol use consumes the life of the abuser and the loved ones affected by his or her detrimental and chaotic behavior.

Another facet of drug or alcohol addiction is that the brain adapts to the presence of drugs or alcohol and makes adjustments chemically. Because of the chemical changes in the brain due to the constant use of drugs or alcohol, when a chronic drug or alcohol abuser attempts to halt his/her drug or alcohol use, the brain signals the individual that the substance is needed to function. This is a major cause of drug and alcohol cravings both physically and mentally.

All drug and alcohol abusers experience drug or alcohol cravings for some period of time after ceasing drug or alcohol use. Drug and alcohol cravings will diminish over time as the individual discontinues the use of drugs and alcohol and the brain function returns to normal. This process can take several months.

Drug and alcohol addiction typically involves habitual routines in the environmental scope of the individual, i.e. the locations of their drug or alcohol use, the people they associated with in the activities of drug or alcohol use, etc. Drug or alcohol addiction is not just drug and alcohol use, it revolves around people and things in their immediate environment which help to trigger the addictive behavior. The abusers location & routines of drug and alcohol use further trigger drug and alcohol use. It is the constant and seemingly unstoppable drug or alcohol use and the hopelessness of day to day existence which perpetuates the problem and inhibits the native desire to stop ruining their life through the use of drugs and alcohol.

The above factor should not be over looked when considering a treatment center location. The first 2 weeks of treatment are always the most difficult, and there are many factors at work to make this so. In addition to what has been covered above, a more basic factor is this: people are creatures of habit. Even overwhelmingly positive & beneficial changes in life, such as the birth of a child or a new job does not guarantee the individual will have no thoughts of missing past negative activities such as, drug or alcohol use, drug or drinking acquaintances and other associated activities. Factually this is the normal reactive auto response of most human beings; to do what they are familiar with; good or bad. It is not really that they yearn for these things, it is just all that they have known for some time. If the abuser is close to home when overwhelming feelings manifest themselves, there is a good chance he or she will leave and get back to what they know, drug addiction, as it is not very far away . Due to these factors, attending a drug rehab close to home is seldom the correct treatment option for chronic drug or alcohol abusers. It is extremely therapeutic to be distanced from their former association with drug dealers, bars, the cabinet where the alcohol was kept, the cigar box where the cocaine was stored, etc. All these triggers make the task of sobriety seem insurmountable to the chronic drug or alcohol abuser as these triggers continuously stimulate a reminder of their past addictive behaviors.

For individuals with a severe drug or alcohol addiction problem, choosing a long term inpatient treatment program is another key to a successful outcome.

By providing a new, safe trigger free environment, distanced from past negative associations and surroundings for an extended period of time, the chance for success increases dramatically.

Our program provides people with positive circumstances to increase their chances for a successful recovery. The vast majority of students entering our program, around (80%), are from out of state or from other countries.