The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) proves through its study that alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States. Addiction Treatment Nashville understands that alcohol misuse or abuse often co-occurs with other substances, making detox from substance abuse more complicated. Alcohol detoxification is challenging and potentially life-threatening due to the severe withdrawal symptoms stemming from long-term or severe alcohol addiction. When considering detox from alcohol use disorder (AUD), medical management and medication-assisted treatment must be available options in the detox facility to ensure safety and comfort during the process. 

How do you know that alcohol use is problematic? Men who drink 5 or more drinks in one period or women drinking 4 or more drinks at a time meet the definition of binge drinkers. Men who drink more than 15 drinks a week or women drinking more than 8 per week meet the heavy drinker criteria. However, evaluations by a medical professional look beyond the number of drinks when diagnosing an alcohol use disorder. Behaviors, physical conditions, and lifestyle disruptions combine with longevity and the amount of alcohol consumed to determine a diagnosis of an AUD.

Addiction Treatment Nashville recognizes that opioid medications are typically used in the treatment of severe and chronic pain, which the CDC says affect roughly 20% of those in the United States in 2021. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), opioids are effective for treating pain. Still, the long-term use of opioids connects to an increasing risk of misuse, abuse, and overdose. The opioid crisis is an alarming statement of how dangerous these drugs can be. Furthermore, understanding and managing the detoxification process involving opioids presents specific challenges. 

Opioid medications produce euphoric feelings, as well as the ability to relax while treating chronic pain. This feeling occurs because opioids attach to receptors in the brain that control pain relief. In essence, the result of long-term use of opioids is that individuals only feel normal while using opioids, which means the brain has adapted to a new normal. Increasingly dangerous is fentanyl addiction, which leads to a high risk of overdose and death. Once brain chemistry is different, when opioid use ends, opioid withdrawal ensues quickly. 

Adderall is a potent amphetamine branded in 1994 as a treatment method for ADHD or narcolepsy. Unfortunately, Adderall, the Schedule 2 stimulant drug, while effective when taken as prescribed for treatment, remains highly addictive, and unintentional misuse and abuse can quickly occur. With this knowledge, it is essential to understand the signs of problems that can occur with misuse or abuse of Adderall. When seeking help for an addiction problem with Adderall, it is necessary to find a center that is familiar with detoxing from Adderall. 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states through their study that 1.5 million people over the age of 12 had a prescription stimulant use disorder within the 12 months of 2021. Signs of Adderall misuse or abuse can include:

• Running short of medication for a time frame
• Developing the inability to cut back or quit using Adderall
• Going to great lengths to get Adderall, especially in this time of shortages
• Extreme fatigue from a disrupted sleep schedule
• Developing cravings for Adderall
• Building a tolerance for Adderall

Prescription pill addiction is often a matter of unintentional misuse and abuse in the beginning. Individuals with multiple complaints, such as chronic pain, anxiety, and sleep issues, seek medical advice and often receive prescriptions for both opioids and benzodiazepines. Addiction Treatment Nashville knows that when dealing with prescription pill detox, specific withdrawal challenges arise. Opioids for pain control, such as Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycontin, work in conjunction with Benzos, such as Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and Ativan, to control the symptoms of anxiety or sleep disruption. Despite written warnings, the pharmacy includes inside medication boxes and verbal discussions with healthcare providers; misuse can quickly occur. 

Tolerance leads to dependence, and unfortunately, addiction follows. It is vital to understand that taking prescription medications can be confusing, and unintentional misuse can lead to developing a tolerance to the drug. Patients can begin with good intentions, placing medications in pill boxes and marking dosages on a calendar, but as time goes on, misuse can occur. Those developing a tolerance to medication find that it takes more of a drug to produce the same effect. Taking more than the prescription calls for leads to a physical and mental dependence on the drug, ultimately leading to addiction.

The physical effects of amphetamine abuse appear primarily in the withdrawal symptoms during amphetamine detox. Addiction Treatment Nashville is familiar with the psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms of amphetamine addiction. The first phase of detox is the body, and headaches, jumpiness, and shakiness associated with stimulant abuse, nausea, and nightmares with sleep issues are common. The psychological withdrawal in the second week is manageable with therapeutic measures to counter anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, and extreme outbursts. Many individuals experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS) with amphetamine detox. 

Cocaine addiction can initiate increased heart rate and blood pressure and problems with the nasal septum when snorting occurs. Heart disease can result from long-term excessive use. Psychologically, cocaine abuse triggers sleep deprivation, unstable moods, damaging decision-making abilities, and memory issues. During cocaine detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can address physical discomforts, and other meds control psychological imbalances. Medical management is critical for a safe and successful detox.