It’s a hard question to ask yourself. Some people may find that it’s not easy to admit that they need help to stop using drugs and alcohol. Others aren’t sure they are ready to stop. Yet, for many people, getting help becomes critical to protecting your health, mental well-being, and your future. Some signs you may need treatment include:
 

• Trying to stop using and failing to do so
• Needing to use drugs consistently or feeling anxiety or agitation when not
• Needing to use more drugs to get the same benefits
• Pushing aside responsibilities, people, and things you love to isolate more
• Lying about your drug use or hiding how much you are using

It’s also important to consider dependence. A person becomes dependent on a substance when that drug changes their brain chemistry. Over time, the drug is necessary to get through the day. Withdrawal symptoms like pain and insomnia may occur. Cravings are intense. When this happens, professional drug addiction treatment in California is critical.

Once you decide to get help, drug addiction treatment begins right away. There are several types of addiction treatment provided to many people. For those with dependence, this often starts with medication-assisted treatment. These medications work to help you stop using without feeling the withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It can help make the transition off of the drugs easier and more successful.

The second big component of drug addiction treatment is therapy. Talk therapy allows you to work with your therapist to uncover why you used these substances and how you can stop doing so. You’ll learn strategies for dealing with triggers and stress. You may also learn how to change your thought patterns to minimize the risks of using these substances.