By: AndreaBergman
As you may have noticed, the coronavirus pandemic has created unforeseen challenges to nearly every system in the United States. Cancer treatment centers have had to make tough calls when it comes to weighing the health and safety of their patients and doctors against the need to stop this progressive and deadly disease. State governors have needed to balance the need for their constituents to stay healthy against the economy’s health. Even our youngest members of society have been hit hard, as states decide whether to open schools for in-person attendance. When it comes to addiction treatment, you too have a choice: are you prioritizing treatment during a pandemic, or are you staying in the unhealthy patterns you’ve struggled against for so long?
At Lakeview Health, we want to help you put those unhealthy patterns aside so that you can step into a new chapter of your life. The first step toward this new chapter is to contact our addiction treatment center today by calling [Direct].
The Importance of Prioritizing Treatment During a Pandemic
Much like cancer, addiction is a chronic disease that will get worse the longer you let it go without treatment. For instance, in the initial stages of addiction, you may have been able to get by using only a small amount of the drug once or twice a week. However, as you build a dependence on the substance, you will find that you need the substance more often and need more of the drug to get the same effect. As a result, you may be at risk of overdosing, significant injury, or even death.
When you get treatment in the initial stages of addiction, you’ll find that it is considerably easier to address the problems that addiction has created in your life. However, when you wait to get treatment, your condition becomes more severe.
How Severe is Your Addiction?
Today, most experts agree that substance use disorders, or addictions, are mental health conditions. As a result, there are specific symptoms that experts look for when they are diagnosing the problem and determining the best course fo treatment. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is the resource mental health treatment providers rely on to diagnose mental health conditions, offers 11 criteria for addiction. The more of these criteria you meet, the more severe your addiction is. These criteria include:
- You use the drug or alcohol in larger amounts or for longer periods of time than you intended to.
- You want to stop using the substance or have tried to cut down on your usage, but you’ve been unable to do so.
- You’re spending a significant amount of your time purchasing, using, or recovering from using drugs or alcohol.
- You get cravings and other urges to use drugs or alcohol.
- You’re unable to complete responsibilities at home, school, or work due to your drug or alcohol use.
- You continue to use drugs or alcohol though it causes problems in your interpersonal relationships.
- You’ve given up professional, social, or recreational activities to use drugs or alcohol.
- You repeatedly use the substance even though its usage puts you in danger.
- You continue to use drugs or alcohol, though using it causes or worsens physical or psychological problems.
- You’ve developed a tolerance, meaning that you need more of the drug or alcohol to get the same result
- You develop withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use the substance.
Only a professional can determine how severe your addiction is, so prioritizing treatment during a pandemic is paramount. If you meet the criteria for any of the above, it’s time to get help. Call us today for a free, confidential assessment by an expert and see if addiction treatment is an option for you.
Learn More About Prioritizing Treatment During a Pandemic at Lakeview Health
At Lakeview Health, we know how important it is to ensure that you’re taking care of your health during this emergency. However, when you don’t seek treatment for your addiction, you could be taking your life into your hands. Instead, seek help from our expert treatment center today. We provide treatment for a wide array of addictions, including:
Don’t wait until after this pandemic to get the treatment you need. Contact our experts today by calling [Direct] to learn more about your treatment options. Take care of yourself today to live a better tomorrow for yourself and your family.
