Just as addiction and abuse of drugs and alcohol can cause medical problems, sometimes medical problems can be the cause of the addiction to drugs and alcohol. For this reason, many rehab facilities now try to integrate medical care and addiction treatment by using Dual Diagnosis and medical treatments for some addictions such as opiates. No one ever wakes up one day and decides that they are going to become a drug addict or alcoholic. Some addictions may begin with treating an ailment while others may be caused by other underlying problems that have gone diagnosed such as depression or other psychological disorders. Either way, medical problems and addiction go hand in hand.

Life is great. You have a great job, a wonderful and happy family, and great friends. One day you get into a car wreck and to help with the pain from the injuries, the doctor prescribes you a painkiller such as Lortab or Vicodin. After a while, an addiction to these prescribed medications can completely blindside you. Suddenly, the pills no longer have the same effect, so you increase the dose or begin taking more of them to try and maximize the effects. When you try to discontinue taking the pills, you begin having painful and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. This happens because your body has developed a dependency on the drug. Often times, people will continue taking the drugs to try and avoid the uncomfortable and painful symptoms that are associated with detox and withdrawal. This is only one example of how medical problems can affect addiction.

Addiction itself can cause many medical problems depending on the length, severity, and type of addiction. Drugs as simple and basic as Tylenol can cause problems with the liver, so is it really so hard to believe that drugs such as Heroin, Crack, Cocaine, Alcohol, and many other drugs, including prescription drugs, can cause medical problems when they are being abused? Many drugs can have profound effects on the various vital organ systems of the body and their functions. Many drugs are even fatal when abused because of the drastic effects that they have on the cardio and respiratory systems.

Another way that drugs and medical problems are linked are when psychological problems or other underlying and undiagnosed medical problems become the driving force behind the addiction. Sometimes when a person is suffering from undiagnosed medical problems, they can cause a person to begin drinking or using drugs excessively to avoid the issues in their life, including medical issues. This is where Dual Diagnosis comes into play during addiction treatment therapy. The medical staff that diagnose the addiction problem may also find that there are other undiagnosed medical problems that are often psychological that may have contributed to the addiction. Once the underlying problem is diagnosed, a more successful treatment program can be designed so that both problems are being treated.

Addiction and abuse do not have to be a way of life. The initial decision to seek the help that you need is the hardest. This decision is also the first step toward recovery. Once you have made the decision to seek help stemming from medical problems and addiction, A Forever Recovery can help you develop a treatment plan that is right for you. If you or your loved one has a problem with chemical dependence, please call us for help.