Of the roughly 21 million Americans with a substance abuse problem, only a little over 2 million have sought treatment of any kind. There are many reasons why this number is persistently low: there’s the perceived cost. Also, there can be a social stigma associated with admitting you have a problem. Plus, the idea that confessing to your addiction is equivalent to disclosing a personal shortcoming or character flaw.
That’s a lot of pressure to deal with—and you haven’t even addressed the real problem yet. So it might seem easier to keep things hidden. Wait a while. Maybe try to quit on your own. While this relieves a moment’s worth of uncertainty, it only makes the problem worse. Additionally, the current global health crisis has made it easier than ever to avoid putting your own health first.
So if you’re asking, “Do I need drug addiction treatment?”, you’re already on the way to getting the help you need. And now you have more options than ever.
Do You Need Help?
If you’re wondering, “Do I need drug addiction treatment?”, ask an addiction recovery professional. A person who’s not only studied addiction but works with other addicts will be able to tell you if you’re headed for trouble much more quickly and reliably than anyone else.
Before you talk to a professional—or even if you don’t plan on it—start by taking stock of your situation by asking the following questions:
- How often do you use your substance of choice? How much do you use?
- What makes you want to use?
- Have there been any changes in how much/how often you use?
- How do you feel when you’re using?
- How do you feel when you’re not using?
Knowing the answers to these questions will be of great help when talking to a doctor or other health care professional. Again, even if you’re not sure you want to talk to anyone yet, knowing the details of your drug use will give you a good idea of the role it plays in your life.
In addition to asking questions that directly involve your drug use, consider some that address the consequences of your habit. For example:
- What do you like about using? What don’t you like?
- How much does your habit cost you?
- Are you using illegal drugs? What would happen if you were caught?
- What are the potential health problems involved in using your drug of choice?
- Are there or have there been other addicts (including alcoholics) in your family?
- Do the people you care about know you have a drug habit? If yes, do they support treatment?
- Has your drug habit changed your personal or professional relationships?
- Ask someone you trust how they feel about your drug use.
- Do you want to quit? If not, why not? If so, what obstacles are there to quitting?
If you can answer most of these questions honestly, it’ll give you a pretty accurate picture of your habit. Now ask yourself again: Do I need drug addiction treatment?
Do I Need Drug Addiction Treatment? Finding Treatment
Once you’ve decided you need treatment, you’ll have a lot more questions. What kind of treatment do I need? What is it like? Where do I go? The truth of the matter is that no two individuals will have precisely the same addiction experience, and no two will need the same treatment. The question that follows, “Do I need drug addiction treatment?” is “What kind of treatment is right for me?” And at New Bridge Foundation®, we offer a broad range of rehabilitative programs from medical detoxification to our telehealth outpatient programs, which allow you to get treatment from the privacy and security of your own home.
Now is when professional input is profoundly valuable. If you’re wondering what you need to do next to get free of addiction, the staff at New Bridge Foundation® would love to hear from you. For more than 50 years, we’ve been providing complete, compassionate addiction treatment programs in the Berkeley, CA, area. We invite you to call us with your questions at 866.772.8491. Why wait? Your recovery can start right now.
