The Transition House Blog

Drug and alcohol abuse affects nearly 22 million people in the United States. Did you know that 1 in 7 people will develop an addiction in their lifetime? Though recovery and sobriety are related, there are important differences you need to understand if you or a loved one is seeking substance abuse treatment and looking to achieve long-term recovery. Let’s take a look at some of the similarities and differences in more detail.

Alcohol addiction, also known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), is a serious disease that affects 17 million people in the US. In fact, excessive alcohol use causes 88,000 deaths a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The good news is that alcohol addiction, just like many other diseases, is treatable and recovery is possible. An addiction treatment program such as medication assisted treatment (MAT) with Vivitrol can help people struggling with alcohol use disorder leave a life of addiction behind.

El abuso de sustancias, el alcoholismo y la adicción pueden tener un impacto negativo en las familias. Las familias que están lidiando con el trastorno de abuso de sustancias de un ser querido pueden enfrentar situaciones como violencia doméstica, abuso físico o emocional, trastornos de salud mental concurrentes y dificultades socioeconómicas, ya que las personas que luchan con la adicción pueden tener dificultades para encontrar o conservar un trabajo. Puede interrumpir una dinámica familiar saludable al romper la confianza, agregar estrés significativo y prevenir la formación de límites saludables.

Juan piensa que su hermano, Fred, no era él mismo la última vez que se vieron.

La apariencia de Fred parecía arrugada a pesar de que, por lo general, se esforzaba para verse lo mejor posible. Fred también parecía desinteresado en las cosas que siempre le interesaban, es por eso que John sospecho que algo en la vida de Fred había cambiado.

Addiction is a complex and chronic disease, but recovery is possible. Addiction treatment like medication assisted treatment (MAT) can help someone with substance or alcohol use disorder achieve recovery and maintain sobriety. By combining behavioral therapy with specific addiction medications, MAT is the safest and most effective option for recovery.

Opioids such as prescription painkillers and heroin are highly addictive. It’s important to know that addiction is not a choice. Addiction is a complex and chronic disease. Like any other medical illness, addiction is treatable. With the right opioid addiction treatment, recovery is possible.

Our first April is Alcohol Awareness 5k Walk/Run was held at the St. Cloud Lakefront on April 14, 2018. It was a beautiful day with clear skies and lots of sunshine. The 5k Walk/Run was held in partnership with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) to raise awareness for alcohol abuse and that recovery is possible. Many of our sponsors and partners, including St. Cloud Regional Medical Center, Kissimmee Police Department, the Health Insurance Store, and DaVita Medical Group, were at the event sharing information with walk/run participants.

In 2013, an estimated 18 million people struggled with symptoms of alcohol dependence or abuse. However, only 1.4 million - less than 10% - received any type of treatment. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommend medication assisted treatment (MAT) for the treatment of moderate to severe alcohol use disorder.

Attending a residential care program for the treatment of substance abuse can help to reduce the rate of relapse. In fact, a study published in Addiction found that individuals struggling with an alcohol use disorder who attended a residential care program were more likely to be in remission after three years, while those who did not were more likely to experience relapse.

The effects of growing-up with an alcoholic parent can be debilitating and long-lasting. Adult children of alcoholics may experience denial, impulse control, and depression. They are also more likely to become alcoholics themselves.