Addiction is a chronic disorder of the brain. It is not a moral failing or personal weakness.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, when a person can’t stop taking a drug or drinking alcohol even if he/she wants to, it’s called addiction. The urge is too strong to control, even if he/she know the drug is causing harm.
Addiction is a disease, just as diabetes is disease. Diabetes is often treated with a combination of medication, patient education and lifestyle changes. This same model may be applied to the treatment of substance use disorders. Our providers are dedicated to providing evidence based psychological treatment to help our patients overcome addiction. We believe that combining an integrative approach to treatment, such as counseling, patient education, hard work and commitment to sobriety offers the best possible opportunity for sustainable recovery from addiction.
People with addiction issues often have other mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, bipolar disorder, etc. This is called a co-occurring disorder (also known as dual diagnosis) where substance abuse and mental health issues are present together. To recovery successfully from an addiction, it is crucial to treat the mental health issue(s) as well as the addiction, which is what we do at Advantage Mental Health.
Outpatient treatment at Advantage Mental Health Center allows patients to maintain their current lifestyle while seeking treatment and working toward the goal of freedom from addiction. Treatment with medication and counseling/behavioral therapy allows them to live their lives while overcoming addiction… they can still work, attend school, or participate in family events.