Addiction

Addiction affects more than 20 million Americans, interfering with their health and overall quality of life. If you’re concerned about addiction and ready to take steps toward recovery and sobriety, contact Tammi Bancroft, FNP-C, and the team at Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry. Tammi provides in-person and virtual care from the practice’s main location in Colorado and also offers virtual visits to patients throughout Arizona. She creates customized treatment plans designed to support long-term recovery and lasting wellness. Call the office or request an appointment online today to schedule a visit.

What is addiction?

Addiction, sometimes called substance abuse disorder, is a mental health condition that causes distorted thoughts, behaviors, and body functions concerning acquiring and using drugs and alcohol. For example, addiction makes you compulsively seek out and use alcohol or drugs. Eventually, your need to use drugs or alcohol can take over your life and get in the way of your relationships, work, and education.

What are the signs of addiction?

Signs that your regular misuse of a substance has evolved into addiction include:

• Continued use despite negative consequences
• Spending too much time thinking about getting and using the substance
• Needing to use more of the substance for the same effects
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
• Using money you don’t have to buy drugs or alcohol
• Stealing from friends or family
• Failed attempts to stop using the substance on your own

If any of these signs sound familiar, contact the team at Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry for help today.

What causes addiction?

Addiction stems from brain irregularities that interfere with your mood, judgment, and decision-making. Continued substance abuse causes further changes in your brain chemistry and activity. These changes make your cravings stronger and interfere with your ability to make healthy decisions.

You may start to abuse a substance to feel better, you may want to emotional wounds or other unpleasant feelings, or it may begin as an effort to reduce physical pain. Eventually, with continued use of a substance, you need more to achieve the same effects and your usage increases.

What are the risk factors for addiction?

Your risk of addiction is higher if you have a personal or family history of addiction or other mental health issues. Additionally, if you’ve experienced poverty, neglect, abuse, or have lived with other people who abuse substances, your chances of developing addiction increase.

Medical researchers and psychiatrists are searching for more details to identify the causes and risk factors of this dangerous disease.  

How is substance abuse treated?

At Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, Tammi takes a multidisciplinary approach to addiction. She combines medication, like Suboxone, with therapy and other lifestyle modifications to address your needs. While medication controls your cravings and withdrawal symptoms, you need therapy to learn how to modify your behaviors and adjust your lifestyle to eventually eliminate your dangerous and reckless drug and alcohol use.

If you’re ready to fight your addiction and regain control of your life, call Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, or schedule an appointment online today.