Addiction
We’re proud to offer effective treatment for alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Our facility combines state-of-the-art amenities with compassionate staff and evidence-based therapies to deliver a comprehensive recovery experience.
With nearly a decade of experience and a team that includes founders and staff who have personally walked the path of recovery, we are deeply committed to supporting every client on their journey toward lasting healing and sobriety.
Understanding alcohol addiction as a serious medical condition is the first step toward seeking help and recovery.
What to Look For Heritage Treatment Link Addiction Treatment
To ensure effective and lasting recovery, look for a treatment center that integrates a holistic approach. Seek programs that combine evidence-based therapies like CBT with personalized, compassionate care to address both the addiction and any underlying mental health issues. A truly impactful program also provides comprehensive aftercare and support, recognizing that recovery is a continuous journey, not just a one-time event.
Table of Contents
- Alcohol
- Opioids
- Prescription Drugs
- Benzos
- Xanax
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
What Is Alcohol Addiction?
Alcohol addiction, also known as severe alcohol use disorder, is a chronic and relapsing disease characterized by an uncontrollable urge to consume alcohol despite negative consequences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol abuse involves any pattern of drinking that harms your health, damages relationships, or impairs your ability to work effectively.
While each individual’s experience with alcohol addiction may differ, all cases share a common foundation: ongoing alcohol abuse. This persistent misuse leads to physical and psychological dependence, making it difficult for individuals to stop drinking even when they want to.
Alcohol Addiction Symptoms
When drinking alcohol becomes a habit, you may start feeling like you don’t function normally without alcohol in your system. This is when addiction turns psychological — you feel a strong need for alcohol even if you’re not physically dependent.
Physical addiction develops when you can’t stop drinking without experiencing intense withdrawal symptoms. Some common signs of physical alcohol addiction include:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Delirium tremens
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Shakiness
- Tremors
Both psychological and physical addiction are linked to how alcohol affects the brain. Drinking alcohol triggers the release of endorphins in brain areas responsible for reward and pleasure. This chemical impact reinforces the desire to drink.
At a psychological level, alcohol abuse can create a feeling that you cannot function properly without alcohol, which is why relapse is so common among those struggling with addiction.
What is Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction is a chronic disease that leads to serious physical and mental health challenges, social problems, and often financial hardship. It involves a powerful, uncontrollable urge to use opioids, even when they are no longer needed for medical reasons.
This condition typically develops when a person regularly takes prescription or illicit opioids and begins abusing them. Over time, the body builds a tolerance, meaning higher doses are needed to achieve the same effects. This creates a vicious cycle where the user feels unable to function normally without the drug.
Opioid addiction doesn’t just affect health—it can impact every area of life. Some common warning signs of opioid abuse include:
- Drowsiness
- Changes in sleep habits
- Weight loss
- Frequent flu-like symptoms
- Poor hygiene
- Isolation from family or friends
- Stealing from loved ones or businesses
- Financial difficulties
Recognizing these signs early is crucial for seeking help and starting the path to recovery.
What is Prescription Drug Addiction?
Prescription drug addiction occurs when a person becomes dependent on medications prescribed by a healthcare provider, often painkillers, sedatives, or stimulants. Despite their legal status, these drugs can lead to serious physical and psychological dependence when misused or taken for longer than intended.
Understanding the risks and signs of addiction is essential for early intervention and recovery.
Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
The signs of prescription drug addiction can vary depending on the specific medication, but some common early indicators signal serious misuse or abuse:
- Asking for prescription refills earlier than scheduled
- Claiming to have lost prescriptions
- llegally taking prescriptions from others
- Visiting multiple doctors to get several prescriptions
- Faking or altering prescriptions
- Making poor or impaired decisions
- Experiencing disturbed or irregular sleep
- Excessive sedation or drowsiness
- Unusually high energy levels
- Consuming higher doses than prescribed
In addition to these physical and behavioral signs, prescription drug abuse often leads to noticeable changes in mood and behavior, such as:
- Dramatic mood swings
- Aggression
- Hostility
- Irritability
- Disruption to daily routines
- Neglecting personal or professional commitments
- Struggles in relationships or at work
What is Benzo Addiction?
Benzodiazepines, commonly known as benzos, are a class of prescription medications often prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. While effective when used as directed, these drugs carry a high risk of addiction due to their calming and sedative effects.
Benzodiazepine addiction develops when a person begins to rely on the drug to manage stress or sleep and gradually takes higher doses to achieve the same effect. This can lead to physical dependence, where stopping use causes withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and in severe cases, seizures.
Addiction to benzodiazepines affects both the brain and body, impairing judgment, memory, and coordination. Over time, benzo abuse can disrupt daily life, relationships, and mental health, making professional help essential for recovery.
What is Benzo Addiction?
Addiction to benzodiazepines (benzos) often presents with a range of physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. Recognizing these signs early can be crucial for seeking help. Common symptoms of benzo addiction include:
- Excessive drowsiness and sedation
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling confused
- Forgetfulness or problems with memory
- Slowed reflexes and poor coordination
- Mood changes, including anxiety, depression, and irritability
- Developing tolerance, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effect
- Strong cravings and compulsive use despite harmful consequences
- Withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug, such as shaking, sweating, insomnia, and restlessness
These symptoms reflect the profound impact benzos have on the brain and nervous system. If you or someone you know is experiencing these signs, it’s important to seek professional support as soon as possible.
Xanax Addiction Symptoms
Xanax addiction is a form of substance use disorder diagnosed using criteria from the DSM-5-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). These symptoms help identify the severity and presence of addiction:
- Taking Xanax in larger amounts or for a longer duration than originally intended
- Repeatedly trying and failing to cut down or stop Xanax use
- Spending a lot of time using Xanax or dealing with its aftereffects
- Experiencing intense urges or cravings to take Xanax
- Going through withdrawal symptoms when not using Xanax
- Neglecting work, school, or personal responsibilities because of Xanax use
- Continuing to use Xanax despite conflicts or problems in relationships caused by its use
- Avoiding social events or activities to use Xanax instead
- Using Xanax in situations where it could be dangerous
- Persisting in Xanax use even when it worsens physical or mental health issues
- Needing to take higher doses of Xanax to get the same effect due to tolerance
Xanax addiction is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on how many of these criteria are met. Even a single symptom can signal a serious problem. If you or a loved one is struggling with Xanax addiction, seeking professional help immediately is crucial.
What Is Cocaine Addiction?
Cocaine addiction is medically classified as a stimulant use disorder, characterized by a compulsive need to use cocaine despite its harmful effects. Unlike some other addictions, there are currently no medications approved specifically to treat cocaine addiction. Instead, treatment primarily relies on science-backed behavioral therapies.
Because cocaine is highly psychologically addictive, therapy focuses on changing behaviors and thought patterns associated with drug use. These treatments can be provided in inpatient or outpatient settings, depending on the severity of the addiction and individual needs.
Symptoms & Signs of Cocaine Addiction
What Is Cocaine Addiction?
- Blacking out
- Blurred vision
- Breathing problems
- Chest pain
- Cognitive impairment
- Dilated pupils
- Diminished appetite
- Excessive sweating
- High energy levels
- Hypertension Increased risk of heart attack
- Insomnia
- Kidney damage
- Liver damage
- Persistent nosebleeds
- Pronounced weight loss
- Raised body temperature
- Restlessness
- Runny nose
- Tolerance to Coke
Psychological Symptomst
- Agitation
- Depression
- Excessive confidence
- Fleeting euphoria
- Impaired decision-making
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Psychosis Extreme mood swings
Psychological Symptomst
- Continuing to use cocaine in spite of adverse outcomes
- Dishonesty regarding activities
- Engaging in reckless behaviors
- Excessive time spent using cocaine
- Impulsive behavior
- Inability to stop or moderate cocaine use
- Leaving drug paraphernalia around a living area
- Losing interest in hobbies or interests
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Socializing with friends who use cocaine
- Stealing money Talking excessively
- Trying to borrow money
- Using other drugs in addition to coke
- Withdrawing from friends and family
What Is Heroin Addiction?
Heroin addiction is one of the most severe forms of substance dependence due to the drug’s highly addictive nature. Despite its relatively low cost, individuals struggling with heroin addiction often spend large amounts of money daily to maintain their habit. This powerful opioid creates intense physical and psychological dependence, making it extremely difficult to stop without professional help.
Heroin Addiction Symptoms
The criteria for diagnosing heroin abuse and addiction (opioid use disorder) are detailed in the DSM-5-TR, the updated fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Symptoms used to identify heroin addiction include:
- Using heroin in larger amounts or over longer periods than intended.
- Being unable to successfully cut down or stop heroin use despite trying.
- Spending a significant amount of time obtaining and using heroin.
- Experiencing strong cravings for heroin.
- Neglecting personal and professional duties because of heroin use.
- Continuing heroin use even when it causes problems in relationships.
- Giving up social activities due to heroin use.
- Using heroin in risky or dangerous situations.
- To develop tolerance, higher doses are needed to get the same effect.
- Having withdrawal symptoms when not using heroin.
- Persisting in heroin use despite worsening physical or mental health issues.
What Is Fentanyl Addiction?
Fentanyl addiction is a serious form of opioid use disorder involving dependence on fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid used medically for pain relief. Due to its extreme potency—up to 100 times stronger than morphine—fentanyl carries a high risk of addiction, even with short-term use.
People addicted to fentanyl may develop intense cravings and require increasing doses to achieve the desired effects, leading to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms when not using. Fentanyl addiction is particularly dangerous because of the drug’s strength, which significantly raises the risk of overdose and death.
Signs of Fentanyl Addiction
Addiction is diagnosed using the DSM-5, the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic manual, commonly used in addiction treatment and mental health fields. The clinical term for addiction is substance use disorder (SUD), while alcoholism is specifically referred to as alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The DSM-5 outlines 11 possible symptoms of substance use disorder and opioid addiction. The severity of the disorder increases with the number of symptoms present. To receive a diagnosis of substance use disorder, at least two symptoms must appear within a 12-month period.
In addition to substance use disorder, the DSM-5 also defines opioid use disorder (OUD). Therefore, someone addicted to fentanyl would likely be diagnosed with severe opioid use disorder.
Signs of addiction include:
- Taking the drug in larger amounts or for a longer time than intended.
- Experiencing strong cravings and urges to use the drug.
- Failing to fulfill obligations at work, school, or home.
- Spending significant time obtaining, using, and recovering from fentanyl’s effects.
- Attempting and failing to quit or cut down on drug use.
- Withdrawing from social activities in favor of using.
- Using the drug despite knowing it’s dangerous (e.g., while driving).
- Continuing fentanyl use despite causing problems in various areas of life.
- Using the drug even when it worsens physical or mental health conditions.
- Developing tolerance requires higher doses for the same effect.
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when the drug is reduced or stopped.
Rehabilitation is the first step toward a life free from addiction
Taking this brave first step is a sign of your strength, and our team is here to support you every step of the way. Through evidence-based therapies and compassionate guidance, we help you build a new foundation for a life defined by freedom and purpose.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse or behavioral health challenges, don’t wait to get help. Reach out today to start your journey toward recovery and regain control of your life. Professional support and compassionate care are available—take the first step now.