Addiction Assessment

Knowing whether or not a patient’s drug or alcohol use is addictive is difficult for them to discern on their own. Most of the time, people need to assess the situation from another source to be sure. At Tennessee Valley Recovery, we provide an addiction assessment for those who want to know about their condition and whether they need to begin treatment as soon as possible.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is “a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.” When people try to figure out if they have an addiction, they try to look for more real-life examples of it. As a result, they gain a deeper understanding of whether or not they have a drug or alcohol addiction.

What is an Addiction Assessment?

When someone is wondering whether or not they need addiction treatment, one of the first things they must go through is an addiction assessment. An assessment is meant to ask the participant a few questions about whether their drug or alcohol use is affecting their life. The topics of inquiry cover how a person’s responsibility, relationship, and behavior are affected by their substance use.

They are also encouraged to assess how much they are using harmful drugs and if they binge drink multiple times a week. An addiction assessment is a great way to know where to start. Understanding one’s condition will allow them to see whether they should get the treatment they need if they are going through addiction and don’t know it themselves.

People need to be shown whether or not they are dealing with an addiction. Substance use can go out of control quickly when not treated. However, when someone is in that cycle of addiction, they may not understand how substances are damaging their life. 

Going through an assessment will help patients see if they are going through addiction. Therefore, if they are seeing substances impacting their life in a negative way, they can get the help they need. At Tennessee Valley Recovery, we are here to help people assess their situation and get them the treatment they need to recover.

Signs of Alcohol or Drug Dependence

One of the most important questions asked in an addiction assessment is how much the person depends on substances in their daily life. Often, it is hard for people to realize how dependent they are on alcohol or drugs. It can start as a temporary situation to fix pain or deal with mental health conditions. However, when it is constantly taken, such as being abused in the last six months, it turns into an addiction. 

Abuse is when substances are used habitually or someone uses a medication in a different way than prescribed. This also takes into account substances mixed with each other to develop more of a high. Despite this, understanding the signs of substance dependence will let people know if they are dealing with an addiction.

Common signs people are depending on substances include:

• Needing the feeling of being high or drunk to get through the day
• Having anxious feelings when no drugs or alcohol are in the system
• Needing to intake more drugs or alcohol to get that good feeling again
• Using substances to combat the dissipated feeling of being high or drunk
• Feeling anxious or depressed when substances are running low
• Spending too much money on drugs and alcohol 

The body’s health is important to maintain for a sober life. If anyone feels as though they cannot function without the help of drugs or alcohol, this is a sign of addiction. When substances are used on a daily basis, it becomes dangerous to the body and brain. This is because it is not normal for the body to intake these substances to a great extent.

Are Substances Affecting Your Daily Life?

When someone is constantly using drugs or drinking alcohol daily, their life will begin to change as well. They affect people from all walks of life. Addiction is often used as a coping method for mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. However, when these substances are used as a coping mechanism, they often forget about the consequences. 

When an intense level of drugs or alcohol enters the system, it affects the body and brain in various ways. Physical symptoms can develop differently depending on what kind of substance is abused. Many opioid drugs are commonly known to give mouth sores and scarred veins.

Substances can greatly diminish someone’s mental health. For example, certain drugs, such as heroin and meth, are known to cause hallucinations. As a result, picking the skin is a common physical symptom that can affect the user’s daily life. Alcohol is also known to provide physical consequences, like dehydration and poor hygiene.

When used as a coping method, drugs, and alcohol actually worsen mental health conditions. The high from drugs and relaxed feeling from alcohol can make it seem as though everything is fine. However, once that feeling is gone reality hits. If anyone feels worse or guilty about taking substances after the effects wear off, this is the time to stop and get treatment.

Are Substances Affecting Your Relationships?

Substance abuse disorder affects the individual and the people around them. Substances make it difficult to maintain relationships because drugs and alcohol are known to change people’s behavior in negative ways. Those with addiction can become aggressive or develop depression and anxiety, thus making it difficult to function around other people. 

It’s difficult for families to witness a loved one go through addiction. Sometimes family members don’t understand what they are going through. As a result, tension, conflict, and miscommunication come in the way because of addiction. From there, users turn to substances to cope and manage their stress from damaged relationships.

There is a problem if someone would rather turn to drugs than communicate with their family members. When maintaining relationships is hard to achieve because of the burdening cycle of intaking drugs or binge drinking, then addiction treatment is the next step. If anyone is feeling guilty about damaged relationships because of their substance use, then that person is going through an addiction problem.

Thankfully, at Tennessee Valley Recovery we offer specialized treatment plans for patients to gain back their strength and confidently develop relationships again. Don’t hesitate from getting treatment. Instead, learn how to maintain family connections with our help.

Do You Have A Substance Use Disorder?

If someone has gone through the addiction assessment and can relate to certain signs and symptoms, they may have a substance addiction. Having an addiction to illicit drugs or prescription drugs, such as Xanax, makes it difficult to stop an addiction or admit to having one.

When someone has grown a dangerous tolerance to drugs, they tend to take more and more over time. When this happens, a number of signs can be noticed whether or not someone is an addict. 

Common signs of drug addiction include:

• Experiencing intense cravings
• Increased tolerance
• Having become physically and psychologically dependent on drugs
• Doing everything possible to get more
• Continuing use despite the harmful and negative consequences
• Experiencing a change in behavior
• Aggression 
• Anxiousness or depression when out of drugs
• Trying to downplay or hide drug use
• Difficulty maintaining relationships and responsibilities

A New Day Begins with Tennessee Valley Recovery

Visit the admissions page at Tennessee Valley Recovery today to learn more about our treatment plans.

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If any of these issues resonate with someone, they can consider it a warning sign. Anyone or their loved ones who have these symptoms may very well be battling a substance use disorder. If not treated as soon as possible the condition can get worse and can cause more challenging health symptoms.

Fortunately, anyone with a drug addiction has the chance to decrease use and stabilize their mental and physical health. At Tennessee Valley Recovery, we help anyone with an addiction begin their journey toward sobriety. Start today and be renewed through addiction recovery.

Do You Have A Drinking Problem?

Alcohol is just as dangerous to the body as drugs are. It is also the most common substance to be addicted to because of how easily accessible alcohol is. Alcohol is all around us, in restaurants, shown in commercials, and in stores.

For most people, alcoholism starts small and then grows due to tolerance. The effects are also the main component of why people binge drink. However, knowing the signs of alcoholism will help people understand their condition and whether or not they need treatment. 

Common signs of alcohol addiction include: 

• Needing alcohol to relax or feel confident
• Having legal problems related to drinking, such as a DUI arrest
• Drinking in the morning or alone
• Having difficulty remembering things
• Denying drinking or getting angry when confronted about it
• Having a tough time keeping up with daily responsibilities
• Becoming distant and isolated from friends and family
• Drinking more than the recommended amount
• Feeling a deep regret when hungover
• Continuing to drink despite damaging consequences

If someone on their loved one is prioritizing alcohol over daily responsibilities, health, or relationships, it may be an addiction. When someone can’t function the day without having alcohol, this is a sign that there is a burdening problem in their life.

Getting rid of the guilty and painful feeling of binge drinking comes with many benefits to the person’s physical and mental health. Drinking is a tough cycle to stop, yet it must be done. If someone or someone they love thinks they have a drinking problem, we can help them through the recovery process today.

Where to Go From Here?

Often, people with an addiction don’t know what the first step toward recovery should be. If someone has gone through the addiction assessment and thinks they may be addicted to illicit drugs or have developed alcoholism, the next step is to seek treatment. There are times when it is difficult to reach out for help.

However, understanding people are able to live a sober life and be free from addiction after treatment will help those who need it decide. Don’t hesitate to get treatment because of costs either. We will help patients in getting the most cost affordable treatment plan for them. 

We are devoted to helping our patients in achieving a life of sobriety. Additionally, we provide a safe and comfortable environment for our patients to remain stable and find peace as they go through treatment. We understand that everyone’s condition is different, and we provide specialized treatment catered to patients’ individual needs.

Someone going through alcoholism will need a certain kind of treatment approach compared to someone with a drug addiction. Recover with a team who understands every condition. At Tennessee Valley Recovery, someone can get the care they deserve while going through addiction treatment.

Services Offered at Tennessee Valley Recovery

Knowing what services we offer here at Tennessee Valley Recovery will help patients understand how we approach addiction. Below are a few of our treatment options to better the client’s overall health and develop a sober lifestyle: 

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Our partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a great option if someone has finished inpatient treatment, yet finds themselves still having symptoms of withdrawal or needing medical support. PHP at our facility near Knoxville, Tennessee offers individualized psychiatric services and medicated treatment, ideal for patients who experienced severe addiction. This hands-on, structured program gives patients the opportunity to return home after day treatment, so they can connect with loved ones, or return to their everyday life. 

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) is one step up from traditional outpatient therapy. Patients will be able to get the treatment they need while continuing their responsibilities such as school or work, and family. IOP establishes support, helps with relapse management, and provides ways to cope when at home. We also provide Evening IOP for those who cannot commit to a day program.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

While going through treatment, withdrawal symptoms may be hard to process. Medicated-assisted treatment (or MAT) uses medication to reduce any withdrawal symptoms someone has. This helps ease the painful side effects of withdrawal in a safe environment and can help prevent relapse. In cases of severe or life-threatening addictions, MAT can also combat overdoses, decrease anxiety, and help with depression, as well as insomnia as it provides specialized medication for patients.

Family Counseling 

Family counseling allows family members to talk to one another in a safe environment. Counseling is a great way to start if there seems to be recurring conflict, or the need to communicate. It can help those who just want family support. Through family counseling, patients will be able to strengthen and maintain family relationships. Our family sessions provide patients with a strengthened home environment when they finish treatment.

Holistic Therapy

Holistic therapy treats the person as a whole. How this works is by focusing on healing the individual mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This process will help patients find healing within themselves as they go through a holistic approach to treatment. Our holistic therapy provides treatment through experience. It includes many kinds of treatments such as yoga, meditation, art therapy, acupuncture, and more.

Get a Drug and Alcohol Addiction Assessment Today

If you or a loved one has gone through the addiction assessment and learned they have an addiction, get the help you need at our facility. The side effects that come with addiction disrupt the quality of one’s life and make it uncomfortable. We understand how hard that can be and are here to help.

Break out of the cycle of addiction with the help of our beneficial services. Our team will help you every step of the way toward recovery. When you start to notice that substances are affecting your health and relationships, getting addiction treatment is needed to help you overcome those difficulties.

Contact us today or visit our admissions page to learn more about how we can help your condition.