How to Break an Addiction: A Guide to Overcoming Addiction

The patient assumes the pivotal role of leader within their own treatment team, a fundamental aspect of the recovery process. The personnel at American Addiction Centers are not just providers of care; they bring a wealth of expertise and experience, combined with a positive and supportive attitude. They serve as essential consultants and collaborators, working closely with the patient to empower their journey toward recovery. 

Central to this approach is the patient’s commitment to engaging in treatment. This commitment is crucial for establishing a foundation for lasting recovery, as it signifies the patient’s readiness to embrace the transformative process ahead.

The most significant factor in the effectiveness of addiction treatment lies in the client’s intrinsic desire to enter treatment. When the patient demonstrates a genuine willingness to engage in the recovery process, then the extensive array of resources and support provided by American Addiction Centers can truly make a difference in their journey to enduring recovery.

If you are struggling with addiction, it’s crucial to remember that an addiction to drugs or alcohol is not a character flaw, a weakness, or a moral failing; substance use disorders (SUDs) are chronic mental health conditions, characterized by an inability to control your drug or alcohol use.

While the decision to try drugs or alcohol is often voluntary, repeated use can lead to brain changes that make quitting extremely difficult for some. Learning how to heal from addiction is not just a matter of willpower or desire—it’s a matter of recognizing a problem and seeking help.

American Addiction Centers (AAC) emphasizes a holistic approach to personalized care, focusing on the unique needs of each individual. The foundation of this approach lies in developing tailored treatment plans that are collaboratively crafted by the client in partnership with the AAC treatment team. This collaborative effort ensures that the treatment plan effectively addresses the specific challenges and goals of the individual.

Recognizing that substance use issues can often persist over an extended period, AAC prioritizes the need for these treatment plans to be both flexible and adaptable. This ongoing adaptability is crucial, as it allows the treatment to evolve in response to the individual’s progress and any emerging challenges.

A pivotal aspect of the recovery journey is the acknowledgment of the problem. AAC views the moment a patient reaches out for help as a significant first step toward healing. This self-recognition is essential for embarking on the path to recovery.

As individuals engage with AAC, they are met with understanding and compassion at every stage of their journey. Each person is provided with a personalized and flexible long-term care plan that reflects the theme of partnership in their recovery — emphasizing that AAC is committed to standing by their side, no matter how long the path may be. This steadfast support not only fosters a sense of trust but also empowers clients to engage fully in their recovery process.

Just as every person is unique, so too is the recovery journey. If you’re wondering how to overcome addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, know that it may take time and persistence, but the effort is worth it. Choosing recovery is one of the most powerful steps you can take for your long-term health and wellbeing. If you’re ready to start the healing process, this guide offers practical steps and support to help you move forward with confidence.

Why Are Drugs Difficult to Quit?

Some drugs are especially hard to quit because they change how the brain works. Your brain sends messages through a process called neurotransmission. Many drugs work by interfering with this process. 

The activity of one neurotransmitter in particular, dopamine, often increases with drug use.1 That spike in dopamine can create feelings of pleasure or reward in the brain, and is believed to play a key role in the development of addiction.2,3

The Reinforcing Effects of Drugs

Typically, the brain releases dopamine in response to performing pleasurable activities, such as eating or having sex. However, many drugs cause a surge in dopamine activity, which can result in a rewarding euphoria, ultimately encouraging the drug-using individual to repeat the experience. This is why many drugs are referred to as “reinforcing”, and one of the reasons that drug addiction can be so challenging to recover from.2

Addiction Is More Than Just Dopamine

While dopamine plays a major role, addiction is a complex brain condition. Research shows that certain types of addiction may be linked to reduced activity in the frontal cortex —the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control. This means that stopping drug use isn’t always as simple as deciding to quit, especially when long-term changes have occurred in the brain.4

Even though it can be a challenge, the benefits of overcoming addiction far outweigh any perceived benefits of continuing substance use. Quitting drugs or alcohol can help improve your mental and physical health, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, enable you to repair your relationships and family life, help you prevent further negative consequences at work or in school, increase your energy levels, improve your appearance, and help you save money.⁵ Quitting drugs and receiving professional help for substance use, in total, can help you reclaim your life and embody your full potential. And American Addiction Centers is here to help you do this.

Which Drugs are Hardest to Quit?

Some substances are notoriously addictive; and, some drugs may be harder to quit than others. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that some of the most commonly used addictive substances include marijuana, synthetic marijuana (K2 or spice), prescription opioids, prescription stimulants (like Adderall), sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotics.⁶

• Medication and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), which can vary depending on the substance (or substances) you used. For example, opioid addiction may be treated with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, while alcohol addiction may be treated with naltrexone, disulfiram, or acamprosate. Medication is often used as a part of a medication-assisted treatment approach. This approach involves a combination of medication and behavioral therapy to promote recovery.
• Varying forms of evidence-based therapy. You may undergo various research-supported behavioral interventions to help you develop insight, learn to change unhelpful behaviors, stay motivated in treatment, and help you achieve your goals. These therapies can include:¹²
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, or CBT. This is widely used form of therapy designed to help people identify irrational or unhelpful thoughts and make positive behavioral changes.
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT. This is used to help you change destructive behaviors, manage intense emotions, and improve relationships. It involves components of mindfulness and acceptance.
  • Contingency Management. This is a rewards-based form of treatment that provides incentives (such as vouchers you can exchange for tangible goods) for positive behavioral change.

Remember that, if you are suffering from a drug overdose, be sure to call 911 immediately or make your way to the nearest physician.

Is it Possible to Stop an Addiction?

Yes, addiction and substance use disorders are treatable. Like other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as asthma or heart disease, addiction isn’t curable but it can be successfully managed through proper treatment. Addiction has a relapse rate similar to other chronic diseases; for example, the relapse rate for asthma or high blood pressure is 50-70%, while addiction has a relapse rate of around 40-60%. Addiction relapse is considered to be a normal part of the recovery process; relapse does not mean that treatment has failed, but can mean that your treatment plan or treatment methods need to be re- evaluated.¹⁰

Effective treatment plans benefit from being individualized and constantly adjusted to your changing needs—taking into account all of your biological, psychological, and social considerations. Your plan may involve a continuum of care, starting from the moment you enter detox, which focuses on treating withdrawal and helping you become medically stable. Once you’ve completed detox, you’ll be ready to transition to additional rehabilitation. Though treatment lengths vary, research supports relatively longer (e.g., at least three months) periods of treatment for optimal treatment outcomes. As a formal treatment program comes to an end, you’ll then move on to aftercare, which is designed to promote lifelong sobriety.^5,8,13,14 

The pillars of addiction treatment developed by the NIDA include many factors that should be taken into account in order for treatment to be optimally effective. These factors include entering treatment as early as possible, matching treatment settings to your needs, using medication and behavioral therapies as needed, addressing other co-occurring mental disorders, and undergoing continuous monitoring to see whether treatment needs to be adjusted.^{1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,14}

How Can I Tell if I Need Substance Use Help?

If you’re asking yourself whether you need help, there’s a chance you might have already taken the key step of admitting you have a problem. 

If you’re not sure, you might consider whether you meet the criteria for a substance use disorder, or SUD, which is the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic term for addiction. These criteria include:15,16

• Using drugs or alcohol in higher or more frequent amounts than you originally intended.
• Wanting to stop using drugs or alcohol but being unable to do so.
• Spending a lot of time trying to get, use, and recover from the effects of the substance.
• Experiencing cravings, which are strong feelings and urges to use.
• Being unable to meet your responsibilities at work, home, or school because of your substance use.
• Continuing to use drugs or alcohol even though it’s causing social or relationship problems.
• Giving up or stopping activities you once enjoyed so you can use drugs or alcohol.
• Using substances in situations where it is dangerous to do so (such as while driving or operating machinery).
• Continuing to drink or use drugs even though you have a psychological or physical problem that you know is probably due to your substance use.
• Experiencing tolerance, or needing to use more of the substance to achieve the desired effect.
• Developing withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability or shakiness, when you stop using the substance.

Take Our “Do I Have a Substance Use Disorder?” Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute “Do I Have a Substance Use Disorder?” self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD). The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of an SUD. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.

What Are My Addiction Treatment Options?

To understand which level of treatment is most appropriate for your needs, you should consult with a physician, a therapist, or other treatment professional, who can assess your situation and make treatment recommendations. Often, people begin their recovery efforts with a period of supervised medical detox and then, depending on their needs, progress through additional rehabilitation. Treatment is sometimes initiated at a relatively intensive level of care but, as recovery progress is made, becomes gradually less intensive as individuals move through their continuum of care. The broad levels of care as outlined by the American Society for Addiction Medicine include:^17,18

• Medically-managed inpatient care. This is designed for those who require a high level of monitoring and supervision, as it offers 24/7 medical care. It is advisable for people who also have a severe risk of developing medical or psychiatric complications during withdrawal and provides highly structured treatment programs.
• Medically monitored inpatient care. This is a relatively less intensive but still highly supportive level of care designed for those who have a moderate risk of developing medical and psychiatric complications. It offers 24/7 support and medical monitoring.
• Intensive outpatient care. This is designed for people who are able to live at home but still require a relatively high level of care. Partial hospitalization programs are included as the most time-intensive subtype within this level of care—requiring 20 hours of treatment per week, while intensive outpatient requires 9 hours of treatment per week. People with a lower risk of medical and psychiatric complications and have stable living environments may be more suited to benefit from this form of care.
• Standard outpatient care. This is a broad term that encompasses a range of recovery efforts such as regularly scheduled office visits, counseling, and therapy sessions, any of which allow you to continue living at home during the treatment period. This level of care is supportive and can mean attending treatment between one and several times per week.

Curious about whether your insurance will cover the entirety of your addiction care? Call an American Addiction Centers (AAC) admissions navigator to verify your insurance and learn more about treatment options at AAC facilities across the United States.