Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance abuse or addiction is the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, prescription medication) used with the intention of altering states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Addiction is more than an uncontrollable desire for substances; it is an underlying behavior pattern with deeply emotional roots. Successful treatment for substance abuse requires digging down and revealing the long-ingrained pattern at the root level. What's often revealed is behavior born of anger, helplessness, and shame, compounded by intense desires for immediate escape from these unsettling feelings. Because addiction is a chronic disorder, the ultimate goal of successful, long-term abstinence often requires dedication to sustained and repeated treatment.