Types of Addiction
Stimulants and depressants are the two most common types of addictive substances. Stimulants and depressants affect your central nervous system (the system responsible for sensing and adapting to environmental changes) in different ways. Depressants slow your breathing and heart rate while stimulants create energizing effects. Mixing multiple substances can drastically increase your risk of experiencing health problems (including overdose and sudden death). Different types of drugs require different types of detox programs.
Depressants
The function of a depressant is to interfere with central nervous system (CNS) activity. Depressants can eliminate a tremendous amount of pain after surgical procedures. They have contributed to modern medicine in many ways. Using depressants regularly (even as prescribed by your doctor) after a surgical procedure can affect the brain’s ability to cope with pain and anxiety.
Extended periods of heavy use impact pain receptors, causing people to feel more physical pain than before when they don’t have access to depressants. If your brain is telling you that you are suffering unbearable agony, you will naturally want to eliminate it. In addition to providing pain relief, depressants cause cognitive and physical abnormalities that impair daily life. A person who develops a dependence on depressants will suffer immense social, career, and survival impairments. Consuming too many depressants eliminates the brain’s drive to breathe air.
The most commonly abused substances that can lead to physical dependency include:
- Alcohol (liquor, beer, wine)
- Opiates (morphine, fentanyl, heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin)
- Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin)
Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant that is designed to ease mild anxiety in small doses. Alcohol can be highly addictive; family history, trauma, genetics, and other factors contribute to alcoholism.
If you are planning to detox from alcohol, the safest setting is a medical detox center. While detoxing is not usually dangerous, complications can arise (especially with chronic, uninterrupted use). You will be amazed at how much an IV can help you detox from alcohol. Our goal is to keep you safe and comfortable in our discrete, non-judgemental setting.
Opiates
Opiates are depressants that are designed to help people deal with pain. The terms opiate and opioid are often used interchangeably. Opiates are derived from the poppy plant, while opioids contain synthetic (humanmade) compounds.
It gets harder to place drugs into the appropriate categories when they contain both plant-based and synthetic materials, so, to make things easier, we’re going to call them opiates in this post. They have been overprescribed for years and are highly addictive and dangerous. In 2018, almost 70% of drug overdose deaths in Florida involved opiates, including:
- Fentanyl
- Heroin
- Oxycodone
- Morphine
- Vicodin
- Percocet
Detoxing from opiates can be overwhelming, but you can put many of your fears to rest when you take the medical detox route. Our South Florida opiate detox program will have you back on your feet in no time.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are depressants designed to help people deal with anxiety disorders. There are two categories of benzodiazepines prescribed in the United States:
Short-Acting Benzodiazepines
Short-acting benzodiazepines are designed to help people calm down before surgery. Examples include:
- Halcion
- ProSom
- Restoril
- Versed
Long-Acting Benzodiazepines
Long-acting benzodiazepines are designed to eliminate anxiety and improve sleep. Examples include:
- Xanax
- Ativan
- Valium
- Librium
Side effects of benzodiazepine abuse include:
- Slurred speech
- Weakness
- Slowed breathing
- Sexual dysfunction
- Coma
- Intense cravings
- Disoriented thinking
- Extreme exhaustion
- Obsession
Becoming reliant on benzodiazepines is easier than you think. Detox without medication can be extremely uncomfortable. Summit offers a secure, comfortable, friendly environment for Benzo detox in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Stimulants
Stimulants vs. depressant counterparts are drugs designed to stimulate the central nervous system (CNS). In small doses, stimulants can be safely used to increase alertness, competitiveness, and focus. Stimulants have been shown to reduce tiredness, appetite, and insouciance. They can also cause jitteriness, paranoia, and aggression.
In some people, stimulants create a sense of euphoria. Using high doses for an extended period of time often leads to addiction. Consuming stimulants can have many harmful effects, including:
- Aggression
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Paranoia
- High body temperature
- Rapid heartbeat
Stimulants affect a person’s ability to make rational and logical decisions. This causes people to engage in risky and dangerous activities. People who enjoy an adrenaline rush should avoid taking stimulants. The highly addictive nature of stimulants has brought national attention to the dangerous consequences of stimulant addiction. Some of the most common stimulants include:
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Adderall
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
Drug Detox in South Florida
When you are seeking treatment for substance abuse issues and alcohol dependency, it is essential to find an inpatient detox facility that can provide the services you need in a safe, discrete, non-judgemental environment. Every person who experiences addiction withdrawal has different needs and therefore requires individualized care.
Don’t wait until you’re in the ER to detox. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to share more about our discrete, comfortable, practical detox options. Contact Summit Detox by calling (888) 995-5265.
