An addict uses a drug compulsively, despite the fact that it causes harm — the key component of addiction. Most smokers know cigarettes are damaging to their health. Most want to quit, but can’t overcome the cravings to the drug (nicotine).

   Dependence is a physical state that occurs when the lack of a drug causes the body to have a reaction. A good example is a heavy coffee drinker. If one is used to drinking several cups of coffee each day, they soon learn about physical dependence when they suddenly miss a day or two. This does not mean they are addicted to the caffeine; it only means the body is surprised not to see what it has come to expect.

   As any diabetic will testify about insulin, or any heart patient will testify about blood pressure medication, dependence is not necessarily indicative of addiction. In fact, regular use of these medications is essential for good health. Addiction and physical dependence often occur together — but you can have addiction without physical dependence, and physical dependence without addiction.

Yes — treatment definitely works. Addiction is often described as a chronic, relapsing condition characterized by waves of abuse, decreased use, and abuse again.

   For many people, more than one treatment episode may be required before improvements (such as reductions in use or sustained remission) are seen. Studies show that after six months, treatment for alcoholism is successful for 40–70% of patients.

   The improvement rate for people completing substance abuse treatment is comparable to that of people treated for asthma and other chronic, relapsing health conditions.

Call (800) 628-5115 to find the field office closest to you. A guide for Vocational Rehabilitation applicants is available in both English and Spanish languages:
        • A Guide for Applicants (in English)
        • Una Guía Para los Solictantes (en Español)
Please refer to the guide for eligibility requirements

   Long-term drug use results in significant changes in brain function that persist long after the individual stops using drugs. These drug-induced changes in brain function may have many behavioral consequences, including the compulsion to use drugs despite adverse consequences — the defining characteristic of addiction.

   Understanding that addiction has such an important biological component may help explain an individual’s difficulty in achieving and maintaining abstinence without treatment. Research studies indicate that even the most severely addicted individuals can participate actively in treatment and that active participation is essential to good outcomes.

   The term detox refers to the detoxifying of the residual toxins left in the human body as a result of taking alcohol and other drugs. From a medical prospective, detox is the process of medically managing the body’s physical withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs to minimize the possible side effects and help prevent potentially harmful consequences. There are a variety of methods for the actual medical process of detox.

   Detox is the first step of rehab and treatment. As long as there is alcohol or other drugs in a person’s body and as the body goes into withdrawal the result is a craving for more alcohol or the substance. Also, until a person is mentally and physically stabilized, they are not prepared to participate in a treatment program.

   The length of time required for detox depends on the process being utilized. In general, alcohol detox, when done in a medical environment, can take anywhere from 3–5 days. For drugs such as heroin, opiates, methadone, or benzodiazepines the time can range from 5–7 days of medically supervised detox. The medical process of detox usually includes administering a variety of substances to relieve the withdrawal symptoms and minimize the potentially harmful consequences.