About Substance Abuse
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Substance abuse affects around 25 million Americans, and recovery is a challenging, life- long process. Pacific Mind Health's team of providers have a wealth of experience treating men and women dealing with substance abuse in Long Beach, California, and the surrounding communities.
With the right medical and emotional support, you can overcome your addiction and regain control of your life. Pacific Mind Health offers personalized outpatient care and takes time to get to know each individual in order to build a specialized path to lasting recovery. |
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Please note: Patients who have not had sustained abstinence from substances for at least 90-days are considered too acute for outpatient treatment, such as that offered at Pacific Mind Health. In order to have success in this early stage of recovery, these patients need a more intensive program to manage withdrawal symptoms, physical cravings, psychological dependence, and tempting triggers. After achieving abstinence for 90 days, the outpatient program at Pacific Mind Health can assist patients in maintaining sobriety by learning new strategies for coping, identifying trauma that contributed to substance abuse, rebuilding relationships, and cultivating a substance-free lifestyle.
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse refers to the overconsumption of an addiction to mind- and behavior-altering substances that have negative health and behavioral outcomes. Substance abuse is a complex issue that can pose serious risks to your health. The inappropriate or excessive use of a substance can be hard to define.
Many researchers believe addiction is based in the brain. Many people with addictions misuse prescription drugs or use illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, despite the problems that the addiction causes in daily life. Over time, excess alcohol and drug use can alter the way your brain works and affect your self-control and ability to make rational and healthy decisions. Most drugs and alcohol cause intense cravings in your brain.
What causes substance abuse?
The causes of substance abuse aren’t always clear, but many experts point to genetics and environmental factors. Some people are more likely to develop an addiction than others. If you previously had or currently have an environment where your friends or family misuse drugs, this could increase your risk of substance abuse.
Once you start misusing drugs, your genetics play an important role in how quickly you become addicted.
Substance abuse refers to the overconsumption of an addiction to mind- and behavior-altering substances that have negative health and behavioral outcomes. Substance abuse is a complex issue that can pose serious risks to your health. The inappropriate or excessive use of a substance can be hard to define.
Many researchers believe addiction is based in the brain. Many people with addictions misuse prescription drugs or use illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, despite the problems that the addiction causes in daily life. Over time, excess alcohol and drug use can alter the way your brain works and affect your self-control and ability to make rational and healthy decisions. Most drugs and alcohol cause intense cravings in your brain.
What causes substance abuse?
The causes of substance abuse aren’t always clear, but many experts point to genetics and environmental factors. Some people are more likely to develop an addiction than others. If you previously had or currently have an environment where your friends or family misuse drugs, this could increase your risk of substance abuse.
Once you start misusing drugs, your genetics play an important role in how quickly you become addicted.
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What are the signs of substance abuse?
While everyone is different, there are many signs of substance abuse, including:
Many people dealing with substance abuse have an underlying mental health condition or significant psychological and emotional difficulty. |
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What are the treatments for substance abuse?
Treatment for substance abuse is usually centered around abstinence and can involve a variety of therapies. Your Pacific Mind Health provider might recommend psychotherapy to help you manage stress and develop coping mechanisms and enhanced self-esteem and control. Your psychiatrist might also recommend certain medications and lifestyle changes, such as exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, and stress management.
If depression is exacerbating or causing your substance abuse, your Pacific Mind Health psychiatrist might recommend treating your depression with methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or medication therapy.
The right psychiatric care can help you manage your cravings, resist temptation, and improve your quality of life overall. If you’re dealing with substance abuse, call or schedule your personal consultation online.
Treatment for substance abuse is usually centered around abstinence and can involve a variety of therapies. Your Pacific Mind Health provider might recommend psychotherapy to help you manage stress and develop coping mechanisms and enhanced self-esteem and control. Your psychiatrist might also recommend certain medications and lifestyle changes, such as exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, and stress management.
If depression is exacerbating or causing your substance abuse, your Pacific Mind Health psychiatrist might recommend treating your depression with methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation or medication therapy.
The right psychiatric care can help you manage your cravings, resist temptation, and improve your quality of life overall. If you’re dealing with substance abuse, call or schedule your personal consultation online.