Once you have opened the door to substance abuse, the slippery slope is dangerous and constantly worsening. An alcoholic, for example, might find himself abusing several different substances to counteract the adverse effects of the primary dependency. In this way, experts feel addicts in recovery may be at risk of another addiction.

Physical Addiction And Dependency Lead To Multiple Addictions

Addiction to one substance tends to encourage abuse of other drugs, leading to increased overall dependency. Dependency and tolerance interact with one another to make the body physically uncomfortable without a gradual increase in the amounts of the drug or alcohol being abused.

As mentioned in the alcohol example above, a substance abuser rarely abuses one drug. In fact, over time and after prolonged use the person can actually become physically “tolerant” to a particular drug. Once an abuser has “maxed out” a certain substance, it is not uncommon for harder alcohol and drugs to be introduced on the scene. For example, alcoholics are infamous for abusing painkillers and anxiety medications as well as street drugs like heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana.

Over time, the body actually becomes used to receiving these signals (via the brain) produced by drugs. This is the scientific theory behind withdrawal symptoms—the physiological system reacts adversely when the expected alcohol or drugs are not delivered to the body. Once marijuana is no longer strong enough for the body, it is inevitable that new and harder substances will be introduced. This also serves as a very comprehensive explanation of gateway drugs (like marijuana, alcohol, etc.) and why they are so dangerous.

The Addiction Problem In America

Substance abuse affects a baffling 23 million Americans through street drugs, alcohol, synthetic substances and prescription drugs. Sadly, many addicts battle their issues from one substance to the next. After successfully treating an addiction to cocaine, for example, one might get caught up with prescription stimulants and develop another addiction. For this reason, a large group of treatment experts are of the mind that addicts in recovery may be at risk of another addiction.

Sadly, some treatment modalities depend on this theory to treat their patients. Through “replacement drug therapy,” street drug users are prescribed various medications that serve as suitable alternatives by curbing cravings and supplying a similar high in a manageable, appropriate pill-form. This “band-aid” approach to treatment is not treatment at all, but merely a management of symptoms.

Successful and Lasting Recovery Takes Time

Because addiction is such a deep and multi-layered issue, it is important to remember that drug rehabilitation should be approached similarly—in other words, the rehab program must address multiple factors contributing to the person's addiction. Be wary of programs that make guarantees and promises in a short period of time.

True sobriety is marked by the ability to function in life without a dependency to any substance—legal or illegal. A heroin addict wouldn’t be considered “cured” if he was “merely drinking alcohol” after rehab. In the same vein, a heroin addict using Methadone cannot truly be considered cured while possessive of a physical dependency to such prescriptions.

Narconon Arrowhead suggests that there are many things that can be done through treatment to ensure that there is permanent and lasting recovery. These include:

•    Making sure the program is multifaceted enough to enable the individual to address key, underlying issues.
•    Ensuring that drug free treatment is used in recovery.
•    Using a physical component to handle the cravings associated with substance abuse.
•    Teaching life skills to handle problems that arise after treatment to help with continued sobriety.

For more information on this subject contact narconon.com.

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2012/09/recovering_from_one_addiction.html