Anabolic steroids abuse and addiction have been serious problems in the United States for many years. Detox and rehab are often needed in order for people to stop taking them. But these drugs are highly addictive, and it can be difficult for people to admit that they need help.
As with any other drug addiction, anabolic steroids can quickly take over a person’s life. It is important to know the dangers of using them, both in the short and long-term. But we also want to make people aware of the various ways they can get treatment. Here, we would like to discuss these drugs in more detail, as well as what people can do to recover from this addiction.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, which is the main sex hormone in men. These drugs are typically prescribed to treat hormone issues in men. They can be used to treat delayed puberty, as well as to improve muscle loss from a disease. But they are often misused by bodybuilders and athletes.
Anabolic steroids do not produce a euphoric high like other drugs do. When they are abused, they can lead to hormonal problems. We also want to point out that men are not the only ones who abuse these drugs. Women do as well, and the impact they can have on them is just as serious.
A lot of people begin taking anabolic steroids because they were prescribed by a doctor. But these drugs are incredibly potent, and misusing them can come easy. Abusing them often results in a number of short and long-term effects.
Some of the short-term effects include:
People who use anabolic steroids long-term are also likely to develop hostile, volatile behavior. They are also at an increased risk for cancer.
Any use of anabolic steroids outside of a doctor’s written prescription is considered to be anabolic steroid abuse. Most of the time, these drugs are only intended to be used for a short period of time, but some of them can be found available for sale on the street in some cases. In fact, there are even some varieties that are found for sale online.
For most people who abuse anabolic steroids, once the abuse begins, it starts with visiting more than one doctor to get prescriptions for the drugs. At that point, dosages may be increased up to 100 times what the original prescription was written for.
People who abuse anabolic steroids often claim to be in complete control of their drug use. They believe they can stop using them any time they choose. That is denial, and it is a perfect example of how the mind of an addict works.
One of the biggest reasons that anabolic steroid rehab is highly recommended when stopping these drugs is because of the high risk of serious withdrawal symptoms. If you choose to try to quit on your own, you’ll find that these symptoms can become quite strong, and it’s hard to maintain a quit when you’re going through them. Most people will give up and go back to using, which can easily lead to a deadly relapse.
Some of the more common anabolic steroid withdrawal symptoms may include:
Depression has also been reported when stopping anabolic steroids, and there have been users who have committed suicide because of severe depressive episodes.
Inpatient anabolic steroid rehab is the best option for you if you are addicted one or more of these dangerous drugs. In an inpatient setting, the staff will be able to monitor your withdrawal symptoms and even use proven techniques that can help to lessen their severity. You may need to go through detoxification, which is a process that helps your body rid itself of the medication much faster than it would otherwise. This can shorten the duration of your withdrawal.
In addition, when you go to inpatient anabolic steroid rehab, you’ll be able to work closely with a counselor who will help you understand why you became addicted to these drugs. This is the best way to recover because you’re aware of the source of your addiction.
You may be thinking that going to anabolic steroid rehab sounds like it should be the answer to your addiction issues. However, you don’t have the money to pay for that type of treatment. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about that at all. Your health insurance company is now required to provide you with benefits to help cover the costs of anabolic steroid rehabilitation. This is a recent change that was put into place because of the Affordable Care Act, and it means that anyone who needs to recover from an anabolic steroid addiction can now afford to do it the right way.
At Northpoint Washington, we have worked with many people who have struggled because of anabolic steroid addictions. We know how powerful the addiction can be, and we want people to know that we are equipped to help them.
Our facility is located in Edmonds, Washington. Our building is very modernized, and patients say that they feel more like they are at home than at treatment. We want patients to feel relaxed while they are with us. That way they can focus on the reason they are there – to recover from anabolic steroid addiction.
When patients come to us for help, they often feel hopeless. The decision to turn from a life of drug abuse is a major one, and we are there to support their recovery goals. Our inpatient program includes three phases of treatment, and each of them is vital.
The first phase is to go through detox. This is a process of removing harmful toxins from the body. Medical detox is most often recommended for people with anabolic steroid addictions.
The next phase is drug rehab, which involves many different types of therapy. Our patients work individually with a counselor, but they also work in group settings. Family therapy is another important component of treatment.
Finally, aftercare is recommended, and it is so important to keep all follow-up appointments. Many of our patients will move on to an intensive outpatient program following their inpatient stay. Others will start going to NA meetings and/or outpatient rehab.
At Northpoint Washington, we recognize that addictions usually do not just happen. People turn to substances for a number of reasons, and sometimes, it is because they have a co-occurring disorder.
Co-occurring disorders are mental health conditions that often accompany addictions. Someone who is addicted to anabolic steroids might be suffering from any of the following:
Dual diagnosis treatment is the best way to treat co-occurring disorders. It ensures that they are addressed properly and that the patient receives the care they need. With the symptoms from the co-occurring disorder under control, it lessens the chance of a relapse.
It is very common for people to develop cross addictions. This simply means that they are addicted to more than one substance, or that they also have an addictive behavior. Someone who is addicted to anabolic steroids may also be addicted to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, or any other drug.
Ignoring one addiction to treat another is ineffective across the board. Because we address all addictions, our patients’ with more than one stand a better chance at being successful.
It can be hard to admit that you need help to recover from your anabolic steroid addiction. But at Northpoint Washington, we want to make the entire recovery experience a good one. Many of our staff members have experience with addiction recovery themselves. They know what you are going through, and they are here to help you succeed.
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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