Location
Our Washington Location
Our inpatient facility is located in Washington, and will serve Washington state. It will provide a safe & therapeutic environment for both our staff and patients.
- Edmonds
7416 212th St SW,
Edmonds, WA 98026
Diet Pill Abuse, Addiction and Getting the Best Treatment for Recovery
Diet pill abuse has the potential to lead to addiction, which is something many people do not realize. Once a person gets addicted to these drugs, rehab and even detox may be needed to help them stop. Over time, using them can become a compulsion, which can lead to both a physical and psychological dependence.
We live in a culture that has become obsessed with body image. The New Year always brings a flood of people into gyms all over the country because they want to lose weight. Many supplements on the market make promises about weight loss and improving muscle mass. It seems as though people are hyper-focused on diet and exercise, and diet pills are among the biggest problem in all of it.
Diet pills are among the most highly abused drugs in our country. They are available by prescription and over-the-counter, but they can be dangerous in both cases. It is important to understand the effects of these medications on the body and the mind. People also need to be aware that they do not have to suffer in silence if they get addicted to them. Help is available in the form of quality drug treatment programs.
What is Diet Pills Abuse? The Diet Pills Abuse Definition
Most of the time, diet pills are a part of a marketing strategy that includes following a strict diet along with exercise. However, sometimes diet pills are said to produce results that almost seem impossible without any other type of effort on your part. Either way, the drugs are heavily relied upon to help people lose weight and get fit. Even so, they’re generally not intended to be used as a long-term solution, and when they are, diet pills abuse is the result.
Diet pills abuse should not be confused with diet pills addiction. The two are actually quite different. When someone abuses diet pills, they’re usually taking them longer than they should, they’re combining them with other types of diet pills, or they’re taking them in a way that’s different from just swallowing them in hopes of maximizing their results. When this behavior continues for too long, it’s very likely that a diet pills addiction will result.
What is Diet Pills Addiction? The Signs of Diet Pills Addiction
You may be someone who has been taking diet pills for quite some time, and because of that, you’re wondering if you have actually become addicted to them. Diet pills work by suppressing your appetite, and quite often, this results in a flood of dopamine into your body. Dopamine is one of the “feel good” chemicals your body naturally produces, and it’s also the chemical that’s produced when you enjoy a delicious meal, have sex, or experience a countless number of activities. Dopamine is linked to activities that are necessary for survival, which is why so many people become addicted to diet pills once they start taking them. They begin to see them as something they need just to survive.
If you’re concerned that you might have a diet pills addiction, it can help to learn some of the more common diet pills addiction signs, which are:
- You feel anxious if you forget to take your diet pills
- You go through withdrawal symptoms if you miss taking your diet pills
- You’re not able to stop taking diet pills on your own
- You can’t help but to feel obsessed about taking your diet pills
- You have been told that you have an addiction by people who care about you.
Diet Pills Addiction Facts: Know the Short and Long-Term Effects of Diet Pills
Diet pills may seem safe, but they’re really not safe at all. In fact, there are certain short-term and long-term effects of diet pills that you should be aware of. The short-term effects of diet pills include:
- Demonstrating aggressive behavior
- Feelings of anxiety
- Becoming very depressed
- Having trouble sleeping at night
- Experiencing a fast heart rate
If you continue to take diet pills for a longer period of time, you’re likely to experience some long-term effects, which can include:
- Damage to your heart valves
- Damage to your liver
- Becoming increasingly paranoid
- High risk of stroke
- High risk of death
Help for Diet Pills Addicts: Symptoms of Withdrawal
What many people don’t realize is that many of the stimulants that are found within diet pills are quite similar to those that are found in illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin. These drugs are incredibly dangerous, and symptoms of withdrawal are to be expected when the drugs are stopped. If you attempt to stop your use of diet pills on your own, you might experience:
- A steady weight gain
- Sensations of fatigue
- Feeling groggy throughout the day
- Feelings of depression
- Cravings for diet pills that can lead to a relapse
Because of the questionable chemicals and ingredients that are found in diet pills, it’s difficult to say what could happen if you try to stop taking them on your own. It’s best to stop under medical supervision.
What to Expect During Diet Pill Addiction Treatment
Because diet pills are either OTC or available by prescription, people tend to think of them as safe. The fact is that they can be just as dangerous because of the harmful ingredients many of them have, as we mentioned earlier. This means that getting off them requires intensive treatment that usually includes both detox and rehab.
Remember, this addiction is both physical and psychological. Because of that, both aspects have to be addressed. If one is ignored, there is a very good chance the individual will suffer from a relapse.
Drug detox is the first step in addiction recovery for most diet pill addicts. The chemicals and ingredients in these medications can be highly addictive, and they can cause withdrawal when they are stopped. Detoxing helps to remove them from the body as quickly as possible. At the same time, it also provides relieve from withdrawal symptoms.
This step is very important because withdrawal can become severe for diet pill addicts. Even the cravings alone are enough to get them to go back to using them again. It is a process that takes about seven to ten days, and it should always be done as an inpatient. There may be a risk of complications for some individuals if they try to quit on their own. Those risks are decreased substantially under the watchful eyes of qualified professionals.
There should be an immediate transition into drug rehab after the detoxification period has been completed. Many programs offer both under the same roof for this reason, and this step should also not be skipped. Sometimes people feel so much better after detoxing that they do not see a need for rehabilitation. But this step is vitally important.
During drug rehab, the focus is on receiving therapy and understanding the reasons behind the addiction. Many diet pill addicts are actually suffering from co-occurring disorders, which is why they started using these drugs. A lot of them may have eating disorders, depression, anxiety, or all of the above.
When those underlying issues are ignored, the desire to use diet pills again will only come back. That is why it is so important to address them and make sure they are treated properly. Otherwise, the only thing the individual really did was take a break from using.
Should Diet Pill Addicts Consider Inpatient Drug Treatment?
Diet pill addictions can be very strong, and very challenging to recover from. This is often too difficult to manage by going through outpatient treatment. Most people find that they need the higher level of support and care that goes along with an inpatient stay during drug rehab.
Inpatient rehab offers people so many benefits. For a short period of time, they get to remove themselves from their daily lives to really focus on themselves and recovering. Staff members are on hand at all hours of the day or night to provide much-needed support as well.
Our 28-Day Program in Washington State
At Northpoint Washington, we offer one of the best 28-day programs in Washington State. Our drug treatment center provides both detox and rehab services under the same roof. This makes for a seamless transition for our patients as they move from one phase of treatment to the next.
Our patients receive several types of treatment when they come to our facility for addiction recovery help. As we mentioned earlier, they first go through the detoxification process. Afterward, they begin drug rehab, where they receive different types of therapy. All of our patients are assigned their own therapist, and they also have group therapy. Family counseling and other forms of treatment may be recommended as well, and we treat all co-occurring disorders.
We are located in Edmonds, Washington and we are in-network with many of the top insurance companies in our state.
Talk With Someone Today About Diet Pill Abuse, Addiction and Treatment
At Northpoint Recovery, we want to see all of our patients experience long-term success. It can be so difficult to make the decision to get help for a diet pill addiction. But once a person does, their entire life can change. Our staff members are here to provide encouragement, guidance and support during this critical time of healing and recovery.
Do you need to talk with someone about your diet pill addiction or abuse? Can we answer your questions about finding quality drug treatment in Washington State? Please contact us.
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