Alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy are examples of psychoactive drugs. However, what do they do? Why do you take them? Moreover, how can you overcome an addiction to them?

Psychoactive Drugs Affect the Central Nervous System

Psychoactive drugs can affect the way you perceive things. Furthermore, your mood and behavior change, too. It’s interesting to note that psychoactive drugs can be stimulants or depressants. For example, cocaine is a stimulant that supercharges the central nervous system.

As a result, you feel like you have a lot of energy. You may feel sharp and ready to take on the world. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant. It calms you down and causes functions to slow down.

You experience this as slurring speech when you drink too much. In addition, your reflexes slow down. You feel like you can’t keep up. Eventually, you black out or pass out.

Who Uses These Drugs?

You might know stimulants as uppers. These psychoactive drugs have an appeal for people who feel they need help with staying awake. Students and athletes are most likely to make use of these products. However, on the other side are depressants.

You might use them to self-medicate after traumatic experiences or when dealing with seemingly overwhelming stressors. For example, these downers can work for you by keeping unwelcome thought and feelings at bay. They may also assist when individuals feel particularly anxious in social situations or other settings. However, no matter what type of products you ingest, there’s a strong addiction potential.

Overcoming a Dependence on Psychoactive Drugs

The first step for a successful recovery is detoxification. You have to remove the chemicals from your body. These products present with a variety of withdrawal symptoms that range from uncomfortable to painful. At a rehab facility with a medical care component, however, you can withdraw in safety.

For starters, intake specialists prepare a treatment protocol that outlines the best approach to withdrawal. Doing so ensures that medical monitoring looks for problems, such as rising blood pressure or spikes in the heart rate. Moreover, they also know to look for seizure activity. In the process, they keep you safe, pain-free, and comfortable.

However, you’re not done yet. Overcoming an addiction to these substances also requires clinical care. This process helps you understand what made the uppers or downers so attractive to you. You learn what it was that propelled you to drug abuse in the first place. From there, therapists give you the tools to handle any stressors and triggers.

They work with a variety of treatment options to help program participants with psychological disorders. Examples include:

• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Cognitive behavioral treatment
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Family therapy
• Nutritional support

High-quality addiction treatment programs for psychoactive drugs also include a holistic component. Yoga, for example, is vital for stress relief and overall wellness development. Mindfulness training helps people struggling with anxiety and pain. Both are vital for continued relapse prevention after discharge.

Getting Help Today

No matter which drug you’ve chosen to act on your central nervous system, it’s time to quit. You know the substance is now causing more problems than it’s solving in your life. The therapists at Ashley Addiction Treatment want you to know that you’re not alone in your struggle. Call us today at 866-313-6307 to learn more about our programs and therapies.