5 Hardest Drugs to Quit

What Causes Drug Addiction?

Drug addicts do not start out wanting to be drug addicts. Addiction is a brain disease that can happen to anybody. When a person is taking drugs or prescription medications for pain management, recreation, social reasons, self-medication or any other reason, their body will eventually become used to having the substance in the system, and brain chemistry is altered. This causes a physical dependence on the substance and affects the brain’s ability to function normally without the substance. Over time, this dependence will cause cravings and the brain becomes wired to act compulsively, leading to substance use disorders.

5 Drugs That Are Hardest to Quit

The drugs that are the most difficult to quit include:

Crack cocaine – crack cocaine addiction and powder cocaine addiction is psychological in nature, with strong therapy, peer support and aftercare programs as the most helpful forms of relapse prevention.

Crystal meth– detoxing from methamphetamine and other central nervous system stimulants can be extremely difficult as it is a potent substance. Many people need medical detox treatments to get them through the distressing acute withdrawal symptoms, safely detoxing the body and the brain with medical care, counseling, and other treatments in an inpatient rehab facility.

Opioids – heroin addiction, fentanyl addiction, methadone addiction, and other opioid addiction may require a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) detox program to be able to safely taper off the drug without suffering from painful withdrawal symptoms and cravings for the drug over weeks or even months. A MAT program is often integrated into intensive outpatient rehab.

Xanax – Xanax addiction and addiction to other benzodiazepine drugs can cause very uncomfortable or painful withdrawal symptoms with severe anxiety or panic that can come back for weeks or even months after detox, and a slow taper in a medically assisted treatment plan is recommended, along with an outpatient treatment plan.

Alcohol – it may surprise you to see alcohol listed as one of the hardest drugs to quit, but alcohol detox can produce severe withdrawal symptoms that can range from distressing cravings and anxiety to life-threatening seizures and delirium tremens without proper medical oversight and treatment. Alcohol addiction requires the same treatments as other substance use disorders after alcohol detox, including therapy, counseling, aftercare programs, and relapse prevention programs.

Signs of Drug Addiction

You may be struggling with addiction if you:

• Crave the drug when you don’t have access to it
• Have an increased tolerance to the drug
• Are experiencing uncontrollable mood swings, changes in sleep habits, or changes in energy
• Are acting in ways you normally would not, lying, stealing, or hiding drug use
• Avoid loved ones and isolating yourself from friends and family
• Notice your social activities all revolve around obtaining, using, and recovering from the drug
• Are missing or performing poorly at work or school because of drug abuse
• Are behaving in risky or dangerous ways
• Prioritize drug use over important events, responsibilities and the needs of others
• Have withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop or cut back on drug use

If you can relate to feeling these symptoms of drug or alcohol addiction, it may be time to seek addiction treatment at a qualified drug rehab center.

Drug Rehab at Quantum

Quantum Behavioral Health partners with several highly rated detox and inpatient rehab facilities, and offers outpatient levels of care that complement medically assisted treatment programs well, including Partial Care, Intensive Outpatient Program, and Outpatient Care.

Through our drug abuse treatment programs at Quantum, we can help you recover from the hardest drugs to quit and hardest addictions to overcome using:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy, individual therapy and group therapy
• Family counseling
• Dual diagnosis to treat addiction alongside mental illness
• Holistic treatment like meditation, yoga, and art therapy
• Relapse prevention, followed by an aftercare program and alumni program
• Vivitrol treatments and other medication-assisted treatments
• 12-step programs

Whether you are in an inpatient or outpatient program for drugs and alcohol, through intensive integrated substance abuse treatment recovery programs, we can help you quit even the most difficult drugs in the world. Contact Quantum today at (609) 993-0733 to verify insurance coverage or to ask any questions you may have about our programs. We can help you.