Habits usually do not form overnight. I have often heard this popular quote repeated, though the source is unknown: “Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.

Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” By this statement, it is clear that people do things habitually after a process that begins in our thought patterns. The whole sequence takes time, and it’s usually a negative thought or idea that leads to a negative habit. Habits, when not checked or balanced, become addictions; and addictions are the hardest habits to break.

What Habits Lead to Drug Addiction?

A person might try their first drug after a dare or a little pressure from their peers, in an attempt to fit in and look cool. Others try drugs when they are depressed, sick, or at a weak moment in their lives; looking cool is the farthest thing on their minds. Some might try it for no particular reason at all, other than out of curiosity. Kids who have access to drugs (prescription or otherwise) through parents or peers sometimes experiment, even using cough syrups, cold medicines, and other household products to get high.

It doesn’t help that drugs and alcohol are glamorized in the media, in music videos, movies, and in advertising. Print ads tend to be sleek and alluring enough to draw someone in. The drug, alcohol and tobacco industries are some of the richest businesses in the world, thriving even in tough economic times.

Unfortunately, there are some people who have an immediate strong reaction and addiction to a drug, while others seem unaffected until larger doses are taken. Some drugs are more potent and addictive than others, so one dose can get a person hooked. Ten-time Grammy winner Natalie Cole recalls in the movie, “Livin’ for Love: The Natalie Cole Story,” how her very first encounter with heroin at a house party got her hooked. She had taken other drugs before but had never had such an intense reaction.

Prescription drug addiction can begin by accident, especially when they are narcotic painkillers. These kinds of drugs are known to be addictive, but also effective at relieving pain. Patients are simply seeking pain relief, while their bodies are gradually building up immunity to the drugs, rendering the drugs less and less effective. As a result, they take greater doses and more pills to ease their pain and an addiction forms.

No matter why someone gets started taking drugs, taking them habitually usually leads to addiction; and once they are addicted, it usually becomes a lifelong struggle to break free and stay free.

Find More Drug Addiction Programs Articles

Local public and private drug treatment centers in Florida continue to be filled with people struggling with an addiction to prescription painkillers. At Hillsborough County’s public drug treatment center, there are 20 beds for people who volunteer, or are ordered by the court, to complete a four-day detox program.

The drug treatment center is run by the Agency for Community Treatment Services and has most of its beds filled by people who are addicted to opiates.

“If they’re 40 or under, it’s going to be opiates,” said Michael Strolla, the assistant medical director of the drug treatment center.

Most of the patients at the drug treatment center had legitimate pain before they became addicted to the opiates. They tell the story of failed attempts at physical therapy, massage and acupuncture before they acknowledged they were addicted to the pain pills.

“It’s a common story,” said Strolla. “These people, most of them, truly thought they were doing the right thing after tweaking their back or getting injured.”

There are about 70 pain clinics in Hillsborough County and 35 in the Tampa area. According to Bruce Grant, the director of the state Office of Drug Control, there are about 1,000 pain clinics registered in Florida. On October 1, new state laws went into effect making it more difficult to register and operate pain clinics in Florida. The pain clinics are now subject to inspections by state regulators and could be closed if they are not in compliance. A statewide drug monitoring program may also help stem the rising tide of prescription drug abuse.

“I’ve lost 16 friends in three years,” said Lindsay Roberts, a paralegal at a Tampa law firm. “I’ve lost so many people to the same thing. I’m to the point where I can’t cry anymore. I’m just angry.”

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Substance abuse is the repeated use of drugs such as cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs. There are many reasons that contribute to such addictions, such as ineffective parenting, poor social coping skills, association with deviant peer group and peer pressure.

There are various symptoms too, such as forgetfulness, aggressiveness, irritability and getting drunk on a regular basis that can be seen frequently in an individual. If you notice any of the symptoms, it is imperative to approach a drug rehab center otherwise these can have deadly consequences if not treated at the right time. Treating the drug or alcohol abuse at an early stage is the best way to get rid of this habit.

Essentially treatment is a behavior modification therapy that helps drugs and alcohol addicts to come out of this habit and lead a healthy and stress free life. The drug prevention programs made available by the rehab center are offered after analyzing the person’s characteristics and knowing the type of substance being consumed.

The substance abuse treatment programs are carried out by specially trained staff members who are certified or licensed as substance abuse counselors. These substance abuse counselors or specialists identify the individual’s negative behavioral traits and take necessary steps with a positive approach.

Substance abuse counseling plays a crucial role in the psychological recovery of the patient. With this counseling session, addicts are motivated to develop basic problem-solving skills, achieve a balanced lifestyle, improve relationships, find a higher meaning in life and eventually lead a productive and happy life.

There are residential programs, outpatient programs and executive rehab programs also made available to patients by specialists helping in the recovery process. Partial hospitalization and methadone clinics are other amenities provided to individual suffering from alcohol or drug abuse. To ensure long time recovery, there are residential substance abuse programs made available by drug rehab centers. Get more information.

Substance abuse is the repeated use of drugs such as cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs. There are many reasons that contribute to such addictions, such as ineffective parenting, poor social coping skills, association with deviant peer group and peer pressure.

There are various symptoms too, such as forgetfulness, aggressiveness, irritability and getting drunk on a regular basis that can be seen frequently in an individual. If you notice any of the symptoms, it is imperative to approach a drug rehab center otherwise these can have deadly consequences if not treated at the right time. Treating the drug or alcohol abuse at an early stage is the best way to get rid of this habit.

Essentially treatment is a behavior modification therapy that helps drugs and alcohol addicts to come out of this habit and lead a healthy and stress free life. The drug prevention programs made available by the rehab center are offered after analyzing the person’s characteristics and knowing the type of substance being consumed.

The substance abuse treatment programs are carried out by specially trained staff members who are certified or licensed as substance abuse counselors. These substance abuse counselors or specialists identify the individual’s negative behavioral traits and take necessary steps with a positive approach.

Substance abuse counseling plays a crucial role in the psychological recovery of the patient. With this counseling session, addicts are motivated to develop basic problem-solving skills, achieve a balanced lifestyle, improve relationships, find a higher meaning in life and eventually lead a productive and happy life.

There are residential programs, outpatient programs and executive rehab programs also made available to patients by specialists helping in the recovery process. Partial hospitalization and methadone clinics are other amenities provided to individual suffering from alcohol or drug abuse. To ensure long time recovery, there are residential substance abuse programs made available by drug rehab centers. Get more information.