Illegal Drug Addiction – Drug Treatment Programs

Illegal drugs (or illicit drugs) like cocaine, heroin, marijuana, ecstasy, and hallucinogens are highly addictive substances that can become a part of the physical make-up of the person using them.  Additionally, illegal drugs are just that – illegal. By law, they are illegal to make, illegal to sell, and illegal to use. Not only can a person become hopelessly addicted to illegal drugs – they can be arrested and go to jail – or worse, die of an overdose or get killed on the street trying to obtain more drugs to survive.

Vertava Health offers comprehensive recovery treatment for a variety of illegal drug addictions, including:

• Heroin Addiction
• Cocaine Addiction
• Meth Addiction

Getting Help For An Illegal Drug Addiction

The only cure for illegal drug addiction is comprehensive treatment. For many illegal drugs, medical detox is a must in order to clear the drugs from the system and help the addict focus his or her mind on how to learn to live without the drug.

At Vertava Health, we provide medical detox for patients who are hopelessly addicted to these drugs.  This detoxification process is safe, secure and monitored by medical doctors. This is the first step in healing from this type of drug addiction.  We also provide all other levels of care like residential / inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, sober living and transitional living. This means you or your loved one stays under our watchful eye for the duration of drug rehab taking classes, participating in individual counseling, learning life skills and more.

There is help for those struggling with illegal drug addiction. Call Vertava Health today to find out how.

24 / 7 Drug Addiction Support Hotline: 1-844-470-0410

What Makes Illegal Drugs Addicting?

Just like alcohol addiction or prescription drug addiction, illegal drug addiction is the chemical dependency a person develops when using illegal substances. This type of drug addiction usually starts as experimentation. The user tries something out of curiosity and becomes hooked on the physiological and/or psychological effects of the drug. Chemicals within drugs like heroin attach to the brain, changing its composition and requiring the user to continue to use to maintain balance.

Many illicit drugs pose serious health risks, even when taken in small doses. An illicit drug addiction tends to progress more rapidly than other addictions, often requiring the user to consume increasingly higher doses of the drug to get the same effects. When the drug is not used, the body and brain punish the drug user with withdrawal symptoms which can range from headaches and body tremors to severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations and psychotic thoughts.

A person who experiences such withdrawal symptoms will do whatever it takes to feed the body the drugs it now requires to survive. This can mean stealing from the home, stealing from family and friends, robbing convenience stores, mugging innocent people, becoming dealers, prostitution and more. These activities are common for a person addicted to illegal drugs and often land them in jail for years and years.  Without intervention, an addict will often put his health and safety—or the health and safety of others—in grave danger.

Warning Signs Of Commonly Used Drugs

• Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking, inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.
• Depressants (including Xanax, Valium, GHB): Contracted pupils; drunk-like; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgement; slurred speech; sleepiness.
• Stimulants (including amphetamines, cocaine, crystal meth): Dilated pupils; hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.
• Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors): Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; lots of cans/ aerosols in the trash.
• Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.
• Heroin: Contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light; needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing, sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite.

24 / 7 Drug Addiction Support Hotline: 1-844-470-0410

One year ago, my son took a huge step in the right direction as I dropped him off at Vertava Health. That decision will change his life and impact our family forever. We are eternally grateful to Vertava Health for helping turn our son around and get him started in a new life! We love our new family at ACTN!

—- Connie White, Mother of an ACTN Spring 2 Life Campus graduate