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Disease Education

Teaching Clients About the Disease of Addiction.

Addiction is both biological and behavioral

While it may begin with a choice, chemical dependency alters the state of the brain over time. Successful drug and alcohol recovery starts with an understanding of how substance abuse develops and how it is successfully treated. Using films, readings, and recovery-related presentations, our credentialed treatment specialists educate recovering individuals and their families about the complexities of addiction. Awareness is the first step to relapse prevention, so we emphasize disease education throughout the recovery process.

Key Parts of the Substance Abuse Education Groups at 10 Acre Ranch

Neuroscience of substance abuse

We now know that addiction is a learned behavior that must be “unlearned” during recovery. Cutting-edge drug addiction research recognizes the importance of neurotransmitters in the dependence and withdrawal processes. The 10 Acre Ranch team teaches residents the science behind behavior patterns. Arming patients with information, we prepare them to battle chemical dependency.

Stressors & relapse triggers

Relapse education is so important that we devote hours of time to its focus. It is critical that clients learn to identify personal triggers and develop stress management techniques before they return home, to work, or to social circles. In many cases, recovering addicts must develop new friends and social settings to avoid facing the unhealthy temptations of their old life.

Post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS)

As brain chemistry returns to normal, some clients experience post-acute withdrawal. Unlike the physical symptoms caused by acute withdrawal, post-acute withdrawal causes emotional and psychological symptoms like panic, anxiety, brain fog, mood swings, low energy, and sleep disturbance. Patients dealing with PAWS complain of being on an emotional roller coaster for days at a time. During group therapy sessions, residents learn to recognize and manage post-acute symptoms, so they are not caught off-guard and are less prone to relapse.

Talk with Our Professionals

Expert Addiction Education & Treatment in Southern California

10 Acre Ranch’s drug and alcohol treatment center educates men 18 and over by providing addiction discussion groups, lectures, workshops, literature, and other resources. The more clients know about the science behind addiction, the more equipped they are to confront their behaviors and retrain their brains. Addiction is a disease that requires a variety of interventional and behavioral modifications. To learn more about our affordable addiction recovery programs and beautiful California facility, get in touch with the 10 Acre Ranch team today.

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