Substance Abuse Disorder, more commonly known as addiction, is a chronic disease that affects an individual's ability to control their drug intake, even when this intake of the drug results in disastrous effects to their personal and professional lives. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that close to 12 percent of individuals aged 12 and up have used an illegal substance in the past year, with people aged 18-25 being the group at the highest risk of developing an addiction.

Addictive substances usually work by affecting the same reward pathways in the brain that are usually associated with hunger and sex drive. They produce an effect that is at least five times stronger than natural and affects the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, in our brains. Long-term use of these substances can essentially rewire these pathways, and affect a person's ability to make decisions and suppress their impulses.

Addiction is difficult to recover from without professional help, such as a detox center like drug rehab Austin, because addiction traps users in a positive feedback cycle. To understand this cycle, the first thing to consider is how continued use of the drug increases the tolerance to that drug. This means users have to take increasing amounts of the drug to feel the same effects. Secondly, when users stop taking the drug, they experience withdrawal symptoms brought about by decreased or absent levels of the drug in their system. These symptoms can include:

1. Nausea
2. Vomiting
3. Increased/erratic heart rate
4. Sweating
5. Chills
6. Body aches
7. Tremors

It is for this reason that many people suffering from a substance abuse disorder find it difficult to cope with the stress of addiction on their own.

What is a Relapse?
A Relapse can be described as when a user returns to sustained use of a substance after a period of sobriety. Relapsing is not a failure on the part of the user or their program but should be an expected part of the treatment process. Relapse can occur due to a variety of factors and it is important to consider that patients who leave rehabilitation for the first time have to deal with all the stressors of the real world. This can be a daunting prospect. This could be a factor that leads to them using drugs again.

Relapse rates vary according to the drug in question and range from 40-60 percent. However, this always varies on a case-by-case basis, and as long as a person is willing to re-engage with their recovery, either by reaching out to a friend or checking in to a drug rehab austin, their chances of regaining their sobriety are always good.

There is a lot of doubt that develops in patients after a relapse, and it is important to acknowledge that relapse is usually an indicator of some event or trigger related to the person's addiction. Therefore, it might be worth exploring where the patients could get a better sense of control or awareness of themselves and their disease.

If you or a loved one relapses, it's okay. Understand that it is a speed bump on your journey and does not disqualify you from trying again. It is imperative that you reach out for help, either to a loved one or a detox facility, like drug detox austin tx, and stay persistent on your journey to long-term sobriety.

References
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/drug-use-illicit.htm
https://www.caron.org/blog/what-relapse-rates-really-tell-us
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction