What Is Active Addiction?
Find The Symptoms And Treatment Options For Active Addiction
At Icarus, we know for a fact that addiction is a treatable condition, we see clients make miraculous improvements and achieve success in recovery every day. In fact, realizing that you’re in active addiction is often the foundation for seeking help.
Despite this, those facing addiction of any kind–whether it’s substance-related or behavioral–don’t always realize that they have a problem. In turn, many people don’t get the support they need.
Icarus Behavioral Health New Mexico provides effective treatment for addiction. We work with all types of alcohol or drug abuse, behavioral addictions, like gambling disorder, and mental health concerns, like past trauma.
So, what is active addiction exactly? How do you know if you are in active addiction? And if active addiction sound like your daily life, what steps do you take next to change things?
How is Active Addiction Defined?
Active addiction means that you are actively, and recurrently, using a substance (like alcohol) or an addictive behavior despite negative consequences. The term “active addiction” is most frequently used for people who currently meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.
However, people with gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions can also use the term. Someone with an active addiction might be aware of it. Alternatively, they could be in denial.
Causes of Active Addiction and Drug Use
There’s no singular cause of drug use and addiction. That said, extensive research in addiction medicine shows us that some factors can increase your risk. These include:
- Environmental factors. For example, peer pressure and trauma.
- Genes account for around half of your addiction risk. People with a family history of substance use disorders are more likely to live with one themselves.
- People who start using drugs at a younger age are more likely to have a substance use disorder.
Addiction can start in different ways. For example, with a prescription, exposure to substances in social and occupational settings, or self-medication. The more risk factors you have, the higher your chances of developing a substance use disorder.
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Common Signs of Active Addiction
How do you know if you’re in an active addiction? Here is a checklist of common signs to look out for.
- Recurrent, failed attempts to stop or reduce the amount of a substance or addictive behavior you use.
- Withdrawal, marked by either using substances (or behaviors) to avoid withdrawal symptoms, or experiencing withdrawal symptoms when unable to access an addictive substance or behavior.
- Ongoing use of a substance or behavior, even if you know it affects your interpersonal relationships negatively.
- Ongoing use of a substance or behavior, even if you know it you know it affects your physical or mental health negatively.
- Repeatedly participating in risky behaviors (like driving) while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Spending less time on previously significant hobbies or activities due to time spent on an addictive substance or behavior.
- Neglecting responsibilities at work, school, or home (e.g., chores, childcare) due to time spent on a substance or behavior.
- Lying to others about how much or how often you use drugs, alcohol, or addictive behaviors.
- Intense cravings (or urges to use) drugs, alcohol, or addictive behaviors.
Addictive disorders are diagnosed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The signs of active addiction reflect the DSM criteria for substance use disorders.
Treatment Options for Active Addiction
Icarus in New Mexico provides evaluations for substance use disorders and other mental health issues. Here are the treatment options available at our center.
Drug and Alcohol Detox
If you use a substance regularly, it’s likely that your body has developed a physical dependence. When you first get off drugs and alcohol, you will go through an adjustment period as a result. You may experience mental and physical withdrawal symptoms at this time, which may range from mild to severe.
For this reason, detox can be crucial in the initial stages of addiction recovery. The detox program at Icarus New Mexico will help you get through substance withdrawal safely and successfully.
Residential Treatment for Drug or Alcohol Addiction
Residential inpatient treatment provides 24/7 support. During the program, you’ll live on-site at our facility in New Mexico. Clients follow an immersive treatment schedule that includes group therapy, individual therapy, meals, recreational activities, and other therapeutic interventions. Most of the time, people stay in residential treatment for addiction for about 1-2 months before transferring to a lower level of care.
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Outpatient Treatment Programs
In some cases, outpatient treatment programs act as an alternative to inpatient rehab programs. They are also used as part of a step-down approach for clients exiting residential inpatient treatment. Icarus New Mexico offers multiple levels of outpatient addiction treatment, including our partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program.
Mental Health and Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
Many people in active addiction will also have a mental health condition. For example, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, trauma disorders, and personality disorders are all common in people facing alcohol or drug addiction. As a leading behavioral health center, Icarus New Mexico provides dual-diagnosis treatment for clients facing both substance use disorders and mental health concerns.
This can be critical for client success. Dual-diagnosis treatment helps clients develop coping skills for substance abuse and mental health concerns. It can lead to positive outcomes, such as fewer medication interactions, a better quality of life, and improved psychiatric functioning.
Aftercare and Relapse Prevention
The recovery process doesn’t end when your treatment program is over. Before your time at Icarus New Mexico ends, we’ll help you make an aftercare and relapse prevention plan. This may include:
- Involvement in support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or SMART Recovery.
- Working with a mental health professional for continued therapy.
- Ongoing medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
- Referrals to sober housing in your area.
- Job and education assistance.
- Outpatient treatment programs.
Icarus New Mexico also offers an alumni program. Our alumni program will help you stay connected with your support system after you leave treatment.
Our Approach to Treatment for Active Addiction
We use a whole-person approach. This means that we treat people as whole beings; we don’t just focus on surface-level behaviors alone. Treatment may involve multiple components, including but not limited to:
- Evidence-based therapies. Various forms of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, and family therapy, are used in our programs.
- Recreational activities. Experiential therapy, outings, and mind-body wellness may be used in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions.
- Medication-assisted treatment. Prescription medications can be used in conjunction with therapy to help people with some substance use disorders, like opioid or alcohol use disorder.
Addiction is a serious disease, and personalized treatment matters. That’s why every Icarus New Mexico client gets an individualized care plan.
Call Icarus New Mexico for Help Overcoming Alcohol & Drugs
Icarus Behavioral Health New Mexico is an accredited behavioral health center located in Albuquerque, NM. We provide a full continuum of care and accept most forms of insurance to make treatment accessible.
That way, individuals facing behavioral health concerns like addiction can get the kind of help they need when they need it.
Please call Icarus New Mexico to get help for active addiction now. We invite you to call for yourself or a loved one who may need treatment.
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FAQs About Active Addiction
What does active addiction look like?
In the context of substance abuse, active addiction often looks like using drugs or alcohol even if you experience negative consequences as a result. For example, you might keep using illicit drugs even if your drug use causes health problems or financial problems.
What is inactive addiction?
Inactive addiction means that you are someone who has dealt with an addictive behavior in the past, but you are no longer using that behavior. One example of inactive addiction could be a person who identifies as an alcoholic but who no longer drinks alcohol.
What is the meaning of addictive activity?
An addictive activity can refer to any behavior to which a person is addicted. An addictive activity could refer to using street drugs or alcohol in a person with a substance use disorder. It can also refer to actions seen in those with non-substance addictions, like gambling.
