How Are Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Different?

How are drug addiction and alcoholism different? It can be very helpful to know how these two things differ, especially if you’re planning to treat either of these conditions. Millions of people in the US and Canada suffer from either drug addiction or alcoholism, though a dependence on alcohol is much more common statistically than a drug abusing habit or addiction. But alcohol addiction can lead to all kinds of violence, which isn't something that’s common for many drugs (beyond the violence involved in the drug trade). This kind of difference is more about the physiological effect of the substance being abused, rather than the consequence of becoming addicted to a substance. But for the user, the one who’s addicted to either alcohol or drugs, either form of dependence can be harmful—or even deadly. Click here to learn more about how substance abuse affects your health.

Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Are Very Similar

One of the first things to know about drug addiction and alcoholism is that they’re very very similar. In fact, they can be considered two forms of one same thing: substance abuse or chemical dependency. Alcohol is a drug, a central nervous system depressant. When the drug of abuse is alcohol, we popularly call it 'alcoholism', but, in reality, it is a form of chemical dependency or 'drug' addiction. Substance abuse works like this: as someone begins using some sort of substance, whether alcohol or another drug, their brain begins to build a tolerance to it. In fact, brains can even be rewired to need the substance that the person takes, so that in some cases a person can’t function at all without their hit of drugs or daily drink. But the downside is that tolerance builds, so that it takes more and more to get to the same high or same buzz you used to get at the beginning.

Both Drug Addiction and Alcoholism Are Best Treated with Rehab

So how do I treat alcoholism or drug addiction? Both these conditions, being so similar, are best treated the same way: with a good program of drug addiction or alcohol abuse rehab. Rehab has been proven effective in detoxing people off of substances like alcohol and drugs, and medication can help ease the process of decreasing the brain’s tolerance. From their, a supportive environment and the best in medical care can make it much easier to make it to recovery—for good. Click here to learn more about substance abuse.

Effective Drug Addiction for Drug Addiction and Alcoholism

Where can I go for drug addiction or alcohol rehab? Serenity Vista offers you the best in high-quality, high-value rehab. Our amazing luxury rehab is roughly 1/3 the price of most basic rehab in the US or Canada—and their care simply doesn't compare to ours! And if you book a 90-day stay, we’ll even buy your flight! Up to $1,000 worth. Click here to learn more about our 90-day stay program.