Experience Recovery Blog

If you have been abusing addictive substances like alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin, or prescription opioids, you may be wondering, “How Do I know if I am an addict or an alcoholic?” The truth is, addiction has a sneaky way of creeping up on people. First; drug and alcohol use is fun, then it becomes a habit, then it becomes a full-blown addiction – without you even realizing it.

With all of the alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs in California and across the United States, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. There are so many things to consider and so many questions to ask. Plus, there is always the fear that a rehabilitation center won’t live up to the many promises it makes when you complete a consultation.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines an alcohol use disorder (also commonly known as an “AUD” or “alcoholism”) as “a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.”

Many people who have been afflicted with the disease of alcoholism (now commonly referred to as an “Alcohol Use Disorder”) struggle tremendously with accepting they have an illness. In fact, most problems drinkers will try (and fail) for years to control their drinking before they finally reach out for help. This is largely because they have a misperception about the causes of alcoholism.

If you have been using drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time – and you make the brave decision to get sober – you should expect to experience frequent (and random) cravings for awhile. This is completely normal.