FAQ

Outpatient rehab is a form of alcohol and drug addiction treatment in which individuals continue to live at home while attending various treatments multiple times a week at an addiction treatment facility. Unlike residential rehab or partial hospitalization, individuals in outpatient rehab do not need to live or sleep at the facility. Instead, they maintain their current living arrangements while visiting the facility anywhere from two to five or seven days a week for treatment. Depending on the program, the individual may spend several hours or the entire day at the facility. Outpatient rehab can be very beneficial, but it is not for everyone. It is generally only appropriate when an individual has a healthy, supportive environment at home, as well as the means to attend treatments several times a week. Often, outpatient rehab follows partial hospitalization or other more intensive care; however, it may also serve as a standalone option for those with less severe substance use disorders. 

Yes, outpatient rehab can be effective in the treatment of co-occurring mental and/or behavioral health disorders. If this is a concern of yours, look for a facility that offers co-occurring disorder treatment, like The Carter Treatment Center. Our team believes in treating the individual from the inside out, addressing all aspects of their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health. 

Like other drugs, fentanyl affects everyone differently. There are many factors that contribute to an individual’s predisposition to become addicted to fentanyl, such as their personal and family history of drug abuse, their environment and history of trauma, whether or not they have any co-occurring mental or behavioral health disorders, and even their genetics. That being said, fentanyl is an extremely powerful and highly addictive drug, with a potency that is about 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin. As such, many people who use fentanyl develop a dependency on the drug relatively quickly. In some cases, a person may become addicted after several months of use; in others, just a few weeks or even a couple uses can set the foundation for addiction. 

Trying to help someone with a crack addiction can be incredibly difficult, particularly if you live or must deal with the person often. People struggling with crack addictions are often erratic, impulsive, manipulative, and frightening. The first thing you should do is ensure your safety and the safety of your other family members and loved ones. Sometimes, this means physically separating yourself from that person. In any case, you can let them know—through words or actions—that you love them but will not support their drug use. Enabling a loved one’s drug use, no matter your intentions, will not help them. What you can do is educate yourself about drug addiction, specifically addiction to crack. If you choose to express your concerns to your loved one, try to do so at the right time. Be loving but firm, and be prepared for your loved one to become defensive or deny that they have a problem. Know that you cannot force someone to seek help; that is a choice they must make for themselves. It is important that you care for your own mental and emotional health during this time. Many people with loved ones who are addicted to crack and other drugs benefit from individual and/or family counseling, as well as community support. 

The amount of time it may take for a person to become addicted to Xanax (or non-name brand forms of alprazolam and other benzodiazepines) depends on many factors. These include the individual’s unique circumstances, environment, and genetics. How a person uses Xanax plays a large role in how long it can take for a dependency or addiction to form. Most often, an individual will first develop a higher tolerance for Xanax, meaning they will need more of the drug to achieve the same effects they experienced when they first started taking it. This can quickly lead to a dependency, in which the individual begins to experience an inability to function normally without Xanax. At this point, the individual may also begin feeling withdrawal symptoms when they are not taking Xanax. In general, this process can take anywhere from several weeks to several months. However, many unique factors play a role in a person’s predisposition to becoming addicted to Xanax and other drugs, including their personal history of alcohol and/or drug use and abuse, co-occurring mental and/or behavioral health disorders, trauma, stress, and family history of substance use disorders, among others. 

Opiates are highly addictive due to the ways in which they alter brain chemistry. These substances work by binding to receptors in the brain and releasing an excess of various “feel-good” neurotransmitters, like dopamine. This floods the brain with feelings of euphoria, happiness, and ecstasy—but it also makes it harder for the brain to produce these feelings on its own. Over time, opiate users are unable to experience happiness, joy, or pleasure without taking opiates, meaning they are more likely to turn to these substances in an attempt to recreate the initial high and feel any type of positive feeling. Once an individual has begun to develop an increased tolerance for and dependency on opiates, they will also begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they stop. These symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and often drive people to seek out and continue using opiates in an effort to ease withdrawal. This quickly becomes a vicious negative feedback loop, which can be very difficult to break free from without professional help. 

Yes, people who are prescribed various opioid medications can develop a dependency and addiction to these drugs. In fact, most people who eventually begin using illicit opiates, such as heroin, do so after being prescribed and/or taking opioid medications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 191 million people across the U.S. were prescribed opioids in 2017 alone, and approximately one in four people who are prescribed opioids for long-term use become addicted. In 2016, approximately 11.5 million people in the U.S. admitted to misusing prescription opioids. Additionally, prescription opioids can cause fatal overdoses. The CDC notes that the most common prescription opioids involved in these fatal overdoses include oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and methadone. 

Many people believe that you cannot become addicted to marijuana, but this is not true. Although it is less addictive than other drugs, such as opioids or methamphetamine, marijuana use can lead to both physical and psychological dependence. In fact, marijuana use disorders (which are associated with dependence) are fairly common. In severe cases, this can lead to marijuana addiction, which is typically characterized by an inability to stop using marijuana despite negative consequences and/or wanting to quit.

Methamphetamine, or meth, is highly addictive for several reasons. First, it acts quickly. Once ingested, meth causes the brain to release a flood of the feel-good chemical dopamine. This produces a euphoric high—but this high does not last. Many meth users engage in binges, periods of frequent methamphetamine use, in an effort to maintain or recreate that initial rush of euphoria. Over time, this can cause the brain to lose its natural ability to release dopamine, meaning people who use meth become unable to experience pleasure or happiness when not taking the drug. It also decreases the intensity of the drug’s effects, creating a vicious negative feedback loop in which users continually use increasing amounts of meth more frequently in an unsuccessful attempt to achieve that initial high. Additionally, meth use can become involuntary, as reinforcement of the drug-taking behavior causes further changes in the brain. Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms also make it difficult for users to stop using meth without professional help. Even those who want to quit taking the drug may find it extremely challenging to discontinue use without professional treatment. 

Meth and crystal meth are addictive both physically and psychologically. Meth changes chemical processes and pathways in the brain, stimulating excess dopamine and affecting the body’s central nervous system. This changes how the body and the brain function and, over time, people who use meth or crystal meth can easily become physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. This can make it extremely difficult to quit, but recovery is possible with professional meth addiction treatment. Regardless of how many times you have used meth or how severe your substance use disorder is, we encourage you to reach out to our team at The Carter Treatment Center to learn how we can help you on the road to healing. 

Heroin is notorious for being one of the most powerfully addictive substances. The reason it is so addictive is at least partly due to how rapidly it alters the brain’s chemical processes and pathways. Once ingested, heroin binds to brain receptors known as mu-opioid receptors (MORs). Normally, MORs naturally bind with various neurotransmitters to help regulate hormones, pain, and feelings of general wellbeing. When heroin binds to MORs, it causes the brain to release large amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine, causing an instantaneous rush of euphoria and reinforcing the behavior. This can be extremely addictive, as an individual is sober one second and high the next. This intense rush can dull less-extreme releases of feel-good neurotransmitters, meaning an individual who uses heroin will be numb to other, smaller amounts of pleasure. Over time, the brain loses its ability to produce dopamine and other feel-good chemicals on its own, meaning heroin users will experience an inability to feel happiness or contentedness without taking drugs. To make matter worse, heroin withdrawal is extremely uncomfortable, both physically and mentally. These factors combined work together to make heroin highly addictive and incredibly difficult to stop using without professional treatment. 

Addiction is a complex disease that affects every individual person differently. Some people may use heroin many times before developing an increased tolerance, dependency, and, ultimately, addiction to the drug. For others, just a couple of uses—or even a single time—is enough to lead to addiction. Heroin is a powerful, highly addictive drug. It is also unpredictable. On average, it takes several weeks for an individual to become physically dependent on opioids, including heroin. But a variety of factors, such as genetics and environment, can speed up the process of opioid dependence. The good news is that, no matter how long you have been using heroin or how severe your addiction is, recovery is possible. With professional heroin addiction treatment, many people are able to overcome addiction, avoid relapse, and maintain long-term sobriety. 

Yes, it is possible for a person to overdose on cocaine. Without medical intervention, a cocaine overdose can be fatal. This can occur when an individual takes a fatal dose, after using cocaine with other substances, or when cocaine is “cut” (supplemented) with other substances. Some signs of cocaine overdose include rapid heart rate, dangerous rise in body temperature, chest pain, tremors, nausea, vomiting, panic attacks, anxiety, paranoia, and delirium. If anyone is exhibiting any of these symptoms after ingesting cocaine (or if you suspect they may have ingested cocaine), call 911 right away. Fast action in the event of a cocaine overdose can save a life. 

Like many other drugs, cocaine alters various chemical processes in the brain. Specifically, it causes feelings of euphoria, increased alertness, hypersensitivity to stimuli, and general wellbeing. Over time, an individual may develop an increased tolerance for cocaine, meaning they must take higher doses more frequently to achieve these effects. As this occurs, the individual may begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms—such as fatigue, agitation, restlessness, depression, and discomfort. At this point, the individual has likely developed a cocaine dependency. Often, to ease the uncomfortable sensations associated with withdrawal, people will continue seeking out and using cocaine. This can quickly lead to addiction. Once a person has become addicted to cocaine, it is extremely difficult to quit without professional treatment. 

There is significant evidence to suggest that alcohol use disorders, including alcohol abuse and alcoholism, can be at least partly attributed to genetics. According to American Addiction Centers, certain genes can increase an individual’s predisposition to misuse or abuse alcohol. Additionally, someone with a close family member or relatives—such as a parent, sibling, or grandparent—who has a history of alcohol abuse or addiction is significantly more likely to struggle with an alcohol use disorder. However, it is important to note that alcohol addiction is a complex and chronic disease. Many factors play a role in a person’s risk of developing an alcohol use disorder, including genetic and hereditary factors, personal history of trauma or abuse, environment, and more. 

Yes. Generally speaking, men are more likely to suffer from alcohol dependency, abuse, and addiction than women. Some research shows that as many as half of all men in the United States suffer from some type of alcohol use disorder. Other at-risk groups include college students, victims of abuse (especially victims of childhood abuse), and individuals with mental and/or behavioral health disorders or related conditions. Native Americans, Latinos, and LGBTQA+ individuals also have a higher rate of alcohol abuse and alcoholism in the U.S.

Alcohol does not impact everyone the same way. Many factors—including an individual’s age, sex, body weight, and tolerance—can all affect how quickly alcohol enters the bloodstream and its overall impact. Other factors, such as whether an individual is taking any medications or using any other substances aside from alcohol, as well as what they recently ate, can alter how they are impacted by alcohol. In the long term, ongoing alcohol consumption also has different effects on different individuals. While one person may be able to responsibly enjoy several drinks a week, another may be prone to binge drinking with or without developing an alcohol dependency. There are many factors that impact an individual’s predisposition to becoming addicted to alcohol, and it is not always possible to accurately predict how alcohol may impact you immediately and/or over time. 

It can be incredibly difficult to know what to do or how to help someone who has a drinking problem. First, know that your desire to help is admirable and any hesitancy you may feel in bringing up the issue is completely normal. Also know that, in most cases, individuals must be ready to take the necessary steps before healing is possible. That being said, expressing your concern can not only bring attention to the issue, but it can also help your loved one recognize that they may be headed down a bad path. Remember, while you cannot fix the problem or force your loved one to get help, there are some things you can do to show that you care, and you are there to support them. These include learning everything you can about alcohol’s effects and alcohol abuse/addiction, choosing the right time to talk to your loved one, focusing on your concern for your loved one’s wellbeing, and emphasizing results. It is also important that you expect pushback and even denial, and you should prepare a plan that includes concrete steps to take next. When bringing up your concerns to your loved one, it is important that you avoid lecturing, shaming, or threatening, as these approaches can backfire. As much as possible, you should also avoid enabling your loved one or looking the other way when they engage in destructive behavior. Most importantly, make sure you care for your own mental and emotional health. Don’t let your loved one’s drinking consume your life. It can be extremely beneficial to seek out support for yourself; groups like Al-Anon can allow you to stay connected with others going through similar experiences.

Drug addiction can occur much more quickly than many people realize. The exact length of time it may take for someone to become addicted depends on a variety of factors, including the type and potency of the substance, the method of ingestion, the age at which the individual first begins using the drug, their personal and family history of drug abuse, whether they have experienced trauma, whether they have a mental and/or behavioral health disorder, and other environmental and genetic factors. In most cases, drug addiction follows an increased tolerance and growing dependency on the substance; however, in some cases, it is possible for an individual to become addicted to a drug after several times or even a single use. 

Yes, there are many clinically proven effective drug addiction treatments. Research shows that the most effective method of treating drug dependency, abuse, and addiction involves a combination of medically supported treatments and various forms of therapy, including behavioral and alternative therapies. Depending on a person’s unique situation, the most beneficial option may involve medical detox, partial hospitalization, outpatient rehab, co-occurring disorder treatment, aftercare, or some combination thereof. At The Carter Treatment Center, we carefully evaluate each incoming patient to assess their unique needs. From there, we recommend a customized treatment program with the goal of providing you with the highest possible chance of long-term success. 

Although there are many factors at play when it comes to determining how and why someone becomes addicted to drugs, evidence suggests that addiction can be at least partially attributed to genetics. According to a study by the American Psychological Association (APA), approximately 50% of an individual’s predisposition for drug abuse and addiction can be attributed to hereditary factors. This research is further supported by other studies that have found a link between genetics and drug addiction. Notably, these findings have linked specific traits, such as impulsivity and recklessness, as well as hereditary mental and behavioral health disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, with an increased risk of drug abuse and addiction. The medical community does not consider an “addictive personality” to be a singular trait; rather, it acknowledges that a wide range of genetic, environmental, and other factors can all play a role in someone’s predisposition to use, abuse, and become addicted to drugs and other harmful substances.