It could be a small amount consumed just one time, or a slow and steady change over years. Eventually, every moment of every day becomes a mission for the next hit, high or fix. Your life is not your own, and the person you were or who you knew and loved, is gone.
Illicit drugs are illegal, extremely addictive substances like cocaine, methamphetamines, heroine, opiates or others. They are so powerful that many people become addicted, that is, physically dependent on them, often after just one use. Others get addicted by building up a tolerance to a drug, and therefore need more and more of it to feel its effects.
Types of Illicit Drugs
Some of the most dangerous illicit drugs are:
- Cocaine – Made from the leaves of the South American coca plant, cocaine is an addictive stimulant, usually consumed in powder form. Its street names are coke, blow, bump and snow.
- Crack cocaine – Recognizable in the form of solid blocks or crystals, crack cocaine is the purest and most potent form of cocaine. When smoked, it reaches the brain faster for a brief, intense high.
- Heroin – Highly addictive, heroin can look like white or brown powder, or a black, sticky substance (black tar). Many users inject heroin, but it can also be smoked, snorted or taken by mouth.
- Methamphetamine – This dangerous stimulant causes many people to become addicted rapidly. The immediate effects of meth are euphoria and alertness, yet longer-term effects can include psychosis, intense paranoia and violent behavior.
- Inhalants – They can be around the house in the form of markers, spray paints or cleaning supplies. Users inhale them through the nose or mouth to get high. Some inhalants can trigger heart failure.
- Ketamine – Used as an anesthetic in veterinary practices, ketamine became popular among teenagers and young people in recent years. It can cause hallucinations, sedation and confusion.
- Synthetic marijuana – The effects of this type of marijuana (drowsiness, increased appetite) can be unpredictable and more intense than its natural counterpart.
We’ll Face Your Addiction Together
We know how difficult it is to accept that drugs are in control, then to endure the process of physical and mental aspects of withdrawal and pursue the lifelong journey of recovery. That’s why we will be here from day one, enveloping you with support and compassion as you seek to live drug-free.
Your 6-week residential treatment plan at Pavillon is based on the 12-Step Program. You will receive individual and group therapy, treatment of any co-occurring disorders, family counseling if appropriate, health and wellness and more. You will also be supported by a comprehensive team, which includes:
- Physician/addictionologist
- Certified addiction psychiatrist
- Clinical psychologists
- Registered nurses
- Licensed substance use disorder counselors
- Health and wellness counselor
- Continuing care case managers
- Spiritual care coordinator