Did you know that the most commonly used illegal drug in the United State today is marijuana? It makes sense, when you take a quick look at our culture and how modern media representations can often label smoking pot as “no big deal.” But marijuana abuse, just like that of alcohol, cocaine, opiods and other illicit drugs, can present a myriad of serious problems if left untreated for long periods of time.

Some folks would have you believe that quitting altogether — “going cold turkey,” as they say — is the best option. However, when dealing with highly addictive substances, especially opiods, simply stopping is likely not going to be enough to prevent relapsing in the future. Plus, abruptly ending the use of addictive substances can even lead to serious medical problems in certain situations.

Addiction rehab centers are likely the safest places for people to go when they are experiencing problems with illicit drug or alcohol abuse. But before they can properly enter these treatment programs, detoxification must be first completed in order to ensure the addicts don’t have of the harmful substances left in their bodies. Drug and alcohol detox centers only help clean up the physical troubles of addiction, which is why proper rehab centers need to be in the picture, too. Rehabilitation, after all, is there to tackle the physiological, behavioral and social factors that can lead to addiction in the first place.

The right alcohol treatment programs can help address these concerns through a number of different techniques, including group therapy and one-on-one counseling time. There’s even a drug that’s been certified to help treat alcoholism called Naltrexone, which was first approved in 1994. No matter whether you’re entering a detox program or a serious cocaine addiction treatment center, you’ll likely be better off that you didn’t try to quit cold turkey.

This isn’t some kind of weight loss system you’re entering, either. While weight loss systems can provide real, tangible, physical results you can actually see, addiction therapies and rehab centers are all about adjusting your mental state, too. Remember, you can help yourself, but you likely can’t do it alone. Continue your research here.