Pillar Primary Care and Recovery Services

No. Our primary care team welcomes new patients for checkups, sick visits and ongoing health needs, whether or not you receive recovery care with us. If you do, your primary care and recovery providers can work together so your care stays connected.

Typically, prescription opioids are used for pain relief and are safe when taken for a short time. Opioid addiction is a chronic condition in which an individual experiences intense physical and psychological reliance on opioids, leading to compulsive behavior that may have harmful consequences.

Opioid dependency leads to an uncontrollable urge, which increases the risk of overdose and continuation of substance use even after severe health issues. Prescribed opioid abuse is when you take a medication for a reason other than intended or in a higher amount than is prescribed. Even if taken as prescribed, tolerance can increase, which leads to the need for a higher prescribed dose.

There are measures to avoid overprescribing by physicians, but this can still be a very challenging task. Even though the opioid, in this case, is a prescription, the medicine can be highly addictive if consumed for a long time, especially if taken to boost feelings of pleasure.

Opioid dependence and addiction are chronic medical conditions. However, early and proper treatment can help to avoid the long-term health consequences associated with opioid dependence. It takes immense willpower to break the dependence chain, but it is possible to escape from the cycle of drug abuse. It can be a lengthy process, but medication and regular counseling will help you overcome opioid addiction.

Psychological and social factors play a role in continually using opioids. The brain receives endorphins that lead to the pleasure of using the opioid, which can be a vital trigger element. There is also a physical aspect of addiction, in which your body becomes physically dependent on the opioid. When opioids are decreased suddenly, withdrawal occurs, which can be highly uncomfortable. Medication-assisted treatment and counseling make the release from drug abuse much more manageable. Statistically, this provides the best success for long-term opioid abstinence.

Alcohol and drugs, if misused for an extended period, can cause severe mental health issues like stress, anxiety, depression, and memory loss. Alcohol and drugs can disrupt the day-to-day function of the human brain. Alcohol, for instance, is a depressant that will disturb the brain’s chemical balance, affecting thoughts, feelings, and actions. Both alcohol and drugs cause the brain to have chemical changes that weaken the part of the brain associated with inhibition. Common mood changes are aggression, a false sense of confidence, anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

Drugs, in particular, have been connected to mental health by causing psychiatric despair like post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and phobias. Such health issues also occur when those dependent on drugs suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Alcohol and drug abuse can have a significant impact on the mental well-being of an individual.

Psychosis is a mental health issue that can be caused or worsened by alcohol or drugs. Psychosis is a cognitive disruption in which someone’s thoughts and perceptions become severely impaired, making it challenging to distinguish between what is real and what isn’t. The symptoms can be hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and disturbing thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Drugs are known to spark psychotic mental health issues. Still, the combination of drugs and alcohol can have an even more severe impact. Psychosis is something that also can be related to self-harming and even suicide.

High-Functioning Alcoholic describes a person struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) while maintaining a job and relationships. This means someone who can perform and succeed in their career and family life without demonstrating the clinical impairments typically associated with AUD.

According to statistics, 19.5% of total alcoholics in the USA are high-functioning alcoholics. A statistic from the Harvard School of Public Health specifies that 31% of college-goers are dealing with AUD, and 6% are alcohol dependent. Most high-functioning alcoholics are not counted as alcoholics by society because they do not fit the general alcoholic classification. High-functioning alcoholics typically admit to drinking more alcohol than they should but deny it is a problem. There are no official diagnostic criteria to determine if someone is a High-Functioning Alcoholic.

Stimulants are a class of drugs that increase activity in the brain and central nervous system, leading to heightened alertness, energy, focus, and a sense of euphoria. Common stimulants include substances like cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription medications such as Adderall or Ritalin. These drugs boost levels of dopamine and other neurotransmitters that influence motivation, attention, and pleasure.

While stimulants can temporarily enhance mood and performance, misuse can quickly lead to tolerance, dependence, and serious health risks including anxiety, paranoia, heart problems, and addiction. At Pillar Primary Care and Recovery Services, we focus on helping individuals understand these effects and provide evidence-based treatment to restore balance and support lasting recovery.