Tree House Recovery NC

Understanding Addiction

What Is Drug Addiction?

Addiction Definition

Drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder (SUD), is a behavioral disorder that involves uncontrollable drug seeking and use. Additionally, addiction affects three main areas of health: biological, psychological, and social. Changes in the brain can lead to harmful outcomes for people who abuse drugs and can impact all three aspects of overall health. Presently, SUD is known as a chronic relapsing disorder, which means that those who suffer from addiction will relapse fully if they begin using again — even after a period of abstinence.

Understanding addiction is an important part of recovery. At Tree House Recovery, we specialize in helping those suffering from addiction to alcohol and drugs. Our programs are designed to help our clients heal on all three levels.

Addiction starts with the voluntary act of taking drugs. After continued use, addiction occurs when a person becomes physically and mentally dependent on the substance. Then drug-seeking and abuse become a compulsion. This is due to the physical and chemical changes in parts of the brain involved in motivation and reward, learning and memory, and impulse control.

Can Addiction Be Treated?

Addiction is a treatable disorder. However, those with a substance use disorder may be aware of their problem but cannot stop on their own. This is because of the effects drugs have on the brain, known as neuroadaptation. Put simply, drug abuse rewires the brain’s reward system to equate drug use with survival. Fortunately, a quality addiction program and the support of family and friends can be effective in helping someone recover from addiction.

Substance Use Disorders We Treat

In our North Carolina center, we offer effective, evidence-based outpatient treatment for:

Our Approach to Addiction Treatment

Substance Use and Addiction Statistics in North Carolina

As substance use disorder (SUD) rates climb across North Carolina, the impact on local communities has become impossible to ignore. In 2022, over 4,310 residents lost their lives to drug overdose3.

While addiction rates can be difficult to track due to underreporting and diagnostic barriers, the following statistics offer a clear picture of the crisis:

 

  • 8 North Carolinians die each day on average from drug overdose 4
  • 15.29% of individuals aged 12 and older (approximately 1.38 million people) had a substance use disorder in 2023 5
  • 87.5% (1.21 million) of those with SUD did not receive treatment

 

As communities recover from events like Hurricane Helena, the emotional and financial stress can further fuel substance use. Research has shown that trauma, housing instability, and limited access to care significantly increase the risk of addiction.6

At Tree House Recovery, we provide comprehensive support to individuals affected by SUD, particularly in counties hit hardest by the opioid epidemic and natural disasters. A 2016 report by Castlight Health ranked four North Carolina cities among the top 25 in the nation for opioid abuse rates7:

 

  • Wilmington: 11.6% (ranked #1)
  • Hickory: 9.9%
  • Jacksonville: 8.2%
  • Fayetteville: 7.9%

 

While this data was based on employer-sponsored insurance and may not reflect all populations, it underscores a deep and urgent need for help. Tree House Recovery is committed to offering the resources, structure, and care necessary to end addiction and rebuild resilience in these North Carolina communities.

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References:

  1. Mayo Clinic. Drug Addiction (substance Use disorder) – Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. Published October 4, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112
  2. Roberts AJ, Koob GF. The Neurobiology of Addiction: An Overview. Alcohol Health and Research World. 2024;21(2):101. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6826825/
  3. Drug Overdose Mortality by State. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 10, 2025. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/drug_poisoning_mortality/drug_poisoning.htm. 
  4. North Carolina Overdose Epidemic Data. Division of Public Health. 2024. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/programs/chronic-disease-and-injury/injury-and-violence-prevention-branch/north-carolina-overdose-epidemic-data. 
  5. SAMHSA Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. National Survey on Drug Use and Health: 2022‑2023 state-specific tables of model-based estimates (totals and percentages). 2024. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt56188/2023-nsduh-sae-state-tables_0/2023-nsduh-sae-state-tables.htm. 
  6. Aldridge R. Will Hurricane Helene Impact Drop in NC Drug Overdose Deaths? North Carolina Medical Society. November 14, 2024. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://ncmedsoc.org/will-hurricane-helene-impact-drop-in-nc-drug-overdose-deaths/. 
  7. The Opioid Crisis in America’s Workforce. Castlight Health. 2016. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://content.castlighthealth.com/rs/598-XVD-020/images/Castlight-Report-Opioid-Crisis-In-Workforce-web-YC.PDF?aliId=eyJpIjoiZWh3bXI5Zm15TkdMck5YQiIsInQiOiJpblJWT3N6T1RiU0NzMXZYNjFMQWxBPT0ifQ%253D%253D.