I'm not sure if I have an addiction or a substance use problem. Should I seek a professional evaluation? Definitely yes. Patients usually have a more or less accurate idea or understanding of what is happening to them, but they always lack some information; that is what seeking professional help is all about (it’s about overcoming a blind spot).
When a patient requests a professional evaluation because they are unsure whether or not they have an addiction and/or a second opinion at UniAdic, they are not entering into any kind of commitment with the center—neither contractual nor of any other kind. As we indicate in other frequently asked questions, UniAdic It works much like a traditional doctor's office might have in the past, without unfair contracts, without hidden strings attached, and without raising false expectations.
So, when a patient requests an appointment to be seen by a professional and assess whether there is a substance use problem, an addiction, or risky behavior (which are not the same thing); the entire center’s system is geared toward that goal, and the patient is completely free to seek a professional answer to that question and then make a decision.
Many patients ask this question because, in fact, harmful use of a toxic substance, substance abuse, and addiction are not the same thing—as with everything in life, there are degrees. Addiction is the worst of the three, but the good news is that all addictions share something in common with substance abuse and use: they are compulsive. We also have more good news: studies show that the percentage of people who develop an addiction isn’t that high. However, as with everything, when a patient begins using a harmful substance during adolescence or young adulthood, they’re on the first step; then, over time, they will move on to abuse (most likely) and finally, if they don’t stop, to addiction.
