Drug Abuse Center - Alexandria, VAAlexandria Psychiatrist Doctors for Drug AbuseType of Physician: Psychiatrist What is a Psychiatrist? A certification by the Board of Psychiatry & Neurology; practitioners are skilled in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental, addictive and emotional disorders. He or she is trained to understand the biological, psychological and social components of illness and is qualified to order diagnostic laboratory tests and to prescribe medications, as well as to evaluate and treat psychological and interpersonal problems. The psychiatrist is also prepared to intervene with individuals and families who are coping with stress, crises, and other problems in living. Specialty: Psychiatry Common Name: Psychiatrist Doctors in Alexandria * S Kalman Kolansky MD PC  Michael Hertzberg MD  Barbara R Hoar MD  Round House Psychiatric Center Ltd  Round House Psychiatric Center Ltd  Chapman & Michener Office of Psychiatry  Chapman & Michener Office of Psychiatry  Ryan S. Shugarman, M.D., PLLC  Martha S Granger MD  Mimi Khine MD  Northern Virginia Psychiatry Specialists  Mimi Ahine  Paul J Peckar MD  F J Pepper MD PC  James Dee MD  Arnold J Kaplin MD Ltd  Kenneth X Robbins MD  Philip Greco MD  Julie C Ponquinette MD  Pamela A Quarles MD  Edward Zinn MD  Anne Marie Dietrich MD  Renascence Center  Renascence Center  Skyline Psychiatric Associates  Skyline Psychiatric Associates  Annelle Primm MD  Prasad CM MD PC  Robert Radin MD  Audrey A Moss MD  David S Frenkel MD  Arthur Mode MD  Richard Sutton MD  Lillibeth Boruchow MD  Mt Vernon Mental Health  Randolph A Frank Jr. MD  Mt Vernon Mental Health  Annamma J Jacob MD  John R Maloney MD  Mt Vernon Mental Health  Mt Vernon Mental Health  Liza H Gold MD  Columbia Associates In Psychiatry  Columbia Associates In Psychiatry  Columbia Associates In Psychiatry  Columbia Associates In Psychiatry  Sang Tran MD  Peggy J Lomax MD  William A Mitchell MD  Marjorie A Harelick MD  John W McFarland MD  NoVa Institute of Psychiatry  David J Wood MD  Curt Thompson MD & Associates  Joan A Turkus MD  Nari Vaswani MD  James Vell Rives MD  Andrew A Schiavone MD  Hassan A Salih MD  Hassan A Salih MD  Tony A Tsitos MD  Kenneth L Kaplan MD  Edward Curcio MD  Barry C Gorman MD  Robert W Johnson MD  Woodburn Center For Mental Health  David E Hiatt MD  Dominion Hospital  Ross S Silverstein MD  James A Steg MD  John P Steg MD  Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute  Fuad Issa MD FAPA  Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute  Frank B Simpson MD  Gary J Soverow MD  Robert E Ketcham MD  John D Payne MD & Marlene Payne MD  John D Payne MD & Marlene Payne MD  Michael S Roath MD  Susan Rosenfeld MD  Charles Sacks MD  Thomas N Wise MD  Kim Bullock MD  Christen M Kerr MD  Michael J Durr MD  Gordon M Gondos MD  Allan S Melmed MD  Lizann Schloff MD  George Semchyshyn MD  Apud, Hirschman & Nunez-Brito MDs  Apud, Hirschman & Nunez-Brito MDs  Ralph Kornbluth MD  Apud, Hirschman & Nunez-Brito MDs  Northern Virgina Psychiatric Group  Northern Virgina Psychiatric Group  Northern Virgina Psychiatric Group  Northern Virgina Psychiatric Group  Northern Virgina Psychiatric Group  Julian T Brantley MD Alexandria, VirginiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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Drug AbuseWhat is drug addiction?Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take drugs. It is because of these changes in the brain that it is so challenging for a person who is addicted to stop abusing drugs. Fortunately, there are treatments that help people to counteract addiction's powerful disruptive effects and regain control. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medications, if available, with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches that are tailored to each patient's drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse. Similar to other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or
heart disease, drug addiction can be managed successfully. And, as with other
chronic diseases, it is not uncommon for a person to relapse and begin abusing
drugs again. Relapse, however, does not signal
What happens to your brain when you take drugs?Drugs are chemicals that tap into the brain's communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. There are at le... Recommended Reading Related to Drug AbuseLeishmaniasis facts
Other Related Drug Abuse ArticlesEmergency Contact for Alexandria
Nearby Alexandria Hospitals *The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley Inova Alexandria Hospital Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Fort Washington Hospital The Specialty Hospital of Washington The George Washington University Hospital Virginia Hospital Center Dominion Hospital Georgetown University Hospital Howard University Hospital United Medical Center Children's National Medical Center National Rehabilitation Hospital Washington DC VA Medical Center Washington Hospital Center Sibley Memorial Hospital Southern Maryland Hospital Center Psychiatric Institute of Washington The HSC Pediatric Center Providence Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital Prince George's Hospital Center Walter Reed Army Medical Center Washington Adventist Hospital National Institutes of Health Holy Cross Hospital Suburban Hospital Doctors Community Hospital Potomac Hospital Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Civista Medical Center Reston Hospital Center Laurel Regional Hospital Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Prince William Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Calvert Memorial Hospital Howard County General Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Anne Arundel Medical Center Baltimore Washington Medical Center Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Drug Abuse by Our Doctors
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