DEMCO wants you to know...........

PREVENTION IS KEY

Prevention is the action taken to decrease the chance of getting a disease, condition, or addiction.

Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug or alcohol seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. It is considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness.

Getting preventive care reduces the risk of diseases, disabilities, and death — yet millions of people in the United States don't get recommended preventive health care services.

What are the 3 types of prevention? 1. Primary Prevention—intervening before health effects occur. 2. Secondary Prevention—screening to identify addiction at the earliest.

3. Tertiary Prevention—managing addiction post-diagnosis to slow or stop.

If you are struggling with addiction, know that addiction is a treatable disease, you have not completely failed.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) create changes in the brain, it is a chronic mental health condition; however, sobriety is possible with the proper treatment and support.