Facts About Drug Addiction

FACTS ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION
Rosalene Epil
SU2
Created BY:
Keihtly Galsim
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What is addiction to drugs?
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and
behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances
such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs.
Drug addiction is a complex neurobiological disease that requires integrated treatment of the mind,
body, and spirit. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain — they change its
structure and how it works. Without treatment, these brain changes can be long-lasting. Addiction is
chronic, it is progressive, and if left untreated, it can be fatal.
Individuals struggling with drug addiction often feel as though they cannot function normally without
their drug of choice. This can lead to a wide range of issues that impact professional goals, personal
relationships, and overall health. Over time, these serious side effects can be progressive, and if left
untreated, fatal.
Commonly Used Illegal Drugs
Drugs are classified in a number of ways. Many are potentially addictive and harmful. Examples of
illegal drugs include:
 Heroin  Ecstasy
 Cocaine or crack cocaine  Marijuana
 Methamphetamine  LSD
 Bath Salts  Mushrooms
 Methadone  PCP
Warning Signs of Drug Addiction
Sometimes the warning signs of alcohol misuse or abuse are very noticeable. Other times, they can
take longer to surface. When drug addiction is discovered in its early stages, the chance for a
successful recovery increases significantly.
Common signs of drug addiction include:
 Loss of control
 Continued problems despite negative consequences
 Spending less time on activities that used to be important, such as hanging out with family and
friends, exercising, or pursuing hobbies or other interests
 Drop in attendance and performance at work or school
 Taking serious risks in order to obtain one’s drug of choice
 Acting out in personal relationships, particularly if someone is attempting to address their
substance problems
 Going out of one’s way to hide the amount of drugs taken
 Serious changes or deterioration in hygiene or physical appearance
 Needing to use more and more of the drug in order to produce the same effect
 Withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, trembling, sweating, nausea or fatigue
 If you feel as though drug addiction is taking a toll on your life, it’s important to find quality
treatment that can help you overcome addiction.
Drug Addiction Affects Every Organ in the Body
Aside from overdose, there are many adverse medical effects of drug addiction. These include:
 Cardiovascular disease
 Contraction of HIV, hepatitis and other illnesses
 Heart rate irregularities, heart attack
 Respiratory problems such as lung cancer, emphysema, and breathing problems
 Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea
 Kidney and liver damage
 Seizures, stroke, brain damage
 changes in appetite, body temperature, and sleeping patterns
 Stroke
 Pancreatitis
 Gastrointestinal problems
 Malnutrition
 Insomnia and sleep disorders
What is drug addiction treatment?
Drug treatment is intended to help addicted individuals stop compulsive drug seeking and use.
Treatment can occur in a variety of settings, take many different forms, and last for different lengths
of time. Because drug addiction is typically a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapses, a
short-term, one-time treatment is usually not sufficient. For many, treatment is a long-term process
that involves multiple interventions and regular monitoring.
Treatment medications, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone (including a new long-
acting formulation), are available for individuals addicted to opioids, while nicotine preparations
(patches, gum, lozenges, and nasal spray) and the medications varenicline and bupropion are
available for individuals addicted to tobacco. Disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone
are medications available for treating alcohol dependence,1 which commonly co-occurs with other
drug addictions, including addiction to prescription medications.
Treatments for prescription drug abuse tend to be similar to those for illicit drugs that affect the same
brain systems. For example, buprenorphine, used to treat heroin addiction, can also be used to treat
addiction to opioid pain medications. Addiction to prescription stimulants, which affect the same
brain systems as illicit stimulants like cocaine, can be treated with behavioral therapies, as there are
not yet medications for treating addiction to these types of drugs.
Behavioral therapies can help motivate people to participate in drug treatment, offer strategies for
coping with drug cravings, teach ways to avoid drugs and prevent relapse, and help individuals deal
with relapse if it occurs. Behavioral therapies can also help people improve communication,
relationship, and parenting skills, as well as family dynamics.
Many treatment programs employ both individual and group therapies. Group therapy can provide
social reinforcement and help enforce behavioral contingencies that promote abstinence and a non-
drug-using lifestyle. Some of the more established behavioral treatments, such as contingency
management and cognitive-behavioral therapy, are also being adapted for group settings to improve
efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, particularly in adolescents, there can also be a danger of
unintended harmful (or iatrogenic) effects of group treatment—sometimes group members
(especially groups of highly delinquent youth) can reinforce drug use and thereby derail the purpose
of the therapy. Thus, trained counselors should be aware of and monitor for such effects.
Because they work on different aspects of addiction, combinations of behavioral therapies and
medications (when available) generally appear to be more effective than either approach used alone.
REFERENCES
https://www.originsrecovery.com/what-is-drug-addiction/
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-
treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-
questions/what-drug-addiction-treatment

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Facts About Drug Addiction

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FACTS ABOUT DRUG ADDICTION

Commonly Used Illegal Drugs

Warning Signs of Drug Addiction

Common signs of drug addiction include:

Drug Addiction Affects Every Organ in the Body

What is drug addiction treatment?

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