Abusive habits aren't just hard on the addicted person and their family. They are a burden on society as well. Do you know that substance abuse winds up costing the United States economy about $600 billion each year?
When a person regularly uses drugs that cause increase in dopamine, the body starts producing less natural dopamine. This means he has to take more drugs to get the same effect, which means more risks of addiction and fatality.
What are co-occurring disorders, with regard to addiction? Co-occurring disorders refer to mental health conditions that happen at the same time as addiction. They may include mood disorders, anxiety, psychotic disorders, depression, and other problems.
What are the "protective factors" in terms of addiction? Protective factors are the factors that help prevent drug abuse. Solid parenting and a good social environment are examples of factors that protect people from developing addictions.
Do you know that binge drinking accounts for 75% of total alcohol misuse? Alcohol poisoning caused by binge drinking at high intensity can even lead to coma and death.
According to a study, heavy marijuana smokers between the ages of 13 and 38 lose about 8 IQ points. This is enough to make heavy users struggle more with daily life.
An alarming report has revealed that overdose deaths attributed to prescription painkillers have tripled in the past 2 decades. More than 50% percent of people who have misused prescription opioids reported getting them from relatives or friends.
“The mentality and behavior of drug addicts and alcoholics is wholly irrational until you understand that they are completely powerless over their addiction, and unless they have structured help, they have no hope.” – Russel Brand
Impaired self-control is a true hallmark of drug addiction. Addicts may start to use alcohol or drugs voluntarily but eventually struggle with the self-control they have over substance use.
Drug addiction is often characterized as a chronic, repeating disease of the brain. This is because the continued use of a drug alters the brain’s structure and functionality. The changes to your brain also cause changes in your mood or behavior.
Do you know that alcohol abuse accounts for about 50% of liver disease deaths in the United States? The most prevalent types of alcoholic liver disease are fatty liver, cirrhosis, and alcoholic hepatitis.
A beautiful saying by Mahatma Gandhi: “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves.”
Synthetic cathinones, also known as drug bath salts, can be addictive for people looking for a cheap high. These stimulants can lead to the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, which can be potentially fatal.
What is methadone? It is a powerful analgesic drug used for detoxification or maintenance treatment of opioid drug addiction. Methadone is particularly used in the treatment of morphine and heroin addiction.
A study has found that about 9% of people who use marijuana may develop an addiction to the drug. In fact, the younger you are when you try it for the first time, the more likely you'll develop an addiction to it.
Alcohol is the most often abused substance in the United States. In fact, reports and studies have revealed that about six Americans die from alcohol poisoning every day.
Alcohol poisoning is typically caused by consuming a very large amount of alcohol during an episode of binge drinking. According to reports, three-quarters of alcohol poisoning deaths in the U.S. include people belonging to the 35 to 64 age group.
Your social circle plays a very important role in your likelihood of using drugs. If your social circle includes people who often use drugs, it may also raise your risk of relapse.
While some alcoholics can rehabilitate without medical intervention, that’s not always the case. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), between 40% and 60% of all recovering addicts relapse at some point.
Studies have shown that women are more likely to struggle with a co-occurring disorder than men. They also develop medical or social consequences of addiction faster than men. Withdrawal from addiction is usually harder for women.
Cocaine has a high relapse rate and is known to be one of the most challenging drugs to overcome. Medical detox is usually recommended to help safely manage cocaine withdrawal symptoms.
Brain changes that happen with repeated use of drugs can affect attention, memory, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities of the person. These changes persist long after substance use stops.
Addiction affects the person’s self-control, but this doesn’t mean he pr she is bad. Such people should be treated with empathy and understanding. Try to boost their morale and willpower to quit addiction.
What are the long-term side effects of cocaine addiction? They include delirium or psychosis, hypertension, permanent damage to the cardiovascular system, mood disturbances, excessive weight loss, severe tooth decay, infertility, and severe depression.