Drug Abuse and Addiction

Most of us do not understand how or why other people become addicted to drugs. It is often mistakenly believed that drug abusers lack moral willpower or principles and that they could stop using drugs. In reality, quitting drug takes more than good intentions or a strong will, drug addiction is a complex disease. In fact, drugs change the brain in ways that boost uncontrollable drug abuse, quitting drugs is difficult, even for those who are ready to do so. Drug addiction and abuse have great negative effects for individuals and for society. We know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and lead productive lives.

What Is Drug Addiction?

Addiction is a lengthy process, its relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug use and seeking, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual or society. Al-though the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self-control.

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The Effects of Substance abuse

The Effects of Substance abuse

Substance abuse is known as drug abuse. People abuse substances such as alcohol, drugs and tobacco for various and complicated reasons. This abuse can be seen in hospitals and emergency departments. Some of the drugs most often associated with this term include substituted, alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methaqualone, cocaine and opioids. Use of these drugs may lead to criminal penalty in addition to possible social, physical, and psychological harm, these strongly depending on local jurisdiction. Other definitions of drug abuse fall into four main categories: mass communication and vernacular usage, public health definitions, medical definitions, and criminal justice definitions. Substance abuse is prevalent with an estimated 120 million users of hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and other synthetic drugs.

Psychoactive substance use can lead to dependence syndrome - a cluster of cognitive, physiological and behavioural phenomena that develop after repeated substance use and that typically include difficulties in controlling its use, a strong desire to take the drug, persisting in its use despite harmful consequences, increased tolerance, a higher priority given to drug use than to other activities and obligations, and sometimes a physical withdrawal state.

Finding effective treatment for and prevention of substance abuse has been difficult. According to the 1996 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse estimated the number of users of illicit drugs in the United States to be about 13 million. In addition, the survey estimated that 25% of Americans smoke cigarettes and 10% of Americans abuse or are dependent on alcohol. Abused substances produce some form of intoxication that perception alters judgment, physical control or attention.

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What can be the treatments for heroin addiction ?

Heroin addiction treatment

Many treatments are available for heroin addiction. Treatment works more effective when heroin abuse is identified early. The treatments vary people to people, it’s depending on the individual, but methadone, a synthetic opiate that blocks the effects of heroin and eliminates withdrawal symptoms, has a proven record of success for people addicted to heroin. Other pharmaceutical approaches also are used for treating heroin addiction like buprenorphine and many behavioral therapies. Buprenorphine is a recent addition to the medical science; it is now available for treating addiction to heroin and other opiates. This medication is less risk of addiction, it is different from methadone that can be prescribed in the privacy of a doctor's office.

Naloxone (Suboxone)/ buprenorphine is a combination drug product to minimize abuse.

Detoxification

Detoxification programs goal to achieve safe and humane withdrawal from opium by minimizing the severity of medical complications and withdrawal symptoms. Detoxifications relieve withdrawal symptoms while patients adjust to a drug-free family. It is a useful step to reduce heroin abuse. Detoxification treatments program lasting 3 to 6 months.

Methadone programs

Methadone treatment has been working effectively and safely for more than 30 years treat opioid addiction. Properly prescribed methadone is not sedating or intoxicating, and its effects do not interfere with ordinary activities. Medication is an orally taken process and it suppresses soporific withdrawal for 24 to 36 hours. Patients are able to understand pain and have emotional reactions. The most important matter is methadone reduce the craving associated with heroin addiction; craving is a major reason for relapse.

 

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Bad Effect Drugs and alcohol abuse

 

 

Drugs and alcohol abuse

If you feel lonely about your friend or family member’s drug addiction, you have nothing to be afraid because help is available for addicted person. Learning about the nature of drugs and alcohol abuse properly- what it looks like, how it develops and why it can have such a powerful hold. You will find exact solution from these questions.

Understanding Drugs and alcohol abuse

People take drugs for many different reasons .Some peoples take drugs for their helpless, isolated or ashamed feeling, and some are able to use prescription drugs or recreational without ever experiencing negative addiction or consequences. Users take it first time from out of their out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or try to forget another problem, such as anxiety, stress, or depression. Drugs and alcohol abuse is less about the amount of substance consumed or the frequency, and more to do with the consequences of drug use. It is important to remember that drugs consuming your life- at home, school, college, relationships or in your work place.

Effects

Alcohol can damage a developing fetus of human body. Intoxication can loss motor skills and brain function. Heavy use can increase risk of certain stroke, cancers and liver disease. Drugs and alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholism, is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one's health, ability to work or interpersonal relationships.

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The Effects of Marijuana Use

Marijuana is the most commonly used in the United States.  Usually it is smoked in a pipe or as a blunt and also be smoked as a joint. It can be mixed with food, brewed used as in the form of hash oil. This dry mix of brown and green mixed flowers, stems and leaves, seeds comes from the hemp plant called Cannabis sativa. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main active chemical in the plant.
Marijuana may be harmful to human body. Users take marijuana for long time because of depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Withdrawal and addiction can be common with marijuana use. After using marijuana user’s heart rate increases for up to three hours. People who smoke marijuana inhale deeply and hold their breath; marijuana exposes the lungs to more carcinogens that may lead to cancer.

Short-Term Effects of Marijuana

THC instantly moves from the lungs into the blood after taking marijuana, and then the short-term effects of marijuana occur. This chemical acts on cannabinoid receptors that lead to a high for users. These receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence thinking, concentration, sensory and pleasure, time perception, coordination and memory.

Users may experience temporary difficult coordination issues, memory loss, pleasure, and loss of time or problems understanding time and other side effects.

Side Effects

People who take marijuana highly, the side effects of marijuana include:

• Impaired coordination
• Distorted perceptions
• Addiction
• Difficulties thinking or problem solving
• Dependency
• Pleasure

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