# data[].attributes.body
Roberts dad was an addict and he got into thsi drugs when he was only seven. Maybe I could talk about how my charecter was young when his dad started the bisnes. and thstat he is stopping it and getting a job. he is breaking the status quo. I could also talk about how he wen tcrazy once like what robert did and robert downey went to prison on multiple occasions. But after gettigng into something he loved( acting) his love tookover the powerof drugs.

# data[].attributes.body
I think I could this whole story a flashback. This is how he gets out of this with people that help him like beaneth the meth moon. Even though his dad is an addict just liek Robert dad in my story.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A great Hollywood comeback story, Robert Downey Jr. is now one of the most bankable and highly paid actors in show business, starring in blockbuster comic book films like Iron Man and The Avengers. But not so long ago, he was practically unhireable, due to his drinking and drug abuse -not to mention the time his addictions landed him in prison.

Both show business and addiction run in the Downey family. The cult filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., also an addict, allowed his son to try marijuana at the age of six. According to a 1996 People article, drugs facilitated an emotional bond between father and son. This apparently led to Downey becoming a daily drinker.

A Rising Star in Hollywood

Despite his active drug and alcohol addiction, Downey Jr. made a name for himself as a young actor in the mid- to late '80s. After a season in the cast of "Saturday Night Live," he scored film roles in the likes of John Hughes fare such as Weird Science, and he co-starred opposite Molly Ringwald in The Pick-Up Artist in 1987. That same year, Downey also gave a memorable performance in the film adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel Less Than Zero, playing a rich kid whose life went off the rails amid a severe heroin addiction. Downey's off-screen life would soon uncannily resemble that role.

Downey's performance in the 1992 biopic Chaplin earned him an Academy Award nomination, and his career seemed to be on an upward trajectory until 1996, when he was arrested for possession of heroin and cocaine. As reported in a 2003 interview with the New York Times, Downey was arrested multiple times for drug offences and cycled in and out of jail.

A Cycle of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

One of the more disturbing incidents involved an intoxicated Downey wandering into a neighbor's house and passing out in a bed. After repeatedly missing court ordered drug tests, Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison stint in 1999, but only ended up serving a year in California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison.

In 2001, while on parole, Downey was found barefoot, wandering around Culver City, California and was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence. That incident led to him being fired from his role on the TV show "Ally McBeal," in addition to other film and stage jobs. Instead of being sent back to prison, the now-broke actor was ordered to rehab.

The Turning Point

Downey's wife Susan Downey (née Levin) told Harper's Bazaar that he quit drugs for good in 2003 after she gave him an ultimatum. Apparently, it stuck. According to a 2013 Daily Mail article, the actor credits a combination of 12-step programs, yoga, meditation and therapy with keeping him sober.

His career didn't pick up again until Mel Gibson personally underwrote Downey's liability insurance...

He also credits sobriety for the phenomenal career momentum he has enjoyed over the past few years. In the early aughts, it was practically impossible for Downey to get hired since most filmmakers wouldn't-or couldn't-pay the exorbitant insurance bonds it required to have him on set. His career didn't pick up again until Mel Gibson personally underwrote Downey's liability insurance so that the actor could star in 2003's The Singing Detective.

From there, Downey started working steadily, appearing in films such as Gothika, A Scanner Darkly, Zodiac and Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang.

Downey's star-power rose in 2008 when he starred in the summer blockbusters Iron Man and Tropic Thunder, earning his second Oscar nomination for the latter. Downey then starred in The Avengers and subsequent Iron Man movies, making him a critical player for Marvel.

The fact that Robert Downey Jr.'s career seems to improve the longer he stays sober makes his comeback one of the most impressive and inspiring stories.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Robert Downey Jr.'s Incredible Comeback from Addiction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A great Hollywood comeback story, Robert Downey Jr. is now one of the most bankable and highly paid actors in show business, starring in blockbuster comic book films like Iron Man and The Avengers. But not so long ago, he was practically unhireable, due to his drinking and drug abuse-not to mention the time his...

# data[].attributes.body
Drugs aren't that easy to stop. Drugs change the way your brain thinks it makes you want more. The website says that it takes more than just will power. Drugs trigger the reward circuit of there brain. This can cuase people to loose excitment in what they loved most once. And soon they are stuck in a echo chamber of drugs.

# data[].attributes.body
I could weave this into my sroy because The child in my stroy will realise that he ahs a heart problem from taking to much  Marajuanna and then he still can't stop. I could add in a flash back like how he was happy when he was with his friends or eating his favorite food, but now it has become artifical. The happnies is being sucked away from tommorw.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives.

What Is drug addiction?

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person's self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease-people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.

It's common for a person to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn't work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and should be adjusted based on how the patient responds. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient's changing needs.

Video: Why are Drugs So Hard to Quit?

What happens to the brain when a person takes drugs?

Most drugs affect the brain's "reward circuit," causing euphoria as well as flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. A properly functioning reward system motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and spending time with loved ones. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy behaviors like taking drugs, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.

As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it. This reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug-an effect known as tolerance. They might take more of the drug to try and achieve the same high. These brain adaptations often lead to the person becoming less and less able to derive pleasure from other things they once enjoyed, like food, sex, or social activities.

Long-term use also causes changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well, affecting functions that include:

Despite being aware of these harmful outcomes, many people who use drugs continue to take them, which is the nature of addiction.

Why do some people become addicted to drugs while others don't?

No one factor can predict if a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. For example:

Biology. The genes that people are born with account for about half of a person's risk for addiction. Gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may also influence risk for drug use and addiction.

Environment. A person's environment includes many different influences, from family and friends to economic status and general quality of life. Factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, early exposure to drugs, stress, and parental guidance can greatly affect a person's likelihood of drug use and addiction.

Development. Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person's life to affect addiction risk. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier that drug use begins, the more likely it will progress to addiction. This is particularly problematic for teens. Because areas in their brains that control decision-making, judgment, and self-control are still developing, teens may be especially prone to risky behaviors, including trying drugs.

Can drug addiction be cured or prevented?

As with most other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment for drug addiction generally isn't a cure. However, addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. People who are recovering from an addiction will be at risk for relapse for years and possibly for their whole lives. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medicines with behavioral therapy ensures the best chance of success for most patients. Treatment approaches tailored to each patient's drug use patterns and any co-occurring medical, mental, and social problems can lead to continued recovery.

More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media are effective for preventing or reducing drug use and addiction. Although personal events and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people view drug use as harmful, they tend to decrease their drug taking. Therefore, education and outreach are key in helping people understand the possible risks of drug use. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.

Points to Remember

Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.

Brain changes that occur over time with drug use challenge an addicted person's self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. This is why drug addiction is also a relapsing disease.

Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop. Relapse indicates the need for more or different treatment.

Most drugs affect the brain's reward circuit by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy activities, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.

Over time, the brain adjusts to the excess dopamine, which reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug-an effect known as tolerance. They might take more of the drug, trying to achieve the same dopamine high.

No single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction.

Drug addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed.

More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.

Learn more

For information about understanding drug use and addiction, visit:

For more information about the costs of drug abuse to the United States, visit:

For more information about prevention, visit:

For more information about treatment, visit:

To find a publicly funded treatment center in your state, call 1-800-662-HELP or visit:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Provides an overview of drug use and addiction, including what happens in the brain during drug use, why some people become addicted while others don't, and the importance of prevention.

# data[].attributes.body
I learned that these drugs are so easy to access for teens. Most teens are peer pressured into drugs. I also learned that Most teens consume alchochal. ! in 2 teens consume alchohol. And This can cuase permanet damge to the braing and respitory system. i have also learned that teens will steal jewlerry, money, or anything valuable for drugs. This is hwo addictive they are. I have also heard that some kids in our school use glue sticks and muscle spray to get high. But no only does it kill brain cells it's just killing your entire reward system!

# data[].attributes.body
I will weave this into my story by showing hwo easy it is for him to get the drugs and how soon he learns what it does to him but he still keeps doing this because he can't stop.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Alcohol | Tobacco | Marijuana | Ecstasy | Inhalants | Cough Medicine | Methamphetamine | Amphetamine | Prescription Drugs | Rohypnol

Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant that is sold as beer, wine or liquor. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in two teenagers consumed alcohol in the past year. Although many teenagers consider it fun, it is very dangerous. The effects of alcohol on your body depend on your size, weight, sex, age and the amount of food you have consumed. read more...

Tobacco comes in the forms of cigarettes, cigars or smokeless tobacco. Many teenagers also use water pipes - or hookahs - to smoke tobacco. This is just as dangerous as smoking cigarettes. Nicotine is the stimulating chemical in tobacco that makes it addictive. However, there are also more than 4,000 other chemicals in tobacco that are also poisonous. Some people think smokeless tobacco is healthier - but it is not. According to the American Lung Association, three to four times the amount of nicotine is consumed from smokeless tobacco than from a cigarette. About 500,000 Americans die each year from tobacco use, which is more than all other drugs combined. read more...

Rohypnol is usually called the date rape drug or roofies. The drug's actual name is Flunitrazepam and is legal in some countries (not the United States) to treat insomnia. Rohypnol is a sedative that creates a sleepy and relaxed feeling. It is comparable to Valium or Xanax, except that its sedative effects are 10 times stronger. It is a small white tablet that, when dissolved in a liquid, cannot be tasted nor smelled. It is used as a date rape drug because when it is combined with alcohol produces disinhibition and amnesia. Users often take Rohypnol with other drugs such as heroin or cocaine. read more...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Alcohol | Tobacco | Marijuana | Ecstasy | Inhalants | Cough Medicine | Methamphetamine | Amphetamine | Prescription Drugs | Rohypnol Alcohol Alcohol is a depressant that is sold as beer, wine or liquor. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, one in two teenagers consumed alcohol in the past year.