ADDICTION by Miyanda Rainey and Lauren Besinga by Lauren Elizabeth

What drugs are commonly abused?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-17 17:14:32 UTC

Alcohol, Marijuanna, Prescription Drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Hallucinogens, and Inhalants are commonly abused.

What are the costs of substance abuse to society?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:20:40 UTC

Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States - including health- and crime-related costs as well as losses in productivity - exceed half a trillion dollars annually: approximately $181 billion for illicit drugs,[1] $168 billion for tobacco,[2] and $185 billion for alcohol.[3]

The $181 billion illegal drug use cost is subdivided as follows:

$129 billion in lost productivity;
$16 billion in healthcare costs; and
$36 billion in other costs, such as efforts to stem the flow of drugs.

Where can I learn more about the science of drug addiction?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:22:39 UTC

In 2007, NIDA released a comprehensive booklet Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. This booklet aims to help people understand why individuals become addicted to drugs.

Another resource is the NIDA website, which provides detailed information on drugs of abuse, latest research findings, and multiple links to information tailored for teens, parents, and teachers.

What is drug addiction?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:32:51 UTC

Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that affects the brain and causes compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use despite harmful and often devastating consequences.

How is addiction a disease?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:34:07 UTC

Addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain - in structure and in function. It's true that for most people, the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary. Over time, however, the brain changes that occur with drug abuse erode a person's self control and ability to make sound decisions, while prompting intense urges to take drugs.

How do drugs work in the brain?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:39:17 UTC

Imitating natural neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) and over-stimulating the reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation, and feelings of pleasure.

Why do some people become addicted, while others do not?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:43:33 UTC

Biology, environment, and development are factors that can determine how one person can become a victim of addiction while the other does not. People whose families were victims higher the chances of one also attracting the disease. A person who lives in an environment that could influence him also highers the chances.

How do I know if someone is addicted to drugs?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:51:13 UTC

Behavior, appearance, lifestyle, and their background in life can determine whether they are just another normal person or if they are a drug abuser.

What are withdrawal and detoxification "detox"?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 16:57:51 UTC

Withdrawal is the all-inclusive term used to describe a complex variety of unpleasant physical symptoms that occur when the use of some addictive drugs is reduced or stopped. Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal.

What happens to your brain when you keep taking drugs?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 17:08:37 UTC

Drugs produce abnormally large surges in dopamine in the brain's reward structures that lead to the "high" drug users often refer to. In response, the brain becomes less reactive to the drug, and the user feels less and less of a "high" from the same amount of the drug - an effect known as tolerance. As addiction deepens, the drugs become less an added positive experience and more a necessity for the brain (and the abuser) merely to feel "normal."

If a pregnant woman abuses drugs does it affect the fetus?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 17:10:29 UTC

A pregnant woman who abuses drugs may have other risk factors that could adversely affect the health and well being of her child. These can include poor nutrition and health care, lack of prenatal care, and a chaotic home environment. Further, alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs of abuse can directly affect the developing fetus because they travel across or through the placenta.

Other than addiction, what are some other health consequences of abusing drugs?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-18 17:21:06 UTC

Drug abuse can cause kidney diseases.

When is the best time to get someone into treatment?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-19 16:21:51 UTC

Treatment works regardless of whether a person has hit rock bottom; and catching a person earlier in the addiction cycle, may mean fewer accompanying problems and a better overall prognosis for long-term recovery. Further, "rock bottom" is a dangerous place to be, and for many addicts, that point is when a near-fatal overdose or other serious health or criminal justice consequence has occurred. It is advisable to do everything in your power to help them find the courage, determination, and means to seek treatment as early as possible.

Are there effective treatments for drug addiction?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-19 16:25:33 UTC

Research shows that combining addiction-treatment medications, where available, with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches tailored to address each patient's drug abuse patterns and co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse.

Where can I find information about drug treatment programs?

elizabethbesing — 2015-03-19 16:28:36 UTC

For referrals to treatment programs, call 1-800-662-HELP, or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration online.