Drug abuse is now considered a major health crisis in this country. Compared with other chronic diseases, drug abuse costs the nation billions more:
- Diabetes costs society $131.7 billion annually
- Cancer costs society $171.6 billion annually
- Drug addiction costs society $484 billion annually
(NIDA/ About Drug Abuse)
- Cancer costs society $171.6 billion annually
- Drug addiction costs society $484 billion annually
(NIDA/ About Drug Abuse)
The enormity of the problem is reflected in areas that include health, education, and criminal justice. Costs to society stem from:
- Health care (cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, pediatric AIDS)
- Traffic accidents
- Violent crimes
- Child abuse
- Homelessness
- Failure at school
- Performance in the workplace
- Health care (cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, pediatric AIDS)
- Traffic accidents
- Violent crimes
- Child abuse
- Homelessness
- Failure at school
- Performance in the workplace
In 2009, an estimated 21.8 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users. That number is rising steadily as teens are succumbing to addiction from over the counter and prescription drugs. Sadly, the younger a person is when he or she uses drugs, the greater the chance of addiction. Older Americans are also at serious risk of becoming addicts as more and more medications are prescribed by a variety of treating doctors. Confusion about the drugs and mismanagement leads seniors down the path of addiction.
Drug Addiction
Addiction is a chronic disease with compulsive drug seeking and use, despite the consequences for both the addict and the addict’s family. “Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain.” (National Institute of Drug Abuse)
The cycle of use, detox, and relapse can be hopelessly repeated without the proper detoxification and drug addiction treatment. The cycle continues to worsen as use increases; higher doses are increasingly required to achieve the same effect. Detoxification from drug addiction is dangerous when attempted in the privacy of one’s home without proper medical supervision. Studies indicate that drug addiction detox alone does nothing to stop the addictive behavior. Specialized addiction treatment is necessary to halt the cycle.
Drug Abuse
There is a difference between abuse and addiction, though the line separating the two is fine. When a person is abusing drugs, he or she may still have a choice as to whether or not to take them. An individual addicted to drugs, whether prescription or illicit, no longer has a choice about whether to use or not. Drug addiction leaves the person with an intense and compulsive need to use drugs, or else the body immediately experiences severe withdrawal symptoms.
According to scientific studies, there are four stages from first use to addiction. Drug abuse easily moves to addiction because the brain functions are altered.
- Exploratory
- Recreational
- Abuse (user loses focus on daily activities, use can become secretive, thinks solely about using drugs)
- Dependency (user can no longer face daily life without drugs, loss of control over use, denies problem)
This last stage is considered addiction, and with certain drugs, such as heroin and other opioids, addiction is rapid. Younger people move through these phases faster than adults.
Drug Dependency
The delineation between dependency and addiction is arguable. Once the physical demand takes over and one loses the choice to use drugs, that person has crossed into dependency and addiction. The more one uses prescription drugs or illicit drugs, the more the drugs begin to control the brain’s function and chemistry.
Drug-induced brain alterations are profound. Whether a drug is an illicit drug or a prescribed drug, the brain’s response to drug use is the same. The brain receives a synthetic form of dopamine and immediately reduces its own natural production of dopamine to balance the incoming surges of the chemical. The length of time and the dosages used determine how quickly brain alterations occur. Initial feelings of calm or euphoria quickly disappear causing the addict to increase the amount of drugs taken. The chase for the good feeling commences with the addict always coming in last. One of the biggest problems facing the medical community now is the rapidly increasing number of patients addicted to properly prescribed pain medication.
More than one major brain function is impaired by the use of prescription and illicit drug use. Brain scans have illustrated the significant physical changes occur in an addict’s brain. These changes negatively impact the judgment, decision making, learning, and memory functions of the brain as well.
Once a person has become addicted to drugs, the decision to continue or to stop has been eradicated. Unless properly detoxed from drugs and appropriate addiction treatment obtained, “will power” alone will not restore the addict to health.
The consequences of drug addiction are a major burden on the family, the community, and society at large. Broken homes, domestic violence, criminal activity, financial difficulties, loss of employment, failure in school are only a few qualities of life that result from prescription and illicit drug abuse.
If you, a loved one or an employee suffers from prescription drug or illicit drug addiction, Addiction411 can help. You are feeling scared and overwhelmed. You’ve hit rock bottom and you don’t know what to do. You can’t stop using despite all your best efforts. Our website and helpline are dedicated to getting you the help you so desperately need.
With thousands of detox and addiction treatment facilities, it is hard to know what to choose. Choosing the best detox and treatment center that can address all your medical and psychological needs is crucial. All treatment facilities are not the same. That is how we can help. Call now and find the best program for your medical needs.
Drug Addiction
Addiction is a chronic disease with compulsive drug seeking and use, despite the consequences for both the addict and the addict’s family. “Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain.” (National Institute of Drug Abuse)
The cycle of use, detox, and relapse can be hopelessly repeated without the proper detoxification and drug addiction treatment. The cycle continues to worsen as use increases; higher doses are increasingly required to achieve the same effect. Detoxification from drug addiction is dangerous when attempted in the privacy of one’s home without proper medical supervision. Studies indicate that drug addiction detox alone does nothing to stop the addictive behavior. Specialized addiction treatment is necessary to halt the cycle.
Drug Abuse
There is a difference between abuse and addiction, though the line separating the two is fine. When a person is abusing drugs, he or she may still have a choice as to whether or not to take them. An individual addicted to drugs, whether prescription or illicit, no longer has a choice about whether to use or not. Drug addiction leaves the person with an intense and compulsive need to use drugs, or else the body immediately experiences severe withdrawal symptoms.
According to scientific studies, there are four stages from first use to addiction. Drug abuse easily moves to addiction because the brain functions are altered.
- Exploratory
- Recreational
- Abuse (user loses focus on daily activities, use can become secretive, thinks solely about using drugs)
- Dependency (user can no longer face daily life without drugs, loss of control over use, denies problem)
This last stage is considered addiction, and with certain drugs, such as heroin and other opioids, addiction is rapid. Younger people move through these phases faster than adults.
Drug Dependency
The delineation between dependency and addiction is arguable. Once the physical demand takes over and one loses the choice to use drugs, that person has crossed into dependency and addiction. The more one uses prescription drugs or illicit drugs, the more the drugs begin to control the brain’s function and chemistry.
Drug-induced brain alterations are profound. Whether a drug is an illicit drug or a prescribed drug, the brain’s response to drug use is the same. The brain receives a synthetic form of dopamine and immediately reduces its own natural production of dopamine to balance the incoming surges of the chemical. The length of time and the dosages used determine how quickly brain alterations occur. Initial feelings of calm or euphoria quickly disappear causing the addict to increase the amount of drugs taken. The chase for the good feeling commences with the addict always coming in last. One of the biggest problems facing the medical community now is the rapidly increasing number of patients addicted to properly prescribed pain medication.
More than one major brain function is impaired by the use of prescription and illicit drug use. Brain scans have illustrated the significant physical changes occur in an addict’s brain. These changes negatively impact the judgment, decision making, learning, and memory functions of the brain as well.
Once a person has become addicted to drugs, the decision to continue or to stop has been eradicated. Unless properly detoxed from drugs and appropriate addiction treatment obtained, “will power” alone will not restore the addict to health.
The consequences of drug addiction are a major burden on the family, the community, and society at large. Broken homes, domestic violence, criminal activity, financial difficulties, loss of employment, failure in school are only a few qualities of life that result from prescription and illicit drug abuse.
If you, a loved one or an employee suffers from prescription drug or illicit drug addiction, Addiction411 can help. You are feeling scared and overwhelmed. You’ve hit rock bottom and you don’t know what to do. You can’t stop using despite all your best efforts. Our website and helpline are dedicated to getting you the help you so desperately need.
With thousands of detox and addiction treatment facilities, it is hard to know what to choose. Choosing the best detox and treatment center that can address all your medical and psychological needs is crucial. All treatment facilities are not the same. That is how we can help. Call now and find the best program for your medical needs.
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