DRUG ABUSE
What is Drug Abuse?
"What is drug abuse?" is an important question for any loved one of a person with a possible substance use problem. Drug abuse information clearly states drug abuse is an extreme desire to obtain, and use, increasing amounts of one or more substances. Drug abuse is a generic term for the abuse of any drug, including alcohol and cigarettes.
When considering, "what is drug abuse?" one should remember drug abuse is not the same thing as drug dependence or drug addiction. Drug dependence or addiction indicates a psychological or physical dependence on the drug to function. Drug dependence requires the symptoms of withdrawal if the drug is discontinued, whereas drug abuse does not.
Drug Abuse Info - Who Falls Victim to Drug Abuse?
Anyone can become a drug abuser. Drug abuse information indicates that all ethnicities, ages, social groups and genders can have drug abuse problems. Drug abuse is not a character flaw but rather a medical condition that has developed over time. While no one knows why one person becomes a drug abuser while another doesn't, drug abuse does tend to run in families.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates the following risk factors for developing drug abuse problems (typically seen in adolescence):
- Unstable home environment, often due to drug abuse or mental illness of the parent
- Poor relationship with parents
- Inadequate supervision over adolescent's activities
- Use of drugs by friends / peers
- Permissive attitude towards their own drug use and the drug use of the adolescent
- Behavioral problems combined with poor parenting
- Poor achievement in school
- Apparent ambivalence or approval of drug use in the school, peer group or community
- Availability of drugs in the community, peer group or home
What Drugs Are Abused?
Drug abuse can be abuse of any chemical substance including cigarettes, inhalants, alcohol and others. Drug abuse information shows both legal and illegal drugs can lead to drug abuse. In short, any drug that can be used can also be a drug of abuse.
Categories of drugs commonly seen in drug abuse cases include:
- Legal, over-the-counter - Includes drugs like alcohol and cigarettes
- Legal, prescription - includes drugs like methadone, oxycodone and Zolpidem
- Chemical - includes drugs like inhalants
- Illegal - includes drugs like marijuana, opiates (like heroin), stimulants (like methamphetamines and cocaine) and hallucinogenics (like acid)
The effects of drug abuse:-
Drug abuse can lead to both short-term and long-term health effects.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition (DMS-4)
defines drug abuse as “a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.”The effects of drug abuse depend on the type of drug, any other substances that a person is using, and their health history.
In this article, we discuss the impact of drug abuse and explain how to treat drug abuse.
Drugs are chemical compounds that affect the mind and body. The exact effects vary among individuals and also depend on the drug, dosage, and delivery method.
Using any drug, even in moderation or according to a medical prescription, can have short-term effects.
For instance, consuming one or two servings of alcohol can lead to mild intoxication. A person may feel relaxed, uninhibited, or sleepy.
Nicotine from cigarettes and other tobacco products raises blood pressure and increases alertness.
Using a prescription opioid as a doctor has instructed helps relieve moderate-to-severe pain, but opioids can also cause drowsiness, shallow breathing, and constipation.
Abusing a drug, or misusing a prescription medication, can produce other short-term effects, such as:
- changes in appetite
- sleeplessness or insomnia
- increased heart rate
- slurred speech
- changes in cognitive ability
- a temporary sense of euphoria
- loss of coordination
Drug abuse can affect aspects of a person’s life beyond their physical health. People with substance use disorder, for example, may experience:
- an inability to cease using a drug
- relationship problems
- poor work or academic performance
- difficulty maintaining personal hygiene
- noticeable changes in appearance, such as extreme weight loss
- increased impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors
- loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities
Drug abuse, especially over an extended period, can have numerous long-term health effects.
Chronic drug use can alter a person’s brain structure and function, resulting in long-term psychological effects, such as:
- depression
- anxiety
- panic disorders
- increased aggression
- paranoia
- hallucinations
Long-term drug use can also affect a person’s memory, learning, and concentration.
The long-term physical effects of drug use vary depending on the type of drug and the duration of use. However, experts have linked chronic drug use with the following health conditions:
Cardiovascular disease
Stimulants, such as cocaine and methamphetamines, can damage the heart and blood vessels.
The long-term use of these drugs can lead to coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, and heart attack.
Respiratory problems
Drugs that people smoke or inhale can damage the respiratory system and lead to chronic respiratory infections and diseases.
Opioids slow a person’s breathing by binding to specific receptors in the central nervous system that regulate respiration. By depressing a person’s respiration, these drugs can lead to slow breathing or heavy snoring.
A person may stop breathing entirely if they take a large dose of an opioid or take it alongside other drugs, such as sleep aids or alcohol.
Kidney damage
The kidneys filter excess minerals and waste products from the blood. Heroin, ketamine, and synthetic cannabinoids can cause kidney damage or kidney failure.
Liver disease
Chronic drug and alcohol use can damage the liver cells, leading to inflammation, scarring, and even liver failure.
Overdose
Taking too much of a drug or taking multiple drugs together can result in an overdose.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdose caused
67,367 deaths in the United States in 2018. Opioids contributed to nearly 70% of these deaths.Anyone providing drug abuse treatment should tailor it to suit a person’s individual needs to ensure that it is effective.
Treatment may involve some of the following components:
- Behavioral therapy, which helps people build positive coping strategies and develop problem-solving skills.
- Group therapy, which gives people the chance to acknowledge, share, and work through the psychological aspects of recovery with a group of peers under professional guidance.
- Medications to help minimize withdrawal symptoms.
- Additional medical care, which may include vocational training and other resources that address problems associated with chronic drug abuse, such as mental health conditions, unemployment, and medical conditions.
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