Drug Addiction : Drugs And Drugs

To illustrate the magnitude of the research problem and provide a frame of reference, this section begins with a brief overview of the increased use of pharmaceuticals and prescription drug abuse in the US. The section continues with the relationship between illicit drugs and prescriptions, adolescents’ abuse, personal and social factors; then concludes with the theoretical approach. The Social-Ecological Theory, will be applied in researching prescription drug abuse, possible influences and protective factors in adolescents in relation to prescription drug abuse, to develop focused intervention strategies and educational programs for this population, similar to other substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disorder which produces compulsive drug seeking and use. The abuse of drugs leads to changes in the function and structure of the brain. Consuming chemical substances to achieve pleasure or euphoria The most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse include opioids used for chronic pain; central nervous system (CNS) depressants used in anxiety and sleep disorder treatments; and stimulants, such as amphetamine among others, utilized to treat attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy.[4]

Addiction is something that most of my family and many others in the world face today. Addiction can look like many things: drug abuse, the lust of money, or even having an extreme obsession. What defines addiction is whether if a person is deprived of something and then goes through physical or mental withdraws. My parents happen to go through many of these withdraws when deprived of the drug methamphetamine.

For some people, the use of alcohol and drugs can lead to a chronic disease or long-term illness that has serious medical and social consequences. Are you feeling down, left out, trying to fit in? Addiction begins so easily and takes over without any warning. It can begin with a bad day, consequences, peer pressure, or a teen trying to find a way to fit in. “An estimated 2.4 million Americans used prescription drugs non-medically for the first time within the past year, which averages to approximately 6,600 initiates per day”, states According to, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In 2014, 47,055 people died from drug overdoses. Since 2000, opioid drug overdoses have jumped 200%”. While some people believe drug addiction is a choice, it is a disease. Continued drug use changes the brain 's structure and how the brain functions. Also, Environmental cues is why some people get addicted. Furthermore, drug addiction, like other diseases, may require medication to treat.

Addiction is a disease that continues to fester and destroy individual’s lives. Once an individual is under the influence of drugs they no longer have control over their actions. Drug user’s brains are hijacked and taken on an explosive ride that begins with pleasure and ends in the damage of their brain. “Drug use is on the rise in this country and 23.5 million Americans are addicted to alcohol and drugs. That’s approximately one in every 10 Americans over the age of 12 – roughly equal to the entire population of Texas….” said Dr. Kima Joy Taylor, director of the Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap Initiative. Once a person is addicted to a drug or alcohol they will lose their willpower and become subject to the desire of needing that drug continuously.

And some substances are more addictive than others: Drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they might only be used once or twice before the user loses control.

Based on our readings and my understanding some of the cause(s) of substance abuse and addiction have many factors that can play a key role. For example our text book points out that some people want to escape their reality, or numb their emotional pain. It can also be social pressure from peers or our own upbringing (Doweiko 2015).

Drugs consume the lives of many adults, teenagers, young children, and babies. Drugs have been introduced into our lives in a number of ways, either by prescription by an accredited doctor, over-the-counter, or on the street. Substance abuse is the leading cause of familial dysfunction and breakdown. Nine out of 10 families suffer hardships at the hands of family members who partake in what appears to be recreational drug use. What starts out as recreational use quickly escalates into the dark world of drug addiction. According to the dictionary, addiction is the compulsive need for and use of a habit forming substance such as alcohol or heroin characterized by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal. I will examine the process of drug addiction, the effects it has on abusers and their family, and the road to recovery.

It is an obvious assumption that drugs have an effect on the mind, but what exactly goes on and how do these substances affect your brain and change your state of consciousness? This is the question that interested me and brought me to want to write about this certain topic.

Addiction is commonly associated with drugs and alcohol. Addiction is not only related to drugs or alcohol, but it is also tied to things and activities. Addiction to drugs or alcohol are quite similar, but in some respects, slightly different to addictions to activities and other things. Addiction to drugs and alcohol, over time, leads to a buildup of tolerance. Tolerance causes the user to need more of what they are addicted to in order to experience an equal or increased effect than previously needed to obtain the same effect. They use drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. Addicts put people close to them at risk and jeopardize their social life for just a little more of the addicted substance or activity. Addiction to an activity can be just as detrimental to someone as an addiction to a drug. Addicts will put their addiction to whatever activity before the rest of their normal lives. When an addict is not doing such activities, they are thinking about it, and letting their addiction consume their mind.

Addiction is very commonly associated with drugs and alcohol. Addiction is not only related to drugs or alcohol, but it is also tied with things and activities. Addiction to drugs or alcohol are quite similar yet slightly different to addictions to activities and other things. Addiction to drugs and alcohol over time leads to a buildup of tolerance causing the user to need more of what they are addicted to in order to experience the same or more of an effect than they once needed to attain the same effect. They take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. Addicts start putting people close to you at risk and jeopardizing your social life just for a little more of what you are addicted to. Addiction to an activity can be just as bad for you as addiction to a drug. Addicts will put their addiction to whatever activity before the rest of their normal lives. Some may become codependent on these drugs and activities. Codependency is a psychological condition or a relationship where a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition When an addict is not doing such activities, they are thinking about it, letting their mind consume itself.

Even though drug and alcohol addiction is the repeated and excessive use of drugs and alcohol to achieve a certain effect, which involves two components: physical and psychological dependency, they both can be treated. The cause of substance abuse is examined through several studies which showed drugs and alcohol are used to get relief from untreated mental or physical pain, through genetics, and low self-esteem. It is very important to know information about drug and alcohol addiction because not only is it a battle for the individual it impacts their family as well.

Have you ever dealt with the effects of drugs firsthand? A drug is a substance which has a psychological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. The causes of drug use can vary depending on the person. According to “Causes and types of narcotic addiction: A Psychosocial View” in the Psychiatric Quarterly it says, “The causes of drugs stem from the manner of which you were introduced to it whether it be by abnormal curiosity, chance encounters with addicts and narcotic peddlers, or prolonged illness” (Ausubel). So in other words its somewhat bad luck if you become addicted. The effects of drugs can be different in certain people as well whether it be for pleasure or to take away the pain. Most of the effects of drugs occur in the brain, where it increases the level of dopamine at a specific site possibly giving the addict the pleasure they were feigning for (Robbins). I believe I was around the age of six when I started noticing the signs of my Aunty Wendy becoming extremely skinny and looking somewhat unhealthy. As a child I didn’t know much about drugs except for what your parents and teachers at school tell you which is,“Just Say No.”

Drug addiction can be defined as the overwhelming involvement of drugs that impacts an individuals daily life functioning. To help better understand drug addiction I chose to give up adding additional salt to my food for 30 days. Prior to the project I figured I would miss the taste of salt being added to my food, but I figured it would be easy. To my surprise it was not as easy as I entailed. Starting from week one I unconsciously went to grab salt numerous times, because grabbing the salt, pepper, and Old Bay is part of my ritual when I am going to sit down to eat. Also, during week two I noticed I was shifting my behavior to avoid certain foods. In fact, I caught myself skipping some meals because I no longer found the same joy in eating as I use to. That alone would be surprising to both my friends and family, because I love food. People have made jokes before that the way to my heart is to take me out to somewhere where I can eat. As well as, I do see the importance of eating a suffice breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Actually due to a lack of eating, I found myself being overly tired, and often times having to take a nap after class and sometimes a second nap. Being tired definitely got in the way of getting all of my schoolwork done. I found it taking twice as long to get through a homework assignment. As I had mentioned at midnight after the project had ended my plan was to make a big bowl of pasta and to add loads of salt and butter to it, and that is exactly what I

Ten to fourteen percent of people that try marijuana become addicted. When people try heroin they think that they will not get hooked, but 85 percent of the user do. Cocaine is a drug that most do not think is addictive, when in all reality it is very addictive. Methamphetamine is a very strong stimulant, and also very addictive. “About 16 million people in the United States abuse drugs.” (Hyde M., & Setaro M.D., 2003, 11). Ones using drugs often lead to difficulty managing money. Many teens are using and abusing drugs thinking that they are safe and not harmful.