Drug Addiction

What Is Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction is a complex neurobiological disease that requires integrated treatment of the mind, body, and spirit. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain — they change its structure and how it works. Without treatment, these brain changes can be long-lasting. Addiction is chronic, it is progressive, and if left untreated, it can be fatal.

Individuals struggling with drug addiction often feel as though they cannot function normally without their drug of choice. This can lead to a wide range of issues that impact professional goals, personal relationships, and overall health. Over time, these serious side effects can be progressive, and if left untreated, fatal.

Commonly Used Illegal Drugs

Drugs are classified in a number of ways. Many are potentially addictive and harmful. Examples of illegal drugs include:

# Heroin

# Cocaine or crack cocaine

# Methamphetamine

# Bath Salts

# Methadone

# Ecstasy

# Marijuana

# LSD

# Mushrooms

# PCP

Commonly Used Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs which can be obtained legally are also used by all age groups for non-medical reasons, often in combination with alcohol. The risks of drug interaction or accidental overdose can be deadly. Commonly used and misused prescription drugs include:

* Opioid painkillers

* Benzodiazepines

* Stimulants, such as those used to treat ADHD

* Antidepressants

* Anti-obsessive agents

* Mood stabilizers

* Alcohol is a Drug

One of the most common misconceptions is that alcohol is not a drug. Though legal, alcohol is a mind-altering substance. When taken in combination with other drugs, the effects can be deadly. To learn more about alcoholism, visit us here.

Warning Signs of Drug Addiction

Sometimes the warning signs of alcohol misuse or abuse are very noticeable. Other times, they can take longer to surface. When drug addiction is discovered in its early stages, the chance for a successful recovery increases significantly.
Common signs of drug addiction include:

+ Loss of control

+ Continued problems despite negative consequences

+ Spending less time on activities that used to be important, such as hanging out with family and friends, exercising, or pursuing hobbies or other interests

+ Drop in attendance and performance at work or school

+ Taking serious risks in order to obtain one’s drug of choice

+ Acting out in personal relationships, particularly if someone is attempting to address their substance problems

+ Going out of one’s way to hide the amount of drugs taken

+ Serious changes or deterioration in hygiene or physical appearance

+ Needing to use more and more of the drug in order to produce the same effect

+ Withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, trembling, sweating, nausea or fatigue

If you feel as though drug addiction is taking a toll on your life, it’s important to find quality treatment that can help you overcome addiction.

Drug Addiction Can Result in Overdose

Any drug overdose can be either accidental or intentional. Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50. Accidental overdoses tend to happen when people take more of a prescription medication than originally intended to achieve certain results, or when they use too much of an illegal drug trying to get a better high. Intentional overdoses are usually a result of someone trying to commit suicide. Regardless of the intent, any loss of life due to an overdose is tragic and any overdose can have severe and lasting repercussions.

Drug Addiction Affects Every Organ in the Body
Aside from overdose, there are many adverse medical effects of drug addiction. These include:

- Cardiovascular disease

- Contraction of HIV, hepatitis and other illnesses

- Heart rate irregularities, heart attack
Respiratory problems such as lung cancer, emphysema, and breathing problems

- Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea

- Kidney and liver damage

- Seizures, stroke, brain damage

- hanges in appetite, body temperature, and sleeping patterns

- Stroke

- Pancreatitis

- Gastrointestinal problems

- Malnutrition

- Insomnia and sleep disorders

Integrated Treatment Is Key to Treating Drug Addiction

Integrated treatment is comprehensive programming that offers all of the therapeutic resources necessary to help the individual heal physically, mentally, psychologically, and spiritually. There is no one cause of addiction, though living with a mental health disorder may increase the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder — and vice versa. Everyone is different. In some cases, a mental health disorder predates the development of a drug abuse. In other cases, mental health symptoms are not apparent until after addiction has taken hold — sometimes, these conditions are exacerbated or worsened by drug use.