Drugs

Addiction to Drugs

When talking about addiction, most people refer to drugs. Mood-altering substances can stimulate the brain’s reward center very quickly, and can thus become highly addictive.

It is very important to remember that people who suffer from substance abuse are not weak, amoral, bad, or in any way wrong. They are suffering from a disease and need treatment. If you have a loved one who you believe may be in need of help - approach them in a respectful and caring manner.

Marijuana

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a psychoactive drug from a plant and is primarily used for medicinal or recreational reasons. The main component is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It can be used by smoking, vaporizing, or consumed as an extract or within food.

Marijuana use can have a direct impact on your life. Heavy use of marijuana has been linked to learning and memory problems, anxiety and depression. Young students who smoke as teenagers tend to get lower grades and are less likely to finish high school.

Short term effects can include panic and anxiety, lowered level of attention and memory, and increased risk of accidents (such as car accidents). Long term marijuana use has also been coupled with physical harm. It’s been linked to diseases of the liver, lungs, heart, and vascular system.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a stimulant. It can be produced with common household items like cold or allergy medications and other chemicals. It gives the user a boost of energy and feelings of euphoria while also causing increased physical activity and alertness.

After continued use the person might feel paranoia, aggressiveness, depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness. With heavy long term use the brain can become permanently impaired and incapable of feeling pleasure without the drug.

Cocaine

Cocaine is a strong stimulant, frequently used as a recreational substance. It creates a quick, intense feeling of euphoria, security, confidence and a decrease in hunger, fatigue, and pain. However, the rush quickly fades and the user can feel the urge to use more of the substance. Cocaine is usually snorted, but can also be smoked or injected.

Cocaine is highly addictive due to its fast affect on the reward center in the brain. After just a short period of use there’s a high risk of dependency.

Long term use of cocaine increases the risk of mainly heart attacks and vascular problems, due to how the drug affects the body temperature and blood pressure of the user.

Heroin and Other Opioids

Opioids are substances that act as the body’s own pain reduction chemicals. Opioids, and heroin in particular,  are often injected but can also be snorted, smoked, or ingested. The user will feel the rush of the drug immediately and it will last for a couple of hours. The high is a dreamlike sense of euphoria and relaxation. After long term use, opioids will cause strong physical withdrawal symptoms.  Treating heroin addiction is often a mix of both behavioral therapy and the use of other medications to reduce the craving for the drug.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription medications and some over-the-counter medications are increasingly being used in ways other than intended, or without a prescription. This practice can lead to addiction, and in some cases, overdose. There is a common misconception that because a doctor is prescribing the pills, they are safe. Commonly abused classes of prescription drugs include opioid painkillers, stimulants, and benzodiazepines.

Prescription drugs can be easy to get ahold of, but this ease can also be a trap. They usually have a medical reason to be prescribed to a person, but with the wrong use they can be the start of abuse or even addiction.

Addiction can start within a standard course of prescription, for example a pain relief medicine after an accident. The person does not realize they have developed an addiction until after they've run out of the substance. This could lead to the person trying to get more of the substance by filing for new prescriptions, going to different pharmacies, looking for the drug online, or even finding an illegal substitute.

Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

Prescription Opiates

Painkillers such as OxyContin, Opana, Vicodin, and Methadone are commonly prescribed opiates. They can be used to treat pain when used as instructed by a doctor. If they’re abused, they can lead to addiction or even death. Overdoses from prescription opiates are common.

Prescription Stimulants

Stimulants such as Dexedrine, Ritalin, and Adderall are used to treat Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and obesity. Some people also use them for increased alertness and productivity in school or at work. Abuse can result in paranoia, fear, irregular heartbeat, or even heart failure.

Prescription Depressants

Depressants such as Valium, Xanax, Klonopin are benzodiazepines. They can be used to treat panic attacks, anxiety, and insomnia. These drugs are easy to abuse for the calming effect they have on the person. Taking too high of a dose because of built up tolerance, or mixing them with alcohol, can result in unconsciousness or death.

Signs of Substance Abuse

• Craving the substance

• Having to take more of the substance to feel it, in other words building a tolerance to it

• Spending money on the substance that should go toward other expenses

• Using the substance instead of going to school, work, or engaging in social activities

• A need to use the substance regularly, either daily or even several times per day

• Increased risk behavior while under the influence

• Several failed attempts to stop using the substance

• Always making sure to have a big supply the substance

If you recognize some or all of the behaviors above in either yourself or a loved one, the next step would be to contact a medical expert. La Jolla Healing Center regularly treat persons with co-occuring disorders such as mental or physical disorders mixed with substance abuse.