



Facts
Researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse have formed a group called the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) to monitor drug abuse trends in 21 major cities in the United States. Investigators found that in 1999, the most recent year fully analyzed, heroin and morphine abuse is on the increase in 15 of these cities. Overall, emergency room visits associated with heroin use increased 51.4% in the 18-to 25-year-old category between 1997 and 1999. It is known that hydromorphone and oxycodone are commonly substituted for heroin and morphine by many drug abusers. A study in the April 5, 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that hydromorphone use for medical indications increased by 19% from 1990 to 1996. This increase coincided with an decrease in the number of hydromorphone drug abuse mentions during this period. The decrease in hydromorphone drug abuse (15%) suggests a low risk of addiction associated with the medical use of hydromorphone in the treatment of severe pain. The 1997 MTF reports that inhalant use is most common in the eighth grade where 5.6 percent used it on a past-month basis and 11.8 percent did so on a past-year basis. Inhalants can be deadly, even with first-time use, and often represent the initial experience with illicit substances. Current use of stimulants (a category that includes methamphetamine) declined among eighth graders (from 4.6 to 3.8 percent) and tenth-graders (from 5.5 percent to 5.1 percent) and increased among twelfth graders (from 4.1 to 4.8 percent). Ethnographers continue to report ‘cafeteria use’—the proclivity to consume any readily available hallucinogenic, stimulant or sedative drugs like ketamine, LSD, MDMA, and GHB. Young people take mood-altering pills in night clubs knowing neither what the drug is nor the dangers posed by its use alone or in combination with alcohol or other drugs. Treatment providers have noted increasing poly-drug use among young people throughout the country. NHSDA reports that the mean age of first use of hallucinogens was 17.7 years in 1995, the lowest figure since 1976. These numbers in large part reflect the continuing popularity of drugs, such as methamphetamines, inhalants, and psychotherapeutics (tranquilizers, sedatives, analgesics, or stimulants), within the youth “club scene.” Raves—late night dances, in which drug use is a prominent feature—remain popular among young people. The “rave scene,” which is now firmly rooted in popular culture—from MTV to music, to movies—has been a major contributing factor to youth drug deaths in Orlando, Florida, and escalating drug use in other regions. Know the law. Hallucinogens are illegal to buy, sell, or possess. Get the facts. Hallucinogenic drugs distort your perception of reality. Hallucinogens cause your sense of space and time to become distorted and cause you to see objects that aren't really there. Stay informed. It's easy to quickly develop a tolerance to hallucinogens so that it takes more and more of the drug each time to get the same effect. This is dangerous because taking more and more of the same drug may lead to an overdose with severe effects. Once a drug use problem is identified, treatment resources for adolescents are alarmingly scarce. Substance abuse treatment of adolescents requires a broadened scope of services, including family interventions, mental health care, remedial education, vocational habilitation, and community outreach. The indigent continue to be an underserved population, despite the epidemic of drug use and social devastation in impoverished urban neighborhoods. Furthermore, as managed care spreads into the public sector, there is great concern about its possible detrimental impact on the availability and quality of treatment programs. Even when the considerable barriers to treatment are surmounted, the standards guiding diagnosis and treatment decisions specifically related to adolescents are relatively primitive and often lack empirical verification. However, although there is not enough rigorous adolescent addictions outcomes research, data indicate that treatment is effective. Abstinence or reduction in drug use is sustained in a substantial proportion of adolescents following treatment. Furthermore, post-treatment decreases in amounts and types of drugs used are associated with marked improvements in psychosocial function. Further research is needed to differentiate various treatment models and to test hypotheses concerning which treatments are best suited for which patients. |
Dependence
Dependence is the compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe; drug dependence is simply excessive use of a drug or use of a drug for purposes for which it was not medically intended. Physical dependence on a substance (needing a drug to function) is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction. There are some substances that don't cause addiction but do cause physical dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not classic physical dependence (cocaine withdrawal, for example, it does not have symptoms like vomiting and chills; it is mainly characterized by depression).
Residential Treatment
Residential treatment offers intensive drug addiction help over a period of weeks or months. This form of treatment has some advantages over out-patient treatment, although it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, those who are responsible for caring for young children may be better suited to attendance at an out patient treatment program. Residential treatment offers a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment where individuals can confront their own drug addiction and associated issues, with the help of qualified staff. Therapy usually consists of a mixture of group counseling, individual counseling and an introduction to the principles of a drug recovery program.
Tolerance
Tolerance to a drug takes place when an individual is exposed to the same drug repeatedly and begins to build up an resistance to the drugs effects. The body then adapts and develops a tolerance for the drug. The addiction that is produced is so powerful that it creates cravings in the user. These cravings for the drug are the result of its impact on the individual's memory with feelings of pleasantness and euphoria which the individual has come to associate with the taking of the drug.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is what happens when a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol discontinues use. There are numerous symptoms that take place both physically and emotionally when an addicted individual stops using. Withdrawal can last a few days to a few weeks and may include nausea or vomiting, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety. Keep in mind; this only occurs if a person has regular, heavy use of a drug or alcohol. Withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable without professional help. Treatment for withdrawal from alcohol or drugs may require a medical professional to be present. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is often the best way to overcome withdrawal and its symptoms as well as recovery from drug addiction.
Drug Rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a place or program that an individual enters to treat a drug or alcohol addiction. Through therapy and education, the individual is restored to their former non-drug using self. They are then able to re-enter society clean and sober. There are many reasons why a person would need to attend a drug rehabilitation program. Some of the many reasons are: the inability to control their drinking or drug use, alienating their friends and family, problems with the law, and problems at work. Also, there are several different types of drug rehabilitation programs available: inpatient, outpatient, residential, short-term, and long-term.
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