




Facts
A 1999 NDARC report found that 31.7 percent of cannabis users were dependent. The most commonly reported dependence symptoms were a persistent desire for cannabis, unsuccessful efforts to moderate use (36.6 percent) and withdrawal symptoms (29.7 percent). It is a fact that heroin is particularly addictive because it enters the brain so rapidly. With heroin, the rush is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities, which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and severe itching. Smoking cocaine began with the use of a preparation of cocaine called freebase. Soon after this form of cocaine became popular, single doses of crack cocaine already prepared for smoking became available through the illegal drug market. Although crack can be smoked in tobacco cigarettes or marijuana cigarettes, it is generally smoked in a special crack pipe. Users adopted the smoking method of taking cocaine because smoking delivers the drug's effects quickly. Blood levels of cocaine peak rapidly when the drug is smoked, producing the cocaine "rush." The speed and duration of the effects are comparable to taking the drug by injection. Users of crack prefer smoking because it does not require the paraphernalia—syringes, needles, and so on—needed for injecting drugs. Contrary to popular belief, the 'typical' overdose victim is not a young novice or inexperienced user. Rather, the average age of death reported is in the late twenties and early thirties. Eighty per cent of deaths were classified as dependent, regular users. Given that the mean age of death reported in most studies is approximately 30 years, and that heroin-using careers typically start in the late teens, most fatal cases have been using heroin for a considerable amount of time prior to death. They do not, on the whole, appear to be novice users but older dependent heroin users. Deaths do occur among recreational heroin users as well. It is estimated that 17% of heroin overdose deaths are by recreational/weekend users. |
Drug Side Effects
Drug addiction and abuse comes with a heavy price. There are drastic drug side effects associated with drug misuse and abuse. Drug side effects from legal and illegal drugs can range from mild itching to comas and death. In addition to the physical drug side effects mentioned, there are many psychological drug side effects of drug abuse; the most serious being drug addiction and overdose.
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a pattern of repeated drug taking that usually results in tolerance (the need for greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect), withdrawal (physical and cognitive effects when drug use declines or stops), and compulsive drug taking behavior (drug taking that persists despite efforts to reduce intake and despite problems with family, friends, and work). Drug addiction encompasses a diverse range of drugs (such as alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine) and is caused by many different factors.
Relapse
Relapse is a term used to describe when an individual who has quit using drugs starts using once again. A relapse can mean just a one time use, a long term continues period of using or anything in between after a period of sobriety has taken place. An individual begins to experience a psychological relapse long before their first use after
quitting. Some things that can lead to relapse both physically or psychologically include: 1. Being in the presence of drugs or alcohol, drug or alcohol users, or places where you used or bought chemicals. 2. Feelings we perceive as negative, particularly anger; also sadness, loneliness, guilt, fear, and anxiety. 3. Positive feelings that make you want to celebrate by using. 4. Listening to others past drug use stories and just dwelling on getting high. 5. Believing that you no longer have to worry (complacent). That is, that you are no longer stimulated to crave drugs/alcohol by any of the above situations or by anything else – and therefore maybe it’s safe for you to use occasionally.
Addiction
Addiction is one of the many consequences of so-called 'casual' drug and alcohol abuse. A loss of control over drugs and alcohol can be driven by physical or psychological factors, or sometimes both. Physical addiction takes place when the body comes to need a drug to function normally. If it is not taken, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms occur. The only way to avoid this is to take more of the drug. Psychological addiction takes place when an individual comes to rely on a drug to supply good feelings, such as relaxation, self-confidence, self esteem, and freedom from anxiety. This is not just a casual desire, it's a powerful compulsion.
Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment is needed when an individual finds that they have developed a drug or alcohol addiction which they are not able to successful end on their own. With the help of addiction treatment, addicted individual can get help to control their drug taking behavior and live happy and successful lives. There are several addiction treatment options available for drug and alcohol addiction. Some of these options include self-help groups, counseling, drug rehabilitation programs (in and out-patient), and residential treatment facilities. Each of these differ
in their aims and outcomes and elements of these addiction treatment options are often
combined.
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