



Facts
In the early 1990s, world opium supply is growing without any apparent restraint. Since all opium produced is always consumed, rising supply is now a powerful force driving a sharp increase in world heroin consumption, creating powerful demands that may, in turn, yield further production increases in Latin America or Central Asia. Most pregnant teens leave school permanently, especially in low-income communities. Nearly one million teenagers become pregnant each year and 40 percent of these pregnancies end in abortion. A national study found that almost half of the young women had been drinking and/or using drugs at the time of the unplanned pregnancy, and 17 percent of those who carried their babies to term continued to drink and/or use drugs while they were pregnant. This leads to a high incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a pattern of physical, mental, and behavioral defects which appears in children of mothers who drink during pregnancy. Many youth often think that using marijuana is cool, fun and a lot less dangerous than most other illicit drugs. The great majority of youth who first turn to tobacco and alcohol (gateway drugs) then experiment with marijuana, believing that it is slightly harmful or not harmful at all. The fact is that marijuana has numerous negative direct and indirect effects. Although the effects depend on the does, the strength of the drug, the user, other drugs in the body and the setting, some of the immediate effects of marijuana use include the following: an increase in heart rate (as much as 50%); reddening of the eyes; dryness of the mouth and throat; hoarseness, coughing, laryngitis and bronchitis due to cancer-causing chemicals; relaxation and feelings of euphoria; short-term memory impairment; sense of time and space are altered; and the ability to perform tasks requiring concentration, swift reactions and coordination is reduced. Some of the immediate problems that marijuana users may experience include: vomiting, headache and dizziness; seizures can be triggered in people with epilepsy; possible traffic accidents, other injuries or arguments due to marijuana's intoxicating effect; poor job or school performance and legal problems may also occur due to the drug's mental effects. If you believe that a family member or close friend is abusing prescription drugs, talk with your healthcare professional. An addiction professional can give you referrals to drug treatment programs for the family member or friend. Most importantly, talk to the person about your concerns so he or she knows that you are aware of the problem. Be prepared for a considerable amount of resistance and denial. Many people with addiction must experience serious consequences before they acknowledge their illness. Then, stand beside the person as he or she works to move beyond the addiction. |
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.
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.
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.
Sobriety
Sobriety means the moderation in or abstinence from consumption of alcoholic liquor or use of drugs. When an individual with an addiction problem enters drug rehabilitation, their main goal is to attain long term sobriety. Unfortunately, sometimes drug addicts and alcoholics find they are able to sustain short periods of sobriety followed by a drug or alcohol relapse. This is why attending a drug or alcohol rehab will help the individual maintain their focus on sobriety. Often, it is only by getting help that individuals with severe drug addiction problems are able to achieve lasting sobriety.
Abstinence
Abstinence is the act or practice of refraining from indulging a desire. The type of abstinence we are referring to here is abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This term has two connotations when it comes to abstaining from drugs. The first refers to drug or alcohol treatment programs that aim to help an individual stop using drugs or alcohol for the rest of their lives. The time abstinence is also used in drug education and prevention. It refers to trying to stop children from ever using drugs.
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