




Facts
In 2000, underage persons who reported binge drinking (43 percent) were more likely to report past month use of any illicit drug than were their peers who did not binge drink (6 percent). Underage persons who reported binge drinking were almost 9 times more likely to have used marijuana/hashish during the past month and were more than 6 times more likely to have used any illicit drug other than marijuana during the past month compared with underage persons who did not binge drink. Underage binge drinkers were 11 times more likely to have used hallucinogens during the past month and 6 times more likely to have used psychotherapeutic drugs nonmedically during the past month than underage persons who did not binge drink. Among young adults aged 18 to 22, the rate of binge drinking was higher among full-time college students (41 percent) than among those who were not enrolled full-time as college students (36 percent). The rate of binge drinking increased with age among 18 to 21 year olds but was lower among 22 year olds regardless of college enrollment status. Differences in binge drinking rates by college enrollment status were greater for 19 and 20 year olds than others in this age group. The highest rates of binge drinking among full-time college students and other persons were among 21 year olds. When used illegally or improperly, though, methadone is one of the most dangerous drugs on the street. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), emergency room visits related to methadone overdose tripled between 1997 and 2001. Since then, methadone-related deaths and hospitalizations have continued to rise. Two factors have contributed to the spike in methadone-related emergencies. First, doctors are prescribing the drug more often as a painkiller. In that form, methadone is dispensed by pharmacies as pills and taken into homes. Sometimes it is either used improperly by the patient or sold on the street or to drug dealers. Consuming drugs or alcohol prior to driving greatly increases the risk of car accidents, highway injuries, and vehicular deaths; the greater the amount of alcohol consumed, the more likely a person is to be involved in an accident. In 2006, approximately 17, 600 people died in traffic crashes involving alcohol, accounting for more than 40% of all traffic deaths. In that same year, over 1.46 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Furthermore, it is estimated that in 2002, Americans took over 159 million driving trips while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Rising from insignificant levels in the early 1700s, by the 1830s China had an estimated 3 million opium smokers. US imports of opium rose 8 tons in 1840 to 62.7 tons in 1858. |
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.
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is defined as the chronic or habitual use of any chemical substance to alter states of body or mind for other than medically warranted purposes. Drug abuse is a problem which has an effect on people of all income levels,
ages, and stations in life. Quite often the last person to see that there is a
problem is the drug abuser them self. Every year, more and more people become
drug addicts in their pursuit to get "high".
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.
Therapeutic Community
An effective therapeutic community attends to the many needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use. Care given at a therapeutic community addresses the individual's drug use and associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems. Also, a therapeutic community will continue to be flexible and provide ongoing assessments of the individual's needs, which may change during the course of care.
Remaining in care at a therapeutic community for an adequate period of time is critical for treatment effectiveness. The time depends on an individual's needs. For most people, the significant improvement is reached at about 3 months in treatment.
Addict
An addict is an individual who has a compulsive urge to use drugs, to the point where they feel they have no effective choice but to continue use. An addict will continue their self destructive behaviors in order to feel good or to avoid
feeling bad. It can dominate their mind, and keep them coming back for more. The addiction can be
different for each addict, depending on their vice and the kind of person they
are.
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