Question 1

What is Drug Addiction?

Accepted Answer

Drug addiction is a complex neurobiological disease that requires integrated treatment of the mind, body, and spirit. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain — they change its structure and how it works.

Question 2

What is the Best Definition of Drug Addiction?

Accepted Answer

Drug addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease that requires integrated treatment of the mind, body, and spirit. Without treatment, brain changes can be long-lasting, and the disease can be fatal.

Question 3

What Are the Warning Signs of Drug Addiction?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes the warning signs of alcohol misuse or abuse are very noticeable. Other times, they can take longer to surface. When drug addiction is discovered in its early stages, the chance for a successful recovery increases significantly.

Common signs of drug addiction include:

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Loss of control
Continued problems despite negative consequences
Spending less time on activities that used to be necessary, such as hanging out with family and friends, exercising, or pursuing hobbies or other interests
Drop in attendance and performance at work or school
Taking serious risks in order to obtain one’s drug of choice
Acting out in personal relationships, particularly if someone is attempting to address their substance problems
Going out of one’s way to hide the amount of drugs taken
Serious changes or deterioration in hygiene or physical appearance
Needing to use more and more of the drug in order to produce the same effect
Withdrawal symptoms such as shakiness, trembling, sweating, nausea, or fatigue

If you feel that drug addiction is taking a toll on your life, it’s important to find quality treatment that can help you overcome addiction.

Question 4

Can Addiction Result in Overdose?

Accepted Answer

Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50. Any drug overdose can be either accidental or intentional.

Accidental overdoseshappen when people take more of a prescription medication than originally intended to achieve certain results, or when they use too much of an illegal drug trying to get a better high.

Intentional overdosesare usually a result of someone trying to commit suicide. Regardless of the intent, any loss of life due to an overdose is tragic and any overdose can have severe and lasting repercussions.

Question 5

How Does Drug Addiction Affect the Body?

Accepted Answer

Drug addiction affects every organ in the body. Aside from overdose, there are many adverse medical effects of drug addiction. These include:

Cardiovascular disease
Contraction of HIV, hepatitis, and other illnesses
Heart rate irregularities, heart attack
Respiratory problems such as lung cancer, emphysema, and breathing problems
Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea
Kidney and liver damage
Seizures, stroke, brain damage
changes in appetite, body temperature, and sleeping patterns
Stroke
Pancreatitis
Gastrointestinal problems
Malnutrition
Insomnia and sleep disorders

Question 6

What are Commonly Used Illegal Drugs?

Accepted Answer

Drugs are classified in a number of ways. Many are potentially addictive and harmful.

Examples of commonly used illegal drugs include:

Heroin
Cocaine or crack cocaine
Methamphetamine
Bath Salts
Methadone
Ecstasy
Marijuana
LSD
Mushrooms
PCP

Question 7

What are Commonly Used Prescription Drugs?

Accepted Answer

Prescription drugs that can be obtained legally are also used by all age groups for non-medical reasons and are often combined with alcohol. The risks of interaction, drug addiction, or accidental overdose can be deadly.

Commonly used and misused prescription drugs include:

Opioid painkillers
Benzodiazepines
Stimulants, such as those used to treat ADHD
Antidepressants
Anti-obsessive agents
Mood stabilizers

Question 8

Is Alcohol a Drug?

Accepted Answer

One of the most common misconceptions is that alcohol is not a drug. Though legal, alcohol is a mind-altering substance. When taken in combination with other drugs, the effects can be deadly. To learn more about alcoholism, visit us here.

Question 9

What is the Best Treatment for Drug Addiction?

Accepted Answer

Integrated treatment Is key to treating drug addiction. Integrated treatment is comprehensive programming that offers all the therapeutic resources necessary to help the individual heal physically, mentally, and spiritually.

There is no one cause of addiction, though living with a mental health disorder may increase the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder — and vice versa. Everyone is different. In some cases, a mental health disorder predates the development of drug abuse. In other cases, mental health symptoms are not apparent until after addiction has taken hold — sometimes, these conditions are exacerbated or worsened by drug use.

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