by Judy Monroe To deal with school and her problems, Jolene drinks alcohol in the morning, then continues throughout the day. If she doesn’t.drink, Jolene feels nauseated and gets a headache. Devon chews half acan of tobacco every day. When he tries to stop, he gets strong cravings and starts chewing again. Devon has a painful white lump inside his mouth where he places the tobacco. Devon's brother Alan is addicted to cocaine. Four months ago, Alan tried some cocaine ata party and now snorts it regularly. He has lost weight and his nose runs constantly. His gracles have slipped and he dropped off the hockey team. 1B Phos the drug addic~ emer teens ere addicted to 2 rug; Jolene to alcohol; Devon tonicotine, and Alan to.cocaine. mind and Body Dependence ‘Any substance that can change a mood or state of ming ig called a psychoactive or mood-altering drugs Using psychoactive drugs can esce~ fale into an addiction) which is a physical or psychological dependence on-the drug. With psychological dependence, a person Méeds to keep taking a drug to getits effects. A physical dependence means that if someone stops taking the drug withdrawal symptoms occur and the person feels uncomtort able or sick. Some people have both types of drug dependence. An addiction takes time to develop, usually weeks, months, or years. The drug addiction process follows 2 typical pattern: Relief—lt bored, lonely. unhappy, soared, angry. oF feel- ing pressured. some people try a drug oF drink alcohol for quick folie Increased use—To feel the same reliel, the person must take more of the clrug or alconol more otten. Preoccugation—The person frequently thinks about taking the dug and/or about its effects. Daily use becomes the norm. Problems with parents. relation ships, or school increase. Dependency—tore of the drug or alcohol is needed just to feel OK. Physical signs such 25 coughing. sore throa!. runny nose. weight loss, and fatigue January 1996 / CURRENT HEALTH 2‘are common. Black- outs and overdosing may occur. The person now has an addiction. withdrawal—It users can’t get the drug, most experience withdrawal symptoms itching, chills, feel- ing tense, nausea, sweating, and stomach pain, These physical effects vary, depending on the drug, but are signs that a teen is smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, or using other psychoac tive drugs. Watch Out! . Use these questions to detect drug use or addictiort + When faced with a problem or stressful situations, does the person drink, smoke, or use other drugs? * Does the person drink until drunk? * Does the person miss school, work, or fun times because of alcohol or other drugs? + Is the user preoccupied with how to get drugs? = Does the person drive whileand more money from fami- ly members or friends. They may skip school or let grades slip. Also some teens start hanging out with a new group of friends who use drugs. Heading Off Trouble People who take drugs or alcohol for fun or to deal with drunk unhappiness may find they can't orhigh? slop and end up addicted. Teen «Can the person have fun onlyif drug abuse often starts with using drugs or alcohol? ‘alcohol or tobacco. Although + Has home and/or schoo! _ legal for adults, these drugs are become intolerable because of _ illegal for teens. Users may next drinking or drug taking? Oris try an egal drug such as marl: the person drinking or taking _juana, then possibly others, Use drugs because of a miserable of other illegal drugs such as home life? ‘Cocaine and heroin is unusual + Has the tobacco, alcohol, or _ in those who have not pre~ Gruguser tied toquitandiailed? viously used.alcohol,° ‘Teen drug users may hide or tobacco, oF mari- carry cigarettes, alcohol, or juana, So, the drugs; have abrupt mood or atti- surest way to tude changes or unusual flares head off an of temper; steal, or borrow more addition is to not use these psychoactive rugs! + Alcohol, a depressant, is the world's most widely used drug. It slows down the brain, body systems, and reactions. More people are addicted to alcohol than to any other drug, This addictions called alcoholism. ‘= The addicting ingredient in tobacco is nicotine, a stimulant. Users find nicotine addiction difficult to break because nico- tine is a potent drug with painfu withdrawal symptoms. More teens are addicted to tobacco than to alcohol, * Other psychoactive drugs include marjvana, PCP, and sol vents. Marijuana remains the most commonly used ilegal drug in the United States. People can become psychologically depen- dent on marijuana and find it hard to stop using it. Cravings to smoke marijuana are very intense. Withdrawal from POP. also causes extreme cravings for the drug. Although inhalantsare legal products (glue, hair An spray, paint thinner, etc), some = scant diction Inhalants depress the central im eee ae fe Gus maybe at the root of Gene? + Stimulants or “uppers” are addictions. Researchers at e powerful and highly addicting. the University of California, Los Angeles, say they Shey include cocaine and have found the gene that causes alcohol or drug addio~ methamphetamine (speed) Se ata ne one ton, Not everyone iwith this gene develops an addiction, pleasure centers” in the brain aes vettnat users want to fee! this Both the gene and the environment must work pleasure again and again. This together to cause an addiction. For exemple, if someone triggers an intense craving for with the gene grows up in a home with alcoholic parents, more cocaine. Many people then that person may become an alcoholic. ‘who fry methamphetamine also goonto compulsive use. the drugis absent. The physical port group programs such as othe oplates, another type and mental pain of an abrupt Ratjonal Revovsoy have proven of mood-altering drug, include withdrawal can be ifficult. successful for many. Alcoholics heroin. Heroin induces addic- vAnother technique is totaper_ Anonymous (AA) was the first } tien by causing users to crave off. The addict gradually stops". 12-step Frade and is now the aug. When they try to taking the drug or drinking, This used ‘worldwide. AA has been ciopcthey experience great method reduces the effects of adapted 0 Hany other addic~ physical pain, ndrawal, giving the body _ tions, including stop-smoking time to adjust. groups and drug-withdrawal Breaking Addictions ‘Another approach is touse programs. ‘Addiction treatments vary different substances to help Other treatments include cri- Daeg ti vasonig ana cree peuple) winirew toot Celene ‘end hospital, acorn To Mnepined. Some addiction. Alcoholics can take clinic, and private progiert™ poope ty going "cold turkey." Antabuse, a drug that makes ne crane oa counseling Feo ooedap drinking or. tnem sick if they drink, oF @ Works for sore Pech: Fania] cron al atfercesje oncarerday pUlMIstcaibens a Mate ceca goal of treat- Seine aoa turkey is aot eacy, alcohol cravings. Ncstine gum ment i 6 range ‘the person's Hiner the body becomes piysi- or patches help smokers ease We so hat stg art Jonger cally dependent ona drug, ft away fromsmoking satisfying. But it's tough work to Goes trough withérawal when Twelve-step and other sup break ‘adrug addiction.