DRUG ABUSE

Substance abuse is when you take drugs that are not legal. It’s also when you use
alcohol, prescription medicine, and other legal substances too much or in the wrong
way. Substance abuse differs from addiction. Many people with substance abuse
problems are able to quit or can change their unhealthy behavior. Addiction, on the
other hand, is a disease. It means you can’t stop using even when your condition causes
you harm.
Commonly Abused Drugs
Both legal and illegal drugs have chemicals that can change how your body and
mind work. They can give you a pleasurable “high,” ease your stress, or help you
avoid problems in your life.
REASONS AND REPERCUSSIONS OF DRUG ABUSE
Drug addiction refers to the compulsive and repeated use of increasing amounts of
drugs with the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when drug use ceases. While
the specific causes of drug addiction are not known, genetic, psychological and
environmental factors are thought to play a significant role. Rather than a single
cause of drug addiction, it is likely multiple factors lead to drug addiction in any
given person.

Some drug addicts also identify drug use and ignorance as a cause of drug

addiction. Often, if a person is dealing with pain-management issues, the drug they
receive, like oxycodone, can be very addictive. The ignorance of the drug's
addiction potential, along with the physical pain of the condition, becomes a cause
of drug addiction.

Psychological Causes of Drug Addiction

While biological causes of drug addiction have been suggested, many people still
believe psychological factors comprise the bulk of what causes drug addiction.
Some of the psychological causes of drug addiction appear to stem from trauma,
often when the drug addict is young. Sexual or physical abuse, neglect, or chaos in
the home can all lead to psychological stress, which people attempt to "self-
medicate" (decrease the stress's pain through drug use). This self-medication
becomes a cause of drug addiction.1

Other psychological causes of drug addiction include:

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 A mental illness such as depression
 Inability to connect with others, lack of friends
 Poor performance at work or school
 Poor stress coping skills

Environmental Causes of Drug Addiction

A person's environment can be part of what causes drug addiction. Drug addiction
is more common in environments where drug abuse is seen or where it's seen as
permissible. Children who grow up in homes with drug addicts often become drug
addicts themselves.

Because most drug use starts in adolescence (read: teenage drug abuse). Those with
inattentive, abusive or neglectful parents are more prone to drug abuse. One cause
of drug addiction can be the combination of drug experimentation with the lack of
parental oversight.

Other environmental factors that can be causes of drug abuse include:

 Participation in a sport where performance-enhancing drugs are encouraged

 A peer group that uses or promotes drug use
 People of lower socioeconomic status are at greater risk of drug addiction
 Gender and ethnicity contribute to addiction of some drugs

Genetic Causes of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction tends to run in families, indicating genetics may have a role in
causing drug addiction. In fact, in studies of twins it appears half of someone's risk
of becoming addicted to drugs is genetic.2 Genetic causes of drug addiction appear
to involve multiple gene sequences and science has not yet been able to pinpoint all
the genes involved. However, it is known some genes, like those involved in brain
receptors of nicotine, contribute to the cause of drug addiction.

TYPES OF DRUGES

 Alcohol

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 Alcohol affects everyone differently. But if you drink too much and too often, your
chance of an injury or accident goes up. Heavy drinking also can cause liver and
other health problems or lead to a more serious alcohol disorder.
If you’re a man and you drink more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 in
a week, you’re drinking too much. For women, heavy drinking means more than
three drinks in one day or more than seven drinks a week.
One drink is:

 12 ounces of regular beer

 8-9 ounces of malt liquor, which has more alcohol than beer
 5 ounces of wine
 1 1/2 ounces of distilled spirits like vodka and whiskey.

Prescription and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicine

These can be just as dangerous and addictive as illegal drugs. You can abuse medicine
if you:

 Take medicine prescribed for someone else

 Take extra doses or use a drug other than the way it’s supposed to be taken
 Take the drug for a non-medical reason

Types of prescription drugs that are most often abused include:

 Opioid pain relievers
 Medicine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
 Anxiety medicine

The most commonly abused OTC drugs are cough and cold medicine that
have dextromethorphan, which in high doses can make you feel drunk or intoxicated.
Heroin
This illegal drug is the natural version of manmade prescription opioid
narcotics. Heroin gives you a rush of good feelings at first. But when it wears off,
everything slows down. You’ll move and think more slowly, and you may have chills,
nausea, and nervousness. You may feel a strong need to take more heroin to feel
better.

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Cocaine
This drug speeds up your whole body. When you use cocaine, you may talk, move, or
think very fast. You may feel happy and full of energy. But your mood may then shift
to anger. You may feel like someone is out to get you. It can cause you to do things
that don’t make sense.
Using cocaine for a long time will lead to strong cravings for the drug.
Marijuana
A growing number of states have legalized medical uses of marijuana. A handful of
states also allow recreational pot. But in most states, it’s still illegal.
Marijuana can make you feel silly and laugh for no reason. Or you may feel sleepy
and forget things that just happened. Driving while high on pot is just as dangerous as
drunk driving. And heavy marijuana use can leave some people “burned out” and not
think or care about much.
Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
You may not think of these as drugs. But tobacco has a chemical called nicotine that
gives you a little rush of pleasure and energy. The effect can wear off fast and leave
you wanting more. You can abuse and get addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes, just
like other drugs.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG

Legal:
Very clear, explicit laws on drug abuse exist in every nation. Some nations have
very hard laws and sentences. You can spend a lifetime in jail, or many years
including huge fines that can potentially damage your finances for life. Other things
that will follow include:

Criminal Record:
You will have a criminal record on your file, and will not look good if you have a
case with authorities.

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Career And Employment: 
Many employers will turn you down because you have a criminal record.
Employers do not want criminals around.

Licenses:
Having a criminal record can prevent a person from getting many sorts of licenses;
for example, licenses for driving a taxi or running a liquor store.

Travel:
Many countries require that people traveling there get a visa. 
These countries can refuse to give a person a visa if they have a criminal record.

Social Status: 
Many individuals and groups of people discriminate against people with criminal
records. A criminal record can affect your standing in the community, the attitudes
of your co-workers, neighbors and your relationships with your family and friends.

HEALTH

Physical Health
Drug abuse can adversely affect every major system in the human body. 

Mental Health
Mental health problems such as depression, developmental lags, apathy,
withdrawal, and other psychosocial dysfunctions frequently are linked to substance
abuse among adolescents. Others include conduct problems, personality disorders,
suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, and suicide. Marijuana use, which is prevalent
among youth, has been shown to interfere with short-term memory, learning and
psychomotor skills.

Addiction
People think they will never get addicted, but many end up addicted. Someone who
is addicted looses control and judgment and when use of the drug is stopped, may
suffer severe psychological or physical symptoms, such as anxiety, irritability,
unhappiness and stress.

SOCIAL
Drugs directly affect the brain, and our brains control almost everything we do.
Your actions will therefore affect:

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Relationships: Your behavior to loved ones will change, you will begin to do and
say things that you usually will never do or say. This will damage your relationship
with others.

Families: 
Substance abuse affects the emotional, financial, and psychological well-being of
the entire family. Teens who use drugs withdraw from their family members and
family activities, as well as set bad examples for any younger siblings. Because
their judgment and decision-making ability becomes greatly impaired, they may
become more hostile toward family members and even steal from them to get
money for drugs.

Peers: 
Your peers will stay away from you. No one will like to have bad influence, and
they will feel scared around you. You will loose good friends, and only bad friends
will stay with you.

School: 
Chances are, you will drop out of school. Why? Your brain is affected, and you are
no more in control of your school work. You may rebel and get a suspension, You
are more likely to commit a crime, and the results… you know it.
 

FINANCES
No doubt you shall soon begin to sell your personal belongings, phones, music
iPods, personal jewelry that your parents gave you, etc, as you will need more
money to buy more drugs. Remember that there is a big drug dealer who is making
money out of your situation. They use your money to do more organized crime and
we all get to suffer the consequences.

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND ILL EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE

Although different drugs have different physical effects, the symptoms of
addiction are similar. If you recognize yourself in the following signs and
symptoms of substance abuse and addiction, talk to someone about your drug use.
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Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse

Neglecting responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping

work, neglecting your children).

Using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving
while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.

Experiencing legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the
influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.

Problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members,

an unhappy boss, or the loss of friends.

Common signs and symptoms of drug addiction

You’ve built up a drug tolerance. You need to use more of the drug to experience
the same effects you used to attain with smaller amounts.

You use to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without
drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia,
depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.

Loss of control over your drug use. You often do drugs or use more than you
planned, even though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using,
but you feel powerless.

Your life revolves around drug use. You spend a lot of time using and thinking
about drugs, figuring out how to get them, or recovering from the drug’s effects.

You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and

socializing, because of your drug use.

You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you. It’s causing major
problems in your life—blackouts, financial issues, infections, mood swings,
depression, paranoia—but you use anyway.

Warning signs abusing drugs

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 Drug abusers often try to conceal their symptoms and downplay their problem. If
you’re worried that a friend or loved one might be abusing drugs, look for the
following warning signs:

Physical warning signs 

 Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual

 Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
 Sudden weight loss or weight gain
 Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits
 Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing
 Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination

Behavioral warning signs 

 Drop in attendance and performance at work or school

 Unexplained financial problems; borrowing or stealing
 Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors
 Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies
 Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities)

Psychological warning signs 

 Unexplained change in personality or attitude

 Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts
 Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness
 Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out”
 Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid

Warning signs of commonly abused drugs

Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking, inappropriate laughter followed by

sleepiness; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.

Stimulants (including amphetamines, cocaine, crystal meth): Dilated pupils;

hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by
depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without
eating or sleeping; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.

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Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors): Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and
thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches
and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes
in appetite; anxiety; irritability; lots of cans/aerosols in the trash.

Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior

including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from
people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.

Heroin: Contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light; needle marks; sleeping at

unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing, sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite.

Warning signs of prescription drug abuse and addiction

In recent years, prescription drug abuse has become an escalating problem, most
commonly involving opioid painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, sedatives, and
stimulants. Many people start taking these drugs to cope with a specific medical
problem—taking painkillers following injury or surgery, for example. However,
over time, increased doses are needed to achieve the same level of pain relief and
some users can become physically dependent, experiencing withdrawal symptoms
if they try to quit. One of the earliest warning signs of a developing problem is
going through the medication at a faster-than-expected rate. In other cases, people
start abusing medication not prescribed for them in order to experience a high,
relieve tension, increase alertness, or improve concentration.

To avoid developing problems with a prescription medication, it’s important to take

it only as directed, use the lowest dose for the shortest period possible, and to talk
to your doctor about other methods of treating the problem. Being aware of any
signs of dependency can help identify prescription drug problems at an early stage
and help to prevent them progressing into an addiction.

Warning signs of commonly abused prescription drugs

Opioid painkillers (including OxyContin, Vicodin, Norco): Drooping eyes,

constricted pupils even in dim light, sudden itching or flushing, slurred speech;
drowsiness, lack of energy; inability to concentrate, lack of motivation, decline in
performance at work or school; neglecting friendships and social activities.

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 Anti-anxiety medications, sedatives, and hypnotics (including Xanax, Valium,
Ambien): Contracted pupils; drunk-like, slurred speech, difficulty concentrating,
clumsiness; poor judgment, drowsiness, slowed breathing.

Stimulants (including Ritalin, Concerta , Adderall, Dexedrine): Dilated pupils,

reduced appetite; agitation, anxiety, irregular heartbeat, high body temperature;
insomnia, paranoia.

When a loved one has a drug problem

If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few
things you can do:

Speak up. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support
without being judgmental. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for
your loved one to hit bottom! List specific examples of your loved one’s behavior
that have you worried and urge them to seek help.

Take care of yourself. Stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations. Don’t
get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own needs.
Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support.

Avoid self-blame. You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and
encourage treatment, but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control
your loved one’s decisions. Letting the person accept responsibility for their actions
is an essential step along the way to recovery.

Don’t…

 Attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach.

 Try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase feelings of
guilt and the compulsion to use drugs.
 Cover up or make excuses for the drug abuser, or shield them from the negative
consequences of their behavior.
 Take over their responsibilities, leaving them with no sense of importance or
dignity.
 Hide or throw out drugs.
 Argue with the person when they are high.
 Use drugs with them.

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 Feel guilty or responsible for another’s behavior.

Source: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information

When your teen has a drug problem

Discovering your child uses drugs can generate fear, confusion, and anger. It’s
important to remain calm when confronting your teen, and to only do so when
everyone is sober. Explain your concerns and make it clear that your concern
comes from a place of love. It’s important that your teen feels you are supportive.

Warning signs of teen drug abuse

As with adults, teenage drug abuse isn’t limited to illegal drugs. In fact, teens are
more likely to abuse prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including painkillers,
stimulants, sedatives, and tranquilizers. In many cases, these drugs are much easier
for teens to procure, yet they can have dangerous, even lethal, side effects.

While experimenting with any kind of drug doesn’t automatically lead to drug
abuse, early use is a risk factor for developing more serious drug abuse and
addiction down the road. Risk of drug abuse also increases greatly during times of
transition, such as changing schools, moving, or divorce. The challenge for parents
is to distinguish between the normal, often volatile, ups and downs of the teen
years and the red flags of substance abuse. These include:

Having bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils; using eye drops to try to mask these signs

Skipping class; declining grades; suddenly getting into trouble at school

Missing medications, prescriptions, money or valuables

Acting uncharacteristically isolated, withdrawn, angry, or depressed

Sudden mood changes or repeated health complaints, constant fatigue

Dropping one group of friends for another; being secretive about the new peer
group

Loss of interest in old hobbies; lying about new interests and activities

Demanding more privacy; locking doors; avoiding eye contact; sneaking around.
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What are treatments for drug addiction?

There are many options that have been successful in treating drug addiction,
including

 Behavioral counseling
 Medication
 Medical devices and applications used to treat withdrawal symptoms or
deliver skills training
 Evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as
depression and anxiety
 Long-term follow-up to prevent relapse
 A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can
be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental
health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-
based recovery support systems.

How are medications and devices used in drug addiction treatment?

Medications and devices can be used to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent

relapse, and treat co-occurring conditions.

Withdrawal. Medications and devices can help suppress withdrawal symptoms

during detoxification. Detoxification is not in itself "treatment," but only the first
step in the process. Patients who do not receive any further treatment after
detoxification usually resume their drug use. One study of treatment facilities
found that medications were used in almost 80 percent of detoxifications
(SAMHSA, 2014). In November 2017, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) granted a new indication to an electronic stimulation device, NSS-2
Bridge, for use in helping reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. This device is
placed behind the ear and sends electrical pulses to stimulate certain brain
nerves. Also, in May 2018, the FDA approved lofexidine, a non-opioid medicine
designed to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Relapse prevention. Patients can use medications to help re-establish normal

brain function and decrease cravings. Medications are available for treatment of
opioid (heroin, prescription pain relievers), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol
addiction. Scientists are developing other medications to treat stimulant
(cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. People who
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use more than one drug, which is very common, need treatment for all of the
substances they use.

 Opioids: Methadone (Dolophine®, Methadose®), buprenorphine

(Suboxone®, Subutex®, Probuphine® , Sublocade™), and naltrexone
(Vivitrol®) are used to treat opioid addiction. Acting on the same targets in
the brain as heroin and morphine, methadone and buprenorphine suppress
withdrawal symptoms and relieve cravings. Naltrexone blocks the effects
of opioids at their receptor sites in the brain and should be used only in
patients who have already been detoxified. All medications help patients
reduce drug seeking and related criminal behavior and help them become
more open to behavioral treatments. A NIDA study found that once
treatment is initiated, both a buprenorphine/naloxone combination and an
extended release naltrexone formulation are similarly effective in treating
opioid addiction. Because full detoxification is necessary for treatment
with naloxone, initiating treatment among active users was difficult, but
once detoxification was complete, both medications had similar
effectiveness.
 Tobacco: Nicotine replacement therapies have several forms, including the
patch, spray, gum, and lozenges. These products are available over the
counter. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two
prescription medications for nicotine addiction: bupropion (Zyban®) and
varenicline (Chantix®). They work differently in the brain, but both help
prevent relapse in people trying to quit. The medications are more effective
when combined with behavioral treatments, such as group and individual
therapy as well as telephone quitlines.
 Alcohol: Three medications have been FDA-approved for treating alcohol
addiction and a fourth, topiramate, has shown promise in clinical trials
(large-scale studies with people). The three approved medications are as
follows:
 Naltrexone blocks opioid receptors that are involved in the rewarding
effects of drinking and in the craving for alcohol. It reduces relapse to
heavy drinking and is highly effective in some patients. Genetic
differences may affect how well the drug works in certain patients.
 Acamprosate (Campral®) may reduce symptoms of long-lasting
withdrawal, such as insomnia, anxiety, restlessness, and dysphoria

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 (generally feeling unwell or unhappy). It may be more effective in patients
with severe addiction.
 Disulfiram (Antabuse®) interferes with the breakdown of alcohol.
Acetaldehyde builds up in the body, leading to unpleasant reactions that
include flushing (warmth and redness in the face), nausea, and irregular
heartbeat if the patient drinks alcohol. Compliance (taking the drug as
prescribed) can be a problem, but it may help patients who are highly
motivated to quit drinking.
 Co-occuring conditions: Other medications are available to treat possible
mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, that may be
contributing to the person’s addiction.

How are behavioral therapies used to treat drug addiction?

 Behavioral therapies help patients:

 Modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use
 Increase healthy life skills
 Persist with other forms of treatment, such as medication
 Patients can receive treatment in many different settings with
various approaches.

Outpatient behavioral treatment includes a wide variety of

programs for patients who visit a behavioral health counselor on a
regular schedule. Most of the programs involve individual or group
drug counseling, or both. These programs typically offer forms of
behavioral therapy such as:

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 cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps patients recognize,
avoid, and cope with the situations in which they are most
likely to use drugs

 multidimensional family therapy—developed for adolescents

with drug abuse problems as well as their families—which
addresses a range of influences on their drug abuse patterns
and is designed to improve overall family functioning

 motivational interviewing, which makes the most of people's

readiness to change their behavior and enter treatment.

 motivational incentives (contingency management), which

uses positive reinforcement to encourage abstinence from
drugs

Treatment is sometimes intensive at first, where patients

attend multiple outpatient sessions each week. After
completing intensive treatment, patients transition to regular
outpatient treatment, which meets less often and for fewer
hours per week to help sustain their recovery. In September
2017, the FDA permitted marketing of the first mobile
application, reSET®, to help treat substance use disorders.
This application is intended to be used with outpatient
treatment to treat alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, and stimulant
substance use disorders. In December 2018, the FDA cleared
a mobile medical application, reSET®, to help treat opioid use
disorders. This application is a prescription cognitive
behavioral therapy and should be used in conjunction with
treatment that includes buprenorphine and contingency
management.
Inpatient or residential treatment  can also be very
effective, especially for those with more severe problems
(including co-occurring disorders). Licensed residential
treatment facilities offer 24-hour structured and intensive
care, including safe housing and medical attention.
Residential treatment facilities may use a variety of

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therapeutic approaches, and they are generally aimed at
helping the patient live a drug-free, crime-free lifestyle after
treatment. Examples of residential treatment settings include:

 Therapeutic communities, which are highly

structured programs in which patients remain at
a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. The
entire community, including treatment staff and
those in recovery, act as key agents of change,
influencing the patient’s attitudes,
understanding, and behaviors associated with
drug use.
 Shorter-term residential treatment, which
typically focuses on detoxification as well as
providing initial intensive counseling and
preparation for treatment in a community-based
setting.
 Recovery housing, which provides supervised,
short-term housing for patients, often following
other types of inpatient or residential treatment.
Recovery housing can help people make the
transition to an independent life—for example,
helping them learn how to manage finances or
seek employment, as well as connecting them
to support services in the community.
Is treatment different for criminal justice
populations?
Scientific research since the mid-1970s shows
that drug abuse treatment can help many drug-
using offenders change their attitudes, beliefs,
and behaviors towards drug abuse; avoid
relapse; and successfully remove themselves
from a life of substance abuse and crime. Many
of the principles of treating drug addiction are
similar for people within the criminal justice
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 system as for those in the general population.
However, many offenders don’t have access to
the types of services they need. Treatment that
is of poor quality or is not well suited to the
needs of offenders may not be effective at
reducing drug use and criminal behavior.

In addition to the general principles of

treatment, some considerations specific to
offenders include the following:

 Treatment should include development of

specific cognitive skills to help the offender
adjust attitudes and beliefs that lead to drug
abuse and crime, such as feeling entitled to
have things one’s own way or not
understanding the consequences of one’s
behavior. This includes skills related to
thinking, understanding, learning, and
remembering.
 Treatment planning should include tailored
services within the correctional facility as well
as transition to community-based treatment
after release.
 Ongoing coordination between treatment
providers and courts or parole and probation
officers is important in addressing the complex
needs of offenders re-entering society.
Challenges of Re-entry

Drug abuse changes the function of the brain,

and many things can "trigger" drug cravings
within the brain. It’s critical for those in
treatment, especially those treated at an

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 inpatient facility or prison, to learn how to
recognize, avoid, and cope with triggers they
are likely to be exposed to after treatment.
How many people get treatment for drug
addiction?
According to SAMHSA's National Survey on
Drug Use and Health, 22.5 million people (8.5
percent of the U.S. population) aged 12 or older
needed treatment for an illicit* drug or alcohol
use problem in 2014. Only 4.2 million (18.5
percent of those who needed treatment)
received any substance use treatment in the
same year. Of these, about 2.6 million people
received treatment at specialty treatment
programs (CBHSQ, 2015).

*The term "illicit" refers to the use of illegal

drugs, including marijuana according to federal
law, and misuse of prescription medications.

Points to Remember

 Drug addiction can be treated, but it’s not

simple. Addiction treatment must help the
person do the following:
 stop using drugs
 stay drug-free
 be productive in the family, at work, and in
society
 Successful treatment has several steps:
 detoxification
 behavioral counseling

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  medication (for opioid, tobacco, or alcohol
addiction)
 evaluation and treatment for co-occurring
mental health issues such as depression and
anxiety
 long-term follow-up to prevent relapse
 Medications and devices can be used to
manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent
relapse, and treat co-occurring conditions.
 Behavioral therapies help patients:
 modify their attitudes and behaviors
related to drug use
 increase healthy life skills
 persist with other forms of treatment,
such as medication
 People within the criminal justice system
may need additional treatment services to
treat drug use disorders effectively.
However, many offenders don’t have access
to the types of services they need.
7 steps parents can take to curb teen drug use

1. Talk openly about the dangers of both illegal and prescription drug use with your
kids. Providing a safe and open environment to talk about these issues can make a
real difference in the likelihood that they’ll use or abuse drugs.
2. Lay down rules and consequences. Your teen should understand that using drugs
comes with specific consequences. But don’t make hollow threats or set rules that
you cannot enforce—and make sure your spouse agrees and is prepared to enforce
the rules. Remind your teen that taking someone else’s prescription or sharing
theirs with others is illegal.
3. Monitor your teen’s activity. Know where your teen goes and who they hang out
with. It’s also important to routinely check potential hiding places for drugs—in

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 backpacks, between books on a shelf, in DVD cases or make-up cases. Monitor
your teen’s use of the Internet to check for illegal online purchases.
4. Keep prescription medicines in a safe place, avoid stockpiling them, and dispose of
any unused prescription medicines. Monitor your prescription refills carefully.
5. Encourage other interests and social activities. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies
and activities, such as team sports and after-school clubs.
6. Talk to your child about underlying issues. Drug use can be the result of other
problems. Is your teen having trouble fitting in? Has there been a recent major
change, like a move or divorce causing stress?
7. Get help. Teenagers often rebel against their parents but if they hear the same
information from a different authority figure, they may be more inclined to listen.
Try a sports coach, family doctor, therapist, or drug counselor.

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