Drug Addiction

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is

compulsive, or difficult to control despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to

take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain

changes that challenge an addicted person’s self –control and interfere with their ability

to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is

why drug addiction is considered a “ relapsing disease – people in recovery frog drug

use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not

taking the drug.

Examples of commonly used illegal drugs include:

 Heroin

 Cocaine or crack cocaine

 Methamphetamine

 Bath Salts

 Methadone

 Ecstasy

 Marijuana

 LSD

 PCP

Here are some of the most common causes of drug abuse and why substance use

occurs in different people:

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  Grieving a death
 End of a relationship
 Mental illness
 Environmental influences
 Relaxation
 Self-medication
 Financial burdens
 Career pressures
 School pressures
 Family demands
 Peer and Social Pressure
 Abuse and trauma
 Boredom
 To fit in
 Curiosity and experimentation
 Rebellion
 To be in control
 To enhance performance
 Isolation
 Misinformation or ignorance
 Instant Gratification
 Wide availability
Grieving: The death of a loved one, such as a close friend or family member, or even a

mentor who positively influenced a person, is emotionally devastating for people.

Different people handle grief in different ways. Some people are able to seek counseling

or work through grief on their own in healthy ways. Other people really struggle with

emotional or physical loss, so they use drugs as a way of coping with grief in the short-

term. However, this short-term coping mechanism may transition into a long-term

dependence for some people.

End of a Relationship: The end of a relationship is one of the most emotionally

destructive events in a person’s life. When a relationship ends through a breakup or

divorce, it can negatively impact self-confidence. This goes on to affect other areas of

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life including career, friendships, families, and even one’s ability to find a purpose. If the

person doesn’t have appropriate emotional support available to them, they may use

drugs as a way of grieving the loss of their relationship.

Mental Illness: A complex trigger of substance abuse is mental illness. There are

several varieties of mental illness that manifest themselves in different ways. Some

people who face mental health challenges are vulnerable to using drugs as a way of

rationalizing or making sense of their illness. Others who face depression or anxiety

disorders may use drugs to help lift them out of these low mental states.

Environmental Influences: The environment that a person has been exposed to can

influence and trigger drug use. Growing up in poverty or in households with drug

addiction, abuse, crime or other negative factors can create a high risk for substance

abuse in those exposed to these conditions. They may perceive drug use as normal or

acceptable. Or, they may psychologically believe this to be a pattern they can fall into.

Relaxation: The average adult faces typical life obligations such as bills, family, and

work. Because of this, many people look for outlets to help relax and find a balance

between responsibilities and having fun. Unfortunately, some people may use drugs as

an outlet to help relax and unwind on evenings and weekends. If left unaddressed, this

pattern can develop into a dependence or addiction.

Self-Medication: When people face physical or emotional pain, they may use drugs to

self-medicate. This means they use drugs that aren’t prescribed to them by a doctor.

Instead, they use drugs such as painkillers to administer pain relief to themselves.

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Certain painkillers have highly addictive properties, which often leads to developing an

addiction to them.

Financial Stress: The burden of financial stress can be intolerable for many people.

Money pressures can cause people to feel trapped, desperate, and out of control.

These feelings lead to emotional and psychological conditions that trigger drug use.

Drugs can often help people to forget about their financial responsibilities or avoid

dealing with them altogether.

Career Pressures: It is common in today’s society to have your identity tied to your

career. For many people, their career places a lot of pressure on them to perform, which

is often reflected in their idea of their own self-worth. This type of pressure can cause

emotional and psychological stress. To help perform better or alleviate work stress, it’s

possible to turn to drugs to help cope, forget failures, or boost performance.

School Pressures: Similar to career pressures, school pressure is another one of the

common reasons people abuse drugs. Many people face large workloads with classes

and homework, financial stress from student loans, balancing family and work while

going to school and the pressure to perform academically. These stressful conditions

make it easy for some people to be more susceptible to drug use as a way of coping.

Additionally, professional educational programs such as medical or law school have

even greater standards of academic achievement, coupled with higher financial costs. It

is not uncommon for students in graduate programs to use stimulants and other drugs

as a means of boosting their cognitive performance.

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Family Demands: Typical family demands include balancing work with raising kids, as

well as financial obligations towards family members. But, when those demands

become overwhelming, it can be difficult to manage. This may be especially true for

young mothers who can face feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety. Drug use,

especially through prescription pills, can become an easy way for parents to help cope

with family demands.

Peer and Social Pressure: One of the most well-known ways for people — especially

teens and young adults — to start using drugs is through external pressures from other

people. Commonly known as peer pressure, people may begin using drugs because of

the influence of their peers. For them, it becomes something they all share in common,

and so they feel pressured to continue to use drugs even if they understand the dire

consequences.

Additionally, younger people may experience social pressure to use drugs from

television, social media, and other celebrity influences. It’s possible that people see

drug use being glorified in the media, and so they feel pressured to participate as well.

What are the effects of drug addiction ?

Substance use disorder can lead to short- and long-term negative health effects. These

effects can be physical and mental and can range from moderate to severe.

Physical effects of drug abuse

Psychoactive drugs are chemical compounds that affect the mind and body.

Taking different drugs may cause:

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  changes in coordination

 blood pressure and heart rate changes

 feelings of being more awake or sleepy

 improved sociability

 pain relief

 changes in the appearance of a person’s body

Short-term physical effects

Using any drug can cause short-term physical effects. The following are examples of
common drugs, their short-term physical effects, and potential health risks due to SUD.

 alcohol

o deficits in coordination

o a quickened heartbeat

o reddening of the skin or face

o dizziness

o nausea and vomiting

o potential hypothermia

o potential coma

 methamphetamines

o increased wakefulness and physical activity

o decreased appetite

o increased breathing

o increased or irregular heart rate

o increased blood pressure

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 o increased temperature

 cocaine

o narrowed blood vessels

o enlarged pupils

o increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure

o headache

o abdominal pain and nausea

o erratic and violent behavior

o heart attack

o stroke

o seizure

o coma

 benzodiazepines

o slurred speech

o dizziness

o problems with movement

o slowed breathing

o lowered blood pressure

 heroin and other opioids

o dry mouth

o itching

o nausea

o vomiting

o slowed breathing and heart rate

 tobacco and nicotine

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 o increased blood pressure

o increased breathing

o increased heart rate

 tobacco or nicotine:

o greatly increased risk of cancer — lung cancer due to smokingTrusted

Source or oral cancer due to chewing

o chronic bronchitis

o emphysema

o heart disease

o leukemia

o cataracts

o pneumonia

Long-term physical effects

Using substances for an extended time may have long-term health consequences.
These lasting effects depend on multiple factors, including the substance, the amount,
and how long a person has used it.

Examples of commonly used drugs and potential long-term physical effects of

SUD include:

 alcohol:

o heart disease

o stroke

o liver disease and inflammation (alcoholic liver disease)

o pancreatitis

o digestive problems

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 o cancer of breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and
rectum

o weakenedTrusted Source immune system

o alcohol use disorder or alcohol dependence

 methamphetamines:

o severe dental problems

o weight loss

o intense itching leading to skin sores

o risk of HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases from shared needles

 cocaine and heroin — when a person snorts them, these drugs may cause:

o loss of sense of smell

o nosebleeds

o nasal damage and trouble swallowing

 other effects include:

o infection and death of bowel tissue from decreased blood flow

o inadequate nutrition and weight loss

o collapsed veins

o abscesses

o infection of the lining and valves of the heart

o constipation and stomach cramps

o liver or kidney disease

o pneumonia

o fatal overdose

 tobacco or nicotine:

o greatly increased risk of cancer — lung cancer due to smokingTrusted

Source or oral cancer due to chewing

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 o chronic bronchitis

o emphysema

o heart disease

o leukemia

o cataracts

o pneumonia

Mental effects of drug abuse

Long-term SUD may affectTrusted Source a person’s memory, behavior, learning,

consciousness, and concentration.

Substances, such as alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, and opioids, are psychoactive drugs
that may change an individual’s brain function and structure after chronic use. This  can
resulTrusted Sourcet in cognitive and behavioral changes and deficits that may remain
even after someone stops using.

The exact mental or cognitive effects of SUD may vary depending on the type of drug
and the duration of use.

SUD may also exacerbate symptoms of other mental disorders, and early drug use is a
strong risk factor for the later development of substance use disorders. It may also be a
risk factor for developing other mental illnesses.

For example, frequent cannabis use in adolescents can increase the risk of psychosis in
adulthood in individuals who carry a particular gene variant.

Short-term mental effects

Examples of common drugs and their short-term mental effects include:

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  alcohol:

o feelings of euphoria

o reduced anxiety

o easing of social interactions

o irritability and anxiety upon withdrawal

 cannabis:

o enhanced sensory perception

o feelings of euphoria and relaxation

o anxiety

o irritability upon withdrawal

 benzodiazepines:

o drowsiness

o concentration issues

o dizziness

o reduced anxiety

o problems with memory

 heroin:

o feelings of euphoria

o restlessness upon withdrawal

 prescription opioids:

o pain relief

o drowsiness

o feelings of euphoria

 methamphetamine:

o increased wakefulness

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 o anxiety upon withdrawal

Long-term mental effects

Examples of common drugs and mental effects associated with long-term SUD include:

 alcohol:

o depression

o anxiety

o learning and memory problems

o social problems

 prescription opioids:

o increased risk of overdose

 methamphetamines:

o anxiety

o confusion

o insomnia

o mood problems

o violent behavior

o paranoia

o hallucinations

o delusions

 heroin:

o risk of overdose

 tobacco and nicotine:

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 o in teens, they can affect the development of brain circuits that control
attention and learning

o irritability, attention and sleep problems, and depression upon withdrawal

 cannabis:

o mental health problems

o irritability, trouble sleeping, anxiety upon withdrawal

What is the Best Treatment for Drug Addiction?

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.

There is No Cure for Addiction, But People Can and Do Recover

While there is no cure for any mental health disorder, including drug addiction, many go
on to lead incredible lives filled with hope and courage. Numerous research-based
therapies and treatment interventions have been proven to be effective in treating those
living with drug addiction. 

The key is receiving personalized treatment that is intensive and integrated. When long-
term support and therapeutic and spiritual interventions are applied, people struggling to
overcome addiction do recover. Mental, physical, and spiritual wellness is central to
recovery.

What law?

Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165).

An Act instituting the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Repealing

Republic Act No. 6425, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, as

Amended, providing Funds therefor, and for other purposes.

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This Act, consisting of 101 sections, provides for importation of Dangerous Drugs and/or

Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals. It establishes offences and penalty

according to the different dangerous drug, regardless of the quantity and purity involved.

Every pharmacist dealing in dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential

chemicals shall maintain and keep an original record of sales, purchases, acquisitions

and deliveries of dangerous drugs, indicating specific information. A veterinarian or

practitioner authorized to prescribe any dangerous drug shall submit Records

Transactions on Dangerous Drugs and Precursors and Essential Chemicals. A

veterinarian or practitioner authorized to prescribe any dangerous drug shall issue the

prescription therefor in one original and two duplicate copies. The original, after the

prescription has been filled, shall be retained by the pharmacist for a period of one year

from the date of sale or delivery of such drug.

Steps to Prevent Drug Addiction

The best tool against developing an addiction is avoiding drug or alcohol use in the first
place. But that’s easier said than done. Many people begin using as young as age 13
and are too young to realize the damaging impact addiction will have on their lives. If
you are lucky to have recognized the addiction pattern early, then follow these steps to
prevent drug addiction.

1. Understand Why People Use Drugs and Alcohol

 Using addictive drugs (illicit or prescribed) for recreational purposes.

 Abusing an addictive prescription medication.
 Seeking out intoxication every time you use.
 Self-medication
 Genetics & Family History

2. Understand the Difference Between Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction

Alcohol and drug abuse and alcohol and drug addiction are defined differently. A person
who uses heavily and then can abruptly stop is considered to be abusing alcohol or
drugs. But addiction occurs when the body requires the alcohol or drugs to stop
withdrawal symptoms. The line between abuse and addiction is not solidly defined

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because a person may be abusing alcohol and drugs and experiencing the negative
consequences of addiction.

3. Avoid Temptations and Peer Pressure

You may have heard the expression, “You’re only as good as the company you keep,”
and in reality, that statement is true. If you have friends or family members who
pressure you to use alcohol or drugs, avoid them. Make new friends who practice
healthier habits, who do well in school, who are motivated at work and who have goals.
Develop goals and dreams for yourself. Remember, alcohol or drug use can turn to
addiction rapidly; no one plans on becoming a drug addict or alcoholic. While in active
addiction, the only goal possible is to get drugs or alcohol to feed the addiction.
Regardless of whether it is abuse or addiction with drugs or alcohol, both require
professional addiction treatment.

4. Find the Support You Need

People struggling with emotional distress are at greater risk for developing an addiction
to drugs or alcohol. Work on developing coping skills. If you have events or experiences
in your past that affect your feelings, find a reliable and healthy source of support. If you
have depression, anxiety, paranoia or other mental health problems, counseling or
therapy and social communities such as religious or spiritual organizations can help you
work through negative emotions and behaviors in a healthy, life-affirming manner.
Remember that alcohol and drugs in combination with mental health disorders only
make the mental health problem worse. Don’t try to self-medicate your feelings or
physical discomfort.

5. Practice Healthier Living Habits

Exercise, eating well and meditation are excellent ways to avoid using drugs or alcohol.
Quite often, the results you feel from living a healthier lifestyle can help you resist the
temptation to use drugs or alcohol to escape. A healthy body helps you cope with daily
stress. If you have practiced living healthy and managing stress, a trauma can more
easily be managed.

Addiction specialists can advise you about addiction to drugs or alcohol, mental health
issues and the combination of the two. This information can help you prevent drug
addiction. Family-based drug or alcohol prevention plans are also highly effective at
helping children avoid the temptations of drugs or alcohol.

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