Why Do People Use Drugs
People use drugs for many reasons: they want to feel good, stop feeling bad, or perform better in school or at work, or they are curious because others are doing it and they want to fit in. The last reason is very common among teens.
Drugs excite the parts of the brain that make you feel good. But after you take a drug for a while, the feel-good parts of your brain get used to it. Then you need to take more of the drug to get the same good feeling. Soon, your brain and body must have the drug just to feel normal. You feel sick, awful, anxious, and irritable without the drug. You no longer have the good feelings that you had when you first used the drug. This is true if you use illegal drugs or if you misuse prescription drugs. Misuse includes taking a drug differently than how your doctor tells you to , taking someone elses prescription, or taking it just to get high.
Drug use can start as a way to escapebut it can quickly make your life worse. Besides just not feeling well, different drugs can affect your brain and body in many different ways. Here are a few:
Many drugs can also make driving a car unsafe. Marijuana can slow reaction time, make you judge time and distance poorly, and decrease coordination . Cocaine and methamphetamine can make a driver aggressive and reckless. Certain kinds of sedatives, called benzodiazepines, can make you dizzy or drowsy. These effects can lead to crashes that can cause injuries and even death.
Melissas Story Of Recovery From Heroin Addiction
Melissa Lee Matos finally woke up on March 1, 2016, having lost 3 entire days to one her worst blackouts yet, caused by the abuse of heroin, Xanax, a powerful benzodiazepine, and the antipsychotic medication, Seroquel.
Although Melissa was in addiction treatment at the time, an outpatient program that she herself admits she was lying and scheming my way through, she immediately realized that she was both lost and terrified, and believed that only death could end her torment.
Fortunately, she found the desperate courage to call her mother, and finally admit that she wasnt sober, she wasnt in recovery, and her addiction had actually gotten worse. In Melissas words, That choice, that honesty, that cry for help It saved my life.
Source: Used with the kind permission of Melissa Lee Matos
In Melissa Lee Matos own words: This was what I looked like, daily, for years. This is what my husband dealt with. This is what my little girls walked in on. This is what my family and friends saw, on the rare occasions I left the house. I was sick. I was dying. I was so far gone I thought I could never recover. I was so lost I couldnt imagine a life without using. I just wanted to die.
Source: Used with the kind permission of Melissa Lee Matos
Addiction Rehab Before And After
As treasured alumni of our drug and alcohol rehab center, our clients become our family. We are so proud of all of them and are here for them long after they graduate the program. Here are Foundations Wellness Center client testimonials and before-and-after photos, to give inspiration to all who are currently struggling with addiction as well as to their family members.
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How To Reduce Or Quit Drugs
Many different services are available to help you or someone you know quit drugs.
Its never too late to quit using drugs.
Reducing or quitting drugs can improve your life in many ways. It can:
- improve your physical and mental wellbeing
- reduce your risk of permanent damage to vital organs and death
- improve your relationships with friends and family
- help you reconnect with your emotions
- increase your energy
- improve your appearance
- save you money.
Recovered addicts say that theyve never felt better after quitting drugs, although this can take time. Knowing why you want to quit drugs can help you to stay motivated during the withdrawal process.
Jasons Story Of Recovery From Meth Addiction
To look at a recent photograph of Jason Wickilne now, the 41-year-old West Virginia resident appears to have enjoyed a healthy and fulfilling life, and continues to do so. However, as we know, photographs are just a captured moment in time they never tell the whole story.
Back in 2015, in the aptly-titled town of Mount Hope, WV., Jason was arrested for the clearly illicit manufacture of methamphetamine, one of the most potent and dangerous illegal drugs available. A meth addict himself, Jason feared a long spell in prison, a place he was already way too familiar with. However, as all too drug many addicts know only too well, things were about to get a whole lot worse.
Source: Used with the kind permission of Jason Wickline
Jason Wickline was once a meth addict, and, in 2015, he was arrested for manufacturing methamphetamine. In the process,Jason, a single parent, was further charged with child neglect, and he subsequently lost custody of his then 4-year-old son, Krystian.
At that point in his life, Jason was a single parent, with a 4-year-old son, Krystian. When Child Protective Services became involved, they promptly took Krystian into their care and charged Jason with child neglect. As Jason explains, As they were walking Krystian to the car, he turned around to look at me, and said, Daddy, I love you, and Ill never forget you. He was 4 and thought he would never see me again. I was bawling my eyes out. I had no idea what was going to happen to my kid at that point.
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Whats The Difference Between Substance Use/misuse And Substance Use Disorder
Substance use/misuse refers to occasional episodes of substance use rather than chronic, habitual or patterned use.
People can use substances occasionally without developing SUD, but even a few episodes of taking certain substances can lead to tolerance and dependence. Tobacco, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, cannabis and benzodiazepines are all substances that you can develop tolerance and dependence to.
What Should I Not Say To Someone About Their Drug Or Alcohol Use
When speaking to someone about their drug use, listen respectfully to their views, and respond calmly. The tone and the type of language you use is important.
Try to avoid the following, since this may upset the person and make them less likely to seek support:
- being judgmental
- using negative labels like addict
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The Importance Of Early Intervention & Treatment
If drug use is suspected, early invention is essential to ensure the most robust chances of successful recovery. Friends and family members may choose to stage an intervention once signs of drug use are apparent if so, a professional interventionist can guide the planning process and the execution of the event for best results.
Loved ones should also research comprehensive addiction treatment programs. Treatment should include both medical detox and therapy to address the underlying issues related to substance abuse.
What Quitting Drugs Feels Like
When you reduce or quit using drugs your body goes through a detoxification process or withdrawal.
Symptoms vary between people, and between drugs, and range from mild to serious. They can last from a few days to a few weeks it’s different for every person but they are temporary. Cravings for the drug will sometimes be weak and at other times very strong. Learning how to manage them is important for staying drug-free.
Find out what withdrawal symptoms are for specific drugs.
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Before And After Photos Of Drug Abuse
Substance abuse is defined as a pattern of using a substance that causes significant problems or distress. This may be missing work or school, using the substance in dangerous situations, such as driving a car. It may lead to substance-related legal problems, or continued substance use that interferes with friendships, family relationships, or both.
Substance abuse, as a recognized medical brain disorder, refers to the abuse of illegal substances, such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Or it may be the abuse of legal substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, or prescription medicines. Alcohol is the most common legal drug of abuse.
Substance dependence
Substance dependence is the medical term used to describe abuse of drugs or alcohol that continues even when significant problems related to their use have developed. Signs of dependence include:
- Tolerance to or need for increased amounts of the drug to get an effect
- Withdrawal symptoms that happen if you decrease or stop using the drug that you find difficult to cut down or quit
- Spending a lot of time to get, use, and recover from the effects of using drugs
- Withdrawal from social and recreational activities
- Continued use of the drug even though you are aware of the physical, psychological, and family or social problems that are caused by your ongoing drug abuse
What is drug addiction?
How To Spot Drug Use In Adolescents
While overall moodiness can simply be part of adolescence and the teen years, drug use is generally signified by more drastic changes in mood or behaviors in this age group. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse , signs of drug use in adolescents include acting withdrawn, tired, depressed, or hostile.
Parents should take note when a child starts associating with a different group of peers, as changes in peer groups may be linked with substance use. An adolescent using drugs might also miss classes, skip school, or change their eating or sleeping habits. Parents can also listen for their kids using slang terms for certain drugs of abuse.
If drug use is suspected, prompt intervention is vital. Parents can get help from guidance counselors, primary care physicians, and drug abuse treatment providers.
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How Can You Help A Loved One Get The Help They Need
Mention the word treatment in relation to substance use and many people think of long-term residential facilities or detox. In fact, treatment includes both of these options and a variety of others.
Treatment addresses the individuals physical, psychological, emotional, and social conditions. Sustained reduction in alcohol or other drug use and sustained increases in personal health and social function are the primary goals.
The type of treatment is based on the severity of the problem. For risky people with an active addiction, treatment can be as simple as a screening and a brief intervention. For people exhibiting signs of dependence or addiction, a screening will probably lead to a referral for more intense level of care.
All treatment starts with a screening, which is a series of questions about the amount and frequency of alcohol or other drug use and the consequences it may be causing. Screening can be done by many types of professionals, including a physician in a hospital or an office, a nurse, a clinical social worker, or a licensed substance abuse counselor.
To help someone you know who you think may have a substance use problem, you first need to get them screened. Your best bet is to talk to your own physician or employee assistance professional about referring you to someone who can help, such as a licensed substance abuse counselor or family therapist.
To find a treatment program, visit SAMHSAs Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.
Do I Have To Hit Rock Bottom Before I Get Help
No! Hitting rock bottom is not a prerequisite to seeking help for substance abuse help is available whenever you are ready for it. Unfortunately, statistics show that many people who are struggling with substance abuse will not seek help until they …
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How Peace Valley Recovery Can Help You Find Recovery
At Peace Valley Recovery, we offer a wide range of treatment programs to help you break out of the cycle of addiction, and develop the right skills and mindset to remain on the road to recovery. From traditional individual therapy and life skills development to holistic therapies such as music and art, our addiction treatment program in Pennsylvania is specifically designed to support individual growth and healing.
Peace Valley Recovery is located in Doylestown, PA., just 15 miles northwest of Trenton, New Jersey, 25 miles north of Philadelphia, and 65 miles southwest of New York City. Wherever youre from, our team will work with you to create a treatment plan that meets your unique needs, and then help you work toward the goals you have set during your time in treatment we strive to provide excellent, truly individualized care.
For more information about Peace Valley Recoverys extensive substance abuse programs for treating drug or alcohol addiction, please call 215-709-8956 or, alternatively, you can contact us online.
Can I Just Use Willpower To Stop Using Drugs
At first, taking drugs is usually your choice. But as you continue to take them, using self-control can become harder and harder this is the biggest sign of addiction. Brain studies of people with addiction show physical changes in parts of the brain that are very important for judgment, making decisions, learning and memory, and controlling behavior. Scientists have shown that when this happens to the brain, it changes how the brain works and it explains the harmful behaviors of addiction that are so hard to control.
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Chicken Vs Egg: Which Came First Heroin Or Oxycontin Addiction
For centuries, people have debated one age old question: which came first, the chicken or the egg? While both sides of this argument have their valid points, the question itself has evolved, making its way into other areas of society, including the …
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What Is The Prognosis For Substance Use Disorder
The prognosis for substance use disorder varies based on several factors, including:
- The type and severity of the SUD.
- The degree of dependence and withdrawal.
- The level of commitment to abstinence.
- Treatment time frame.
- How you cope during stressful situations.
Substance use disorder is a lifelong disease. But people can recover from it and lead full lives. Getting help is essential to recovery. Different tools work for different people, but ongoing therapy and self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous help many.
SUD is a relapsing disease. People who are in recovery have a higher chance of using substances again. Recurrence can happen even years after you last took the substance.
Because of the possibility of relapse, you need ongoing treatment. Your healthcare provider should review your treatment plan with you and change it based on your changing needs.
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Tips For Finding The Best Drug Addiction Treatment For You
Remember that no treatment works for everyone. Everyones needs are different. Whether you have a problem with illegal or prescription drugs, addiction treatment should be customized to your unique situation. Its important that you find a program that feels right.
Treatment should address more than just your drug abuse. Addiction affects your whole life, including your relationships, career, health, and psychological well-being. Treatment success depends on developing a new way of living and addressing the reasons why you turned to drugs in the first place. For example, your drug dependency may have developed from a desire to manage pain or to cope with stress, in which case youll need to find a healthier way to relieve pain or to handle stressful situations.
Commitment and follow-through are key. Drug addiction treatment is not a quick and easy process. In general, the longer and more intense the drug use, the longer and more intense the treatment youll need. And in all cases, long-term follow-up care is crucial to recovery.
There are many places to turn for help. Not everybody requires medically supervised detox or an extended stint in rehab. The care you need depends on a variety of factors, including your age, drug-use history, medical or psychiatric conditions. In addition to doctors and psychologists, many clergy members, social workers, and counselors offer addiction treatment services.
Wake Up Find Money Get High Repeat
I always had a fascination with drugs, even before I started using them. The science of pharmacology was always super interesting to me. In high school, experimentation with other substances led me to buy some Vicodin to try. Later, as a college student at the University of St. Thomas, I went from popping painkillers, to snorting OxyContin, morphine and Dilaudid. Eventually, I graduated to injecting heroin multiple times a day. I wish I could isolate a point in time when I knew I was addicted, but addiction is subtler than that. Drugs go from merely being a part of your life to becoming your life.
It was wonderful in the beginning. Opioids have the ability to induce a powerful feeling of well-being not attainable naturally or even with other drugs. Theres reduced anxiety, euphoria, pain relief, and a host of other good feelings, including the nods, where you feel like youre sleeping, but remain conscious. It was always easy to get pills and heroin. In 2009, Purdue Pharmaceuticals introduced a new form of OxyContin, which was supposed to have abuse-deterrent properties. This move cut the street price of the drug in half, making it easier to get. And it was still easy to abuse. At the same time, the Twin Cities started to see more high-quality, low-priced heroin on the market.
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