Drug abuse is the increasing desire to obtain and use increasing amounts of one or more substances to the exclusion of everything else. Drug abuse affects the body and mind of the user and often many of those around him or her. One specific effect of drug abuse is the creation of physical drug dependence; however, dependence on the drug is not required for drug use to be considered drug abuse. (read: signs of drug abuse)

Effect of Drug Abuse on the Body

A person who abuses drugs may not realize they have a problem until pronounced effects of drug abuse are seen, often physically. While drug abuse effects on the body vary depending on the drug used, all drug abuse negatively impacts one's health. Common effects of drug abuse on the body include sleep changes and decreased memory and cognitive abilities.

Other common physical problems include:^1,2

• Abnormal vital signs like respiration, heart rate and blood pressure
• Chest or lung pain
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain
• Skin can be cool and sweating or hot and dry
• Diseases such as hepatitis B or C, or HIV from needle-sharing
• Impotence
• More frequent illnesses
• Frequent hangovers, blackouts

Psychological Drug Abuse Effects

One of the primary effects of drug abuse can be found within the definition of drug abuse itself: an increasing, intense desire to use the drug above all else. Drug craving can shift a person's entire mental focus to obtaining the drug. Side effects of drug abuse then include preoccupation with where to get the drug, how to get money for the drug, and where and when the drug can be used.

Psychological drug abuse effects commonly include changes in mood. A person may be anxious, thinking about when they can next use the drug, or depressed due to drug side effects.

Other psychological drug abuse side effects include:

• Aggressiveness or irritability
• Selfishness
• Hopelessness
• Lack of pleasure from previously enjoyed activities
• Pressuring others into doing drugs

Drug Abuse Effects on Lifestyle

Drug abusers choose drugs over all else; that includes family and friends. One of the side effects of drug abuse is the loss of friendship and family due to these choices. Families and friends have to watch as the drug abuser pulls away and the effects of drug abuse ravage their body and mind. Moreover, one of the side effects of drug use may be bizarre, out of character, behavior that further separates the drug abuser from their loved ones.

The effects of drug abuse can also include decreasing performance in work or school. This decreased performance may lead to disciplinary action, expulsion or dismissal, creating money problems and possibly even legal troubles. Discontinuing participation in sports and giving up hobbies are other effects of drug abuse.

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It's not unusual for drug abusers to believe they can manage their increasing and intense desire to use increasing amounts of the desired drug. The fact is drug abuse can sneak up on people over time and many need professional help for drug abuse. Drug abuse help can be used to treat abuse of:

• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Prescription drugs
• Other chemicals

When to Get Drug Abuse Help

Drug abuse help should be obtained anytime a person recognizes themselves as a drug abuser and wishes to stop abusing drugs. Help may be in the form of community resources like addiction support groups, drug abuse hotlines, drug abuse programs, drug treatment centers and possibly prescription drugs to aid in withdrawal. Doctors can typically refer a user to drug abuse help appropriate for their drug and type of drug use.

While some quit drugs without formal treatment, some drug abuse symptoms should always be treated by a professional. Drug abuse help should be sought particularly for:¹

• Mild tremors or an alcohol withdrawal seizure
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes
• Leg swelling
• Persistent cough
• Continuing feelings of sadness or depression
• Pain at an injection site
• Fever

Read more detailed information on side effects of drug abuse.

When to Get Emergency Drug Abuse Help

Even more critical, some signs require immediate drug abuse help with a call to 9-1-1 or a visit to a hospital emergency room. The following require emergency drug abuse help:

• Any time an overdose is suspected
• Any alteration of consciousness, including hallucinations
• Thoughts of self-harm or harm to others
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, or lightheadedness
• Severe pain
• Severe tremors or recurrent seizures
• Difficulty speaking, numbness, weakness, severe headache, visual changes or trouble keeping balance
• Dark urine
• Any suspicion of sexual assault while under the influence

Drug Abuse Hotlines

Going to a family doctor is a good place to get referred to appropriate drug abuse help, but drug abuse hotlines are also useful. Drug abuse hotlines are often available 24-hours a day and drug abuse hotlines can refer a user to local resources.

The following hotlines may be useful for those seeking drug abuse help:

Adolescent Crisis Intervention and Counseling Nineline
1-800-999-9999

Cocaine Help Line
1-800-COCAINE (1-800-262-2463)

Self-Injury Hotline SAFE (Self Abuse Finally Ends)
1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288)

Drug & Alcohol Treatment Hotline
800-662-HELP

Ecstasy Addiction
1-800-468-6933

Help Finding a Therapist
1-800-THERAPIST (1-800-843-7274)

Youth Crisis Hotline
800-HIT-HOME

Online Help for Drug Abuse

Drug abuse help information is also available online through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration², the National Institute on Drug Abuse³ and the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders.⁴

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Most drug abusers think they can stop taking drugs without the help of formal drug abuse treatment, but unfortunately, without treatment for drug abuse, many of them fail. Because drug abuse develops over time, the user's life and brain is altered before they attempt to quit drugs and this makes recovery more difficult. Formal treatment for drug abuse is important if a drug abuser is to succeed in recovery.

Treatments for drug abuse include:

• Medical drug abuse treatment
• Drug abuse rehabilitation programs
• Drug abuse counseling or support groups

Treatments for Drug Abuse -
Medical Drug Abuse Treatment

Drug abuse treatment often starts with a visit to a doctor who can assess the specific needs of the patient. A doctor can refer someone to a hospital, a drug abuse rehabilitation program or counseling services. A doctor may also prescribe medication as part of drug abuse treatment. This medication may be used to ease withdrawal symptoms or prevent relapse.

Common drug abuse treatment medications include:¹

• Benzodiazepines - tranquilizers that can ease withdrawal from drugs like alcohol
• Methadone - used to control cravings and prevent relapse from heroin
• Nicotine patches - used to replace the addictive chemical in cigarettes, and is gradually tapered

Medical drug abuse treatment will also screen for other mental disorders, as substance abuse frequently co-occurs with a mental illness. If a mental illness is diagnosed, part of drug abuse treatment will include treating the mental illness.

Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Programs

Drug abuse rehabilitation programs can be run through medical facilities like a hospital or in separate facilities (read: substance abuse treatment facilities). Drug abuse rehabilitation programs can be particularly helpful for those with severe or long-term substance abuse issues. Programs for drug abuse rehabilitation can be inpatient with around-the-clock care, or outpatient, where the drug abuser attends only during the day.

Programs for drug abuse rehabilitation are designed to provide all the services a drug abuser might need to succeed in quitting drugs. This typically includes:

• Medical attention
• Behavioral treatment - counseling in an individual or group setting
• Peer support
• An aftercare program for when the drug abuser leaves rehabilitation

Drug Abuse Counseling and Support Groups

While medical drug abuse treatment can help with physical withdrawal symptoms and sometimes cravings, staying clean means also changing thoughts and behaviors around drug use. Drug abuse counseling aims to address these psychological and behavioral issues. Drug abuse counseling may be:

• Medical and provided by a psychiatrist
• Part of a drug abuse rehabilitation program
• Provided by private practitioners such as addiction therapists

Drug abuse treatment also commonly includes peer support groups both during and after treatment. These groups allow drug abusers to support each other in staying clean and sober. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are 12-step groups believing in physical, psychological and spiritual healing in drug abuse recovery. SMART Recovery is secular and another commonly used drug abuse support group. (read: drug addiction support groups)

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Drug treatment centers range from a designated area in a hospital to a separate structure designed specifically for drug abuse treatment. Drug treatment centers may be public or private and may have a sliding scale of payment amount.

Treatment centers for drug abuse are designed to deliver most or all of the needed services for someone wishing to quit substance abuse. Drug abuse centers typically provide:

• Medical services
• Multiple types of counseling, often including counseling for family members
• Life skills training
• Peer support
• Aftercare programs for when the drug abuser leaves rehabilitation

Drug Treatment Center - Drug Abuse Detox

Some drug treatment centers are designed to handle medical detoxification while other treatment centers for drug abuse only accept patients after medical detox has taken place elsewhere. For drug abuse rehab to offer detox, medical personnel must be on staff to observe and provide support during the period immediately after the drug abuser quits their drug of choice. Medical detoxification often involves the prescription of medication to ease initial withdrawal symptoms. Medical oversight of detoxification is critical for some drugs, like alcohol, as withdrawal effects can be life-threatening.

Drug Treatment Center - Residential Drug Treatment

Some drug abusers do not have safe home environments; they may be homeless or live in dangerous situations. In this case, a residential drug treatment center may be their best option for getting clean. In residential drug treatment, the drug abuser lives full-time at the treatment center for drug abuse. The residential drug treatment center will provide all food and lodging as well as drug abuse treatments like psychotherapy and drug addiction support groups. The benefits of a residential drug treatment program include:

• A safe living environment
• New, healthy routines including diet and exercise
• The ability to focus solely on drug rehab
• Being removed from outside triggers that may cause relapse
• Being surrounded by those with the same goals

Drug Treatment Center - Outpatient Drug Treatment

While residential drug treatment has benefits, many cannot afford to stay in residential drug treatment due to the cost, or cannot be away from family and work for extended periods of time. For this reason, drug treatment centers also offer outpatient drug treatment.

Outpatient drug abuse rehab often consists of the same basic services as residential drug treatment but does so in a drug abuse program that can be taken during the day with patients returning home each night. Outpatient drug rehab may offer courses all day, or only part of the day, for example, in the evenings for those who work during the day. This type of drug abuse center often mixes residential and non-residential patients together for some therapies like support groups.

Outpatient drug abuse rehab may be available through drug treatment centers or through medical facilities like hospitals. The advantages of outpatient drug abuse rehab include:

• Ability to live at home, particularly beneficial for those with a family
• Ability to work while attending rehab
• May cost less

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While drug abuse treatment can be found through hospitals, many choose treatment through substance abuse treatment facilities. Drug abuse treatment centers are designed to offer all the services needed for a drug addict to quit using drugs in one location. Substance abuse treatment facilities may specialize in one drug like heroin or alcohol, or may be general to all drug addiction. Drug abuse treatment facilities may be public or private and are most often found in larger cities.

Drug Abuse Treatment Centers - Services Offered at Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities

Drug addiction is a complicated mental illness and requires multiple types of treatment for the best chance at recovery. Substance abuse treatment facilities aim to provide multiple types of treatment in one location for ease and consistency of care.

Services offered at substance abuse treatment facilities are typically available in an inpatient or outpatient setting. For inpatient drug abuse treatment the addict lives at the treatment center for drug abuse full-time. This is often beneficial for patients who live in an unsafe environment. This may be a life on the street or a life so intertwined with drug culture that quitting drugs within it is unworkable.

Outpatient services at substance abuse treatment facilities are similar to those offered to inpatients but do not require residence at the drug abuse treatment facility. For those with a family or job, outpatient services at drug abuse treatment centers often make the most sense.

Services typically offered at substance abuse treatment facilities include:

• Medical treatment, including detoxification
• Psychiatric services
• Training in life skills such as stress tolerance
• Drug abuse counseling - often one-on-one and in group or family settings
• Peer support
• Aftercare programs for when the treatment drug abuse program officially ends

Drug Abuse Treatment Centers - Advantages of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities

Many choose programs at substance abuse treatment facilities due to the specialized care offered at drug abuse treatment facilities. Staff members at drug abuse treatment centers are trained specifically in substance abuse counseling and are often recovering addicts themselves. This creates an environment where the addict can feel understood and attain more addiction-specific care. The other patients at treatment centers for drug abuse are also recovering drug addicts, allowing for the creation of a personal support network and replacing the people in the drug addict's life that may only be connected through drug use.

Other advantages of substance abuse treatment facilities include:

• Addiction-specific counseling
• A single location for multiple services, a more holistic treatment approach
• Often more robust treatment programs
• Aftercare programs often located at the drug abuse treatment center
• Private treatment centers for drug abuse may offer an environment similar to that of a hotel

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Drug abuse programs are a comprehensive set of drug abuse treatments designed to work together for the best chance of drug addiction recovery. People often choose drug abuse programs because they have tried to quit on their own and failed. Other addicts choose drug abuse treatment programs because they wish to have an intensive or residential treatment where they spend most of the day at the drug abuse treatment center.

Drug abuse programs are typically developed with the latest addiction research in mind. They tend to include medical, psychological, family and educational treatments. While some drug abuse treatment programs are gender-specific, all commonly last anywhere from 30 - 180 days.

Drug Abuse Programs -
Inpatient Drug Abuse Treatment Programs

Inpatient drug abuse treatment programs are designed for those who wish to live at the treatment center full-time. Inpatient drug abuse treatment programs may be particularly crucial during the detox period immediately after ceasing drug use. Often those with longstanding or severe drug addictions require medical supervision to safely withdraw from a drug, as some withdrawal effects can be life-threatening. This is particularly true of alcohol abuse.

Inpatient drug abuse treatment programs may include:¹

• Medically supervised detoxification including the prescription of medication to ease withdrawal symptoms
• Assignment of a treatment team including physicians, nurses, psychologists, counselors, case managers, spiritual care counselors, family counselors, dieticians, and fitness trainers
• Creation of a patient-specific treatment plan
• Counseling: including psychotherapy, family therapy, and group therapy
• Recovery drug addiction support groups such as 12-step groups
• Education on addiction and life skills
• Aftercare programs

Outpatient / Day Drug Abuse Treatment Programs

Outpatient, sometimes called day, drug abuse programs typically include the same services with the possible exception of detox. For outpatient drug abuse treatment programs, the patient spends part, or all, of the day at the treatment center but continues to live at home. A sample outpatient drug abuse treatment program schedule is the following:

• 8:00 AM - Fitness
• 10:00 AM - Group therapy
• 1:30 PM - Educational lecture
• 2:30 PM - Specialized therapy such as anger management
• 4:00 PM - Community meeting
• 7:00 PM - 12-step meeting

Day drug abuse treatment programs may also be designed for those continuing to work as well as attend treatment. Most of the courses in those drug abuse treatment programs take place on the weekend and in the evenings.

Specialized Drug Abuse Treatment Programs

Specialized drug abuse treatment programs may be available for particular types of patients such as those with a medical background, like doctors, or young adults. These drug abuse programs focus on the challenges of that particular group. Additional services provided in specialized drug abuse treatment programs may include:

• Communications with licensing boards
• Additional structure and supervision for younger patients
• Pain management coaching
• Additional family involvement
• Specialty groups and lectures

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While many people use the terms drug abuse and addiction interchangeably, abuse and addiction have separate and distinct meanings. One can abuse drugs without necessarily being addicted to drugs. The drug abuse definition centers more around the way a person uses drugs, while the drug addiction definition includes the use of drugs and also the psychological and physiological effects the drug has on the body.

It's important to understand the drug abuse and drug addiction definitions so as to correctly identify problem behaviors seen in loved ones. It's also key to remember that alcohol is also a drug and is included in the definitions of drug abuse and addiction.

Drug Abuse and Addiction - Drug Tolerance

Central to the understanding of drug abuse and addiction is the idea of tolerance. When a person starts using a drug, they typically use a small amount to receive pleasurable effects or a "high." With time though, drug users find the same amount of drug no longer produces the desired effects and they have to consume more of the drug to attain the same high. This effect is known as tolerance.¹

In drug abuse and addiction, the creation of tolerance depends on the drug used, the amount that is used and the frequency with which it is used. Drug tolerance can be both psychological and physiological.

Drug Abuse Definition

The definition of drug abuse does not have drug tolerance as a factor. Rather, it focuses on the pattern of drug use and the effects drugs are having on a user's life. Drug abuse and addiction takes place over time, but the definition of drug abuse specifically requires that drugs have negative effects on the user's life over a 12-month period. The following are drug abuse symptoms:²

• Drug use has negatively impacted performance in work or school
• Risky acts endangering the drug user or others are committed as a result of drug use, for example, drinking and driving
• Continuation of drug use in spite of the negative consequences drug use is having on relationships
• Legal or financial problems as a result of drug use

A drug user may match the drug abuse definition even if only one of the symptoms is present. Drug abuse frequently, but not always, leads to drug addiction.

Drug Addiction Definition

The definition of drug addiction contains aspects of the drug abuse definition in that the user is experiencing negative consequences from drug use and refuses to quit using the drug. However, with drug addiction, the addict has developed a tolerance to the drug, increasing the used amount, and experiences withdrawal symptoms when abstinent. In addition to drug tolerance, there are other drug addiction symptoms:

• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
• Is unable to stop using the drug even after repeated attempts to do so
• Consumes large and even dangerous amounts of the drug

While the term "drug addiction" is commonly known, it is not used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Instead, the DSM defines substance dependence similarly to the drug addiction definition above.

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Drug addiction is a serious and expensive societal problem with the U.S. Surgeon General identifying control of drug abuse a top priority in the Healthy People 2010 goals for the nation.¹ Drug addiction is also a serious problem for individuals with up to 13% of Americans abusing alcohol and 25% of Americans smoking cigarettes.²

Drug addiction is not a character flaw or a lack of willpower but is actually a mental illness and should be treated as a medical issue, just as any other illness.

What is Drug Addiction? - Meaning of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction has a number of different definitions, varying by medical body. The commonality among drug addiction definitions, however, is the inability to stop using the drug in spite of numerous attempts. The symptoms of drug addiction include:

• The drug user has developed a drug tolerance, needing to consume increasingly greater quantities to experience the desired effect
• The drug user experiences withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
• Drug use is continued in spite of harm caused to the drug user, the drug user's life and the lives of those around the user

Drug addiction, as a term, is not defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Instead of drug addiction, the DSM uses the term "drug dependence" and also includes "drug abuse." Both of these are considered to be substance use disorders.³

When Does Drug Addiction Start?

Most drug use begins in adolescence, often with experimentation with prescription drugs, cigarettes or alcohol (read: teen drug abuse). While almost half of 12^th-graders admit to taking an illicit substance at some time in their lives, drug addiction information shows the vast majority of these people will "phase out" of drug use and never meet the criteria for drug addiction or drug abuse.

What Drugs Cause Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction information indicates any type of drug can be abused or cause drug addiction. Drug addiction involves easily accessible drugs like tobacco and alcohol, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin. Some drug addictions, like alcoholism, appear to be declining, while others, like methamphetamine addiction, is on the rise.

Drug addiction info indicates the following drugs and drug types are commonly associated with drug addiction:^{4 5}

• Alcohol - most widely abused drug with 20% of users becoming dependent on it at some point
• Opiates - substances derived from the opium poppy, the most common drug addiction is that of heroin
• Cocaine, crack - up to 10% of users go on to heavy drug use
• Amphetamines - like crystal meth, use on the rise in rural communities
• Hallucinogens - like PCP, LSD and marijuana, often combined with other drugs
• Prescription medication - such as oxycodone and morphine
• Other chemicals - like tobacco, steroids and others

Go here, if you are interested in drug abuse information covering symptoms, effects, causes, treatments, more.

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Many people don't know the signs of drug addiction and addiction symptoms until someone in their life admits to being an addict. In many cases, this is too late to prevent the damage addiction can do to the addict and those around them. Knowing what addiction symptoms to look for can help identify a problem early and provide the best chance at successful drug recovery.

Drug addiction describes a state where the user is no longer in control of their drug use. The primary drug addiction symptoms reflect the definition of drug addiction itself. The basic symptoms of drug addiction include:

• An inability to stop taking the drug, in spite of multiple attempts
• Negative consequences to the drug user and those around them caused by drug use
• The drug user continues to take greater amounts of the drug
• Withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug

Signs of Drug Addiction

Signs of drug addiction vary depending on the type of drug being abused. Some drugs or methods of drug use can provide obvious signs of drug addiction. An example is an addict who injects heroin. One of the obvious signs of drug addiction, in this case, is the presence of injection equipment like a syringe, burned spoon and lighter.

Other times, it is harder to spot the signs of drug addiction. Repeated alcohol binges, for example, might be one of the signs of drug addiction but isn't always. Signs of drug addiction have to be considered with addiction symptoms and other information to indicate whether drug addiction is an issue.

General signs of drug addiction include:

• Secretive behavior, lying
• Unexplained expenditures
• Disciplinary action at work or school
• Legal problems relating to drug use
• Mood swings, depression, anger, aggression, violence
• Forgetfulness
• Frequent illness
• Presence of drug paraphernalia
• Using room deodorizers and lozenges to cover drug smells in the air and the breath
• Choosing drug use over all else, giving up previously enjoyed activities
• Engaging in risky behaviors, contracting a sexually-transmitted illness
• Being around other drug users or trying to get others to use drugs

Drug Addiction Symptoms

Drug addiction symptoms, too, are individual depending on the type of drug and drug use method. Nasal, lung and chest problems are common addiction symptoms in those who snort or smoke drugs like cocaine or marijuana. Skin infections are common symptoms of drug addiction in those who inject drugs.

Because drug addiction is both a physical and psychological issue, both physical and psychological drug addiction symptoms can be seen (read about: physical and psychological effects of drug addiction). Drug addiction symptoms include the following:¹

• Unusual behavior
• Change in responsiveness
• Hallucinations
• Changes to vital signs like heart rate, breathing and blood pressure
• Confusion, sleepiness, coma
• Frequent blackouts
• Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea
• Skin that is cool and sweaty or hot and dry
• Infertility, sexual dysfunction
• Heart, lung and other organ damage

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While most people refer to "drug addiction" as the common substance use problem, "drug dependence" is actually a more accurate term. Drug dependence is the term used in medicine and is specifically defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Drug abuse, along with drug dependence, make up the category of substance use disorders.

Drug dependency encompasses physiological and psychological symptoms related to the obsessive craving and using of a drug.

Drug Dependence - What is Drug Dependency?

Drug dependence applies to any drug, including alcohol, that is consumed repeatedly in spite of the negative consequences the drug use is having on the life of the drug user and the lives of those around the user. Drug dependence indicates the drug user is dependent on the drug either physically, psychologically or both in order to function in everyday life. (read: physical and psychological effects of drug addiction)

Drug Dependence - Drug Dependency and the Brain

Drug dependence is defined in the DSM as a recognized medical illness in part because of the way drug dependency affects the brain.

While each substance is different, drugs tend to release the chemicals dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These chemicals flood parts of the brain, specifically the reward center, being perceived as extremely pleasurable. Repeatedly releasing large amounts of these chemicals results in the brain adapting to the increase in dopamine and serotonin by decreasing the number of chemical receptors. This change in chemical receptors decreases the drug user's ability to enjoy things that previously brought them pleasure. The user must take more of the drug to feel good again, creating drug dependence.¹

Drug dependence is also thought to involve other parts of the brain. Stress mechanisms, neuron creation and communication, learning and memory are all thought to be part of drug dependency.

Drug Dependence - Symptoms of Drug Dependency

A drug user may be, or feel, dependent on a drug in many ways. This drug dependency is seen in the way the user compulsively and repetitively uses their substance of choice. Symptoms of drug dependency include:

• Drug tolerance - increasing amount of the drug are needed to achieve the same high
• Withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug
• Severe cravings for the drug
• Taking dangerous amounts of the drug
• Fixation on finding ways to afford the drug, drug buying and places to use the drug
• Needing the drug to function, for example, needing it "to get going" in the morning

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