Drug Addiction Facts

Help for Drug Addiction

It is important to know that when a person is addicted to drugs, help is available. It won't be comfortable, but addiction can be kicked with the proper program.  Our counselors are available to walk you through the options. There is no cost or obligation to speak to one. Fill out the form to the left and we will contact you at the time indicated by yourself.

Drug addiction has specific challenges that other mental and physical problems do not entail. Roadblocks to recovery includes denial.  Denial that their drug abuse affects the person’s life in so many ways, including health, finances and stability. But it is twice as hard to confront when their abuse affects the entire family, their friends, colleagues-- and even the community. Sometimes their rationalizations for using drugs make concerned family members feel like they are the problem.

More times than not, the addict thinks they can handle it, or can quit at anytime, but don't. When is it time to get help? Now.

Drug addiction used to be only thought of as addiction to illegal substances such as heroin or cocaine.  Now however, prescription medications, obtained legally or illegally, fall into this category.  The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) recently ran a report listing nine categories of illicit drug use:  marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and inhalants; and the non-medical use of prescription-type pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives.  While not initially illicit when using prescription medications prescribed by a medical practitioner, addiction still can occur, and often times the patient will do whatever possible to obtain additional medication, from lying to their doctor to "doctor shopping" to buying off the street or obtaining prescription drugs from illegal online pharmacies.

Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug with 15.2 million past month users. An estimated 8.6 million people aged 12 or older were current users of illicit drugs other than marijuana.

Definition of Drug Addiction

A nice clean definition of drug addiction states: With drug addiction, a person craves the pleasurable sensation produced by a drug and compulsively uses it despite its negative consequences.

The use of certain kinds of drugs may also produce a physical addiction or dependence, meaning that the drug must be present for the body to function normally. In this case, when the drug is withdrawn, the user may experience mild to severe effects ranging from nausea to death.

A good definition of the word "addiction" from Random House Dictionary: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

Drug Abuse Clarified

There is a subtle but important difference between drug abuse and drug addiction. Someone can abuse drugs without being addicted but the opposite is not true. It is not possible to be addicted to drugs without abusing them.

Why do People Take Drugs?

People take drugs for many reasons.  There could initially be peer pressure, seeking relief of stress, looking to increase one's energy, trying to relax, wanting to relieve pain, trying to escape reality, wanting to feel more self-esteem, trying to escape boredom, and just for recreation. They may take stimulants to keep alert, or cocaine for the feeling of excitement it produces. Athletes and bodybuilders may take anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass.

Drug Addiction Effects on Society

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that drug abuse and addiction are a major burden to society. Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States—including health- and crime-related costs as well as losses in productivity—exceed half a trillion dollars annually.  Staggering as these numbers are, however, they do not fully describe the breadth of deleterious public health—and safety—implications, which include family disintegration, loss of employment, failure in school, domestic violence, child abuse, and other crimes.

Just in the workplace alone, the damaging effects of drug use takes its toll. From loss of productivity - whether it be from time away from the job or lack of initiative - to occupational accidents either to themselves or to those around them.

Drug-related crime can disrupt neighborhoods due to violence among drug dealers, threats to residents, and the crimes of the addicts themselves.

Taxpayer dollars cover the cost of the federal government's budget of $17.9 billion on drug control in 1999 for interdiction, prosecution, international law enforcement, prisons, treatment, prevention, and related items.

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Drug Related Statistics and Facts

▪In 2008, an estimated 20.1 million Americans aged 12 or older were current (past month) illicit drug users, meaning they had used an illicit drug during the month prior to the survey interview. This estimate represents 8.0 percent of the population.

▪In 2008, 10.0 million people reported driving while under the influence of illicit drugs during the past year.

▪Among unemployed adults aged 18 or older in 2008, 19.6 percent were current illicit drug users.

▪In 2008, 10.0 million persons aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the past year.
 

▪The later teens are out of the house hanging out with friends on school nights (Monday through Thursday), the likelier alcohol and drug use will be going on among them.

▪Almost two-thirds (63 percent) of high schoolers and one in five (21 percent) middle schoolers say drugs are used, kept or sold on their school grounds.

▪44 percent of high school students and 16 percent of middle school students know a place near their school, but off school grounds, where kids go to get high.

▪One-quarter of teens surveyed know a parent of a classmate or friend who uses marijuana; 10 percent of teens say this parent smokes marijuana with people the teen’s age.
 

Abusing drugs? Admitting that you may have a problem is a huge step to take. Don't underestimate the hold drugs can have on your mind and body. It takes tremendous strength and courage to confront one's addiction. Together with your resolve and the proper support team, addiction can be kicked.  Fill out the form at the upper right side of this page.  There is no cost of obligation to speak with a counselor.

Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription pain relievers are new drug users’ drug of choice, vs. marijuana or cocaine.

DEA (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration