Drug problems | drugsno.ru/en

Do you or any of your acquaintances have a drug problem? Look for warning signs and symptoms and learn how substance abuse problems develop.

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People from all walks of life may experience problems with drug use, regardless of age, race, origin or reason they started using drugs at all. Some people experiment with recreational drugs out of curiosity to have a good time, because friends do so, or to alleviate problems such as stress, anxiety, or depression.

But it is not only illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, that can lead to abuse and addiction. Prescription drugs, such as pain relievers, sleep aids, and tranquilizers, can cause similar problems. In fact, along with marijuana, prescription painkillers are the most abused drugs in the US, and overdoses of powerful opioid painkillers kill more people every day than road traffic crashes and gun deaths combined. Dependence on opioid pain relievers can be so severe that it has become a major risk factor for heroin abuse.

When drug use becomes drug abuse or addiction

Of course, drug use — both illegal and prescription — does not automatically lead to abuse. Some people may use recreational or prescription drugs without experiencing negative consequences, while others find that substance use seriously harms their health and well-being. Similarly, there is no definitive point at which drug use transitions from casual to problematic. Drug use is less about the type or amount of substance used or the frequency of drug use and more about the consequences of drug use. If drug use causes problems in your life—at work, at school, at home, or in a relationship—you are likely to have a problem with drug abuse or addiction. If you are concerned about drug use by you or your loved ones, studying how drug addiction and addiction develop, and why they may have such ??strong power, will give you a better understanding of how best to deal with this problem and take back control of their lives. Realizing that you have a problem is the first step on the road to recovery, which requires great courage and strength. Facing your problem without minimizing it or making excuses may seem daunting and overwhelming, but recovery is achievable. If you are willing to seek help, you can overcome your addiction and build a satisfying drug-free life for yourself.

Risk factors for drug addiction

Although everyone can have problems because of drug use, people are not always the same in terms of their vulnerability to drug dependence. Although your genes, mental health, family and social environment all play a role, risk factors that increase your vulnerability include:

Family history of drug abuse

Abuse, neglect, or other traumatic events Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety Early use of drugs The way the drug is used—smoking or injecting the drug may increase the drug’s ability to be addictive.

Myths and facts about drug abuse and addiction

Six Common Myths

Myth:

Overcoming addiction is simply a matter of willpower. You can stop using drugs if you really want to.

Fact:

Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that lead to intense craving and an irresistible urge to use. These changes in the brain make it extremely difficult to give up drugs by force of will.

Myth:

Drugs such as opioid analgesics are safe because they are often prescribed by doctors.

Fact:

Short-term medical use of opioid analgesics can help manage severe pain after an accident or surgery, for example. However, regular or long-term use of opioids can lead to dependence. Misuse of these drugs or ingestion of other people’s drugs can have dangerous—even fatal—consequences.

Myth:

Dependence is a disease that cannot be dealt with.

Fact:

Most experts agree that addiction is a disease that affects the brain, but that does not mean that someone is helpless. Dependence-related brain changes can be treated and reversed with therapy, drugs, exercise, and other treatments.

Myth:

Drug users have to hit rock bottom before they can recover.

Fact:

Recovery can begin at any stage of the dependency process—and the earlier, the better. The longer drug use continues, the greater the dependence becomes and the more difficult it becomes to treat. Don't wait until the addict loses everything to intervene.

Myth:

You can't make a person get treatment; they have to want help themselves.

Fact:

Treatment does not have to be voluntary to be successful. People who are forced into treatment by their family, employer, or legal system are as likely to benefit as those who choose treatment on their own. As they sober up and their thinking clears, many former drug-resistant addicts decide that they want to change.

Myth:

Before, treatment didn’t work, so it makes no sense to try again.

Fact:

Recovery from drug dependence is a long process that often leads to setbacks. Relapse does not mean that treatment has failed or that sobriety is hopeless. Rather, it is a signal to get back on track, either by resuming treatment or by adjusting the treatment approach.