Drug Abuse And Addiction

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often results in some sort of relapse. Addiction is characterized by inability to control drug use which results in problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. This disease causes compulsive behaviors such as the need to use drugs despite the many harmful consequences that affect the addicted individual and those around him or her. Although for most people, the initial decision to use drugs is a one time lapse in judgement, the brain is easily affected by these drugs if the person decides to use these drugs multiple times. The changes that occur to the brain over time will cause the addicted person’s ability to resist the intense impulses of drugs to be altered causing the addict to often give into the temptation of these drugs. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug addiction is an issue that many people deal with whether they are the addict or the addict is their loved one; but with a good source of support anyone can over come the challenges and consequences of addiction.

Most people do not completely know the definition of drug use and addiction, or the treatments that can be provided to stop it. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as “addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). This definition gives an accurate representation of what addiction is, and how it can be such a serious problem. As given by the definition, addiction is a chronic disease, and when you have an addiction it is extremely difficult to quit. “Drug addiction is a complex disease”. It later goes on to state that “brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a “relapsing” disease.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). This shows why people

A drug is a substance that alters the mind, body or both. Drug use is an increasing problem among teenagers in colleges today. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years, the years most crucial in the maturation process (Shiromoto 5). During these years adolescents are faced with difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily available, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there is a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer

According to UAB's health website, "Substance abuse is used to describe a pattern of substance (drug) use leading to significant problems or distress such as failure to attend work/school, substance use in dangerous situations (driving a car), substance-related legal problems, or continued substance use that interferes with friendships and or family relationships. Substance abuse, as a disorder, refers to the abuse of illegal substances or the abusive use of legal substances. Alcohol is the most common legal drug of abuse."

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disorder which produces compulsive drug seeking and use. The abuse of drugs leads to changes in the function and structure of the brain. Consuming chemical substances to achieve pleasure or euphoria The most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse include opioids used for chronic pain; central nervous system (CNS) depressants used in anxiety and sleep disorder treatments; and stimulants, such as amphetamine among others, utilized to treat attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy.[4]

Drug use is an increasing problem among teenagers in today's high schools. Most drug use begins in the teenage years, these years are the most crucial in the maturing process. During these years adolescents are faced with the difficult tasks of discovering their self identity, clarifying their sexual roles, assenting independence, learning to cope with authority figures and searching for goals that would give their lives meaning. Drugs are readily available, adolescents are curious and venerable, and there is peer pressure to experiment, and there is a temptation to escape from conflicts. The use of drugs by teenagers is the result of a combination of factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, and

Substance abuse accounts for a high number of deaths in the United States. Alcohol is the third leading cause of deaths in the country with approximately 88,000 deaths occurring annually (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). In contrast, almost 40,400 annual deaths are related to the use of illicit drugs. As reported by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (2014), 24% of youths in the eighth grade, and 64% in the twelfth grade, have used alcohol in the past year. Of the adolescents ages 12-17, 11.6% have used alcohol in the past month, 6.2% have engaged in binge drinking, and 5.6% have smoked cigarettes (Fisher, G.L., & Harrison, T.C., 2013). Substance abuse is defined as the continuous use of alcohol and/or other drugs despite consequences in one or more areas of a person’s life (Fisher, G.L., & Harrison, T.C., 2013). Substance abuse relates to other problems, such as illegal behavior, family conflict, poor academic performance, lack of respect for authority, deficiencies in self-confidence, and psychiatric symptoms (Liddle, Rowe, Dakof, & Henderson, 2009). Although substance abuse is a prevalent issue, interventions have been implemented to assist these individuals in making a change.

School Counselors support all students so that they can succeed in the school setting, including those that have addictions or addictive behaviors. This is a challenging area, and school counselors must be able to understand causes and recognize signs of addictions, and provide services to support the needs of these students. Therefore, this paper discusses and evaluates the causes of addictions and addictive behaviors, analyzes possible sings of substance abuse and addiction in students, and designs and evaluates prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies for students with commonly found addictions. Further, this paper presents a hypothetical case study and applies effective counseling skills and strategies for helping a student with a substance use issue.

Drug addiction can be defined as a condition in which frequency of drug intake becomes much higher than the normal and it starts to negatively affect the person both psychologically and physiologically. Absence of drugs can result in violent behavior, depression and lack of self control. Drug addiction can be a result of psychological disturbances, environmental influences and prolonged dieses or very simply due to genetic structure of an individual. Any of the above reason individually or a combination of more than one factor can lead to drug addiction. Psychologically number of things like too much worrying about the future, problems related to money, family and career may result in drug addiction. Environmental influences means things like

One of the most controversial topics of our time is drug addiction. To get more specific about what drug addiction is, one must understand how addiction is defined. It is a chronic brain disease that is characterized by constantly seeking the use of a substance. The jump from labeling something as an addiction, and grasping that it is referring to a brain disease that is extreme. The thing that makes this addiction a disease is of the use of drugs changes the brain function in a negative way, and can and most likely will harm the structure as well as affect the way the body works.

In this part of the adolescent life span they fill that more responsibilities should be given to them and if not, they would rebel against their parent and turn to their friends and that’s when the introduction of drugs will begin, because they will fill as if they are a part of something special.

In an examination of drugs I will discuss causes of this disease/or social dilemma. I will also discuss the effect of drugs on individuals, families and society.

Do you drink heavily when you are disappointed, under pressure or have had a quarrel with someone? Can you handle more alcohol now than when you first started to drink? 5. Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available? 9. Have you been having more memory “blackouts” recently? In my family I have people that have a problem with alcohol, most of my family can handle alcohol but a couple cannot handle their alcohol. “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.” (The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction: The Basics) Alcoholism appears in people in different way some people can handle it and some people cannot and some people that because some cannot that it should not that it is bad and that worst thing a person can do, but it is not as bad as people think.

Drug use and addiction has always been a topic of discussion for many people. None of it being good nonetheless, but it has been a topic on people’s minds. In our society today there is still a stigma attached to drug users and even worse drug addicts. The feelings are always geared towards shaming the user or addict and not much else. The really divisive idea being if addiction is actually a choice a person makes or if it is a disease. Most knowledge and discussion about this either leans one way or the other with both sides not giving in to the opposing sides point of view.

There have been many drugs created over the years to help lessen or diminish sicknesses. However, there are people that have abused these drugs to reach a certain high and this is considered abuse. The people that do this could do it out of boredom or curiosity. Some may even feel that it will help them escape from the problems that they are faced with or fill a void in their life. No matter what the reasoning is for them the outcome remains the same. The body becomes used to the drugs they are abusing and the person becomes addicted. The definition of drug abuse according to the University of Maryland Medical Center is “the recurrent use of illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs with negative