Drug Addiction

From prescription meds to illicit substances

Addiction Treatment Drug Addiction

What is Drug Addiction?

Most people who experiment with drugs never expect it to become a full-blown battle with addiction. In the beginning, it can feel like a seemingly harmless escape from physical or emotional pain. But with prolonged use, the brain’s chemistry begins to change. Instead of something you have control of, your brain begins signaling an intense need for the drug of choice. What was once recreational becomes a habit that controls your life. In full-blown addiction, the high isn’t even the goal anymore, it’s often just using in order to feel somewhat normal.

From prescription drugs originally obtained for legitimate medical reasons to illegal substances used recreationally, the misuse of mood-altering substances is on the rise. Whether its cocaine, marijuana, meth, fentanyl, heroin, or prescription pain pills like oxycontin, they take a physical and psychological toll that can’t be ignored or underestimated.

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Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs have the illusion of safety. If a doctor writes a prescription, it must be okay, right? The truth about prescription drugs is this: taking too many — or in a way the doctor didn’t intend — is never safe, and additionally, they can be a stepping-stone to much harder drug use. Once a prescription’s refills have run out, many opt for something cheaper and easier to procure, not to mention more dangerous.

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Cocaine

While maybe not discussed as much as opioids, marijuana, or heroin these days, cocaine addiction is not a relic of the past. In fact, overdoses have risen 5%, according to 2018 report by the CDC. Given the immediate rush and temporary mental clarity cocaine provides, it’s incredibly addictive for the short-term buzz it produces. But prolonged cocaine use has a significant impact on body function and overall health.

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Heroin

Heroin’s appeal is the surge of euphoria someone feels as it binds to opioid receptors in the brain. It relieves pain and causes sleepiness as breathing is depressed and the heart rate is slowed. In the case of an overdose, respiration and heart rate slow to dangerous levels and can lead to a coma or even permanent brain damage. This dangerous drug derived from a natural opiate is highly addictive and incredibly potent.

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Methamphetamine

Synthesized for medicinal use in the early 1900s, methamphetamine quickly gained popularity as a powerful and highly addictive street drug. Relatively inexpensive to produce and distribute, this stimulant affects the central nervous system, increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain’s reward center. Prolonged meth use has a significant impact on body function, appearance, overall health, and risk tolerance.

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Fentanyl

This dangerous synthetic opioid is 80-100 times stronger than morphine, 50 times more potent than heroin, and incredibly addictive because it adheres to pain receptors in a way other drugs aren’t able to. And because of the underground drug market’s lack of regulation, many times users aren’t even aware they’re addicted to — or consuming — fentanyl because it’s been cut in with other substances like cocaine and heroin.

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Marijuana

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the US. The mind-altering ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and while concentrations of THC vary from source to source, the amount in marijuana has increased from an average of 4% in 1995 to 12% in 2014, making today’s marijuana more powerful — and more dangerous — than ever before.

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Articles About Drug Addiction

A Deep Dive on Drug Addiction

Prescription vs. Illicit Drug Addiction

Pain Care: The CDC's New Approach to Opioids

Beyond Theory Podcast

Meadows Senior Fellow Dr. Kevin McCauley speaks about how addiction creates dysfunction in the brain’s dopamine-based value/reward system. We also revisit a conversation from last season about fentanyl and the use of CBD.

Break the Cycle

At The Meadows, we understand the seriousness of addiction, trauma, and co-occurring mental health issues. In a safe and nurturing community of their peers, individuals are guided on a personal journey of recovery by examining the underlying causes of their disorders and given the tools they need to find healing.

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Admissions

Our Admissions team is here to help 24 hours a day and is experienced in assisting others with compassion, dignity, and respect — hallmark values of The Meadows for more than 45 years. The Meadows’ Admissions Specialists are here to help you on your way to a healthier and more productive lifestyle. When you call, they will lead you through a series of questions to determine if The Meadows is a good fit, and how soon your treatment can begin. If you are interested in The Meadows for yourself or a loved one, call or fill out an admissions form today!