Substance Abuse Articles, Blogs and Resources

Man on mountain thinking about Substance AbuseAddiction Hope is dedicated to providing timely and helpful information on the dangers of Substance Abuse as well as alcohol abuse.

Drugs are a chemical substance that can be used in the prevention, cure and treatment of an ailment or disease. Often, medications can be used to help an individual’s emotional and psychological well being, and they can enhance one’s physical abilities or well being.

Medicines can help heal a person or destroy a life. They can be naturally derived from plants or synthesized in some type of laboratory. A drug addiction can ruin a man or woman’s existence. It is disappointing that many of the medications that were originally developed to help heal people will be abused and devastate the life of someone with a substance abuse addiction.

Substance abuse is when a person begins using a drug in a way other than its intended use as prescribed by a doctor. A drug addiction can be created when a man or woman continually abuses drugs in order to get high (an intense euphoric feeling). Some drugs are so addictive that someone using for the first time can become instantly addicted.

When someone has developed a drug addiction, they can build up a tolerance to the drug and need more and more of the substance to have the same effect. The person will sometimes begin smoking, snorting, or injecting the drugs so as to reach a quicker and more intense high. This leads to constant repeated use and, thus, the creation of a drug addiction.

Substance abuse addiction is outstandingly difficult to quit. Often one substance is abused with other drugs or alcohol. Sadly and frequently, substance abuse co-occurs with other mental disorders such as mood disorders, mental disorders and eating disorders.

This adds to the complexities of stopping the drug abuse. However, it is imperative that the drug addiction is ended because constant substance abuse can be deadly. Heart attacks and strokes often occur. Some of the more common drug types include opioids (heroin, morphine, hydrocodone), hallucinogens (LSD, DXM, PCP), stimulants (cocaine, Ecstasy, meth), and depressants (alcohol, Quaaludes).

Please continue reading below to see our latest blog posts on substance abuse. Under the “Substance Abuse Navigation” menu, you can click on the drop-down arrow to see evergreen, general information on dozens of individual drugs, including prescription substances.

Addicted To Sugar? You May Be At Risk For Alcoholism

Sweet Tooth Addicted To Sugar Alcoholism - Addiction Hope What do you think is the most widespread addiction in America? Studies show that it could actually be sugar. On average, each American consumes an astounding 22 teaspoons of added sugar each day. This is sugar that does not come from the daily intake of fruit. Instead, this sugar comes from junk food and drinks [...]
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Infographic: The Teen Prescription Drug Epidemic May Be Worse Than You Thought

Teen Prescription Drug Epidemic Banner - Addiction Hope Parents in the U.S. have new worries when it comes to whether their teenage children have abused or will abuse drugs. While alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy and methamphetamine remains top concerns, parents might be overlooking dangerous substances that can come from right out of their own medicine cabinets. Recent data shows that many teens have experimented [...]
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What’s The Link Between Alcohol And Depression?

Link Between Alcohol And Depression - Addiction Hope People around the world use alcohol to escape the trials of life. Drinking can boost one’s mood and confidence. Because it slows the nervous system, alcohol has been used for centuries as a way to unwind and reduce stress levels. These positive effects, however, are only temporary. Just a few hours after consuming alcohol, the [...]
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What Can Be Done About The Steep Rise in Babies Born to Opioid-Addicted Mothers?

21000 Babies Born To Opioid-Addicted Mothers In 2012 - Addiction Hope Legal opioid use while pregnant can adversely affect a newborn for life. The effects of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) range from newborn withdrawal symptoms to permanent disabilities. There are alternatives to opioids during pregnancy, such as less dangerous painkillers. NAS is preventable, but in order to do so, we must understand why mothers use opioids [...]
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Do ADHD And Stimulant Drug Misuse Go Hand In Hand Among College Students?

ADHD And Stimulant Drug Misuse Among College Students - Addiction Hope College is a time of experimentation for young adults. They are figuring out who they are, what they want and what they like. For some students, this leads to the misuse of various substances: alcohol, marijuana and even hard narcotics. In some cases, students turn to substances for seemingly good intentions, such as to improve [...]
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