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.

5 Marijuana Facts Parents Need To Know

Properly Educate Children Marijuana Facts - Addiction Hope Contributed by Azure Acres clinical team member Kathryn Taylor, MA, LPC/MHSP. A few marijuana facts are that it is a heavily abused addictive substance that is used by many teens and young adults, mainly due to its easy access compared to other controlled substances. It comes from the plant genus cannabis and is often consumed through [...]
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How Can I Support A Spouse With Mental Illness And Substance Abuse?

Support A Spouse With Mental Illness And Substance Abuse - Addiction Hope When your loved one is struggling with mental illness and substance abuse, it is quite likely that you are overwhelmed and not sure what to do! Take a deep breath, let everything slow down for a moment, and then consider the following points. As you consider them, refrain from judging yourself or your loved one [...]
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The Prevalence Of PTSD And Alcohol Use Among Domestic Abuse Victims

Alcohol Use Among Domestic Abuse Victims - Addiction Hope Contributed by Serenity Knolls clinical team member Kathryn Taylor, MA, LPC/MHSP. In light of PTSD Awareness Month (June), we'd like to shed light on an often-overlooked sufferer of the disorder: domestic abuse victims. Before we get into how domestic violence can cause the victim to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol problems, let's look at what [...]
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The Connection Between Substance Abuse And Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Substance Abuse And Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Addiction Hope Contributed by Beth Tesmond, MHS, CADC, MISA, Addictions Program Coordinator, Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center Anxiety disorders are extremely common throughout our country and manifest in many different ways. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common of these, affecting 5 percent of the population. This disorder frequently has a connection to drug or alcohol [...]
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