Substance Abuse Articles, Blogs and Resources

Man on mountain thinking about Substance Abuse Addiction 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.

Opioid Prescription Misuse in the Malnourished Patient

Some of the most commonly used prescription medications include painkillers, tranquilizers, antidepressants, and sleep aides. Opioid based painkillers are often prescribed for individuals who are suffering with moderate to severe pain – either acute or chronic. Common opioid prescriptions include hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, and oxycodone. While these medications can be helpful with pain management and [...]
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Mixing Cold Medications with Energy Drinks: A Dangerous Trend

With overloaded schedules and increasing time demands, many individuals often look to energy drinks as a way of boosting productivity and alertness during a busy day. Many consumers might assume that energy drinks are a safe product to use, even on a regular basis, as it is something that can easily be purchased at a [...]
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Diabetes and Insulin Misuse: Co-Occurring Eating Disorder?

Many individuals throughout the world are affected by the medical condition Diabetes Mellitus. There are two types of diabetes – Type 1, sometimes referred to as Juvenile Diabetes or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes, and Type 2, also known as adult-onset or non-insulin depended diabetes. In both of these types of diabetes, individuals impacted by this condition cannot [...]
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Pethidine: Use of the Drug, Signs and Symptoms of Abuse

Contributed by Staff Writer for Addiction Hope and Eating Disorder Hope. Pethidine is a synthetic opioid analgesic that is considered to be the synthetic version of morphine [1,2]. Pethidine works by copying the function of endorphins, a ‘feel-good’ chemical that reduces the perception of pain – these are naturally released by the body during strenuous [...]
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Robitussin A-C Risk of Misuse and Side Effects

Contributed by Staff Writer for Addiction Hope and Eating Disorder Hope. What is it? Robitussin® is the brand name for the cough medicine containing dextromethorphan [1]. Its relative by name only, Robitussin A-C®, is a cough syrup containing combinations of codeine, pheniramine, and guaifenesin; 1 dose contains approximately 100 mg guaifenesin, 10 mg of codeine, [...]
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