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.

Misuse of Asthma Inhalers – Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Misuse of asthma medication can be classified in two ways- improper dosage and administration of the medication, or use by an individual other than the whom the medication has been prescribed to. The focus here will be on the latter; as intentional misuse of asthma inhalers has not been extensively examined. [1] Use of someone [...]
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Cigarette Smoking and Cold Medication: A Dangerous Combination

Tobacco use and cigarette smoking continues to be a problematic issue in the United States, with tobacco use remaining the single largest preventable cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half a million Americans lose their lives each year due to cigarette smoking, with more than 41,000 of these [...]
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Gender Differences in Prescription Drug Abuse

When looking at the trends of prescription drug abuse, gender is one of the newest hot topics in current research. The latest research is pointing to some major patterns in how females’ vs males are accessing, being prescribed, and misusing medications. One of the front runners in this area of research is Frontiers in Neuroendrocrinology. [...]
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Misuse of Cough Syrup: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Cough Medicine used for Cough Syrup Abuse

Abuse of over-the-counter cold medication and Cough Syrup Abuse is an increasing trend, particularly amongst adolescents and young adults. Extra-strength cough medicines containing dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DXM) are known for high rates of misuse, prompting changes in legislature by the FDA to require a prescription for this medication or to limit sales only to those of [...]
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Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs Among Middle-Aged Adults

Middle-Aged man struggling with Prescription Drugs

Many middle-aged adults face unique life changes, challenges, and stressors that can trigger or influence prescription drug abuse, particularly for those who already have access to prescription medications. This includes but is not limited to children leaving the household, career changes, retirement, death of family members or friends, relationship changes, divorce, and more. For a [...]
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