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.

Percocet Use in Postpartum Recovery: Signs of Misuse

Pregnant mother with her daughter Percocet is a commonly prescribed narcotic pain reliever. At times it may be prescribed postpartum, mainly for mothers with a C-Section or those with complications or tearing. Before taking this medication, it’s critical that the consumer use extreme caution, due to the serious side effects and risks associated with this narcotic analgesic for both mothers [...]
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Trends in Prescription Drug Abuse

Man sitting by a river sad about the stigma of addiction According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic in the United States [1]. Each year, the number of individuals who lose their lives as a result of an overdose involving prescription drugs are steadily increasing. There is a common misconception that prescription medications are safe to [...]
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Signs That Your Child May Be Abusing Over the Counter Cold Medications

Sad_Teen_Girl_Portrait Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Many households commonly have over the counter medications on hand, either stashed away in a kitchen drawer or in a bathroom medicine cabinet. It is not unusual for families to have multiple over the counter cold medications in the case that [...]
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Working with a Co-Worker Who is Under the Influence of Opioid Prescription Painkillers

Close up white pills tablets on wooden spoon with wooden board background Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Countless of individuals across the world rely on prescription painkillers on a daily basis to help manage a range of complications. Whether chronic or acute, pain resulting from disease, surgeries, accidents and more, painkillers can be helpful in allowing a person [...]
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Traveling Abroad While Under the Influence of Opioid Painkillers

Passport Travel Journey Trip Vacation Document Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, between 26.4 million and 36 million people worldwide abuse opioids, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers [1]. It [...]
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