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.

Using Prescription Medications in a Foreign Country

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Prescription medication use in the United States is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which monitors the safety and effectiveness of new and approved drugs. Outside of the United States, the governing bodies and organizations that oversee prescription drug [...]
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Traveling: Getting by without Sleep Aids

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Whether done for work or for pleasure, traveling can be time intensive and demanding at times. No matter the distance involved, traveling can also be physically difficult to adapt to as a person adjusts to being in an alternative environment, in [...]
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Prescription Drugs and Energy Drinks

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Energy drinks of all varieties have increased in popularity, particularly among youth and teenagers. Packed with a punch of energy-inducing ingredients, energy drinks might seem like the perfect solution for getting through the day, keeping up with a busy schedule, or [...]
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Prescription Drugs and Alcohol: What Makes the Combination So Deadly?

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Countless individuals use prescriptions drugs across the world for various reasons. Some of the most common type of prescription medications that are prescribed by physicians include: Painkillers Tranquilizers Sedation type medications Stimulants Psychotropic medications Anti-depressants Anti-anxiety medications Many individuals, in fact, [...]
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Prescription Drugs and Cold Medications

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Many over the counter substances are often purchased and used to help battle the everyday ailment of the common cold. Because of the various symptoms and discomforts associated with common colds and illnesses, over the counter products are accessed much more [...]
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