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.

Mixing Caffeine and Stimulants: What are the Dangers?

Contributor:  Ryan Poling, M.A. of Keystone Treatment Center. Coffee in the morning, an energy drink in the early afternoon, a soft drink with dinner. Our lives are filled with caffeine. A 2010 study commissioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that 54 percent of adults drink coffee on a daily basis, a number [...]
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Sharing Drugs: What is my Risk of Developing Hepatitis? 

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Hepatitis is a devastating disease that directly affects the liver, which is caused by an infection with the Hepatitis virus.  A person cannot contract the hepatitis virus from casual contact, such as handshaking, coughing, sneezing, or hugging.  Rather, the hepatitis virus [...]
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Commonly Abused Drugs to Increase Stimulation:
What are the Dangers?

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope College students commonly face the demands of an overloaded schedule.  From academics to social obligations to outside activities and work, college students are often running from one event to the next, struggling to meet all that is required of them.  Many [...]
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How to Find a New Roommate if Drugs Are Involved?

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Being in recovery from addiction means taking proactive steps to support your ongoing sobriety efforts. If you have been though treatment for substance abuse, you likely understand the need to reevaluate your circumstances – from your relationships, circle of friends, living [...]
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Dealing with Weight Loss and Drug Addiction

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope Drug addiction often results in many undesirable consequences that affect a person in multiple ways, including physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Some of the side effects of drug addiction are more apparent than others, and the more obvious signs are [...]
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