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.

Rebellion and Addiction: Do I Have to Be like Everyone Else Now?

Contributed by: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLCL for Addiction Hope Addictions arise and develop as a result of many factors that interplay together. Depending on the person and their individual experiences, an addition to drugs can mean a multitude of things, including comfort, distraction, indulgence, escape, and more. Some people may come to find their [...]
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Letting Go of Dependence upon Your Parent(s) in Recovery (Step 3)

Contributor: Kirsten Brannen, LSW, Dual Recovery Therapist at GenPsych Asking for help is hard and it makes sense that one would look to their parents for help in their recovery. Unfortunately, this logic is not usually the best course of action when it comes to treating addiction and maintaining recovery. Addiction is a disease that [...]
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Step Two: The Doorway to Recovery – Part Two

Contributor: Richard Anderson, author “From Darkness to Light: A Primer for Recovery” I have learned that when negative things happen to me it is just life on life’s terms. It isn’t punishment or karma, or anything of the like. If you have read some of my other writings you have some idea of the things [...]
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Step Two: The Doorway to Recovery – Part One

Contributor: Richard Anderson, author “From Darkness to Light: A Primer for Recovery” In my experience the spiritual principles behind the second step are hope, belief and trust. The principle of faith is built upon the spiritual principles that precede it in the process of step work: Honesty, hope, belief and trust. Step two is, again [...]
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The Basic Text and Step One

Contributor: Richard Anderson, author “From Darkness to Light: A Primer for Recovery” Any 12 step fellowship has its foundation in the first step. The fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous is no different in that respect. There are, however, some very fundamental differences between the ways in which the first step of NA is understood versus that [...]
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