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.

Breastfeeding Mothers and Alcohol Consumption: What Is Safe for Your Baby?

Breastfeeding Mothers and Alcohol Consumption: What is safe for your baby Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC for Addiction Hope Breastfeeding is an incredible opportunity for mothers to give their babies the best start in life. Numerous research studies have demonstrated how breastfeeding benefits infants, including immunological support, unsurpassed nourishment, and increased protection against a multitude of diseases. Birth Defects & Exposure to Prescription Drugs in [...]
Read More

Alcohol and Prescription Medications: A Dangerous Mix

Contributor: Billie-Jo Stuto, LCSW, LCADC, CCS, Program Director, GenPsych PC A new year brings opportunity to reflect on the past and plan for the future. There are some things that people do that they may not be proud of or feel like they should know better but do them anyway. A lot of this is [...]
Read More

An Interview with Peter Loeb

Interviewee: Peter K. Loeb, Jr. – Co-Founder, President/CEO of Lionrock Recovery What drew you to the field of online addiction treatment? Why? The spectre of addiction has been with me since childhood. My sister’s mental illness, and the early years of what would become her lifelong struggle with drugs and alcohol, was a constant source [...]
Read More

Holiday Spending and Addictive Behaviors

Man at lake edge gazing at mountain Contributed By: David Greenspan, content writer at Lighthouse Recovery Institute Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s time to break out the holiday sweaters and cute ornaments. It’s also time to check our bank accounts, wipe the sweat from our foreheads, take out those already stressed credit cards, and start buying gifts. For better [...]
Read More

The Value of Structure During the Holidays for Those in Recovery

Contributor: Options Behavioral Health System clinical team member Erica Smith, MA, NCC The holidays can be an extremely challenging time for individuals who are in the early stages of recovery from an addiction to alcohol. This is a time where many people are enjoying alcoholic beverages at all of the various festivities that are definitive [...]
Read More