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.

Guarding Your Medicine Cabinet from Abuse

Blog Contributed By: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC With the prevalence of substance abuse increasing among children and teenagers, it is important to consider practical ways in which prevention methods can be implemented. Research and national surveys have shown that nonmedical use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines remains a signification component of teenage drug use [...]
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The Effects of Long Term Use of Prozac for Depression

As one of the most common mental health disorders in America, depression is a reality that many people face every day. Because depression is thought to be triggered by a lack of the neurotransmitter Serotonin in the brain, drugs have been developed to essentially treat this issue, including the more well-known medication Prozac. Generally known [...]
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Trust – The Foundation for Treating Addiction

Article Contributed By: David Lisonbee, CEO, Twin Town Treatment Centers The practice of business and personal ethics is essential when providing treatment for addiction. When patients become commodities to be traded and paid for on the open market like cattle at an auction, how far does that message permeate the entire treatment milieu? When a [...]
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Teenagers and Prescription Drugs

A common misconception is the idea that teenagers are more likely to abuse illicit drugs, such as marijuana or cocaine. However, statistics reveal the likelihood that teenagers will abuse prescription drugs, including opioids, stimulants, antidepressants, and tranquilizers. Many teenagers mistakenly believe that using prescription drugs is in fact “safer” than illegal street drugs, and for [...]
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High School Peer Pressure Leads to Drug Use as a Way to Fit In

Contributor: Erica Smith, M.A., NCC with Millcreek Behavioral Health High school can be one of the most challenging times in a person’s life. At this point, teenagers are trying to figure out who they are as individuals, yet they still long to fit in with their peers. This is also a time when adolescents are [...]
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