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.

Ripple Effect: How Witnessing Substance Abuse Affects Future Generations

Growing up as kids, many of us heard our parents say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” If only it were that easy, but children are like sponges. They literally soak up and absorb everything around them. In turn, we recognize that children’s environments play a significant role in how they develop. If [...]
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Financial Industry Culture: High-Intensity Jobs and Drug Abuse

Pressure, … pushing down on me, pushing down on you … are the familiar lyrics sung by Queen and David Bowie. Having a secure job should mean financial security, less pressure and less stress. However, working in the financial industry has a culture all its own and one that may have you singing along with [...]
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Adolescents Using Drugs or Alcohol are More Likely to Have Chronic Substance Abuse Problems as an Adult

Adolescent substance abuse continues to be a top public health concern in the United States. This is especially true as the consequences of substance abuse are particularly devastating among younger individuals (physically, psychologically, socially, and financially). According to the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, ninety percent of adults in the United States who suffer [...]
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Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a Result of Babies Born to Addicts

Pregnancy is perhaps one of the most vulnerable times in any woman’s life. The life and development of a growing baby becomes dependent upon the mother who is carrying it. Consequently, the choices she makes in regards to her health will influence the outcome of her child's health. There are many factors that will affect [...]
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Baby Boomers’ Addiction Rates Increase

While addiction to drugs and alcohol might be something that is commonly associated with teenagers and young adults, the truth is that addiction is not prejudice in terms of who it affects. Regardless of age, race, culture or gender, any individual can become susceptible to an addiction under a variety of factors. A recent report [...]
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