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.

Women Also Fight Binge Drinking

With the commonality of drinking in this day and age, the line between moderation and overdoing can often become blurred.  In fact, drinking is not just reserved for college days but also socially integrated across the lifespan, readily seen at celebratory events, casual get-togethers, and many things in between.  With something that has become an [...]
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Marijuana Ranks #1 as Most Abused Drug, But Prescriptions for Most Deaths

Guest Blog Contributed By: Michael Cartwright, Chairman and Co-founder of American Addiction Centers In the first-ever global survey of illicit drug abuse, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington found marijuana to be the most widely used illegal drug worldwide, but most deaths are caused by addiction to prescription painkillers, such [...]
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Addiction Affects Jail Overcrowding and Health Insurance

Overcrowded Jails Becoming a Big Problem There is a problem in Putnam County, West Virginia. The problem they are experiencing is jail overcrowding and a dramatic increase in costs as a result of drug crimes. People who are addicted to drugs are doing almost anything they can in order to get money to buy drugs. [...]
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70 Percent of Americans Use Prescription Medicines

pills The health of people in America is to be valued and envied, but at what cost? It is amazing and alarming to learn that seven out of 10 people are taking at least one prescription drug. It is even more shocking to learn that over half of the American population is taking at least two [...]
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A Cocaine Vaccine to Treat Addiction

There is more good news for those suffering from a drug addiction. There is a new anti-cocaine vaccine that will prevent the drug from reaching the brain. This will in turn prevent the brain from generating the dopamine that produces the high. Dr. Ronald G. Crystal is the chairman of the Department of Genetic Medicine [...]
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