Drug Addiction

Many people think about drug addiction as either something that is confined to certain socioeconomic groups or that always involves the use of illegal substances. Neither of those assumptions are true, unfortunately. Drug use and addiction is a problem affecting people from all backgrounds, and no one can assume that they are immune from the possibility of it happening to themselves or someone they care about.

Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is a substance that is perfectly legal for adults to buy and consume, and has the potential to become addictive. We tend to use euphemisms like "drinking problem" or say that someone likes to "bend the elbow" when talking about an addiction to alcohol. It's a polite way of talking about an addiction that can have serious health consequences, including cirrhosis of the liver and brain damage. It is no coincidence that thousands of alcohol treatment centers exist across the world. Learn more...

Nicotine Addiction

If you have ever wondered why giving up smoking is so difficult, blame the fact that nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. Every time a smoker lights up, they are getting a "hit" of nicotine that works on the pleasure center in their brain. Cravings are just the body's way of looking for more of the same. Unfortunately, smoking has been linked to several types of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Learn more...

Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a highly-addictive stimulant that is made from the leaves of the coca plant. Whether you call it "coke," "blow," or "nose candy," it gives the user a relatively brief, but very intense, high. See cocaine pictures here. This drug also causes the user's heart rate and blood pressure to increase rapidly, sometimes with tragic results in the form of a heart attack or a stroke. Learn more...

Opiate Addiction

Codeine, morphine, and heroin are all powerful painkilling drugs derived from the opium poppy. Not only can they alleviate pain, but they also produce a feeling of euphoria, which opens up the door to addiction. Someone who is in the throes of an addiction to these kinds of drugs may lose the ability to make good decisions for themselves. They also run the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS if they are using needles to inject themselves. Often, a visit to a drug detox center is necessary even before entering a treatment facility for opiate addiction treatment. Learn more...

Heroin Addiction

Heroin is known by several names, including "smack," "horse," and "brown sugar" due to its varying forms and colors, seen in these heroin pictures. It produces a feeling of euphoria for the more than half a million people in the United States who use it. Heroin can cause physical dependency in users within days of being used regularly, which means that trying to give it up can be very difficult. Learn more...

Meth Addiction

Some people turn to meth, a type of amphetamine, as their drug of choice because it is an appetite suppressant. It also produces an intense "high" when injected, smoked, snorted, or swallowed. Addiction can happen very quickly, and it's possible to become addicted after using meth only once. Learn more...

Methadone Addiction

In a twist of irony, methadone, which is used to treat people who are addicted to heroin, is itself a highly-addictive drug. Like heroin, methadone is an opiate, and it is used to relieve the cravings that a recovering heroin addict may experience. Many wonder whether trading one addiction for another is such a good idea. Learn more...

Marijuana Addiction

More than three million people in the United States use marijuana on either a daily or an almost-daily basis, making it the most popular illegal drug in the country. There are more than 200 different names used to describe the leaves, stems, and flowers of the hemp plant, which are dried and rolled prior to being smoked. The question of whether marijuana is addictive remains a popular debate with opposing viewpoints. Learn more...

Caffeine Addiction

Do you enjoy your morning Java? Many people do, but there are some for whom caffeine isn't just something that helps them feel alert through the day. They develop a full-blown addiction, including withdrawal symptoms when they try to switch to decaf or cut back on caffeine-laden soft drinks and chocolate.  Learn more...

Steroid Addiction

Athletes and body builders who want to increase muscle mass may be tempted to use steroids to get bigger, faster. They may not realize that the sense of well-being they experience when using them is from the 'roids themselves. An addiction to steroids may be more difficult to recognize than someone using a substance to achieve a "high" though there are typically signs that can be detected. Learn more...

Vicodin Addiction

Vicodin is usually prescribed for moderate pain. This opiate not only relieves pain, but also produces a feeling of euphoria. Approximately one person in five in the United States has taken a prescription medication for a purpose other than the one for which it was prescribed, and vicodin is the drug most often used in this way. Learn more...

Prescription Drug Addiction

Using prescription drugs for a long time or taking more than the recommended dose may lead to an addiction. This is the reason doctors limit the amount of medication they prescribe. Any prescription drug taken to relieve pain has the potential to create a physical dependency.Learn more...

Beyond Quitting: Drug Recovery and Rehabilitation

Related Pages

• Drug Addiction
• Behavioral Addictions