Drug Abuse & Misuse: Prevention, Protection & Testing
Written by Becky White, THINK Marketing Director
WHAT IS DRUG ADDICTION?
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it includes functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control; those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs.
Addiction is a lot like other diseases, such as heart disease. Both disrupt the normal, healthy functioning of an organ in the body, both have serious harmful effects, and are preventable and treatable in many cases. If left untreated, the damage can last a lifetime and may lead to death.
IN GENERAL, PEOPLE TAKE DRUGS FOR A FEW REASONS:
To feel good: Drugs can produce intense feelings of pleasure. This initial euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the type of drug used.
To feel better: Some people who suffer start using drugs to try to feel less anxious. Stress can play a major role in starting and continuing drug use as well as relapse.
To do better: Some people feel pressure to improve their focus in school, work or sports. This can play a role in trying or continuing to use drugs, such as prescription stimulants or cocaine.
Curiosity and social pressure: In this respect, teens are particularly at risk due to intense peer pressure. Teens are more likely than adults to act in risky or daring ways to impress their friends and show their independence from parents and social rules.
PREVENTING DRUG MISUSE AND ADDICTION: THE BEST STRATEGY
Why is adolescence a critical time for preventing drug addiction?
Early drug use increases a person’s chances of becoming addicted. Drugs change the brain—this can lead to addiction and other serious problems. So, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol will go a long way in reducing these risks.
Risk of drug use increases greatly during times of transition. For an adult, a divorce or loss of a job may increase the risk of drug use. For a teenager, risky times include moving, family divorce, or changing schools. When children advance from elementary through middle school, they face new and challenging social, family, and academic situations. Often during this period, children are exposed to substances such as cigarettes and alcohol for the first time. In high school, teens may encounter greater availability of drugs, use by older teens, and peer pressure during social activities.
A certain amount of risk-taking is a normal part of adolescent development.
The desire to try new things and become more independent is healthy, but it may also increase teens’ tendencies to experiment with drugs. The parts of the brain that control judgment and decision-making do not fully develop until people are in their early or mid-20s; this limits a teen’s ability to accurately assess the risks of drug experimentation and makes young people more vulnerable to peer pressure.
Because the brain is still developing, using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control. So, it’s not surprising that teens who use alcohol and other drugs often have family and social problems, poor academic performance, health-related problems (including mental health conditions), and involvement with the juvenile justice system.
Can research-based programs prevent drug addiction in youth?
The term research-based or evidence-based means that these programs have been designed based on current scientific evidence, thoroughly tested, and shown to produce positive results. Scientists have developed a broad range of programs that positively alter the balance between risk and protective factors for drug use in families, schools, and communities. Studies have shown that research-based programs can significantly reduce early use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Also, while many social and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people perceive drug use as harmful, they often reduce their level of use.
• National drug use surveys indicate some children are using drugs by age 12 or 13. Prevention is the best strategy.
• Treatment must address the whole person, and prevention is the best strategy.
Does relapse to drug use mean treatment has failed?
No. The chronic nature of addiction means that for some people relapse, or a return to drug use after an attempt to stop, can be part of the process. However, newer treatments are designed to help with relapse prevention. Relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical illnesses. If people stop following their medical treatment plan, they are likely to relapse.
What medications and devices help treat drug addiction?
Treatment of chronic diseases involves changing deeply rooted behaviors, and relapse doesn’t mean treatment has failed. When a person recovering from an addiction relapses, it indicates that the person needs to speak with their doctor to resume treatment, modify it, or try another treatment.
Different types of medications may be useful at different stages of treatment.
Treating Withdrawl: When patients first stop using drugs, they can experience various physical and emotional symptoms. Certain treatment medications and devices reduce these symptoms.
Staying in treatment: Some medications and mobile applications are used to help the brain adapt gradually to the absence of the drug. These treatments act slowly to help prevent drug cravings and can help patients focus on counseling and other psychotherapies related to their drug treatment.
Preventing relapse: Stress cues linked to the drug use (such as people, places, things, and moods), and contact with drugs are the most common triggers for relapse. Avoiding those triggers along with counseling is most effective in preventing relapse.
GET SUPPORT
First thing’s first: you matter. You are important. You bring light into this world. It’s OK to ask for help. You are brave to ask for help.
Find treatment support in your area | FindTreatment.gov
National Hotline | 1-800-662-HELP (4357) | Treatment referral and information, 24/7.
Emergencies | Call 911 for emergencies
LGBTQ+ National Youth Talkline | 1-800-246-7743
Suicide Prevention Hotline | 800-273-TALK (8255)
Behavioral Health Treatment Locator | findtreatment.samhsa.gov