Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is a progressive disease and when drug abuse becomes addiction, the addict loses control over using. Drug abuse is incorrectly thought by many to be a choice that the user makes to continue to use a drug despite suffering problems. Drug use usually begins with a conscious decision to get high but scientists have proven that certain people that continue to use go beyond drug abuse and develop a medical condition known as addiction. This brings up many questions for some people on how a comparison can be made between drug abuse and lets say, diabetes. We’ll answer these questions here and show how, like diabetes, drug abuse has warning signs, symptoms and is treatable.

If you or a loved one is suffering from the effects of drug abuse you may not have to make such a leap to understanding its disease status. Drug abuse increases to the point where it is no longer a choice. Studies show that the mind and body are physically altered to the point where they expect and crave the drug as a matter of routine. This can happen with any drug but drug addicts usually are drawn and have a predisposition to a particular type of drug, the intense high of cocaine over the mellow euphoria of heroin for example. Most addicts fool themselves into believing that they can stop on their own but this is usually replaced with the frustrating knowledge that they cannot, especially if they have tried to stop on their own without treatment. The brain has formed a new warped way of thinking and this creates many changes in behavior such as the seeming insanity of a compulsion to use drugs despite unpleasant consequences. How many people do you know that have continued to drink or use drugs despite being arrested, fired, divorced or losing custody of children.

Understanding that this is a disease of the mind and body explains why such individuals continue to use. The brain continues to seek the drug even after a person has physically stopped which explains why so many people "fall off the wagon" and pick up where they left off. The brain seeks the relief and pleasure from stress, social pressures or reinforced behaviors surrounding using. A difficult situation indeed and the reason why drug addicts cannot just choose to quit on their own without treatment.

The warning signs of a severe drug abuse problem are not as subtle as you might think and if you are looking up information for a loved one you have probably already seen all the proof you need that there is a problem. Here are some tell-tale signs of a problem:

Drug abuse increases in larger quantities for longer periods of time

Lack of control of drug use, bad timing, overdose

Increasing discussion and obsession on obtaining drugs

Family, friends and loved ones neglected in favor of drugs

Withdrawal symptoms when drug is stopped

Drug abuse continues despite physical and mental problems

Often parents, employers, family members or even friends are shielded from drug abuse out of shame but there are many different warning signs of a problem. Frequent money problems, mental problems such as confusion, paranoia, impulsive behavior and physical problems such as shaking, breathing problems and constant drowsiness or sweating. Drug abuse puts the user in an unnatural physical and mental state and is not difficult to recognize if honestly observed.

Fortunately proper treatment has been proven effective. The key to treatment, again like a disease such as diabetes, is to treat it as early as possible before it gets worse. Left untreated diabetes and drug abuse always get worse because diseases don't cure themselves.

Check the other areas of this site for detailed information on what to look for in a drug rehabilitation center, program and facility. It does make a difference which treatment center you choose so make the right choice but make it today!