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.

Substance Use Disorder & COVID Vulnerability

Lady in field thinking if her Substance Use Is a Problem

The impact of COVID-19 is unlike anything that we have experienced before. The pandemic’s impact has been devastating for the world as many people have lost their lives or their loved ones to the virus. There is a lot that we are still learning about the coronavirus. One cause of COVID vulnerability can be substance [...]
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Weed & Vaping in College Students

Boy concerned about Gaining Weight After Anorexia treatment

The stigma tied to smoking has led many college students to choose to vape instead. Vaping is another term for e-cigarettes. While there is a belief that vaping causes fewer health issues, research is still uncertain about the full impact of vaping marijuana or nicotine. While the true impact of e-cigarettes is still being researched, [...]
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HIV & Substance Use Disorder Concerns

People with HIV are more likely to struggle with substance abuse [1]. Similarly, people who use intravenous drugs are at greater risk for contracting HIV [1]. Both HIV and substance use disorder (SUD) are serious conditions that can be fatal if left untreated. Despite how intertwined and dangerous these conditions are, many people living with [...]
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Searching for Medication to Help Meth Addicts Recover

Man fighting Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism

Methamphetamine (meth) is a highly addictive drug with significant short and long-term psychological and physical effects [1]. Meth often gives users feelings of euphoria. This is because it impacts a certain chemical in the brain that is responsible for feeling pleasure [1]. This feeling can lead to meth addiction. What is the Impact of Meth? [...]
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Substance Use Disorder in Police Officers

First Responder Policeman Police Car EMT Ambulance - 4858592_1920

While for most people, a stressful day on the job might mean missing an important deadline or dealing with a grouchy customer, police officers regularly face life-and-death situations and are first-hand witnesses to traumatic events. Thanks to this constant exposure to high-stress, traumatic situations, coupled with a work culture that often discourages officers from seeking [...]
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