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.

Best Practices for Residential Rehab

Asian American Woman learning about Residential Rehab One of the more difficult challenges in recovering from a substance use addiction is choosing a treatment program. Rehab takes place in a wide variety of settings across the country, from high-end facilities to more hospital-like institutions. In the process of browsing through brochures at your counselor's office or looking at photos of serene settings [...]
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Suicide and Opiate Abuse

Woman struggling with grief In the 2018 remake of the movie A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper plays country music star Jackson Maine. His performance won public and critical acclaim for a man spiraling down with depression, anger, and substance abuse as his partner becomes a star. The film successfully portrays the dangerous combination of mental health, substance abuse, [...]
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Teens Abusing Prescription Drugs

Father And Teenage Son Hugging - Addiction Hope A lot is going on in adolescence. During these years, tremendous changes are happening in the body and brain, not to mention the sexual, social, relational, and spiritual awakenings. Sadly, teen prescription abuse is often a part of adolescence as well. Daniel Siegel, MD, is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of [...]
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Mental Health and Substance Use in the US: What We Know

Man at halfway house As I get older, I'm learning a truth I'd rather have left unknown. At some point in your child's life, they will lose a friend. A few months ago, my wife and I accompanied our college-aged son to the funeral of one of his friends. She was a17-year-old high school senior who was in enough [...]
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Anxiety and Substance Abuse: Correlation or Cause

woman managing stress Individuals with an anxiety disorder often find alcohol and other substances of abuse to worsen their anxiety symptoms. This population is two to three times more likely to have an alcohol or any other substance abuse disorder in comparison to individuals who do not have an anxiety disorder. About 20 percent of Americans with an [...]
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