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.

Influence of Peer Pressure on Adolescents and Substance Abuse

Contributed by Staff of Timberline Knolls Peer pressure has been an active force in the American culture for many, many decades. Essentially, peer pressure is the strategy by which any group influences its members, particularly in the case of substance abuse. Those on the receiving end, often eventually change their behavior to conform to the [...]
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Deaths of Despair & Addiction

Guy struggling with Suicide and substance abuse Suicide and substance abuse deaths are dramatically increasing in Millennials. The opioid crisis and increased drinking substantially contributed to the 36,000 millennials who died in 2017 alone. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are increasing in our young adults, and this is a major contributing factor. Our society moves at a rapid, overwhelming pace. [...]
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Teens and Poor Decision-Making: What is a Parent to do?

Teenager struggling with opiates Today's teenagers and their adolescent brains are exposed to numerous pressures. Academics, sports, and extracurricular activities are becoming more and more competitive. Furthermore, young adolescents are growing up in the era of widespread technology, the vast influence of social media, and more significant tendencies toward stress and anxieties. Steering through such volatile times with your [...]
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Tending Dandelions- Honest Meditations for Mothers with Addicted Children – Part 7

man Sitting at the window batteling Eating Disorders and Addiction Kirsten Haglund of Addiction Hope and Eating Disorder Hope conducted an interview with Sandy Swenson about her experience with a son struggling with addiction, the significant changes she made during his treatment, eating disorders and addiction, and the resulting book she wrote Tending Dandelions: Honest Meditations for Mothers with Addicted Children. Kirsten interviews guests that [...]
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Tending Dandelions: Honest Meditations for Mothers with Addicted Children – Part 6

Man sitting by a river sad about the stigma of addiction Kirsten Haglund of Addiction Hope and Eating Disorder Hope conducted an interview with Sandy Swenson about her experience with a son struggling with addiction, the significant changes she made during his treatment, the stigma of addiction, and the resulting book she wrote Tending Dandelions: Honest Meditations for Mothers with Addicted Children. Kirsten interviews guests that [...]
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