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Drug Addiction and Drug Abuse
from:People use drugs for a variety of reasons – mostly, though, to numb the pain of everyday life so they don’t have to face it. Eventually drug use turns to drug abuse and finally to drug addiction. Most people use the two terms interchangeably, but the truth is there is a difference between drug abuse and drug addiction.
Drug abuse is the use of illegal drugs or the inappropriate use of legal drugs. People who abuse drugs are using them to obtain a specific feeling – a “high” – that they can’t get from other substances. Often drug abuse is recreational with the drugs being used to loosen a person up and make them feel like they fit in with the crowd.
Drug addiction, on the other hand, is the uncontrollable use of drugs and the inability to stop using drugs in spite of health or social consequences. People with a drug addiction are physically and emotionally unable to stop using drugs. Their bodies have become used to having the drug in the system, and stopping the drug use brings about often painful physical and psychological symptoms.
Drug addiction does begin with drug abuse when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just "a lot of drug use." Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity.
At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this compulsive behavior.
Many people view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. Parents, teens, older adults, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior. This just isn’t true.
People from all walks of life abuse drugs and become addicted. We can start combating these problems if we educate ourselves and each other about drug abuse and drug addiction. It is an ever-growing epidemic that doesn’t have to take hold of people or society. Drug abuse and drug addiction can be stopped, but only if we start with education.
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Pfizer's Breast-Cancer Drug Worsens Bone Loss in Older Women - Bloomberg
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Drugs, alcohol, weapons smuggled into Canada's prisons rising - Toronto Star
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Today's Top Medical Stories for February 7, 2012 - OzarksFirst.com
Today's Top Medical Stories for February 7, 2012 OzarksFirst.com A medicine used to treat breast cancer may have some nasty side effects of it's own. And there's a new drug that may be more effective at treating diabetes. The American College of Physicians has new guidelines to treat type 2 diabetes. |
Vitamin D and Cancer Treatment - Huffington Post
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Drug dealer agreed not to sue police, court told - Toronto Star
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Kidney Ca Drugs Worked Better Inside Trials - MedPage Today
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Transition Therapeutics to Hold Conference Call on Second Quarter Fiscal 2012 ... - MarketWatch (press release)
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Women must consider the impact of drugs on baby, and of depression on baby ... - Ottawa Citizen
Women must consider the impact of drugs on baby, and of depression on baby ... Ottawa Citizen Upon learning they are pregnant, most women dutifully nix the alcohol, sushi and caffeine. Headlines about the potential risks of antidepressants on a developing fetus, including miscarriage, premature birth and newborn breathing problems, ... Antidepressants and pregnancy: Women must consider the impact of drugs on baby ... |
C. diff patients overcome 'ick factor' to embrace therapy - CTV.ca
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First and only treatment to extend survival for people with metastatic ... - DigitalJournal.com (press release)
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