Welcome to Drug and Alcohol Treatment
| ||
Alcohol Prevention Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Alcohol Prevention. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Definition of Drug Addiction
from:Even though drug addiction is a complex disease, assigning a definition for that disease is actually quite simple. Drug addiction is, in its simplest form, defined as the continued compulsive use of drugs in spite of adverse health or social consequences.
The definition of drug addiction should also include the fact that it is a state of heavy dependence on a specific drug. Generally, its thought of as a physical dependence, but in actuality, there is a psychological addiction as well as an emotional dependence. Some say that it is compulsive and pathological drug use or substance dependence.
Drug addiction is also a behavior disorder as the initial drug use is generally done as a reaction to a behavior or situation that seems out of control to the user. The user seems to have no other choice but to use that drug because of the bodys dependence on the fact that the drug will remain present in the system.
A distinction should be made between drug use and drug addiction. It is possible for people to use drugs without becoming addicted, but that is generally limited to prescription drug use. People who take drugs to cope with a physical ailment do so to control pain or the adverse effects of a physical condition. Those drugs improve the quality of life for the sufferer, but they are not necessarily addicted to the drugs.
To be dependent on a drug or addicted to it the user must take the drug regularly, and they experience unpleasant symptoms if they stop using the drug such as nausea or sleep disturbance. Substance abuse or addiction is present when a person uses a drug despite the harm that it causes to their system.
There is a difference between drug abuse and drug addiction. Drug abuse occurs when a person uses excessive amounts of a drug at one time or frequently. Drug addiction is present when a person cannot stop using the drug and stopping the drug seems like an impossibility.
Of course, no definition of drug addiction is complete without noting that it is both a physical dependence as well as a psychological one. Physical dependency occurs when a drug has been used habitually and the body has become accustomed to its effects. Psychological dependency is present when the drug is used habitually and the mind has become accustomed to the effects the drug produces.
When drug addiction affects a persons life, the definition of that drug addiction becomes a bit less important than the reasons why people use. However, it can help multitudes if a definition is specified so that a better understanding of drug addiction can occur.
Alcohol Prevention Specific links
Alcohol Prevention News
After-school program can reduce alcohol use among middle school students, study finds
A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new study.
Read more...After-school program can help young adolescents avoid alcohol
A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Read more...Study: After-School Programs Can Reduce Alcohol Use Among Middle School Students
A voluntary substance prevention program held after school and presented by trained facilitators can help reduce alcohol use among young adolescents, according to a new study.
Read more...Local Grassroots Heroine, Great-Grandmother and Agency Founder Goes National
Founder of Bucks County Pennsylvania African American drug and alcohol prevention program has a vision to serve larger markets by taking the agency national.
Read more...A look at alcohol and drug abuse here
Jasper — The highlight of the Jan. 23 meeting of the Hamilton County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition Partnership was a presentation by HCSO Sergeant Emily Lumpkin on ‘Needs Assessment’ for Hamilton County.
Read more...Lincoln College student killed by heroin, alcohol
A combination of heroin and alcohol killed Lincoln College swimmer Brett Malmquist, and Lincoln police are seeking charges against those connected with his lethal drug use.
Read more...Chief talks crime prevention
Quentin Holmes, appointed chief of Monroe's police department almost a year ago, said Thursday the small percentage of those who commit crimes in the city are the ones dictating citizens' lives.
Read more...Edwardsville schools have new drug prevention campaign
Edwardsville High School student Taylor Beimfohr is on a mission. As one of 75 members of the Edwardsville Peer Influence Club, or EPIC, the 18-year-old senior wants to raise awareness of the dangers
Read more...Alcohol, drug use down in Chariho School District
Between 2008 and 2011, the use of cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol fell, according to students sampled in the survey.
Read more...Narconon East US Alcohol Rehab Centers Release Booklet for Children of Alcoholics Week
Narconon East US Alcohol Rehab Centers are releasing a free booklet titled “The Truth About Becoming Addicted – How Good People Lose Control” children with alcoholic parents in honor of Children of Alcoholics week.Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) February 09, 2012 Narconon Alcohol Rehab Centers in the East US is releasing a free booklet to families and children of alcoholic parents titled “The Truth About ...
Read more...