|
Let's
Talk Facts About...
SUBSTANCE
ABUSE AND ADDICTION
Addiction
is a serious illness. Health, finances, relationships,
careers—all can be ruined. The abuse of drugs and
alcohol is by far the leading cause of preventable illnesses
and premature death in our society. The importance of
substance abuse treatment cannot be overstated, and
fortunately many effective treatments are available.
The road to recovery, however, begins with recognition.
Consequences
of Use
-
Alcohol
People
often drink alcohol during social occasions; it tends
to loosen inhibitions. Unfortunately, the recklessness
often resulting from excessive drinking is a leading
cause of serious injuries and accidental deaths. In
addition, alcohol is the most common cause of preventable
birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Of
course, excessive drinking can also lead to alcoholism,
an illness that tends to run in families and is often
associated with depression. Alcoholism can have devastating
effects on health, including serious liver damage, greater
risk of heart disease, impotence, infertility, and premature
aging.
-
Marijuana
The
most widespread and frequently used illicit drug, marijuana
is associated with the following consequences:
- Short-term
memory loss
- Accelerated
heartbeat
- Increased
blood pressure
- Difficulty
with concentrating and information processing
- Lapses
in judgment
- Problems
with perception and motor skills
- In
addition, years of marijuana use can lead to a loss
of ambition and an inability to carry out long-term
plans or to function effectively.
-
Stimulants
Stimulants
(for example, cocaine, "crack," amphetamines)
give a temporary illusion of enhanced power and energy.
As the initial elevation of mood fades, however, a depression
emerges. Stimulant abuse can lead to serious medical
problems:
- Heart
attacks—even in young people with healthy hearts
- Seizures
- Strokes
- Violent,
erratic, anxious, or paranoid behavior
Cocaine
use during pregnancy may result in miscarriages, stillbirths,
or low-birth-weight babies who may be physically dependent
on the drug and later may develop behavioral or learning
difficulties. Excessive crack use can lead to a permanent
vegetative, or zombie-like, state. Long-term amphetamine
abuse can result in psychotic effects, such as paranoid
delusions and hallucinations.
-
Heroin
Heroin,
which can be smoked, eaten, sniffed, or injected, produces
an intense—but fleeting—feeling of pleasure.
Serious withdrawal symptoms begin, however, after 4
to 6 hours:
- Chills
- Sweating
- Runny
nose and eyes
- Abdominal
cramps
- Muscle
pains
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Heroin
use during pregnancy may result in miscarriages, stillbirths,
or premature deliveries of babies born physically dependent
on the drug. Those who inject heroin are introducing
unsterile substances into their bloodstream, which can
result in severe damage to the heart, lungs, and brain.
In addition, sharing needles is one of the fastest ways
to spread diseases; it is currently the leading cause
of all new HIV and hepatitis B cases.
-
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens
are drugs such as LSD ("acid") or the new
"designer" drugs (for example, "ecstasy")
that are taken orally and cause hallucinations and feelings
of euphoria. Dangers from LSD include stressful "flashbacks"—reexperiencing
the hallucinations despite not having taken the drug
again, sometimes even years later. Excessive use of
ecstasy, combined with strenuous physical activity,
can lead to death from dehydration or an exceptionally
high fever.
-
Inhalants
Inhalants
are breathable chemicals—for example, glue, paint
thinner, or lighter fluid. They are commonly abused
by teenagers because they are easy to obtain and because
they produce mind-altering effects when "sniffed"
or "huffed." These chemicals reach the lungs
and bloodstream very quickly and can be deadly. High
concentrations of inhalant fumes can cause heart failure
or suffocation. Long-term abuse of inhalants can cause
permanent damage to the nervous system.
-
Sedatives
Sedatives
are highly effective medications prescribed by physicians
to relieve anxiety and to promote sleep. Unfortunately,
harmful effects can occur when they are taken in excess
of the prescribed dose or without a physician’s
supervision, such as when they are obtained illegally.
Combining sedatives with alcohol or other drugs greatly
increases the likelihood of death by overdose. Women
who abuse sedatives during pregnancy may deliver babies
with birth defects (for example, cleft palate) who may
also be physically dependent on the drugs.
-
Nicotine
The
U.S. Surgeon General has confirmed that nicotine in
tobacco products has addictive properties similar in
severity to those of heroin. Quitting is difficult because
of the unpleasantness of withdrawal, which involves
feelings of irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety,
insomnia, and depression. However, continued smoking
may lead to far more dire circumstances:
- Lung
cancer
- Heart
attacks
- Emphysema
- High
blood pressure
- Ulcers
- Treatment
The
first step on the road to recovery is recognition of
the problem, but often this process is complicated by
a lack of understanding about substance abuse and addiction
or, worse, denial. In these cases, what often prompts
treatment are interventions by concerned friends and
family. Many health centers and other institutions offer
screenings free of charge for various disorders throughout
the year. For example, screening tests for alcohol abuse
are usually offered in early April.
Because
substance abuse affects many aspects of a person’s
life, multiple forms of treatment are often required.
For most, a combination of medication and individual
or group therapy is most effective. Medications are
used to control the drug cravings and relieve the severe
symptoms of withdrawal. Therapy can help addicted individuals
understand their behavior and motivations, develop higher
self-esteem, and cope with stress. Other treatment methods
that may be used as part of the rehabilitative process
include
Hospitalization
Therapeutic
communities—highly controlled, drug-free environments
Outpatient programs, including methadone maintenance
for heroin addiction
Finally, in addition to treatment, self-help groups
for substance-abusing individuals (Alcoholics Anonymous,
Narcotics Anonymous) as well as their family members
(Al-Anon or Nar-Anon Family Groups) are useful in providing
support and reinforcing messages learned in treatment.
These organizations can be found in your local telephone
directory and below.
A
comprehensive review of treatments for substance abuse
and addiction can be found in the APA Practice Guideline
for the Treatment of Patients With Substance Use Disorders,
available from American Psychiatric Press for $22.95
plus shipping and handling. Also available for those
wishing to quit smoking is the Practice Guideline for
the Treatment of Patients With Nicotine Dependence.
Call 1-800-368-5777 for more information or to order.
Other
Sources of Information
Al-Anon
Family Group
National Referral Hotline
800-344-2666
Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA)—Worldwide
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10115
212-870-3400
American
Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
7301 Mission Road, Suite 252
Prairie Village, KS 66208
913-262-6161
E-mail: addicpsych@aol.com
American
Society of Addiction Medicine
4601 North Park Avenue
Suite 101, Upper Arcade
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301-656-3920
E-mail: asamoffice@aol.com
Drug
Abuse Information and Treatment Referral Line
800-662-HELP; Spanish 800-66-AYUDA
Narcotics Anonymous and Nar-Anon Family Group
Nationwide referral line: 202-399-5316
National
Alcohol Screening Day
(Project Headquarters)
781-239-0071
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
P.O. Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847-2345
800-729-6686
www.help.org
National
Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
12 West 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
800-622-2255 or 800-475-4673
www.ncadd.org
National
Institute on Drug Abuse
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10-05
Rockville, MD 20857
NATIONWIDE HELPLINE: 800-662-HELP
www.nida.nih.gov
©
Copyright 1999 American Psychiatric Association
|
