What is Drug Abuse?

Drug abuse can be defined as the habitual misuse of a chemical substance including illegal drugs, prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs.  Habitual misuse of an addictive substance can lead to drug addiction. Drug addiction is the compulsive use of psychoactive drugs to the point where the user no longer has a choice but to continue taking the drug.

Some of the most commonly abused drugs include alcohol , cannabis, cocaine, opiates and tobacco.  Depending on the actual compound of the drug, drug and alcohol addiction may lead to health problems, social problems, physical dependence and psychological addiction.  The majority of drugs that are subject to abuse have a direct effect on the central nervous system, which produces changes in mood, levels of awareness or perceptions and sensations.

In 2005, an estimated 19.7 million Americans aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users, with marijuana being the most commonly used drug among persons over the age of 12.

In 2005, there were 2.4 million persons who were current cocaine users.

Slightly more than half of all Americans aged12 or older reported being current drinkers of alcohol (126 million people).
 
Criteria for determining substance abuse/dependence include the following:

1. Substance is taken in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than initially intended.
2. Person has a persistent desire for the drug and/or has had one or more unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance abuse.
3. A great deal of time is spent on trying to get the substance, taking the substance or recovering from the effects of the substance.
4. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities have been given up or reduced because of the substance abuse.
5. Person continues abusing the substance despite knowledge of having a problem that is caused by or exacerbated by the substance.
6. Person has an increasing tolerance to the substance.
7. Person may experience withdrawal symptoms.
8. Person will take the substance in order to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If an individual has three or more of the criteria listed above, and these criteria have persisted for at least one month, they have a substance abuse problem and should seek drug abuse and addiction treatment.

Treatments for a wide variety of drug abuse issues are readily available throughout the United States.  The type of treatment that an individual may need depends on the substance that they are abusing, how long they have been abusing and the amount of the substance that the user needs in order to achieve their “high.” A person with a substance abuse problem might benefit from in-patient or outpatient treatment, individual addiction counceling, family counseling, or participation in a support groups. A substance abuse professional would be able to make the best determination regarding the type of treatment that would be necessary for the specific addict.  For example: If an individual was a heavy alcoholic that had been abusing alcohol for over 10 years at more than 5 drinks per day, they would require some type of medical treatment in order to fully recover.  This individual would not be able to quit drinking cold turkey on their own without medical intervention.

Drug abuse is not just a problem for the abuser; it is a problem for society. If you or someone you know has a drug abuse problem, it is important for you to know that help is available. There are many drug rehabilitation programs and drug treatment facilities that can provide information and assistance.

Return to Drug Abuse Articles

There are many different types of centers for substance abuse treatment, like inpatient, outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment, to name a few. The appropriate center for substance abuse treatment depends largely upon the severity of the patient’s addiction and how receptive they are to the idea of receiving treatment.

• Inpatient – These centers for substance abuse treatment typically require short-term stays in a treatment facility. They involve support group meetings, individual, group and family therapy, along with self-empowerment education.
• Outpatient – These centers for substance abuse treatment are more cost-effective, suitable to the patient who needs to maintain a daily work schedule or simply does not want to leave family. The patient will be allowed to continue residing at home throughout treatment, so it is essential that the patient’s home environment be strongly supportive, substance-free home environment. Outpatient treatment is typically obtained by visiting a hospital or other centers for substance abuse treatment. This option involves a lot of the same therapy as inpatient treatment, only to a less intense degree.
• Partial hospitalization – Whereas an outpatient center for substance abuse treatment typically requires up to six hours of time each week, partial hospitalization can require up to 12 hours per day for three to seven days each week. These centers for substance abuse treatment are a combination of the inpatient and outpatient experiences, combining the cost-effectiveness of outpatient treatment with the intensity of inpatient stays.
• Self-help groups – Also known as “twelve-step programs,” these groups provide daily, weekly or monthly reinforcement and morale support to the addict during their recovery journey. Attendance levels are not mandated, but are an individual choice. These meetings are the most cost-effective treatment option and they typically integrate spiritual principles, although there are some meetings that do not. Though technically not a “center for substance abuse treatment,” these groups are an important supplement during and after a visit to such a center.
• Recovery homes – These centers for substance abuse treatment provide a structured, substance-free living environment for a recovering addict to stay when they are unable to find a similarly structured, positive environment elsewhere. Typically a three- to six-month stint, the recovery homes require residents (usually not more than a dozen at a time) to take on increasing levels of household responsibility. These programs also typically move residents toward finding work, completing education and attaining life goals