There are many different classes and families of drugs, all of which have a different effect on the central nervous system (CNS). Alcohol is a depressant; like other depressants it has a dampening effect on the CNS. The dampening effect results in reduced cognitive ability, motor coordination, and decreased reaction time. In contrast to depressants, stimulants work to increase CNS activity. Stimulants include prescription drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder and illegal drugs such as methamphetamines. Opiates and opioids are another family of drugs that are most commonly used to treat pain. Morphine is the opiate taken from the opium poppy plant; it is still used in hospitals to treat moderate to severe pain. Heroin and codeine are two other drugs from the same family.
No matter the drug or substance, the signs and symptoms of addiction are highly similar. In every case, drug addiction involves continued use of the drug or substance even with the knowledge that it is causing physical, psychological, and social problems. An individual with a drug addiction may neglect his or her regular responsibilities, such as family, work, or school, and give up on activities that he or she once enjoyed. The drug takes over to the point that it takes up all of his or her time. Someone who has a drug addiction experiences tolerance, meaning that they need to take a higher dosage or quantity of the drug to experience the high. In the absence of the drug, withdrawal symptoms appear. The drug-addicted individual has no control over his or her use of the substance.
Problem drinking affected approximately 17 million American adults over the age of eighteen in 2012, accounting for more than 7% of the adult population. Problem drinking is more likely to affect men than women, with 11.2 million men and 5.7 million women respectively affected. Those under the age of eighteen can also receive a diagnosis. […]
Drug addiction is a complex disease that involves both physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms. Overcoming drug addiction is much more than a matter of choosing to quit taking drugs. It is not about willpower or making ethical decisions. Prolonged drug use actually changes the chemicals and structures of the brain, stacking the odds against the […]
Most people tend to overeat from time to time – say, at a dinner out at a restaurant or on special occasions it might be easy to justify continuing to eat even after you feel full. A food addiction, also known as binge eating or compulsive overeating, is far more severe. A binge eater regularly […]
Gambling is an activity that involves risking something of value, most often money, with the expectation of getting something of higher value. Also known as compulsive gambling or gambling disorder, a gambling addiction occurs when an individual cannot stop gambling in spite of damaging outcomes. As with drugs and alcohol, gambling stimulates the brain’s reward […]
Marijuana – also referred to as weed, pot, grass, Mary Jane, MJ, cannabis, or ganga – comes from the dried leaves, stems, flowers, and seeds of the hemp plant. It is most often smoked, either rolled in a joint or out of a pipe or a water pipe, called a bong. A blunt is made […]
Opiates and opioids are a family of drugs that are commonly used to relieve pain. Some are directly derived from opium, found in the poppy plant – these substances are called opiates. Others are made synthetically, mimicking the chemical structure of natural opiates. They are called opioids. Opiates and opioids are some of the most […]
Just as an individual may become dependent on substances, behaviors can also be a source of dependence. Sex or sexual addiction is a disorder that involves persistent thoughts about sexual behaviors. The sufferer may spend the majority of his or her time thinking about, engaging in, or recovering from sexual behaviors. Addictive acts may include […]
Stimulants, also called psychostimulants, are a class of psychoactive drugs that increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and blood sugar levels. Physical and psychological effects of stimulants may include increased alertness, energy, wakefulness, and/or locomotion, and in some cases, euphoria. Stimulants are often referred to as “uppers” because they create an uplifting emotional and […]