- 22.7 million
- Americans needed treatment for a drug or alcohol problem in 2013
- 2.5 million
- Americans received treatment for a drug or alcohol abuse problem at a specialty facility in 2013
- 27 million
- Americans 12 or older were current illicit drug users in 2014
- 2.5 percent
- of Americans 12 or older misused pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants or sedatives in 2013
Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease. It tricks the brain into thinking that drugs are essential despite negative consequences. Addiction compels individuals to go to great lengths to acquire their drugs of abuse.
In 2013, more than half of new illicit drug users were under 18 years of age, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. While initial drug use is voluntary and typically begins with experimentation, repeated use can affect a person’s self-control, inducing cravings. These cravings often drive an ongoing addiction.
Types of Addictive Drugs
Illicit drug use has been on the rise since 2002.
According to a 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health report, 10.2 percent of the American population were past month users of illicit drugs, with marijuana and prescription opioid misuse leading the charts.
Illicit drugs comprise opioids, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens and cannabis.
Opioids
The term opioids describes natural opiates, such as morphine, and synthetic drugs made from opium. These drugs are used medically as pain relievers. They work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and other organs in the body, reducing an individual’s perception of pain. Opioids include heroin and opium as well as prescription medications such as fentanyl, oxycodone and methadone.
- Heroin
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
Given the high potential for abuse of opioids, prolonged misuse of heroin or prescription drugs may lead to an opioid use disorder.
Signs of an Opioid Drug Addiction
Nearly 2.5 million Americans 12 or older suffered from an opioid use disorder in 2014, per ASAM. Opioid addiction may weaken an individual’s immune system, and it causes gastrointestinal issues that can lead to malnutrition.
- Drowsiness
- Constricted pupils
- Slurred speech
- Respiratory depression
- Coma
In some cases, opioid users will experience withdrawal symptoms. These include nausea, sleeplessness, restlessness, pain and drug cravings.
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Heroin
Heroin, an illegal opioid synthesized from morphine, claimed the lives of 10,574 Americans in 2014. Because it is the fastest-acting opiate, heroin has a high potential for abuse. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), an estimated 23 percent of heroin users become addicted to opioids.
Physical dependence on the drug often causes long-term heroin users to experience traumatic withdrawal effects if they do not get the regular dosage. Heroin also poses serious public health threats; needle sharing and other unhygienic behaviors put people at a higher risk of contracting hepatitis, HIV or AIDS.
Depressants
Depressants, also known as CNS depressants, slow down brain activity to put the body in a state of extreme relaxation. Misuse occurs when people take high doses to achieve euphoria or use the drugs with alcohol or other drugs to enhance their effects. Sexual predators also use depressants such as GHB and Rohypnol to take advantage of their victims.
Depressant abuse may slow down the user’s breathing enough to cause death.
Signs of a Depressant Drug Addiction
People are quick to develop a tolerance to CNS depressants when they are used for a long time. Abruptly halting their use may lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Amnesia
- Reduced reaction time
- Weakness, headache and lightheadedness
- Impaired judgment
- Slurred speech
- Slowed breathing
Due to the life-threatening withdrawal symptoms of depressants, people should seek professional help to ease themselves off the drug safely.
Stimulants
Stimulants make people more attentive, alert and energetic. Typically used to treat conditions such as ADHD and narcolepsy, stimulants have a high potential for abuse. A stimulant addiction may lead to dangerously high fevers, cardiovascular failure or seizures.
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- Methamphetamine
Stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin are popular among students, who use them to enhance their academic performance.
Signs of a Stimulant Drug Addiction
Stimulant users tend to develop a rapid tolerance to the drugs. Addiction occurs when people become fixated on achieving the same high they did the first time they took a stimulant. However, this behavior may put them at risk of overdosing.
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Headache
- Excessive sweating
- Vomiting and abdominal cramps
Long-term abuse of stimulants may cause hostility, paranoia and psychosis.
Hallucinogens
Naturally or synthetically derived, hallucinogens cause sensory distortions. Although little is known about hallucinogen dependence, prolonged use may cause people to experience hallucination flashbacks long after taking these drugs.
- Ecstasy (MDMA)
- K2 (Spice)
- LSD
- Ketamine
- Psilocybin (mushrooms)
- Peyote (mescaline)
Hallucinogens such as LSD and MDMA are popular among high school students.
Signs of a Hallucinogen Drug Addiction
The effects of hallucinogens may start within the first hour and a half of consumption. They can last from six to 12 hours.
- Dry mouth
- Spiritual experiences
- Excessive sweating
- Panic
- High blood pressure or body temperature
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
Some hallucinogens, such as PCP, can be addictive and present withdrawal symptoms.
Cannabis
Primarily consumed as marijuana, cannabis is a sedative with hallucinogenic properties. Marijuana use has soared since 2007. A SAMHSA survey on drug use found that 19.8 million Americans admitted to being current marijuana users in 2013 compared to 14.5 million people in 2007. More than 50 percent of new illicit drug users start with marijuana.
Researchers have associated cannabis use with brain damage and memory impairment. According to their reports, the continual use of marijuana contributes to slow reaction times and mental processes.
Signs of a Cannabis Drug Addiction
One of the obvious signs of a cannabis use is the smell. Users tend to mask the scent using cologne, incense or perfume.
- Daily or long-time use
- Continued use even when it interferes with daily life
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug
Users can experience withdrawal symptoms in the form of mood swings, nervousness, sleeping troubles and cravings.
Signs of a Drug Addiction
The signs of addiction vary from drug to drug. Some drugs take longer to produce noticeable symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms blend in with normal behaviors, making it difficult to tell that the person is addicted. Common signs of addiction include needle marks on the arms of people who inject drugs and constant nose sores on people who snort drugs.
General signs of a drug addiction
| Behavioral Symptoms |
Physical Symptoms |
| Fluctuation in energy levels |
Drowsiness and nausea |
| Aggressive mood swings |
Slurred speech and memory trouble |
| Distance from family and friends |
Lack of awareness and coordination |
| Questionable new friends |
Confusion, anxiety and depression |
| Chronic health issues that worsen with drug use |
Red eyes with constricted or dilated pupils |
| Desire to continually use drugs despite consequences |
High blood pressure and breathing issues |
| Violation of morals and values to acquire the drug |
Chills, sweating and tremors |
| Negative effects on professional and personal life |
Hallucinations, delusions or paranoia |
| Cravings and withdrawal symptoms |
Involuntary twitching of the eye |
Identifying a drug problem is often the first step toward recovery. However, because of the severe withdrawal symptoms of some drugs, people should seek professional help to aid in their recovery.
Why Do People Use Drugs?
People use drugs for various reasons, but they do not start taking drugs with the intention of becoming dependent on them. Although the first-time use is voluntary, continual use is often the result of physical changes in the brain.
Drugs affect the brain’s reward system by producing an excess of dopamine, the chemical responsible for pleasurable feelings. Our brains are wired to make sure we repeat rewarding activities, including those associated with drug use. Feelings of pleasure from drug use cause the brain to associate drugs with rewards, which causes cravings.
- Feeling good
- Self-medicating
- Enhancing performance
- Fitting in
Over time, drug use can diminish self-control, making it difficult for people to stop.
Environmental Factors
Drugs provide a temporary sense of accomplishment, euphoric sensations and an overall feeling of self-confidence and satisfaction. Numerous factors at home or school can promote drug abuse.
Parental behaviors play an important role in whether a child experiments with drugs later in life. An unstable family environment with a lack of parental supervision often leads to neglected children. Quality of life can also influence drug addiction. Living in an impoverished community can increase the risk for drug abuse.
People ridden with stress and anxiety may feel the need to self-medicate with cannabis, stimulants or other drugs to lessen their worries. They assume that regular consumption of a drug will alleviate their problems. Similarly, some students and athletes take performance-enhancing drugs to keep up with the pressure of consistently playing well.
Adolescents are vulnerable to social pressure from their substance-using peers. Teens are impressionable and spend a lot of time with their peers. Those who use drugs often push their peers to experiment. According to NIDA, the majority of first-time drug users are in their teens.
Biological Factors
According to NIDA, genetic factors are responsible for 40 to 60 percent of a person’s vulnerability to drug addiction. Studies show that a person’s predisposition to drug addiction positively correlates to their degree of genetic similarity to a relative who has a history of drug dependence or addiction. Mental disorders and medical conditions are also risk factors.
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Consequences of Drug Abuse
Substance abuse has negative consequences that affect more than just the individual. Illicit drugs cost the United States about $193 billion every year in lost productivity, health costs and crime-related costs.
Health
The most direct repercussion of drug abuse is a decline in health. Death is the ultimate price of a substance use disorder. There is a drug-induced death in the United States every 13 minutes, according to a 2014 report by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
One of the major health concerns related to drug use is a lack of hygienic practices, which can lead to the contraction of HIV, AIDS and hepatitis.
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Cancer
- Lung disease
- Mental disorders
- Neonatal abstinence syndrome (withdrawal symptoms in the babies of drug addicts)
In 2011, more than 1.3 million patients visited the emergency department for a drug-related incident. Cocaine was involved in more than half a million visits.
Society
Illicit drug use and production have a negative impact on society and the environment.
- Chemical toxicity risks to people who live nearby
- Risk of fire or explosion to houses in the immediate vicinity
- Long-term effects of toxic waste on the environment
Cleaning a laboratory that produces methamphetamines is costly. Rehabilitating children who have been exposed to chemicals used to make meth requires special training and resources. This takes time and labor that officials could spend on other issues.
Drug users rarely consider the dangers of improperly disposing of drugs or paraphernalia. The disposal of needles and drug-related materials contributes to environmental pollution.
Illicit drug users need intensive treatment after prolonged drug use. In 2012, 23.1 million substance users needed treatment, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Treatment for drug addiction can affect the cost of social services and government resources, increasing the burden on taxpayers.
Relationships
New behavioral patterns that stem from drug use can harm relationships. Procuring their drug of choice becomes the drug user’s primary concern. This often leads them to steal from their friends, family or workplace to afford more drugs, which damages trust among their peers.
Parents who use drugs often neglect or abuse their children. Poor familial conditions are harmful to children and may pave the way for future drug use.
Teenage drug abusers rarely graduate from school as a result of poor academic performance. Their academic and social skills suffer, causing tension within the family. They often distance themselves from friends and gravitate toward their substance-using peers.
Legal
Drug addiction can predispose people to commit crimes. It is illegal to acquire or possess illicit drugs, and people often resort to theft or other crimes to pay for them.
Research shows drug use is more common among arrestees than the general population. The Office of National Drug Control Policy reported that 63 to 83 percent of people arrested in five major metropolitan areas in 2013 tested positive for at least one illicit drug. The three most common drugs present during tests were marijuana, cocaine and opiates, and many people tested positive for multiple drugs.
Furthermore, a 2004 Bureau of Justice Statistics survey among inmates in correctional facilities showed that 32 percent of state inmates and 26 percent of federal prisoners revealed that they were under the influence of drugs when they committed the offense for which they were arrested.
