The Latest Facts About Drug Abuse

One of the serious evils of our age is Drug addiction. It is a problem that is affecting thousands of our young people, mainly because they are not aware of the dangers. What do we mean by the term, drug addiction? Actually, it is a state of intoxication resulting from the habitual use of some drugs or medicine. This brings about certain changes in the individual which are detrimental to his health and also the society.

The causes of drug addiction are wide and varied. The key to stopping drug addiction is to get rid of those causes before they become a problem. People who have a history of drug use or abuse in their generation are at risk for drug addiction problems. It has been scientifically proven that children of drug addicts will exhibit addictive tendencies as people who are addicted to drugs usually follow set patterns. They all have an overwhelming desire or compulsion to continue taking the drug. They will obtain it by any means; allowing nothing to stand in their way.

Children of drug addicts or alcoholics generally have low self –esteem, and see their parents escaping from problems using drugs. When they see this, their mindset will make them to believe that this is the way to act as their parents are practicing it.

Another cause of drug addiction is Stress. No matter whom you are, life can be very stressful. Some of us are better able to cope with stress than others. Others still just look for an easy way to forget their stress—and that easy way is through drugs. Once the use of drugs starts, it’s often difficult to get away from it because the user feels he or she needs more drugs to cope. That type of cycle leads to addiction. The habit-forming drugs most frequently used by addicts are Morphine, heroin, dilaudid, and other products derived from Opium. In Oriental lands, the crude opium is used. In addition there are certain synthetic drugs, such as Demerol, pethidine, Dolophine (Methadone), and Dromoran, all of which are capable of causing addiction.

Some people are more prone to addiction than others. How do people become addicted in the first place? Not everyone who takes pain-killing drugs become addicted to them. However, almost anyone could become addicted to narcotics if he continues to use them for a long enough period of time. A narcotic is a sleep producing drug. Alcohol belongs in this class. People with low self esteem are often depressed, they feel, that they don’t have self control over their lives; and as such, often turn to drugs as a way to cope. They often feel they can’t please the people around them, so they have to change themselves in order to fit in. The transformation is made easier by using drugs, which in turn makes them feel high; thus transforming them into something that they are not.

Perhaps, another major cause of drug addiction is biological in nature; as drugs alter the brain’s chemicals and the way the brain functions. Drug addiction creates dependence in the brain by changing the brains reward functions-the part that reinforces certain behaviors.

Finally, drugs are easily accessible. They are available in many places, If you just ask around for them, because people become addicted to prescription drugs as they usually take them to overcome some type of pain. They begin to feel that if they are not taking their pills, the pain will return. Prescription drug addiction is caused by the person’s inability to function without the drugs in their system.