Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is the excessive use of drugs, whether illegal or legal drugs. Excessive and constant use of drugs can lead to tolerance, and then lead to dependency. Dependency on the drug then leads to drug addiction. Drug addiction is a persistent, deteriorating illness that involves consciously choosing to use a drug. Drugs are substances that interfere with the normal functions of the brain and the body, usually affecting metabolism. Drug addiction is uncontrollable urge to take a substance or drug for the purpose of experiencing its effects regardless of the circumstances or dangers posted to an individual and people around. It can likewise get to the point when the user needs to take the drug due to dependency on it.

There are many ways to categorize drugs. For example, they are categorized as either legal, illegal, prescription, over-the-counter, hard, or soft. Drugs are even ordered by the effects they produce, such as hallucinogens or stimulants, or even depressants.

Hallucinogens are drugs that change the way a person views reality and alters their experiencing of the world. Usually users of hallucinogens will see and hear things that do not really exist. Some may experience paranoia due to the drug activating psychological reactions. Some examples of hallucinogens are LSD’s, “shrooms” (or magic mushrooms), and ketamine.

Stimulants, meanwhile, increase the activity of both the brain and the central nervous system. They let the users feel greater confidence, increase in alertness and energy. Some of these drugs include cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, anabolic steroids, and nicotine.

Finally, depressants are the counterparts of the stimulants. They decrease the brain and central nervous system’s activity instead of increasing them. They impair the user’s coordination, balance, and judgment. Depressants include alcohol, tranquilizers, and heroin.

The addiction of drugs differs with the type of drug and each individual and can be measured in two categories. The first category is physical dependency. Physical dependency implies that the body has gotten use to the foreign chemical and needs it to continue functioning. Without the drug, the body will enter withdrawal symptoms. Psychological dependency means the mind relies on the drug’s effects and will lead to cravings when the drug is not present. The usual cases, however, suffer both dependencies.

Drug abuse is linked to many reasons. Some common reasons include escapism, the belief that drugs can solve problems, peer pressure, curiosity, enjoyment of effects, and availability of acceptable drugs. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, sweating, vomiting, tremors, and insomnia.

Treatment for drug addiction varies with the kinds of drugs and the types of users involved. Counseling and rehab centers are effective in some cases. Their aim is to help users eliminate their dependency on these drugs, to eliminate them from their lives.

Therapists use the many different therapies to help a patient. One method is the cognitive behaviorist theory. This therapy views the drug habit as a symptom of negative behavior, negative thought pattern, or a faulty coping-mechanism. Therapists using this method try to replace the learnt, maladaptive, negative behavior with healthy, positive behaviors through solution focusing techniques. But in most, if not all therapies, the first step to recovering is usually recognition of the problem.