Alcohol is considered a legal type of drug, since it has effects on the body and brain but can be obtained easily by anyone of legal drinking age. Alcohol and other drugs, both legal and illegal, can be abused or become addictive, although some hold more dangers than others. Drug and alcohol detoxification programs and support groups can help someone addicted to drugs stop using and reintegrate into society after treatment.
If you or a loved one are contemplating inpatient rehab treatment for physical or behavioral health, you will be considered a resident at the facility you and your health care provider choose. Your doctor will order your admiss...
Substance abuse rehabilitation programs are increasingly resorting to traditional forms of healing to treat alcohol and drug abuse. Research on the effects of these approaches illustrates the utility of the often less expensive...
Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem facing all ages, leading to serious physical and mental health problems. There is a fine line between abuse and addiction, and it is important to recognize the symptoms of abuse, in order to ...
Reasons for using mind-altering substances vary but can include relaxation, increased alertness and recreation. Alcohol, perhaps the world's most popular drug, also falls into the category of mind-altering substances. In genera...
Alcohol and drug abuse are costly---not only for the users, but for America in general. In fact, half a trillion dollars are lost annually due to health, crime-related expenses and productivity losses, according to the National...
She later felt that she might have refused the PCP if she "hadn't already been a little wasted" from drinking. Chemical abuse injures not only the body and mind, but also relationships and responsibilities.
Abuse among couples and in families is often related to drug addiction and alcoholism. Women and children are often the most vulnerable to the impact of drug and alcohol abuse. The Journal of the American Medical Association (J...
Alcohol and drug use in adolescence can lead to development delays in addition to creating a host of other problems for teenagers. According to the University of Minnesota, teenage alcohol and drug abuse is a major social ill t...
Alcohol and drug addiction are perplexing problems impacting individuals, families and society in growing prominence over the last three decades. The stigma of addiction remains problematic for society as a whole because of mis...
Casual use of drugs or alcohol can develop into abuse for many people, increasing difficulty to stop use of the drug and causing problems that may become dangerous. Life-changing consequences destroy families, relationships, fr...
Juvenile alcohol and drug abuse is a major health concern, because both can eventually lead to accidents, diseases, mental problems, overdoses and physical disabilities. In fact, young people who abuse substances have a higher ...
Family Interventions are often staged to deal with alcohol or drug abuse. Interventions can also be useful in situations involving addictions such as gambling. Because of patient confidentiality laws family intervention success...
No one who is part of a family where a member abuses alcohol or drugs remains unaffected. Potential consequences of alcohol or drug abuse on the family include both immediate and long-term effects. The National Institute on D...
According to CharityGuide.org, children who have formed positive relationships with adults are 46 percent less likely to engage in drug use and 27 percent less likely to start abusing alcohol. Becoming a mentor lets you provide...
Teens today face different issues than their parents dealt with. Some issues are the same, including peer pressure, alcohol and drug use and sexuality, but due to changes in technology, teens today also face cyber-bullying, "se...
Regardless of the harm their addiction brings their way, they forge ahead with their negative behavior. Both drug abuse and alcoholism are examples of addiction, with each having their own causes or risk factors. Ironically, th...
Detecting drugs on a drug screen depends on the type of screen performed. Urine, blood, hair, sweat and saliva panels detect sets of drug metabolites. Urine drug screens are the most common and are usually set up to detect dru...
Alcohol and drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, is a challenging problem. An affected person typically becomes dependent on these substances and will take whatever steps necessary to obtain them. With a commitment to bec...
Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, "Children raised in families with high rates of conflict appear at risk for both delinquency and illicit drug use." Adding d...
Hyperkalemia or high potassium is caused by conditions such as kidney failure that reduces the amount of potassium excreted by the body. Other possible causes of hyperkalemia include burns, injury, gastrointestinal bleeding, dr...
Teenagers are constantly trying to become their own person and test the boundaries that authority figures have set in place for them. Sometimes, these types of behaviors lead to experimentation with alcohol and drugs, which can...
Alcohol is a drug with uses, side effects and the potential for dependency. When combined with other medications it can reduce the effectiveness of some and potentiate, or increase the effects, of others. Some medicines that ma...
The abuse of alcohol and drugs can cause many serious medical conditions. Drug abuse can include the use of street drugs, as well as prescription drugs when they are not used in a manner prescribed by a physician. Drugs can b...
Alcohol or drug addiction differs from substance abuse primarily in that addicts experience increased tolerance when using, and withdrawal symptoms when not using. That is, they require higher dosages of the substance to achiev...
In addition, community support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, offer structured support for people who want to abstain from alcohol or drugs.
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs occurs in nearly every demographic group. The effects of addiction on an individual can be devastating, or even deadly. Careers, family relationships and self-esteem have all been destroyed...
Drug and alcohol abuse occurs when a person has an overwhelming need or desire to consume the substance of choice. The person may begin to feel the substance is more important than anything else in her life. According to HelpGu...
Alcohol abuse is a major public health problem. It is estimated by the National Institutes of Health that about 15 percent of Americans abuse alcohol. Ten percent of male drinkers and 5 percent of female drinkers can be charact...
Family intervention strategies are often used to motivate a loved one to seek treatment for alcohol or drug abuse or other addictive behaviors such as compulsive gambling and eating disorders. Although intervention is designed ...
Chemical dependency affects the entire family and other relationships because it causes everyday problems through negative behaviors associated with the influence of the drug, whether alcohol or some other substance. Behaviors ...
Many drug and alcohol prevention programs are developed for children between kindergarten and college age. The reasons are clear. Twenty-nine percent of teens in treatment, according to an Above the Influence report, are depend...
Increasingly, children are using drugs and alcohol at alarming rates. Research-based drug and alcohol programs have been developed to help people of all ages develop skills they need to resist engaging in behaviors that could l...
According to Sharon C. Ekleberry, MSW, LCSW, LSATP, an expert on co-occurring disorders, avoidant personality falls under the category of cluster C in personality disorders.This cluster is prone to co-occurring substance abuse ...
The Mayo Clinic says that symptoms of chronic alcohol abuse include drinking in secret or alone, feeling a strong need to drink, irritability, and being unable to control the amount of alcohol consumed. Fortunately, some common...
Alcohol and drug abuse occurs when a person uses mind-altering substances in a reckless or irresponsible manner. Many factors may play a role in substance abuse, such as genetic influences, childhood trauma and underlying ment...
Dual diagnosis refers to people who are suffering from a mental illness as well as being a substance abuser. Drug Rehab reports that about half of people with a mental disorder use alcohol or drugs as well. Being dually diagnos...
Alcohol and drug abuse refers to the misuse of alcohol and prescription or illicit drugs. Substance abuse shares many characteristics with addiction and often leads to long-term addiction and other health problems. Learning to ...
Patients suffering from a mental disorder along with an alcohol or drug problem have a condition described as a dual diagnosis, explains MedlinePlus. Substance abuse problems often occur with depression, anxiety disorders, pers...
A disease that does not arise due infectious process is termed as a non-communicable disease (NCD). Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse, environment and psychological conditions are primarily re...
Mentally ill substance abusers represent a largely unmet challenge in primary care, mental health, and drug and alcohol treatment settings. Although dually diagnosed patients seek services in a variety of places, they remain tr...
A sociopath exhibits dysfunctional behavior in regards to others. He frequently violates the law, lies, becomes violent and may abuse alcohol or drugs. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th...
The effect of drug and alcohol abuse on a family is evident whether a child is abusing drugs or a parent is abusing. Family structures have become more complex and the effects of drug abuse on families will also be impacted by ...
Substance abuse is a common problem that can affect any person, family or community. Drug and alcohol use has serious physical, mental and emotional consequences and can hurt not just the user but also those surrounding him. Be...
Drug and alcohol abuse are serious behaviors that, if left untreated, can develop into drug dependence or alcoholism. Abusing drugs that are addictive, such as heroin, can quickly lead to a drug addiction, according to the Mayo...
The March of Dimes says identifying which substances are related to specific fetal risks is difficult, due to the fact that women who use one illicit drug often use multiple substances. Drug abuse and alcohol abuse can be preve...
After noticing unexplainable behavior changes, mood swings and other signs of drug or alcohol addiction, you may be able to help someone with drug and alcohol abuse problems. There are resources available to assist you. While y...
Alcohol also constricts the maternal blood vessels, lowering the amount of oxygen and nutrients delivered to the fetus. The result is termed "fetal alcohol syndrome disorder" which is an umbrella term used to cover any combinat...
While everyone is anxious for the baby to arrive, early birth can possibly cause problems for the baby such as impaired brain function and respiratory and digestive trouble. The American Pregnancy Association lists risks factor...
Any type of drug or alcohol abuse or a combination of the two is often referred to as substance abuse. This is a widespread problem throughout the world and affects men, women and teenagers. When the alcohol and drug abuse gets...
According to the Addiction Severity Index synopsis by the National Institutes of Health, the questionnaire takes between 50 minutes to an hour to complete. The questions of the Addiction Severity Index covers medical status, em...
