The primary differences between drug abuse and drug dependence revolve around withdrawal and tolerance. Other distinctions exist as well. Most drug assessments such as the CAGE and the AA 20 assess whether someone has a problem with drugs or...
Parents who are addicted to drugs and alcohol are more likely to abuse their children through methods of physical violence or neglect. The Child Welfare League of America explains that over 8 million children live with parents who are substance...
Teenage drug use is wide-ranging, and the popularity of specific drugs varies with each generations. According to the Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base, common reasons for this variance include perceived benefits of drug use, availability...
Most adolescents will try drugs or alcohol at some point during their high school years. While for many teenagers the experience will never progress past occasional experimentation and use with friends, for others, it's the starting point for the...
Substance abuse and chemical dependency can have a devastating effect on the individual and the family. Often the individual enters a rehab facility, where he undergoes some form of treatment, and leaves only to return a few months later....
Opiates are a commonly abused drug because of their ability to cause an elevated sense of well-being and euphoria (often referred to as a high). Repeated opiate abuse leads to opiate tolerance (in which increasing amounts of the drug are required...
Your body depends on the work of involuntary muscles (such as your heart) and voluntary muscles (such as the major skeletal muscles in your arms and legs) to perform the mechanical actions of your body. When using a muscle relaxant, the medication...
Skeletal muscles most commonly spasm in response to an acute injury or as a consequence of misuse or overuse. They can also occur as a side effect of prescribed medications and as a result of chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral...
The advanced stage of alcohol abuse may bring an increasing need to drink to achieve the desired effect, if the heavy drinker is unable to gain control over drinking. Alcohol abuse may lead to increased alcohol-related illnesses, but the drinking...
Histinex is a nasal decongestant and antihistamine that contains phenylephrine and hydrocodone. Patients use Histinex to ease coughs and nasal congestion from allergies or colds. It is administered as a syrup. As with all antihistamines, Histinex...
Back pain affects nearly six percent of Americans every day and leads to more physician visits than any other condition with the exception of upper respiratory infection, according to American Family Physician. Although muscle relaxants are...
Muscle relaxants are widely utilized in the treatment of both acute, self-limited conditions and chronic diseases in order to help alleviate pain from muscle spasms and help return a patient to his previous level of activity. They are prescribed...
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD, is the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ADHD can disrupt life, and many people seek treatment to...
Whether taking pain pills for a severe condition such as cancer or using the pills occasionally for minor pains, there is a trade-off. Most pain pills, such as opioids, muscle relaxers and antidepressants have side effects that can become...
It is clear that continuous or steady drinking of alcoholic beverages can produce a dependence over time. While it is possible for anyone who does not drink in moderation to become an alcoholic, there are certain risk factors that can increase the...
In 2005, Mary G. McKinley, RN, wrote in the journal "Critical Care Nurse," that an estimated 27 percent of Americans misuse alcohol. Alcoholism, according to the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, is a chronic disease. Having a strong desire to...
Alcohol use by adolescents runs the spectrum from one-time experimentation to problematic use to full-blown alcoholism. Teens who find themselves repeatedly drinking to excess and getting in trouble with the law, at school or at home may require...
The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates 20.1 million Americans currently use illicit drugs. This number includes people using prescription drugs for non-medicinal purposes. The kinds of drugs people abuse are grouped into...
Anxiety disorders are common and can be quite troublesome. Fortunately, there are numerous medicinal options for treatment. The group of anxiety disorders includes post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Youth who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after 21 years."...
Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is a common side effect of certain drugs. The condition is characterized by decrease in saliva with difficulty tasting, chewing and swallowing dry foods. Some people with dry mouth may be sensitive to salty,...
The negative impact early childhood has on many people may influence their use of drugs later on in adulthood. However, some cases of drug abuse may arise from other factors, such as stress or emotional issues. Parents, teachers and other...
Nerve pain is a form of neuropathy, the general term for a nerve disorder. Neuropathic pain typically arises when inflammation, infection, metabolic disturbances or physical degeneration provokes repetitive pain signaling to the brain. Sensory...
Depressants, also known as sedative-hypnotic drugs or "downers," are chemical substances that depress the central nervous system (CNS). Many of these drugs are legitimate pharmaceuticals that are obtained and used illegally. Depressant users are...
Many diet pills contain stimulants, which are added for their appetite-suppressant properties as well as the metabolic boost they provide. While you may find certain stimulants beneficial when used in moderation, some are associated with...
Anxiety is a common and potentially devastating behavioral health problem. While the symptoms are similar in kind to ordinary nervousness, they are much more severe and significantly impede normal functioning. Insomnia is a symptom commonly...
Soma is the trade name for the prescription medication carisoprodol. Soma is only approved for use in adults and should only be used for short periods no longer than two or three weeks at a time. Soma was first approved by the Food and Drug...
Combining a well-balanced diet with regular physical activity is the healthiest and most effective way to lose weight. However, you may benefit from using a prescribed weight-loss medicine if you have a weight-related health problem and you...
Substance abuse is a condition where physical dependence on a substance is present and the illness affects the relationships of the people around the abuser, according to "Fundamentals of Mental Health Nursing" by Kathy Neeb. In 2008, the U.S....
