It may begin out of curiosity. Or perhaps it's due to peer pressure. For some, it's a matter of experimenting with something new that appears exciting. All of these can lead to drug addiction, according to HelpGuide.org. The site defines addiction...
Alcohol is one of the most widely abused substances in the world accounting for nearly 75,000 deaths a year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Illicit drug use is also problematic on a variety of levels with the drug...
Although drug abusers often attempt to hide their problem, friends can spot the warning signs. Unexplained weight gain or loss or a deteriorating physical appearance are some physical warning signs, while psychological warning signs include an...
The Zuni Pueblo is located in a remote area of New Mexico, bordering Arizona and 150 miles west of Albuquerque. The Zuni Pueblo's rural isolation makes it an easy target for drug trafficking. Crystal meth is a common drug among teenagers in all...
Individuals with drug and alcohol problems are assessed using a combination of techniques that determine the extent and type of substance-related problems. The information obtained is used to create a comprehensive assessment. The results from...
If your friend is acting moody, becomes easily irritable, isolates himself and spends a lot of time obtaining and using alcohol or drugs, he might be abusing drugs. Friends of someone who is abusing drugs have to understand that they can't change...
Being overweight can increase your risk of developing many different problems, including heart disease as extra weight can increase your blood pressure and cause atherosclerosis. Consequently, losing excess weight is one of the best things you can...
The digestive system functions to break down large food particles into small molecules the body can absorb. The organs of the digestive system include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. Many...
Although cholesterol-lowering medications can be effective for lowering your cholesterol, unpleasant side effects can accompany them, some more serious than others. One of the more serious is liver damage, a side effect most commonly seen with...
A large amount of cholesterol is found in your skin. It helps retain moisture and keep out toxins. It's no wonder then that both elevated blood cholesterol and cholesterol medications also affect your skin. One major source of complaints regarding...
Drugs abuse can involve illegal, prescription and over-the-counter drugs. PeaceHealth estimates that in the United States and Canada, approximately 40 percent of adults will use an illegal drug. Using excessive amounts of these drugs affect the...
Difficulty breathing, or dyspnea, can be mild to severe and is a common symptom of many diseases. Medical conditions associated with dyspnea include pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure. Additional testing...
Abusing drugs, whether illegally obtained or prescribed legally, is often the origin of debilitating health conditions. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation goes so far as to claim that substance abuse is the cause of "more deaths, illnesses and...
The liver cleanses the body of foreign substances, produces blood clotting factors, aids in food digestion and metabolizes most drugs. Viral infections, alcohol abuse, toxic poisoning, and autoimmune disease are potential causes of liver injury....
According to the American Geriatrics Society, breathing problems such as shortness of breath, discomfort in chest, coughing and wheezing, often have causes in underlying illnesses. These respiratory illnesses include chronic bronchitis, asthma and...
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies in front of the windpipe just above the collarbone, says the Hormone Foundation. It secretes two hormones directly into the blood, and these hormones control the rate of your metabolism and the...
The two main forms of memory are declarative memory and procedural memory. Declarative memory is memory of past events and facts, whereas procedural memory is memory of how to carry out routine-based tasks, such as the memory of how to ride a...
More than 60 years of data collection and scientific research have revealed that a high serum cholesterol level, also known as hypercholesterolemia, increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. The Framingham Heart Study, initiated in 1948 and...
If you have high cholesterol and dietary and lifestyle changes that have proven inadequate, your doctor may recommend drug therapy. While cholesterol-lowering drugs can help lower your cholesterol levels, they do not come without risk. Some may...
Doctors face growing challenges treating infant addicts and their mothers. In 2010 Maine's two largest hospitals reported treating or observing 276 infants for neonatal abstinence syndrome -- withdrawal from opiates to which they were exposed in...
Involvement in alcohol and drug use at an early age can result in harmful long-term effects in a person's life. The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports the earlier drug use is started, the more likely problems will develop later. The...
Drug abuse is easily identified if you allow yourself to be aware of the individual’s behaviors. Many times, people in the drug abuser's life choose to remain in denial about the abuse until it becomes fully apparent. Drug abuse can control...
Drug abuse is a problem on individual and societal levels. It affects the success of individuals and the production they give back to society. Intervening in drug problems can save lives and money. According to the National Institute on Drug...
Drug and alcohol problems do not have to control your life. Treatment can help you eliminate the devastating influence of alcohol and drugs. According to "The Minnesota Model" by Jerry Spicer, addiction is a disease that can be effectively...
The drug landscape has likely changed since you were a child, depending on your age. They may not be in the public eye as much as they were in the coke-filled 1970s and 1980s, but production has increased nonetheless. Potency of many drugs,...
Drug abuse rarely has any positive outcomes and when children are involved in a situation with drug abuse, the consequences can continue to affect the child throughout her lifetime. When children are raised by people who abuse drugs, their basic...
According to the 'Lectric Law Library, about 70 percent of substance abusers work in full or part-time jobs, making it important to recognize the signs of drug abuse for employers. With 1 in 12 employees possibly involved in illegal drug use,...
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is a process of moving from active use to active sobriety. Clients typically move through several stages, from impaired awareness to taking personal responsibility to maintain sobriety. Clients are not encouraged to...
Often, those who have ADHD have drug dependency problems. Learn tips for coping with ADHD and other habits in this free video clip from a medical professional.
Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an psychiatric disorder most often associated with any serious psychological trauma. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatments for PTSD in this medical video.
Medical shock is a serious circulatory condition not to be confused with emotional shock or surprise. Learn more about shock health in this health video.
A concussion is any disturbance in brain function caused by trauma or injury. Learn how to treat a concussion and stay fit in this sports medicine video.