Drug abuse is becoming increasingly prevalent in society. When thinking of drug abuse, first thoughts often drift to illicit substances such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine; however, prescription drugs can easily be abused as well....
Drug addiction generally begins as a voluntary choice to take drugs. Over time, however, brain alterations from the drugs affect an individual's ability to control impulses in regard to taking the drugs. The National Institute on Drug Addiction...
Drug addiction is destructive and insidious, not just in terms of its effect on the addict but for the suffering it inflicts on the loved ones and family. Though the addict may have no conscious intention of harming his companions and relatives,...
Drug addiction not only affects the addict but the entire family, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention reports. Family activities such as picnics, meal gatherings and playing board games may cease. Going to the mall, shopping, visiting...
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recognizes that addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. One of the symptoms is an uncontrollable desire to abuse drugs. Addiction is a progressive illness; with...
Codependency plays a part in the role of the spouse, parent or child in the family that has a drug addict. The codependent family member is almost as addicted as the drug addict; only the addiction is in learning to live life surrounded by drug...
Drug abuse has a number of negative effects on a family, which include tearing the family apart, loss of employment, failure in school, increasing domestic violence, child abuse, and other crimes. It is a complex disorder that often has other...
Drug abuse generally develops over time as a person's drug use increases. According to HelpGuide.org, the symptoms of drug abuse include using drugs despite the negative effect is it having on your responsibilities, engaging in high-risk behaviors...
The University of Pennsylvania Health System states that one out of every three families in the United States has an addicted family member and one out of every four American adults has some type of addiction. Addiction in a family can lead to...
The effects of long-term drug use are never limited to the addict and can have substantial and devastating effects on the user's families. These include eventually dissolving the family or physical, emotional and mental injury to family members....
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 Drug Abuse, or NIDA,...
The effects of substance or drug abuse on a family are multi-faceted, and effects may vary from family to family based on a myriad of factors. Despite this, families affected by drug abuse share one thing in common---they live in homes where...
Drug addiction is a major concern for communities, families and individuals. Everyone from adults to children can suffer the consequences of a drug addiction, whether illegal drugs or prescription medications. Drug addiction is defined as a...
Belonging to a family of drugs known as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, Effexor is an antidepressant that helps restore balance to chemicals in the brain, thus improving depressive disorders. According to Drugs.com,...
Balanitis is the infection of the foreskin and head of the penis characterized by soreness, irritation and discharge that can last for 2 to 3 days after intercourse. Balanitis may occur because of infectious and noninfectious causes. Poor hygiene,...
People turn to alcohol and drugs for various reasons---they might like the relaxing feeling or use them to forget about troubles in their lives. But when a person relies on drugs and alcohol and starts neglecting responsibilities, it becomes...
Attention deficit disorder (ADD) can interfere with productivity at school and work, and can affect a person's ability to interact with others. Medical treatment of ADD involves an approach that combines behavioral and pharmaceutical therapies....
In the midst of an obesity epidemic, weight loss is a primary health concern for millions of Americans. Amphetamines are a group of stimulant drugs that are sometimes prescribed for weight loss. While effective for reducing appetite,...
Heroin addiction not only can have devastating effects on the user, but the family of which he is a part. The effects of heroin addiction include eventually dissolving the family, as well as physical, emotional and mental injuries to family...
Retroviruses are a family of viruses characterized by the presence of RNA genetic material and a special enzymatic protein known as reverse transcriptase. The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is the most clinically significant human...
A diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) in children is considered when certain symptomatic criteria are met under guidelines provided in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. A child is...
Statins are a family of drugs designed to lower cholesterol. According to the Mayo Clinic, statins work by blocking the substance that creates cholesterol and by reabsorbing plaque buildup in the arteries created by excessive cholesterol. Side...
Addiction and substance abuse can have lasting effects on the family unit and can even break families apart. Families marked by substance abuse often have a pattern of unpredictability and a lack of communication, making growing up hard for some...
Substance abuse damages family structure by causing a breakdown of values and lowering inhibitions of the members. Family members of substance abusers are more likely to become victims of family violence than members of a non-abusing family. The...
Several forms of arthritis cause joint inflammation and pain. Arthritis medications can be used to treat the inflammation, reducing pain and discomfort. Each type of arthritis medication has specific side effects and risks, so discuss the...
What's the difference between a cocaine addiction and a caffeine addiction? Caffeine lasts longer. The "high" produced from cocaine only lasts from 5 to 30 minutes (depending on how it was administered), at which point another dose must be...
According to the medical experts at Drugs.com, lorazepam belongs to a family of drugs called benzodiazepines. It is used to help relieve the symptoms caused by anxiety and depression and works by stabilizing the unbalanced chemicals in the brain...
Heart attacks and strokes are caused by blood clots in blood vessels supplying the heart and brain, respectively. Clot-busting medicines, also called thrombolytic agents, are drugs that are injected within the first few hours of a heart attack or...
Atenolol is a prescription medication in the family of beta-blocker drugs that is commonly used to treat hypertension, or high blood pressure. It is also prescribed for angina or chest, arrythmias or irregular heartbeat, muscle tremors, migraines...
