Drug addiction is a complex disease that incorporates a number of different approaches to complete a thorough treatment program, report researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). While short-term detox facilities and 28-day...
Many drugs have adverse effects that only become apparent with continued use. Medications that are processed by the liver and eliminated through the kidneys can impact those organs; others affect the production of hormones or neurotransmitters...
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....
Around 4 percent of women in the United States take illegal drugs while pregnant, the March of Dimes states. A number of pregnant women who take illegal drugs also use legal drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol. All these drugs cross the placenta...
Drug addiction is a cyclical process that includes intoxication, withdrawal, and craving for the drug, according to Nora Volkow and colleagues in January 2003 in "Neurobiology of Learning and Memory." The researchers explain that drugs have a...
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...
Medications can sometimes be helpful for dieters, but they are generally reserved for people who have failed with other diets and for those who are extremely obese. The newest fad diet may not be the key to your long term success, either. The...
Doctors prescribe statin drugs to lower cholesterol. Researchers believe that blood cholesterol readings over 200 mg/dl increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. When statin drugs were first released, the adverse side effects of long-term...
Avinza is the brand name for an extended release form of morphine sulfate, a narcotic that is taken once daily in the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain. Since Avinza is an opioid narcotic, it is a controlled substance. This extended...
Because drug addiction often has devastating effects on both drug abusers and their family members, successful rehabilitation can have a substantial positive impact. Drug Rehabilitation Centers, a website for guiding drug addicts to treatment...
Coughing is one of the body's protective mechanisms for removing foreign materials and excess fluid or mucus from the respiratory system and is a one of the main reasons people seek the help of medical professionals. Acid reflux has been...
Drug abuse, especially with drugs such as heroin, has a profound effect on brain functioning, particularly with long-term drug use. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "addiction is a brain disease that affects multiple brain...
Gout, also referred to as gouty arthritis, is a disorder of amino acid metabolism, which typically manifests in men in their fourth decade of life. It can cause extreme pain in the affected joints, most commonly the big toe. The pain is caused by...
High blood pressure is rampant in today's society, and stress seems to be the main cause. Although family history is responsible for some cases, many people with high blood pressure have no family history of it. The medical community treats most...
According to the American Council for Drug Education, there are nearly 15 million alcoholics in America. In addition, alcohol contributes to nearly 100,000 deaths annually. Various drugs produce different effects on the body. Some stimulants or...
Drug abuse can result in serious behavioral and emotional changes that ultimately destroy a person's life. The negative effects from drug abuse can have immediate and long-term consequences. Careers have been ruined and families have been...
Methamphetamine is a form of the drug amphetamine. Meth has effects on the body similar to stimulant drugs, leading to an initial sense of euphoria and energy when used. Although the immediate effects of methamphetamine use can lead to reward and...
Someone who abuses drugs is affected emotionally and physically. Drug abuse can take over a person's life, wreaking havoc on the person's health, career and relationships. Many times, drug abuse is linked with other mental health issues such as...
Addiction to drugs is a disease. It is defined in this way because long-term drug abuse changes both the structure and functions of the brain, says the National Institute on Drug Abuse. These changes in brain structure may start to affect the...
The National Library of Medicine estimates that 40 million injuries and sicknesses are due to drug abuse each year. Addiction is a complicated disorder and according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only ten percent of people who...
According to the University of Utah Genetics Learning Center, marijuana, also known as cannabis, was one of the top three most prescribed medicines in the U.S. until it became illegal in 1937. However, in 1970, the U.S. Congress classified...
Chronic meningitis is a slow developing disease. It may be weeks or months before you even notice meningitis symptoms. You're more prone to chronic meningitis if you have a weaker immune system. Cancer, AIDS, long-term drug use and chemotherapy...
Chronic pain, or pain that accompanies an injury, is usually addressed with medicinal pain killers. However, long-term drug use poses a risk of side effects, including dependency. If you'd prefer to avoid those risks, there are safe and proven...
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a common health condition that involves problems with attention, hyperactivity or impulsive behaviors. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports some 8 to 10 percent of Americans have been...
Osteoporosis is a treatable condition that leads to bone weakening. There are several causes, such as a loss of estrogen in aging women or cancer. The Lance Armstrong Foundation points out that osteoporosis is sometimes called a silent disease...
If you abuse alcohol, your mortality rate is two to four times greater than those who do not abuse alcohol, according to a 2001 report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcoholism can permanently damage organs. According...
The portal vein carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. If this vein becomes blocked by cirrhosis--which is a scarring of the liver or by a blood clot--the pressure inside the vein increases. This increase in pressure is called...
Weight gain results from a variety of issues, including eating larger portions, inactivity and heredity, according to MedlinePlus. The best way to drop pounds is through diet and exercise modifications. If these lifestyle changes aren't assisting...
Drug addiction extends beyond illegal substances such as cocaine and heroine. You can also become addicted to medications legally prescribed by a doctor. Prescription drug addiction can be as damaging to you and your loved ones as any other drug...
Gastritis is a term used to describe a group of conditions characterized by inflammation of the lining of your stomach. in some cases, gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. For most people, however, gastritis isn't...
