Drug addiction can be a cruel enemy that each drug addict needs to fight in order to recover. There is simply no other way to stop drug addiction than to confront it head on. However, this is easier said than done because a drug addict has to deal with pain, shame, guilt, and hopelessness in the course of battling the addiction. You should always remember that nobody wants to use drugs for the sake of becoming addicted. Their first intention of drug use is probably recreational or they simply want to have a good time, experiment, or escape from their problems.

It is important to remember that there is simply no way to use illegal drugs safely because each person who uses it has an equal chance to develop a drug addiction. Some people can sometimes stop drug use at its roots before they become addiction but some people develop an addiction that will eventually strip them of their money, their self-esteem, their family, and their life. When drug addicts become addicted, it is also sometimes difficult for them to accept. It would be essential for people around them to understand that this fact and make no judgment because it can make the drug addiction worse since the victim would want to escape his problems even more.

But in the midst of all these drug addiction problems, is there a way out? Yes, there certainly is but each drug addict has to work to get their life back. The road to recovery is different from one person to another so each drug addict must find his own way. Getting help from a reputable drug rehabilitation facility is proven to be helpful for many people especially if they have the support of their family and friends. There are various programs in drug rehabilitation facilities to suit the unique needs of each person but the responsibility of the drug addict to take advantage of the drug rehab programs being offered to get your life back.

Recent reports released by the DEA at the end of 2009 revealed that they currently consider the following four substances as the primary drug threats and public health threats throughout the US:

• Cocaine in both crack and powder form
• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Methamphetamines including crystal meth

These are the primary drug threats in the US but there are two other types of substances that the DEA is currently focusing on as well.  These are what are referred to as “club” drugs (Ecstasy) and illegally trafficked prescription painkillers.

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is an American Psychiatric Association publication that provides understandable language and standard criteria that relates to the classification of disorders that are mental in nature.  In the US, this publication is used by clinicians, health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, policy makers, psychiatric drug regulation agencies, and researchers.  The publication classifies substance dependency into the following 12 categories

Amphetamine dependence

the state of dependency that exists with any drug in the amphetamine category.  Tolerance for amphetamines develops rapidly so increasing the amounts consumed on a regular basis is necessary in order to achieve the desired effect.  Although it has been stated that amphetamines do not have the potential to create a physical dependency, the signs of withdrawal are very obvious.

Many individuals that use amphetamines repeat the cycle by consuming increasing amounts during the withdrawal period.  These individuals will stay awake for 2 and 3 days at a time and then take barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and even heroin in order to calm themselves and sleep or recuperate from their days of being high.

Cannabis dependence

the DSM defines any dependency on marijuana as cannabis dependence.  The withdrawal symptoms associated with cannabis dependency are typically milder than with other addictive substances.  If any 3 of the following warning signs occur during a 12-month period, cannabis dependency is evident:

• considerable amounts of time spent procuring the substance
• consuming larger amounts on a regular basis in order to achieve the desired effect
• continual use despite the warnings of possible physiological or psychological consequences
• desire to control or cut back on the use of marijuana but being unsuccessful in the process
• increased amounts of marijuana being used or smoking it over longer periods of time
• occupation, recreational or social activities are curtailed due to marijuana use
• tolerance as defined by an ongoing need for increased consumption or a diminishing of the effect achieved by the same amount smoked
• withdrawal symptoms include anger, depression, irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite, and restlessness

Cocaine dependence

one of the most powerfully addictive drugs is cocaine whether it is smoked (crack form) or inhaled/snorted (powder form).  Cocaine dependency is defined as being psychological in nature.  It can have severe psychological consequences as well such as the following:

• depression
• lethargy
• potentially fatal overdoses
• physiological damage
• psychosis
• schizophrenia

Once the use of cocaine becomes a regular occurrence, an addiction usually results.  Withdrawal symptoms typically include anxiety, depression, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, itching, mood swings, nausea, and vomiting.

Hallucinogen dependence

hallucinogens are pharmacological agents which are typically divided into three categories:

• deliriants
• dissociatives
• psychedelics

They typically cause subjective changes in consciousness, emotions, perception and thought.  Not only do they amplify states of one’s mind, they induce certain experiences that are qualitatively different from what we consider as being those relating to normal or ordinary consciousness.  The effects of hallucinogens or experiences that result from ingesting them include conversion experiences, dreams, meditation, and trances.

Inhalant dependence

inhalants are substances that are taken in through the nose and whose vapors can be quite volatile.  The inhaling process is oftentimes referred to as “huffing” and produces the high that the individual is trying to achieve.  The difference between inhaling such substances as marijuana or tobacco is that inhalant dependency is based on the volatility factor of the material being inhaled.

Although inhalants such as nitrous oxide do have legitimate medical applications, many individuals are using them recreationally due to their intoxicating effects and ultimately getting addicted to them in the process.  Additionally, death oftentimes results from inhalant dependency when the gases or solvents used in the inhalants overwhelm the person using them.

Nicotine dependence

modern research has proven that nicotine produces a number of different effects as it acts upon the brain.  Its addictive nature stems from the fact that nicotine activates what is known as “reward pathways” which is the brain’s circuitry that regulates the feelings of euphoria or pleasure.  In many different studies, nicotine was seen to be even more addictive than either cocaine or heroin.  But compared to alcohol and heroin, withdrawal from nicotine is considerably milder than with the other substances.

Another point to consider with nicotine dependence is the fact that this substance has a higher toxicity level than other alkaloid substances such as cocaine.  Fortunately, overdosing on nicotine by smoking it is literally impossible.  However, the long-term effects and damage from smoking are well documented.

Opioid dependence

an individual’s inability to quit taking opioid based medications, when they know it is in their best interest to do so, is referred to as opioid dependence.  Both the DSM and WHO (World Health Organization) diagnose opioid dependency on the following 6 characteristics:

• sense of compulsion or strong desire to consume the drug
• difficulties involved in taking the opioid substance in terms of levels of usage, onset of dependency, and termination of consumption
• reducing the ingestion or stopping altogether manifests physiological withdrawal symptoms
• tolerance builds up so more frequent ingestion or taking larger amounts of the opioid are required in order to achieve the desired effect
• alternative interests and pleasures are oftentimes neglected because additional time is being spent trying to obtain more of the drug
• depressive mood states and/or impairment of cognitive functions become apparent with prolonged use of the drug

Phencyclidine dependence

referred to as “angel dust”, phenylcyclohexylpiperidine is the chemical compound that creates the dependency and is most commonly abbreviated as PCP.  In its original application, PCP was used as an anesthetic that exhibited hallucinogenic and/or neurotoxic effects.  It is classified as a dissociative drug when it is used for recreational purposes.

PCP is nothing new as it was originally synthesized over 80 years ago in the mid 1920’s.  Certain types of brain damage are the consequences such as Olney’s Lesions (vacuoles that occur in certain regions of the brain and the damage is irreversible).  Lab rats have exhibited schizophrenic-like changes in their brains so there is speculation that this can result in the human brain as well.

Polysubstance dependence

whenever an individual consumes three or more substance on a recreational and regular basis, this is referred to as polysubstance dependency.  This pattern of abuse constitutes a psychological dependence.  However, it does not meet the criteria for a physiological dependency when you consider the substances as a single group.

An individual that has a polysubstance dependence is said to be psychologically addicted to maintaining an intoxicated state.  Since no single substance of the group predominates, physical dependence symptoms aren’t witnessed in individuals with this type of dependency whereas single substance dependencies typically display physical withdrawal symptoms or tolerances build up.

Sedative dependence

also known as anxiolytic dependence, sedative dependence includes barbiturate or benzodiazepine dependencies.  It is well documented that sedative abuse causes psychological and physiological dependence after prolonged use even when taken in prescribed uses.  Withdrawal symptoms typically occur and can range from insomnia and restlessness to convulsions and even death.

The compulsion or need to consume sedatives indicates a psychological dependence on the substance even though physical dependencies do not exist.  Regardless of the dependence being physiological or psychological, obtaining and using the substance becomes the individual’s life focus.  Either dependency can be effectively treated with therapy.

Other or unknown dependencies

this is a “blanket” category and is comprised of other substance dependencies that were not previously mentioned above.  In a number of circumstances, dependence on either over-the-counter (OTC) medications or prescription drugs not mentioned above is included in this dependency classification.  It also refers to those dependencies that have yet to be discovered and documented.

For more information on our addiction treatment and recovery programs, or to answer any questions regarding substance dependencies, please contact us at the toll-free telephone number listed at the top of this page.