Drug Addiction

How You Can Prevent Drug Addiction

Drug use and abuse is a preventable behavior. Drug abuse effects everyone in our society, both directly (if you have a drug addiction) and indirectly (if you know someone who has a drug addiction.) It effects society as evidenced by our clogged legal system and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that are spent on drug enforcement, education, prevention and treatment. 

Addiction can be defined as a compulsive, uncontrollable use of a drug even in the face of negative consequences.  Negative consequences could include losing a job, losing touch with your family/friends and suffering negative health problems as a result of your drug use.  Whether or not a person will become addicted to a drug—and how quickly they become addicted—depends on a number of factors including a person’s personal drug history, the individual’s environment and how a person’s body and brain may respond to the drug.

Research has shown time and time again that drug abuse can cause many serious short-term and long-term problems. The particular signs/symptoms of drug use and dependence vary depending on the drug in question.

One of the most important factors in preventing drug abuse is to make sure that our young people never start using drugs.  Education and communication is key. 

Recognize the signs/symptoms of having a drug addiction.  Be knowledgeable about the various types of drugs that are available and what effects these drugs can have on the body

Addiction is both a disease and a behavioral disorder.  Addiction is a chronic disease and drug rehab treatment for drug abuse must be long-term in order for it to be effective.

Addiction to any drug may include the following characteristics:

1. Feeling that you need the drug regularly, and in some cases, many times a day
2. Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
3. Failing repeatedly in your attempts to stop using the drug
4. Doing things you normally wouldn't’t do to obtain the drug
5. Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems
6. Driving or doing other activities that place you and others at risk of physical harm when you are under the influence of the drug

Aside from the physical and psychological characteristics that drug abuse causes, dependence on drugs can create a number of other disruptions in a person’s life:

1. Family.  Behavioral changes may cause marital or family problems.
2. Work. Work performance may decline and you may be absent from work more often.
3. Social. You may lose or alienate long-time friends.
4. School.  Academic performance and motivation to excel in school may suffer.
5. Legal.  You may find yourself stealing to support your drug addiction and/or drive while impaired.
6. Financial.  You may find yourself spending more money than you can afford to support your habit, taking away money from your other needs.
7. Health.  Drug use and addiction has many physical consequences that vary depending on the drug being abused and it also makes you more likely to participate in other unsafe behaviors, such as sharing needles or having unprotected sex.

Recognizing the characteristics listed above will help to prevent drug and alcohol addiction if you can recognize the signs early and take action.  The sooner you seek help, the better. 

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