Myth. Drug Addiction is a bad habit, the result of moral weakness and over-indulgence.

Fact Drug Addiction is a chronic, life-threatening condition, like hypertension, atherosclerosis and adult diabetes.

Fact. Genetics and substance abuse – drug addiction has roots in generic susceptibility, social circumstance and personal behavior.

Fact. Certain drugs are highly addictive, rapidly causing biochemical and structural changes in the brain. Others can be used for longer periods of time before they begin to cause inescapable cravings and compulsive use.

Myth If an addict has enough will power, he or she can stop abusing alcohol and using drugs.

Fact. Few people addicted to alcohol and other drugs can simply stop using them, no matter how strong their inner resolve. Most need one or more courses of structured substance abuse treatment to reduce or end their dependence on alcohol and other drugs.

Myth. Many people relapse, so treatment obviously does not work.

Fact Like virtually any other medical treatment, addiction treatment cannot guarantee lifelong health. Relapse, often a part of the recovery process, is always possible, and treatable Even if a person never achieves perfect abstinence, addiction treatment can reduce the number and duration of relapses, minimize related problems such as crime and poor overall health, improve the individual’s ability to function in daily life and strengthen the individual to better cope with the next temptation or craving. These improvements reduce the social and economic costs of addiction.

Myth We have reached the limits of what we can do to treat drug addiction.

Fact The more we learn about addiction, the more effective substance abuse recovery programs become. Matching clients to the services they most need, while supporting continuous and focused engagement in treatment is imperative. Today’s treatment providers are better able to do this than ever before.

Tips on substance abuse treatment

Substance abuse adds substantially to the nation’s health care bill. Studies show that adequate and accessible treatment is the most effective method to improve the health of drug abusers and relieve the burden of drug-related health care costs.

Substance Abuse and Health Care Costs.

About one-third of AIDS cases are related to intravenous drug use, and 90 percent of pedantic AIDS cases are related to maternal exposure to HIV.

Untreated alcoholics incur general health care costs that are at least 100 percent higher than those of the non-alcoholic. More than 5 percent (221,000) of the 4 million women who give birth each year use illicit drugs during their pregnancy, with expenditures ranging from $ 48,000 to $ 150,000 for each delivery.

Substance abuse treatment reduces hospital admission rates by 38 percent. Hospital admissions for drug overdose decreased by 58 percent among those treated.

The Minnesota Alcohol and Other Drug Authority reported saving $ 22 million in annual health care by providing substance and drub abuse treatments.

 

 

For Addiction and Substance Abuse Counselors – Interviews with Addiction and Substance abuse counselors using Neurofeedback in their Clinical Practices. See more at www.eeginfo.com

 

Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down: 50 Things Every Alcoholic and Addict in Early Recovery Should Know, or How to Stay Clean and Sober, Recovery from Addiction and Substance Abuse

addiction and substance abuse

No matter what happens, you don’t have to pick up a drink or drug today.” These words tend to strike fear in the hearts of many alcoholics and addicts who are new to recovery, because just one day without booze or drugs may as well be an eter

List Price: $ 15.95

Price: $ 12.86

 

Women under the Influence

addiction and substance abuse

This comprehensive and accessible book documents the physical and emotional effects of substance abuse in girls and women, explores the role of the advertising and entertainment industries in popularizing various substances of abuse, and discusses th

List Price: $ 27.00

Price: $ 13.92

 

Addictions and Substance Abuse: Strategies for Advanced Practice Nursing

addiction and substance abuse

This timely resource provides information on all aspects of substance abuse, and focuses on its effects throughout the life span — from infants to the elderly. Coverage includes current research and epidemiology, as well as basic strategies for i

List Price: $ 96.95

Price: $ 60.00

 

Survey: Home medicine cabinets a common place for start of addiction to …

Filed under: addiction and substance abuse

Two stays in prison followed for drug convictions, but now the 32-year-old mother of two is trying to get her life back on track at a Louisville substance abuse treatment center. And she urges people to avoid the temptations lurking in the bathrooms of …
Read more on Washington Post

 

Binge eating may lead to addiction-like behaviors

Filed under: addiction and substance abuse

A history of binge eating — consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time — may make an individual more likely to show other addiction-like behaviors, including substance abuse, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Read more on Penn State Live