Alcoholism
and drug use are the fifth most common cause of major, chronic behavioral
health problems in our country. 53% of Americans report that a close family
member has a drinking problem. Studies have shown that use of ecstasy can
cause brain damage after not using the drug for seven years. Marijuana
increases your heart rate as much as cocaine does. More Americans die from
cigarette related illnesses than from alcohol, car accidents, suicide, AIDS,
homicide, and illegal drugs, combined. Heroin uses are at greatest risk for
contracting and transmitting HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis. People who use LSD
may experience flashbacks, recurrence of certain aspects of past “trips”,
without the user having taken the drug again. Prescription medications are
increasingly becoming the most common illegally used drugs. Drug use, as a
whole, costs society nearly 250 billion dollars. Why then is drug use so
common across so many different people?
There are
multiple reasons why people begin, continue, or go back to using drugs. Some
of the most common reasons include avoiding negative or unpleasant emotions
(such as boredom, depression, anger, grief), peer pressure, celebrations
(for example New Year’s Eve, birthday parties), and conflict with others.
These reasons are commonly referred to as a person’s triggers to use drugs.
Successful
treatment for addiction to any drug (including alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy,
heroin, methamphetamine, prescription drugs, marijuana, hallucinogens, and
cigarettes) includes honest education about the negative consequences of
drug use in addition to learning alternative coping skills to deal with the
triggers to use drugs. For example, a man who drinks because he argues with
his wife needs to recognize the negative social, emotional, legal, and
occupational consequences of his drinking; in addition to learning skills to
communicate better with his wife.
Do you have a problem with drugs?
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Read and answer each of the following questions.
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Have you ever wanted to cut down on your drinking or drug use but were unable to do so?
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Have you ever wanted to quit (maybe you even did), but then went back to using?
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Have you ever planned to only have one drink, one line, or one pill, but ended up having more?
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Have you ever gotten into trouble with the law or at work because of your drinking or drug use?
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Has anyone ever been angry with you because of your using?
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Have you ever felt guilty, embarrassed, or ashamed or your drug use?
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Have you ever tried to hide your using habits from others?
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If you
answer yes to any one of the above questions, you may have difficulty
managing your drug use. Please contact a psychologist at Powers Ferry
Psychology Associates to get help.
For more information about specific drugs or substance abuse and addictions please contact a
psychologist at Powers Ferry Psychology Associates or go to these websites.
National Institute on Drug Abuse at www.nida.nih.gov
National Institute on
Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse at www.niaaa.nih.gov
Substance Abuse