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Prevention

What Is Addiction?

Addiction, clinically referred to as a substance use disorder is a complex disease of the brain and body that involves compulsive use of one or more substances despite serious health and social consequences. Addiction disrupts regions of the brain that are responsible for reward, motivation, learning, judgment, and memory.

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The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines addiction as a chronic disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and can result in long-lasting changes in the brain. It’s more complicated than other diseases, as it’s considered both a complex brain disorder and a mental illness.

Catching It Early

Most experts believe anyone can become addicted to substances. Some substances, like nicotine and heroin, are so highly addictive that using them excessively or on a daily basis can lead to addiction in anyone. However, most people who try substances do not progress to heavy use or addiction.

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That said, any substance use during the teen and young adult years is a concern. The human brain continues to develop well into one’s twenties, making the adolescent and young adult years a critical point of focus for establishing healthy behavior and habits. Substance use during these years creates the potential for a variety of long-term negative effects. 90% of people with addictions started using substances in their teen years.

Warning Signs of Drug Abuse

Use of recreational drugs, over the counter medications, or prescription drugs can lead to substance use issues. It can frequently lead to problems at work, home, school, and in relationships, and leave the user feeling isolated, helpless, or shamed. If you’re worried about your own or a loved one’s drug use, it’s helpful to know the warning signs and more importantly, that help is available and treatment works.

Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse:

  • Neglecting responsibilities at school, work, or home

  • Risk-taking when you’re using, such as driving, having unprotected sex

  • Legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence 

Physical warning signs of drug abuse:

  • Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual changes in appetite, sleep patterns, physical appearance

  • unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing, or impaired coordination

Behavioral signs of drug abuse

  • Drop-in attendance and performance at work or school

  • Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors

  • Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies

Psychological warning signs of drug abuse

  • Unexplained change in personality or attitude

  • Sudden mood swings, irritability, spaced-out, or angry outbursts

  • Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason

Recognizing there’s a problem is the first step on the road to recovery, which often takes tremendous courage and strength.  If you’re ready to face your addiction and are willing to seek help, you have the opportunity to build a satisfying, drug-free life for yourself.​

 

For immediate help and information on treatment, contact the Redline Phone: (800) 889-9789

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Source: The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc.
The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) is a voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting the nation’s #1 health problem – alcoholism, drug addiction, and the devastating consequences of alcohol and other drugs on individuals, families, and communities.

Fentanyl

There is significant risk that illegal drugs have been intentionally contaminated with fentanyl. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and creating counterfeit pills increasing the likelihood of a fatal overdose. The opioid threat remains at epidemic levels, affecting large portions of the country

Fentanyl

There is significant risk that illegal drugs have been intentionally contaminated with fentanyl. Because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and creating counterfeit pills increasing the likelihood of a fatal overdose. The opioid threat remains at epidemic levels, affecting large portions of the country

Fentanyl Laced Pills

Drug cartels and drug dealers are making fentanyl and pressing it into fake pills. Fake pills are made to look like OxyContin®, Xanax®, Adderall®, and other pharmaceuticals. These fake pills contain no legitimate medicine. Fake prescription pills are easily accessible and often sold on social media and e-commerce platforms, making them available to anyone with a smartphone. DEA officials report a dramatic rise in the number of fake pills containing at least 2 mg of fentanyl, which is considered a potentially lethal dose.​ Teenagers and young adults are dying at an alarming rate. Watch and share this video with your teenager or young adult.

Here are the Facts about Fentanyl 

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. It is also sometimes used to treat patients with chronic pain who are physically tolerant to other opioids. Tolerance occurs when you need a higher and/or more frequent amount of a drug to get the desired effects.

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In its prescription form, fentanyl is known by such names as Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®

Synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths in the United States.

How do people use fentanyl?

When prescribed by a doctor, fentanyl can be given as a shot, a patch that is put on a person’s skin, or as lozenges that are sucked like cough drops.

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The illegally used fentanyl most often associated with recent overdoses is made in labs. This synthetic fentanyl is sold illegally as a powder, dropped onto blotter paper, put in eye droppers and nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like other prescription opioids.

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Some drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is because it takes very little to produce a high with fentanyl, making it a cheaper option. This is especially risky when people taking drugs don’t realize they might contain fentanyl as a cheap but dangerous additive. They might be taking stronger opioids than their bodies are used to and can be more likely to overdose. To learn more about the mixture of fentanyl into other drugs, visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Facts on fentanyl.

How does fentanyl affect the brain?

Like heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs, fentanyl works by binding to the body's opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions.8 After taking opioids many times, the brain adapts to the drug, diminishing its sensitivity, making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug. When people become addicted, drug seeking and drug use take over their lives.

Fentanyl's effects include

  • extreme happiness

  • drowsiness

  • nausea

  • confusion

  • constipation

  • sedation

  • problems breathing

  • unconsciousness

Can you overdose on fentanyl?

Yes, a person can overdose on fentanyl. An overdose occurs when a drug produces serious adverse effects and life-threatening symptoms. When people overdose on fentanyl, their breathing can slow or stop. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition called hypoxia. Hypoxia can lead to a coma and permanent brain damage, and even death.

How can a fentanyl overdose be treated?

As mentioned above, many drug dealers mix the cheaper fentanyl with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine to increase their profits, making it often difficult to know which drug is causing the overdose. NALOXONE is a medicine that can treat a fentanyl overdose when given right away. It works by rapidly binding to opioid receptors and blocking the effects of opioid drugs. But fentanyl is stronger than other opioid drugs like morphine and might require multiple doses of naloxone.

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Because of this, if you suspect someone has overdosed, the most important step to take is to call 911 so they can receive immediate medical attention. Once medical personnel arrive, they will administer naloxone if they suspect an opioid drug is involved.

Naloxone is available as an injectable (needle) solution and nasal sprays (NARCAN® and KLOXXADO®).

People who are given naloxone should be monitored for another two hours after the last dose of naloxone is given to make sure breathing does not slow or stop.

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Some states have passed laws that allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a personal prescription. Friends, family, and others in the community can use the nasal spray versions of naloxone to save someone who is overdosing.

Read more in Naloxone DrugFacts.

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source: https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl

Prescription & OTC Medicines

Misuse of medication often begins during the teen and young adult years. When these medicines are misused, they can have serious consequences. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are sold directly to people without a prescription. Which is dangerous to our youth.

Prescription & OTC  Medicines

Marijuana is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the United States, after alcohol.1 Its use is widespread among young people. In 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults used marijuana in the past year.

Here are the Facts about Prescription & OTC Medicines

OTC Medicines:

OTC medicines treat a variety of illnesses and their symptoms, including pain, coughs and colds, diarrhea, constipation, acne, and others. Some OTC medicines have active ingredients with the potential for misuse at higher-than-recommended dosages. Learn about the health effects of OTC medicines Dextromethorphan (DMX) and Loperamide

Prescription Medicines:

When used as prescribed by a doctor, prescription medicines can be helpful in treating many illnesses. Stimulants are helpful in managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants treat anxiety, panic, and sleep disorders. Opioids are prescribed to treat pain, coughing, and diarrhea. But when these medicines are misused, they can have serious consequences.

Prescription Opioids:

Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant. Some prescription opioids are made from the plant directly, and others are made by scientists in labs using the same chemical structure. Opioids are often used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and can relieve pain. Prescription opioids are used mostly to treat moderate to severe pain, though some opioids can be used to treat coughing and diarrhea. Opioids can also make people feel very relaxed and "high" - which is why they are sometimes used for non-medical reasons. This can be dangerous because opioids can be highly addictive, and overdoses and death are common. Heroin is one of the world's most dangerous opioids and is never used as a medicine in the United States.

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source: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids

Alcohol

More than 16 million Americans misuse or are addicted to alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol can lead to addiction (known as alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism), liver and heart disease, and other health consequences such as a weakened immune system and increased risk of developing certain cancers. 

Alcohol

More than 16 million Americans misuse or are addicted to alcohol. Heavy use of alcohol can lead to addiction (known as alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism), liver and heart disease, and other health consequences such as a weakened immune system and increased risk of developing certain cancers. 

Here are the Facts about Alcohol

Teen Drinking:

Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s teens and young adults, posing substantial health and safety risks.

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Teens try alcohol for a variety of reasons – to exert independence, to feel more carefree, or escape from stress, peer pressure, and even boredom. Many tend to do so without fully recognizing alcohol’s negative effects or health risks.

What's inside Alcohol:

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and contains ethynol alcohol or ethanol. Ethanol is the intoxicating ingredient in beer, wine, and liquor, and is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches. Alcohol is usually a liquid that is drunk. Its color and packaging vary widely, and types include beer, wine, and liquor

Alcohol's Effects on the Body:

Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health.  Here’s how alcohol can affect your body:

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Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.  

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Heart: Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including:

  • Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of the heart muscle

  • Arrhythmias – Irregular heartbeat

  • Stroke

  • High blood pressure  

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Liver: Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including:

  • Steatosis, or fatty liver

  • Alcoholic hepatitis

  • Fibrosis

  • Cirrhosis

Pancreas: Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion. 

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source: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Tolerance:

Do you have to drink more than you used to in order to get buzzed?
Can you drink more than other people without getting drunk?

If you answered yes to either question or both, you may have signs of tolerance which can be an early warning sign of alcoholism. Tolerance means that, over time, you need more and more alcohol to feel the same effects.

Withdrawal:

Do you need a drink to steady the shakes in the morning?

 

If again the answer is yes, you are likely drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms, a sign of alcoholism, and a huge red flag. When you drink heavily, your body gets used to the alcohol and experiences withdrawal symptoms if it’s taken away.

Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Frequently Include:

  • Anxiety or jumpiness                 

  • Insomnia                  

  • Loss of appetite          

  • Shakiness or trembling            

  • Depression             

  • HeadacheSweating           

  • Irritability             

  • FatigueNausea and vomiting               

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In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can also involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous, so talk to your doctor if you are a heavy drinker and want to quit. Admitting that there’s a serious problem can be painful, and not just for the alcohol abuser. But don’t be ashamed. You’re not alone. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse affects millions of individuals, from every social class, race, and culture. Always know there is help and support available for you or a loved one.

Tobacco

Cigarettes cause more than 480,000 premature deaths in the United States each year—from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. This represents about 1,300 deaths every day. An additional 16 million people suffer from a serious illness caused by smoking. So, for every 1 person who dies from smoking, 30 more suffer from at least 1 serious tobacco-related illness.

Tobacco

Cigarettes cause more than 480,000 premature deaths in the United States each year—from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. This represents about 1,300 deaths every day. An additional 16 million people suffer from a serious illness caused by smoking. So, for every 1 person who dies from smoking, 30 more suffer from at least 1 serious tobacco-related illness.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States.

Here are the Facts about Tobacco

Teen Tobacco Use:

Nearly 90% of adult daily smokers began smoking by the age of 18 and roughly 2,000 youth under 18 smoke their first cigarette every day in the United States. Tobacco usage is almost always started and established during adolescence when the developing brain is most vulnerable to nicotine addiction.

What's inside Tobacco:

There are many chemicals found in tobacco leaves but nicotine is the one that can lead to addiction. Other chemicals produced by smoking tobacco, such as tar, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, and nitrosamines, also can cause serious harm to the body. For example, tar causes lung cancer and other serious diseases that affect breathing, and carbon monoxide can cause heart problems. These toxic chemicals can be dangerous. In fact, tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. 

Health Effects:

Smoking can cause chronic lung disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke, as well as cancer of the lungs, larynx, esophagus, mouth, and bladder. In addition, smoking is known to contribute to cancer of the cervix, pancreas, and kidneys. Researchers have identified more than 40 chemicals in tobacco smoke that cause cancer in humans and animals. Smokeless tobacco and cigars also have deadly consequences, including lung, larynx, esophageal, and oral cancer.The harmful effects of smoking do not end with the smoker. Women who use tobacco during pregnancy are more likely to have adverse birth outcomes, including babies with low birth weight, which is linked with an increased risk of infant death and with a variety of infant health disorders. The health of nonsmokers is adversely affected by environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Secondhand smoke causes approximately 7,330 deaths from lung cancer and 33,950 deaths from heart disease each year. Between 1964 and 2014, 2.5 million people died from exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a report from the U.S. Surgeon General. The report also concluded that secondhand smoke is a definitive cause of stroke

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sources: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002032.htmhttps://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/tobacco-nicotine-vaping-e-cigarettes#topic-4

Marijuana

Marijuana is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the United States, after alcohol. People can mix marijuana in food (edibles), such as brownies, cookies, or candy, or brew it as a tea. A newly popular method of use is smoking or eating different forms of THC-rich resins. Its use is widespread among young people. In 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults used marijuana in the past year.

Marijuana

Marijuana is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the United States, after alcohol.1 Its use is widespread among young people. In 2018, more than 11.8 million young adults used marijuana in the past year.

Here are the Facts about Marijuana (Cannabis)

Marijuana Extracts:

Smoking THC-rich resins extracted from the marijuana plant is on the rise. People call this practice dabbing. These extracts come in various forms, such as:

  • hash oil or honey oil—a gooey liquid

  • wax or budder—a soft solid with a texture like lip balm

  • shatter—a hard, amber-colored solid

A Rise In Marijuana’s THC Levels:

The amount of THC in marijuana has been increasing steadily over the past few decades. For a person who's new to marijuana use, this may mean exposure to higher THC levels with a greater chance of a harmful reaction. Higher THC levels may explain the rise in emergency room visits involving marijuana use.

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The popularity of edibles also increases the chance of harmful reactions. Edibles take longer to digest and produce a high. Therefore, people may consume more to feel the effects faster, leading to dangerous results.

Higher THC levels may also mean a greater risk for addiction if people are regularly exposing themselves to high doses.

Physical Effects:

Breathing problems. Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and people who smoke marijuana frequently can have the same breathing problems as those who smoke tobacco. These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a higher risk of lung infections. Researchers so far haven't found a higher risk of lung cancer in people who smoke marijuana.

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Increased heart rate. Marijuana raises the heart rate for up to hours after smoking. This effect may increase the chance of a heart attack. Older people and those with heart problems may be at higher risk.

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Intense nausea and vomiting. Regular, long-term marijuana use can lead to some people to develop Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. This causes users to experience regular cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, sometimes requiring emergency medical attention.

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Short Term Effects: When a person smokes marijuana, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. The body absorbs THC more slowly when the person eats or drinks it. In that case, they generally feel the effects after 30 minutes to 1 hour.

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THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural THC-like chemicals. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function.

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Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of these receptors. This causes the "high" that people feel. Other effects include: 

  • Altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors)

  • Altered sense of time

  • Changes in mood

  • Impaired body movement

  • Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving

  • Impaired memory

  • Hallucinations (when taken in high doses)

  • Delusions (when taken in high doses)

  • Psychosis (risk is highest with regular use of high potency marijuana)

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Long Term Effects: Marijuana also affects brain development. When people begin using marijuana as teenagers, the drug may impair thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. Researchers are still studying how long marijuana's effects last and whether some changes may be permanent.

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For example, a study from New Zealand conducted in part by researchers at Duke University showed that people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing marijuana use disorder lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities didn't fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults didn't show notable IQ declines.

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In another recent study on twins, those who used marijuana showed a significant decline in general knowledge and in verbal ability (equivalent to 4 IQ points) between the preteen years and early adulthood, but no predictable difference was found between twins when one used marijuana and the other didn't. This suggests that the IQ decline in marijuana users may be caused by something other than marijuana, such as shared familial factors (e.g., genetics, family environment). NIDA’s Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, a major longitudinal study, is tracking a large sample of young Americans from late childhood to early adulthood to help clarify how and to what extent marijuana and other substances, alone and in combination, affect adolescent brain development. Read more about the ABCD study on our Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD Study) webpage.

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Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Vaping

Vaping has become one of the most popular forms of substance abuse, especially among teens. Teens and parents alike should be educated about vaping and it's potential for harm. Thousands of illnesses and even several dozen deaths have been linked to vaping.

Vaping

Vaping has become one of the most popular forms of substance abuse, especially among teens. Teens and parents alike should be educated about vaping and it's potential for harm. Thousands of illnesses and even several dozen deaths have been linked to vaping.

Here are the Facts about vaping

Flavors:

Vaping products come in thousands of tasty flavors, many with fun and enticing names like gummy bear, cotton candy, fruity pebbles and tastes sweet making them feel harmless. Recent crackdowns on flavors by the federal, state and local governments have begun to ban fruity flavors that appease to children and teens, aside from menthol and tobacco these vapes are generally banned in refillable cartridge-based devices like JUUL, loopholes in regulations are driving kids to flavored disposable vapes that have even higher nicotine content and come in countless enticing flavors.

High levels of nicotine:

Nicotine doses in vaping products can range from 2mg/ml to more than 59mg/ml, and some companies are engaging in “a nicotine arms race,” trying to raise the dose to levels that exceed those found in traditional cigarettes or competing vapes. JUULs currently contains 59mg/ml of nicotine in each pod in the United States — an amount equal to about 1-2 packs of cigarettes.

 

Other chemicals, metals, and ultrafine particles

 

The aerosol, which many teens believe "is harmless water vapor", actually consists of many chemicals, heavy metals, and fine particles — many of which are toxic and dangerous — that seeps deep into the lungs and bloodstream when vaping.

Marijuana or other drugs:

Increasingly, marijuana compounds such as THC and CBD are found in vaping products. These vapes are referred to as "Dab pens" and most of these pens are claimed to be from legal distilleries from a state like California, when in fact they are mostly homemade and full of toxins and even pesticides.

Vaping is Bad for your health:

More and more, nicotine and other chemicals in vapes are being tied to an increased heart rate and blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as inflammation, asthma, and wheezing. They also can cause inflammatory processes and depress immune function in the lungs and are associated with chronic bronchitis and a reduced ability to fight off bacterial and viral infections.

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