Many people view substance abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem. Parents, teens, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior.

These myths have not only stereotyped those with substanceabuse problems, but also their families, communities, and the health care professionals who work with them. Substanceabuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences. It is important to replace those myths and long-held mistaken beliefs about substance abuse and addiction with scientific evidence that addiction is a chronic, relapsing, and treatable disease.

Addiction does begin with drug abuse when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just "a lot of drug use." Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and usually cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is typically necessary to end this compulsive behavior.

Research shows that addiction is treatable. Through treatment that is tailored to individual needs, patients can learn to control their condition and live relatively normal lives.

Treatment can have a profound effect not only on substanceabusers, but on society as a whole, by significantly improving social and psychological functioning, decreasing related criminality and violence, and reducing the spread of AIDS. It can also dramatically reduce the costs to society of drug abuse.

Some of the most commonly used drugs include: alcohol, cocaine, club drugs, heroin, inhalants, LSD, marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, nicotine, PCP, prescription medications and steroids.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) supported by the SubstanceAbuse and Mental Health Services Administration also tracks drug use in populations aged 12 and older. Both surveys (MTF and NSDUH) indicate that disturbing patterns in overall drug use are still evident.

• An estimated 19.5 million Americans aged 12 or older were current users of an illicit drug in 2003. This estimate represents 8.2 percent of the population.
• Over half (51%) of America's teenagers have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high school.
• An estimated 71 million Americans reported being current users of a tobacco product in 2003, a prevalence rate of 30% for the population 12 years and older.
• Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in this country. In 2003, 14.6 million people were current users of marijuana.
• For the second year in a row inhalant use has increased in 8th graders with 17.3% reporting use at least once in their lifetime. These drugs are particularly dangerous because they can damage the nervous system even after a single use, and they can be fatal.
• Vicodin is one of the drugs most commonly abused by high school seniors. Nearly one in ten 12th graders reported non-medical use of Vicodin in 2004; one in twenty 12th graders reported non-medical use of OxyContin.

Please call us at 800-610-2066. We will be glad to provide you with substance help and an appropriate referral.