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| General
Illness Information |
Medical Term: |
Drug Abuse And
Addiction |
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Common
Name: |
None Specified |
| Description: |
Drug addiction involves a triad of compulsive drug
use, which includes : 1) Psychologic craving or dependence
and the behavior included in the procurement of the drug ("hustle"),
2) Physiologic dependence, with withdrawal symptoms on
discontinuance of the drug; and 3) tolerance, i.e. the need
to increase the dose to get the desired effect. Drug dependency is a
function of the amount of drug used and the duration of
usage.
Drug abuse is compulsive
and potentially destructive use of psychoactive drugs despite
adverse medical and social
consequences.
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| Causes: |
The
most common substances that are causes of substance abuse are:
nicotine, alcohol, marijuana , amphetamines, barbiturates ,
cocaine, opiates (including codeine, morphine, heroin,
methadone, opium), psychedelic drugs e.g.. PCP (angel dust), LSD,
mescodine glues, solvents, paints, and benzodiazepines (valium,
ativan etc.).
Factors
that have been identified as potential causes of drug abuse and
addiction are: 1) Biomedical factors such as genetic,
biochemical and physiological, 2)Psychological such as
personality traits, learned behavior, social and stress.
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| Prevention: |
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Don't socialize with persons
who use and abuse drugs.
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Seek counseling for
mental-health problems, such as depression or chronic anxiety,
before they lead to drug problems. |
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Develop wholesome interests
and leisure activities.
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After surgery, illness or
injury, discontinue the use of prescription pain relievers and
tranquilizers as soon as possible. |
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| Signs
& Symptoms
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| Risk
Factors |
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| Diagnosis & Treatment |
Diagnosis requires a good history and physical
examination. Diagnosis may be confirmed by doing a drug
screening test on the urine and blood. The usefulness of
urinalysis for detection of drugs , varies markedly with
different drugs and under different circumstances.
Water-soluble drugs, such as alcohol, stimulants and opiates
are eliminated in a day or so. However, fat-soluble substances
e.g. barbiturates and tetrahydrocannabinol appear in the urine
over longer period of time- several days in most cases
and for as long as 1to 2 months in chronic marijuana
users. Sedative drug determinations are quite variable, amount
of drug and duration of use being important determinants.
Other factors that have to be taken into consideration are
false positives (which can be due to ingestion of some
legitimate drug and food ) , manipulations and urine
dilution.
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| General
Measures: |
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Admit
you have a problem. |
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Seek
professional help. |
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Be
open and honest with your family and good friends, and ask
their help. |
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Psychotherapy
or counseling |
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Hospitalization
for management of drug-withdrawal symptoms-during
detoxification. |
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Avoid
friends who tempt you to resume your habit |
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Join
self-help groups. | |
| Medications: |
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Disulfiram (Antabuse)
for alcoholism. This drug produces severe reaction when
alcohol is consumed.
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Methadone
for narcotic abuse. This drug is a less-potent narcotic used
to decrease the severity of physical withdrawal
symptoms. | |
| Activity: |
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No restrictions.
Exercise regularly and vigorously.
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| Diet: |
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Eat a normal,
well-balanced diet that is high in protein. Vitamin
supplements may be necessary if you suffer from
malnutrition.
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| Possible
Complications : |
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Accidental
injury to oneself or others while in a drug-induced
state. |
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Loss
of job or family. |
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Death
caused by overdose. |
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Irreversible
damage to body organs |
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Incarceration. |
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Malnutrition. |
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Severe
infections, such as endocarditis (infections of the heart),
hepatitis or blood poisoning, from intravenous injections with
non-sterile needles. |
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Sexually transmitted diseases, which are more frequent among
addicts. | |
| Prognosis |
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Curable with strong
motivation, good medical care and support from family
and friends. However, relapses are common.
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| Other |
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