Common Questions about Drug Addiction

What is drug addiction anyway? 

Drug addiction is different from drug abuse, because drug abusers can quit without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Drug addicts are physically or psychologically dependent on drugs, and cannot quit without professional help.

One of the best explanations of drug addiction comes from the National Institute of Health (NIH). NIH researchers have concluded that almost every drug of abuse -- including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine -- elevates the level of certain brain chemicals or neuro-transmitters known as dopamine.

Dopamine is usually elevated by natural positive events, such as looking at a sunset or winning a contest. Addiction results from repeated disturbance of the brain’s natural rewards system. There comes a point when an individual's brain becomes so altered that normal rewards are no longer sufficient. Judgment and decision-making circuits become impaired. At that point, the individual’s overriding motivation becomes seeking and taking drugs.

Drug addiction can impact a person’s career, reputation, relationships, finances, family and health. It is no exaggeration to say that drug addiction can be a life-threatening condition.

 Why did I get dependent on drugs when other people don’t?

Drug addiction and alcoholism are considered diseases of the brain, but no one knows why certain people are more susceptible to drug addiction than others.

There seems to be a genetic component, but experts are unsure how it works. They know, for example, that substance abuse runs in families. Children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics themselves, partly because they use their parents as role models. However, some studies indicate that children of alcoholics who are adopted by non-drinking families are still more prone to substance abuse than are children of non-alcoholics.

Some people become addicted to drugs after they experience chronic pain. Others have undiagnosed psychological problems that they may be attempting to self-medicate through drug abuse. People with low self-esteem and poor body images tend to abuse amphetamines because these drugs make them feel more powerful and temporarily suppress appetite.

Others may have started using drugs in response to peer pressure, and then developed a dependency or an addiction.

Why can’t I just quit on my own? Should I try quitting on my own before I enter drug rehabilitation?

By definition, addiction means there is no longer any choice about using drugs. A drug addict has to keep using to feel normal. Drug addicts may tell themselves and their loved ones that they can stop any time, but the truth is they cannot stop using drugs, even when they want to.

When people who are addicted stop using drugs, they experience unpleasant and sometimes dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as tremors, sweats, and disorientation. Withdrawing from certain drugs too quickly can cause sudden death, which is the main reason why withdrawal should be done only under medical supervision. Drug addicts also experience extreme cravings to use their drug again.

Is there a way that I could talk to a professional counselor right now?

Yes. If you have any concerns about drug addiction or which center is best for your needs, we have professional counselors ready to answer your questions at 866-784-8911. Call now for answers. Everything you say is confidential and private, and you will be under no obligation to enroll in any program.

I'm addicted to cocaine. How will my treatment be different than for someone who is addicted to heroin?

Each drug presents different withdrawal symptoms. For example, people who withdraw from heroin get the classic “kicking the habit” and “cold turkey” symptoms. Their skin will usually develop goose bumps, and their legs will twitch during their detoxification period. Withdrawal from cocaine is different. You won’t get the flu-like symptoms that people addicted to heroin and opiates experience, but most people dependent on cocaine experience depression, anxiety, exhaustion, insomnia, irritability, and extreme drug cravings when they withdraw.

After your body is completely detoxed, your rehabilitation program will be similar to that of anyone who has become addicted to any kind of drugs. You will have to learn how to cope without drugs, develop new friendships and interests, and incorporate changes in your family relationships in order to remain drug-free.

I've heard you can't get addicted to marijuana, but I can't stop smoking it. Are there drug rehabilitation centers for marijuana smokers?

About 16 percent of the people in drug rehabilitation are there because of marijuana. They often report withdrawal symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, decreased appetite, and drug cravings when they stop using their drug. They are at significant risk for psychological dependency -- so in that sense, people can and do become dependent on marijuana.

Marijuana is not a harmless drug. No one is sure about its long-term effects. It is fat-soluble and accumulates in the lungs, testes, liver, and other organs. It has been linked to the most deadly kind of testicular cancer. Research conducted in 2009 indicates that marijuana causes changes in the brain and may permanently impair users’ ability to remember.

I'm pregnant and addicted to drugs. What should I do?

You should not drink or use drugs when you are pregnant. If you are addicted to drugs, you need to talk to a medical professional now. It is not safe to withdraw from drugs on your own because you may damage your baby or miscarry. If you do not have a doctor, you can call 866-784-8911 for advice. Make this call today so that you can get the help you need – for you and for your baby.

The person who needs drug treatment is not me, but someone I love. What do I do?

The first thing you need to do is to get help for yourself. Entering into the drama of this person’s life – for example, covering up for him at work, school or with the law; allowing his drug use to take over your priorities as well as his; and putting yourself at risk for personal injuries – will not do you or him any good in the long run. Talk to your doctor about what is going on, and get a referral to a counseling service. If you do not have enough money to pay for counseling, try joining a community support group like Al-Anon or Narc-Anon.

You can also arrange an intervention for this person, but you should not try to do this on your own. An intervention is a confrontation between the drug addict and his family, loved ones, and sometimes even co-workers and doctor. These people confront the person about the negative ways in which her drug abuse is affecting their lives, and then at the end of the meeting, they drive her to a drug rehabilitation center. If she refuses to go, they give her consequences such as loss of enabling her drug abuse, loss of friendship, loss of job, and even marriage.

If you need the name of a professional interventionist in your area, call 866-784-8911.