Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are also considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins when they take prescribed medicines or receive them from others who have prescriptions.
The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others.
Recognizing that drug use has become problematic and seeking help is crucial for recovery. If any of the following applies to you or someone you know, consider seeking assistance:
In cases of drug overdose or severe reactions, immediate emergency assistance is vital. If you or someone you know exhibits the following symptoms after drug use, seek urgent medical attention:
For individuals reluctant to acknowledge their addiction, a well-planned intervention can serve as a turning point. An intervention involves loved ones, friends, and potentially professionals discussing the consequences of addiction with the affected individual and encouraging them to seek treatment.
Planning an intervention requires careful consideration and may involve consultation with addiction medicine or psychiatry specialists or intervention professionals.
Various factors contribute to the development of drug addiction, including:
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Although there’s no cure for drug addiction, treatment options can help you overcome an addiction and stay drug-free. Your treatment depends on the drug used and any related medical or mental health disorders you may have. Long-term follow-up is important to prevent relapse.
Treatment programs for substance use disorder usually offer:
The goal of detoxification, also called “detox” or withdrawal therapy, is to enable you to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and safely as possible. For some people, it may be safe to undergo withdrawal therapy on an outpatient basis. Others may need admission to a hospital or a residential treatment center.
Withdrawal from different categories of drugs — such as depressants, stimulants, or opioids — produces different side effects and requires different approaches. Detox may involve gradually reducing the dose of the drug or temporarily substituting other substances, such as methadone, buprenorphine, or a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.
In an opioid overdose, a medicine called naloxone can be given by emergency responders, or in some states, by anyone who witnesses an overdose. Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of opioid drugs.
While naloxone has been on the market for years, a nasal spray (Narcan, Kloxxado) and an injectable form are now available, though they can be very expensive. Whatever the method of delivery, seek immediate medical care after using naloxone.
It may help to get an independent perspective from someone you trust and who knows you well. You can start by discussing your substance use with your primary care provider. Or ask for a referral to a specialist in drug addiction, such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, or a psychiatrist or psychologist. Take a relative or friend along.
Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
Before your appointment, be prepared:
Some questions to ask your provider may include:
Don’t hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.
Your provider is likely to ask you several questions, such as:
Be ready to answer questions so you’ll have more time to go over any points you want to focus on.
