Drug Abuse

General or Other | General Practice | Drug Abuse (Symptom)


Description

Drug abuse, also called substance abuse or chemical abuse, is a disorder that is characterized by a destructive pattern of using a substance that leads to significant problems or distress. Teenagers are increasingly engaging in prescription drug abuse, particularly narcotics (which are prescribed to relieve severe pain), and stimulant medications, which treat conditions like attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy. Taking narcotics for a prolonged period of time may require higher doses to relieve pain. Medication is stopped suddenly, withdrawal symptoms occur, such as narcotic dependence.

Addiction is elevated narcotic abuse that becomes compulsive and self-destructive. Complications of narcotic abuse include loss of profit, infections, organ failure and death. Drug abuse is also a role in many important social problems, such as driving under the influence of drugs, violence, and stress and child abuse. Drug abuse can lead to homelessness, crime, missing work and trouble keeping a job.

Causes

Drug abuse and addiction have no single cause. Risk factors such as biological, psychological, and social ones can increase a person's likelihood of developing a chemical-abuse or chemical-dependency disorder. The frequency to which substance-abuse disorders occur within some families seems to be higher than could be explained by an addictive environment of the family. Therefore, most substance-abuse professionals recognize a genetic aspect to the risk of drug addiction.

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