What Do You Know About Substance-Use Disorder?

Addiction is a complex condition of the brain and brain chemistry. It drives people to use drugs even when they know about the health or social problems that can happen. People have a choice about whether to use drugs when they first start. But continuing to use them affects how the brain works. This leads to addictive behavior. Getting drugs becomes compulsive. Addiction is often long-term (chronic). Just like diabetes or heart disease, sometimes the condition is under good control. But other times there are disease-related problems. The long-term nature of addiction means that even if an addicted person stops using drugs, they can relapse and begin using again. Drug treatment and ongoing support and management can help break this cycle.

Marijuana is the dried leaves, flowers, and seeds of the hemp plant. It is legal for adults in some states. Smoking marijuana causes the user to feel euphoria. But short-term effects also include problems with memory and learning, loss of coordination, and higher heart rate. Long-term effects may include addiction, frequent respiratory infections, and possibly a higher risk for cancer. Preteens and teens who use marijuana have special problems.  Studies show that marijuana interferes with memory, motivation to learn, problem solving, and grades.  Children and teens who use this drug are also more likely to drop out of school. They are less likely to attend college. Teens who use marijuana on a regular, heavy basis are less satisfied with life. They have an IQ drop of 8 points in standardized IQ testing when pre- and post-marijuana-use scores are compared.

A "club drug" is a broad term for a wide variety of often synthetic, mood-altering drugs. These include the stimulants Ecstasy/MDMA and methamphetamine, the depressants GHB and rohypnol, and the dissociatives ketamine and dextromethorphan. These also include the hallucinogen LSD. Health problems linked with these drugs range from amnesia to seizures and coma, and even death.

According to the NIDA, many healthcare providers say that it's not unusual for their patients to pressure them into prescribing a controlled medicine, such as an opioid pain reliever or stimulant. The most commonly abused prescription medicines include the opioids Vicodin and OxyContin.

Both of these are called steroids, but corticosteroids are prescription medicines used to ease swelling and inflammation. Corticosteroids are safe and effective when taken as directed. Anabolic steroids are male hormones. They are either testosterone or a synthetic form of testosterone. Anabolic steroids are prescribed to treat certain kinds of anemia, wasting disease linked with AIDS, and conditions causing very low levels of testosterone. But these medicines are often abused by bodybuilders and others who want to build muscle. When abused, anabolic steroids can cause overly aggressive behavior, heart attacks, stroke, and severe liver disease. They can also cause acne and hair loss. People assigned male at birth who abuse anabolic steroids may develop enlarged breasts and smaller testicles. People assigned female at birth may develop masculine traits such as facial hair and deepened voice.

This is called sudden sniffing death. It can occur in otherwise healthy people. Inhalants are chemical vapors that when inhaled cause mind-altering effects. These inhalants are household products such as spray paints, glues, and cleaning fluids. Inhalants fall into 3 categories: solvents, gases, and nitrites. They all have effects similar to an anesthetic. They slow down the body's functions and make the user feel intoxicated. In high concentrations, inhalants can cause death by heart failure or by suffocation. The chance of suffocation is higher when a person inhales a chemical sprayed into a paper or plastic bag.

According to the Partnership to End Addiction, these are also warning signs of possible drug addiction in a teen:

• They become withdrawn, depressed, or careless about personal grooming.

• Relationships with other family members become strained.

• They become hostile and uncooperative.

• Eating and sleeping patterns change.

• They lose interest in favorite activities.

• They have a hard time concentrating.

• You find pipes, rolling papers, pill bottles, or eye drops to mask blood-shot eyes from marijuana use in your teen's room.

You should also wait until a time when the person is not upset or angry. The first step in talking to your teen or other family member is to express your love for them and your concern about your teen's health and safety, according to the Partnership to End Addiction. You should also share with the person the warning signs you have seen. Emphasize that the problem needs serious attention and support because it can get out of control. Have definite resources and support ready. Be open to getting family therapy if the person abusing drugs is an immediate family member. Stay calm, neutral, and nonjudgmental. Listen to the person's response. For other suggestions on how to talk to your child about a drug abuse problem, visit the Partnership to End Addiction.

The length of time needed for treatment to work varies from person to person. But for most people, the least amount of time is 3 months. Just as length of treatment varies with the person, so does the type of treatment. Like diseases such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, addiction is a chronic disease. Addiction has no cure, but it can be treated and managed. No single treatment works for everyone. Detoxification is only the first step in drug treatment. What is critical is that detox be followed with group or individual counseling. Ongoing care and support must be available after treatment ends. A person who abuses drugs needs to learn skills to resist drugs. And they need new activities to replace those linked with drugs. If a relapse occurs, the person also needs access to nonjudgmental support services to help them get clean again.