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 also are 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.

As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel
good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to
stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill. These are called withdrawal
symptoms.

Help from your health care provider, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program can help
you overcome your drug addiction and stay drug-free.

Symptoms

Drug addiction symptoms or behaviors include, among others:

 Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a day

 Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts

 Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect

 Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended

 Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug

 Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it

 Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities
because of drug use

 Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your life or causing you
physical or psychological harm

 Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing

 Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug

 Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug

 Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug

 Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug

Recognizing unhealthy drug use in family members

Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish normal teenage moodiness or anxiety from signs of drug use. Possible signs
that your teenager or other family member is using drugs include:
  Problems at school or work — frequently missing school or work, a sudden disinterest in school
activities or work, or a drop in grades or work performance

 Physical health issues — lack of energy and motivation, weight loss or gain, or red eyes

 Neglected appearance — lack of interest in clothing, grooming or looks

 Changes in behavior — major efforts to bar family members from entering the teenager's room or being
secretive about going out with friends; or drastic changes in behavior and in relationships with family and
friends

 Money issues — sudden requests for money without a reasonable explanation; or your discovery that
money is missing or has been stolen or that items have disappeared from your home, indicating maybe
they're being sold to support drug use

Recognizing signs of drug use or intoxication

Signs and symptoms of drug use or intoxication may vary, depending on the type of drug. Below you'll find
several examples.

Marijuana, hashish and other cannabis-containing substances

People use cannabis by smoking, eating or inhaling a vaporized form of the drug. Cannabis often precedes or is
used along with other substances, such as alcohol or illegal drugs, and is often the first drug tried.

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

 A sense of euphoria or feeling "high"

 A heightened sense of visual, auditory and taste perception

 Increased blood pressure and heart rate

 Red eyes

 Dry mouth

 Decreased coordination

 Difficulty concentrating or remembering

 Slowed reaction time

 Anxiety or paranoid thinking

 Cannabis odor on clothes or yellow fingertips

 Major cravings for certain foods at unusual times

Long-term use is often associated with:

 Decreased mental sharpness

 Poor performance at school or at work

 Ongoing cough and frequent lung infections

K2, Spice and bath salts

Two groups of synthetic drugs — synthetic cannabinoids and substituted or synthetic cathinones — are illegal in
most states. The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and
some ingredients may not be known.

Synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2 or Spice, are sprayed on dried herbs and then smoked, but can be
prepared as an herbal tea. A liquid form can be vaporized in electronic cigarettes. Despite manufacturer claims,
these are chemical compounds rather than "natural" or harmless products. These drugs can produce a "high"
similar to marijuana and have become a popular but dangerous alternative.

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

 A sense of euphoria or feeling "high"

 Elevated mood

 An altered sense of visual, auditory and taste perception

 Extreme anxiety or agitation

 Paranoia

 Hallucinations

 Increased heart rate and blood pressure or heart attack

 Vomiting

 Confusion

 Violent behavior

Substituted cathinones, also called "bath salts," are mind-altering (psychoactive) substances similar to
amphetamines such as ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine. Packages are often labeled as other products to avoid
detection.

Despite the name, these are not bath products such as Epsom salts. Substituted cathinones can be eaten,
snorted, inhaled or injected and are highly addictive. These drugs can cause severe intoxication, which results in
dangerous health effects or even death.

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

 Feeling "high"

 Increased sociability

 Increased energy and agitation

 Increased sex drive

 Increased heart rate and blood pressure

 Problems thinking clearly

 Loss of muscle control

 Paranoia

 Panic attacks

 Hallucinations
  Delirium

 Psychotic and violent behavior

Barbiturates, benzodiazepines and hypnotics

Barbiturates, benzodiazepines and hypnotics are prescription central nervous system depressants. They're often
used and misused in search for a sense of relaxation or a desire to "switch off" or forget stress-related thoughts
or feelings.

 Barbiturates. An example is phenobarbital.

 Benzodiazepines. Examples include sedatives, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax),

lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium).

 Hypnotics. Examples include prescription sleeping medicines such as zolpidem (Ambien) and zaleplon
(Sonata).

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

 Drowsiness

 Slurred speech

 Lack of coordination

 Irritability or changes in mood

 Problems concentrating or thinking clearly

 Memory problems

 Involuntary eye movements

 Lack of inhibition

 Slowed breathing and reduced blood pressure

 Falls or accidents

 Dizziness

Meth, cocaine and other stimulants

Stimulants include amphetamines, meth (methamphetamine), cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta,

others) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis). They're often used and misused in
search of a "high," or to boost energy, to improve performance at work or school, or to lose weight or control
appetite.

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

 Feeling of happy excitement and too much confidence

 Increased alertness

 Increased energy and restlessness

 Behavior changes or aggression

 Rapid or rambling speech

  Larger than usual pupils, the black circles in the middle of the eyes

 Confusion, delusions and hallucinations

 Irritability, anxiety or paranoia

 Changes in heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature

 Nausea or vomiting with weight loss

 Poor judgment

 Nasal congestion and damage to the mucous membrane of the nose (if snorting drugs)

 Mouth sores, gum disease and tooth decay from smoking drugs ("meth mouth")

 Insomnia

 Depression as the drug wears off

Club drugs

Club drugs are commonly used at clubs, concerts and parties. Examples include
methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also called MDMA, ecstasy or molly, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known
as GHB. Other examples include ketamine and flunitrazepam or Rohypnol — a brand used outside the U.S. —
also called roofie. These drugs are not all in the same category, but they share some similar effects and dangers,
including long-term harmful effects.

Because GHB and flunitrazepam can cause sedation, muscle relaxation, confusion and memory loss, the
potential for sexual misconduct or sexual assault is associated with the use of these drugs.

Signs and symptoms of use of club drugs can include:

 Hallucinations

 Paranoia

 Larger than usual pupils

 Chills and sweating

 Involuntary shaking (tremors)

 Behavior changes

 Muscle cramping and teeth clenching

 Muscle relaxation, poor coordination or problems moving

 Reduced inhibitions

 Heightened or altered sense of sight, sound and taste

 Poor judgment

 Memory problems or loss of memory

 Reduced consciousness

 Increased or decreased heart rate and blood pressure

Hallucinogens
Use of hallucinogens can produce different signs and symptoms, depending on the drug. The most common
hallucinogens are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and phencyclidine (PCP).

LSD use may cause:

 Hallucinations

 Greatly reduced perception of reality, for example, interpreting input from one of your senses as another,
such as hearing colors

 Impulsive behavior

 Rapid shifts in emotions

 Permanent mental changes in perception

 Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure

 Tremors

 Flashbacks, a reexperience of the hallucinations — even years later

PCP use may cause:

 A feeling of being separated from your body and surroundings

 Hallucinations

 Problems with coordination and movement

 Aggressive, possibly violent behavior

 Involuntary eye movements

 Lack of pain sensation

 Increase in blood pressure and heart rate

 Problems with thinking and memory

 Problems speaking

 Poor judgment

 Intolerance to loud noise

 Sometimes seizures or coma

Inhalants

Signs and symptoms of inhalant use vary, depending on the substance. Some commonly inhaled substances
include glue, paint thinners, correction fluid, felt tip marker fluid, gasoline, cleaning fluids and household aerosol
products. Due to the toxic nature of these substances, users may develop brain damage or sudden death.

Signs and symptoms of use can include:

 Possessing an inhalant substance without a reasonable explanation

 Brief happy excitement

 Behaving as if drunk
  Reduced ability to keep impulses under control

 Aggressive behavior or eagerness to fight

 Dizziness

 Nausea or vomiting

 Involuntary eye movements

 Appearing under the influence of drugs, with slurred speech, slow movements and poor coordination

 Irregular heartbeats

 Tremors

 Lingering odor of inhalant material

 Rash around the nose and mouth

Opioid painkillers

Opioids are narcotic, painkilling drugs produced from opium or made synthetically. This class of drugs includes,
among others, heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, fentanyl and oxycodone.

Sometimes called the "opioid epidemic," addiction to opioid prescription pain medicines has reached an alarming
rate across the United States. Some people who've been using opioids over a long period of time may need
physician-prescribed temporary or long-term drug substitution during treatment.

Signs and symptoms of narcotic use and dependence can include:

 A sense of feeling "high"

 Reduced sense of pain

 Agitation, drowsiness or sedation

 Slurred speech

 Problems with attention and memory

 Pupils that are smaller than usual

 Lack of awareness or inattention to surrounding people and things

 Problems with coordination

 Depression

 Confusion

 Constipation

 Runny nose or nose sores (if snorting drugs)

 Needle marks (if injecting drugs)

When to see a doctor

If your drug use is out of control or causing problems, get help. The sooner you seek help, the greater your
chances for a long-term recovery. Talk with your health care provider or see a mental health provider, such as a
doctor who specializes in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
Make an appointment to see a provider if:

 You can't stop using a drug

 You continue using the drug despite the harm it causes

 Your drug use has led to unsafe behavior, such as sharing needles or unprotected sex

 You think you may be having withdrawal symptoms after stopping drug use

If you're not ready to approach a health care provider or mental health professional, help lines or hotlines may be
a good place to learn about treatment. You can find these lines listed on the internet or in the phone book.

When to seek emergency help

Seek emergency help if you or someone you know has taken a drug and:

 May have overdosed

 Shows changes in consciousness

 Has trouble breathing

 Has seizures or convulsions

 Has signs of a possible heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure

 Has any other troublesome physical or psychological reaction to use of the drug

Staging an intervention

People struggling with addiction usually deny they have a problem and hesitate to seek treatment. An
intervention presents a loved one with a structured opportunity to make changes before things get even worse
and can motivate someone to seek or accept help.

It's important to plan an intervention carefully. It may be done by family and friends in consultation with a health
care provider or mental health professional such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, or directed by an
intervention professional. It involves family and friends and sometimes co-workers, clergy or others who care
about the person struggling with addiction.

During the intervention, these people gather together to have a direct, heart-to-heart conversation with the
person about the consequences of addiction. Then they ask the person to accept treatment.