Drug addiction affects your brain and behavior to the point where you can't control your use of legal or illegal drugs, even when you know they cause harm.
Drug Addiction ; Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and behavior. When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause. The earlier you get treatment for drug addiction (also called substance use disorder) the more likely you are to avoid some of the more dire consequences of the disease. Drug addiction isn’t about just heroin, cocaine, or other illegal drugs. You can get addicted to alcohol, nicotine, sleep and anti-...
Recreational use of meth is illegal because it is a highly addictive drug that impairs brain function and changes the person’s thoughts and actions. Learn more about meth addiction.
Understanding drug abuse and addiction ; People from all walks of life can experience problems with their drug use, regardless of age, race, background, or the reason they started using drugs in the first place. Some people experiment with recreational drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or to ease problems such as stress, anxiety, or depression. However, it’s not just illegal drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, that can lead to abuse and addiction. Prescri...
Read about drug abuse and addiction definition, screening test, and symptoms. Drug abuse and addiction disorder is a self-destructive pattern of using a substance that causes distress and problems...
Substance abuse has many consequences. Learn about the short and long-term effects of drug addiction. Discover treatment options for common symptoms.
Some psychedelics are being investigated for their therapeutic potential, but this research is in the early stages and these substances are not legally available outside of limited, experimental settings. In June 2023, the FDA released draft guidance to help researchers design safe studies that will yield interpretable results to support future study and applications for psychedelics.
Addiction has different physical & mental effects, both short & long term. Learn about the effects of drug abuse on health & behavior and how to get help.
Drug addiction, or substance use disorder, is a mental health condition that can have... recovery often involves a lifelong cycle of relapse (recurrence of use), withdrawal, and abstinence.
Are you concerned about the rising problem of drug addiction among teenagers? Imagine a scenario where a teenager, let's call him Alex, succumbs to peer pressure and starts experimenting with drugs...