One of the most common reasons Americans visit their doctors is to get help with pain relief. Pain causes distress and can even be debilitating. Doctors sometimes prescribe opioid pain relievers to their patients who are in pain. While these drugs can provide much-needed relief, they also have the potential for misuse and addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that prescription opioid painkillers can lead to dependence and addiction even when taken as prescribed by a doctor.1 Opiate medications are habit-forming and can qu ...
Psychedelic drugs (hallucinogens)—chemicals such as LSD and plants such as peyote and magic mushrooms. While generally not addictive, there are other serious risks.
Learn more about the most addictive drugs and how to get help.
Direct food additives are those that are added to a food for a specific purpose. For example, xanthan gum – used in salad dressings, chocolate milk, bakery fillings, puddings and other foods – is a direct additive used to add texture. Most direct additives are identified on the ingredient label of foods. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a food additive must be authorized by the FDA before it can be used in food on the market. A manufacturer or other sponso ...
Some prescription drugs are more addictive than others. Most addictive drugs affect your... It changes how your central nervous system (CNS) responds to pain. Like heroin, it creates a...
What Is Substance Abuse? ; What Is Alcohol Use Disorder? ; Painkillers and Opioid Use Disorder ; What Is Marijuana Abuse? ; What Is Prescription Drug Abuse?
Stimulants are drugs that increase brain activity, which can boost alertness and elevate mood, but are also addictive. Learn about common stimulants and their risks.
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Research says that our brains are hardwired for pleasure and sugar works like many addictive drugs. So, are we sugar fiends?
Given the option, most rats will choose sugar instead of cocaine. Their lust for the carbohydrate is so intense that they will go as far as to self-administer electric shocks in their desperation to consume sugar. Rats aren’t alone in this drive. Humans, it seems, do something similar. People who’ve had bariatric surgery sometimes continue to overindulge in highly processed foods, those made from white flour, sugar, butter, and the like, even if it means later enduring vomiting and diarrhea....