The issue of drug addiction among women is not necessarily new, but it continues to erode our society over the course of history. Women who find themselves addicted to drugs may have children dependent on them to provide nurturing and care. Society has fed women with the idea of perfection, something that is unattainable and has perpetuated a lack of support for mothers struggling with addiction and seeking drug rehab for themselves. The real fear of losing familial support, or custody of their children, often prevents women from seeking the addiction help they so desperately need. Coastline Behavioral Health provides a safe, secure place recovery and offers support for families dealing with addiction.
No one really chooses to become an addict. Usually, illicit drug addiction begins with social or casual drug use. Because of the nature of most illicit drugs, addiction is always a possibility, and the likelihood increases with regular use. Addiction changes the way an individual’s brain functions, which in turn affects their behaviors. It is important to understand that drug addiction is a disease where most users often get worse, never better.
Heroin is a very potent opiate drug that when used as an intense effect on an individual’s brain chemistry. Heroin abuse causes the brain’s reward system to reduce its own production of dopamine and endorphins. This is because heroin use tricks the brain into believing that enough of these feel-good chemicals are already present, resulting in a drop of natural chemical production. Heroin is derived from the poppy plant, the same plant used to make opium and other opiate drugs. Illicit drug facts about heroin suggest that heroin addiction has become an epidemic in America over the past decades.
Cocaine is produced from the coca plant which is grown mainly in South America. Interestingly, the leaves of the coca plant were often chewed by laborers who spent time working at higher altitudes as a stimulant. Now, cocaine is manufactured in illegal labs in the jungles of countries such as Columbia, Honduras, and Peru. Cocaine is a white powder that causes energy, alertness, and euphoria when snorted or injected. Cocaine is very addictive and the risk of cocaine addiction when using is a real possibility. The illicit drug facts regarding cocaine abuse indicate that cocaine addiction carries health risks such as cardiac arrest or stroke.
Crack cocaine is powder cocaine mixed with water and baking soda which then dries and is broken up into small rocks. These rocks are smoked rather than snorted or injected. Crack cocaine addiction has become a very popular illicit street drug over the past decades, as it is powerful and relatively easy to obtain. The name crack cocaine comes from the sound that it makes when heated to smoke. There has been researching that suggests that crack cocaine is more psychologically addictive than powder cocaine, but some dispute this. Should you know someone struggling with crack cocaine addiction contact our rehab center in Huntington Beach for more help.
Ecstasy is the illicit name for MDMA, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, which is a powerful psychoactive drug. Ecstasy causes a stimulant effect, as well as euphoria when it is taken. Illicit drug facts regarding MDMA indicate that ecstasy is often cut with other substances such as cocaine, LSD, heroin, and amphetamines. This is probably because pure MDMA is difficult to find outside a laboratory. There are not any medically accepted uses for MDMA so it is classified as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance. Ecstasy abuse can cause ecstasy addiction depending on the type of substances it is combined with.
Hallucinogens are a class of drugs that cause individuals to experience hallucinations or distortions of reality. There are hallucinogens that are found in plants and some mushrooms, but there are also manufactured drugs such as LSD or PCP. It has become apparent over the years of research that the exact mechanisms by which hallucinogens work are not understood. It is clear, however, that they work by disrupting the communication between brain systems that regulate mood, perception, sexual behavior, and body temperature, to name a few. The illicit drug facts regarding hallucinogen abuse and long-term effects are also still something researchers are discovering.
Marijuana is a plant used both medicinally and recreationally within the United States. While some studies suggest that marijuana is not addictive, other reports indicate that the rising potency of marijuana can contribute to marijuana abuse or marijuana dependence. Marijuana can be smoked or eaten, or brewed as a tea. Illicit drug facts about marijuana’s negative effects on attention and learning are coming to light as of late. There seems to be evidence that marijuana users are less likely to complete school, or complete with lower than average grades. In addiction, there is evidence that marijuana dependence is linked to unemployment, criminal activity, and other socio-economic issues.
Meth or methamphetamine is considered to be one of the most addictive illicit drugs on the streets of America. There are many individuals that report their meth addiction started with their first high. Meth creates feelings of intense euphoria and awareness, caused by chemicals released in the reward center of the brain. Illicit drug facts about meth’s effect on brain chemistry when used indicate that meth abuse releases nearly three times as much dopamine as cocaine abuse does. Repeated exposure to meth and meth addiction will cause a rewiring of the brain’s reward system, making meth withdrawal and meth detox very difficult without the support of inpatient drug rehab programs.