Drug abuse in today’s society is as rampant as it ever has been. Many experts in the field of drug abuse and addiction debate the differences between drug abuse and the varying degrees of drug addiction thereby confusing the subject. 

Drug abuse has a wide spectrum of definitions related to taking a mind altering drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. Some of the drugs most often associated with this term include alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and opium alkaloids or opiate derivatives like heroin, oxycontin, percaset, vicodin, lortab, hydrocodone and others in the pain relieving category.

Worldwide, the UN estimates there are more than 50 million people with drug abuse problems with drugs like heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs worldwide.

Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, according to most experts involves the repeated and excessive use of chemical substances to achieve a certain effect. These substances may be “street” or “illicit” drugs, illegal due to the high potential for drug addiction or substance abuse. Many addiction counselors believe this to be an inaccurate description and actually lessen the obvious dangers associated with drug abuse. Any drug used beyond achieving the desired effect or for non-medical reasons even one time is or should be considered drug abuse.

Drug Abuse Statistics

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies in 2008, an estimated 22.2 million persons aged 12 or older were classified with drug abuse or dependence in the past year, or nearly 10 percent of the population. Of these, 3.1 million were classified with drug abuse of or dependence on both alcohol and illicit drugs, 3.9 million committed drug abuses or had dependence on illicit drugs but not alcohol, and 15.2 million were classified as abusing alcohol but not drug abuse or dependent with illicit drugs. These drug abuse statistics can be somewhat skewed as this does not take into consideration those committing prescription drug abuse and have a prescription. These numbers are alarmingly high and relatively hard to detect.

Drug Abuse types

Drug abuse and Heroin - Heroin is an opiate drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. Heroin usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black sticky substance, known as “black tar heroin.”

Drug Abuse and Cocaine - Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant drug. The powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine can be snorted or dissolved in water and then injected. Crack is the street name given to the form of cocaine that has been processed to make a rock crystal, which, when heated, produces vapors that are smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound produced by the rock as it is heated.

Drug abuse and methamphetamine - Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant drug that is similar in structure to amphetamine. Due to its high potential for drug abuse, methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II drug and is available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled. Although methamphetamine can be prescribed by a doctor, its medical uses are limited, and the doses that are prescribed are much lower than those typically abused. Most of the methamphetamine abused in this country comes from foreign or domestic superlabs, although it can also be made in small, illegal laboratories, where its production endangers the people in the labs, neighbors, and the environment.

Methamphetamine is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol and is taken orally, intranasally (snorting the powder), by needle injection, or by smoking.

Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs. The National Institutes of Health estimates that nearly 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.

In 2000, about 43 percent of hospital emergency admissions for drug overdoses (nearly 500,000 people) happened because of drug abuse or misuse of prescription drugs. This type of drug abuse is increasing partially because of the availability of drugs, including online pharmacies that make it easier to get the drugs without a prescription, even for minors.
Drug abuse and addiction- is it time to enter a drug rehab program?

The decision to enter any rehab program can be a very complicated and painstaking process. If you have questions about drug abuse for yourself or loved or are confused by the many rehab choices offered on this drug rehab site, please call one of our addiction treatment center specialists at (866) 949-4499.

Our helpline is answered by a professional addiction counselors and staff who understand what you are going through. They will listen to your questions and concerns, and provide you with free drug rehab referrals.