10 Interesting Facts About Drugs and Addiction You Probably Didn’t Know

Updated on January 18, 2020
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“I tell you cocaine isn’t habit-forming and I know because I’ve been taking it for years,” said the infamous American actress, Tallulah Bankhead. Renowned for her devastating wit and outrageous personality, she liked to shock.

The sad truth is that there are over twenty-two million Americans who have a substance abuse problem. Did you know that drug addiction is classified as a disease of the brain and body? Read on for more interesting facts about drugs.

1. Addiction Is Not a Weakness

Addictions are a form of illness. Many people still though think of an addiction as meaning a lack of personal strength. They may see it as a moral failing too.

An addict has almost no control over their actions. In a sense, they’re as much a victim of their disease as a person suffering from diabetes or heart problems.

A person who’s addicted may need more and more of a drug to get the same effect. They may suffer from anxiety when they can’t get their drug. They may lie about their usage but have an inability to stop even in the face of negative consequences.

2. Some Sobering Stats

There were more than seventy thousand drug-related deaths in 2017, the majority due to opioids. That’s a doubling of these kinds of deaths in just ten years.

It may not always be the drug that is the actual killer. Drugs may just increase riskier behavior such as not taking care when crossing the road or driving when under the influence.

Almost eight million individuals have a mental health problem as well as an addiction issue. 

There are estimates as to the cost of crime, lost productivity and health care due to drug and alcohol abuse. These come in at over five hundred billion dollars every year. 

If you think you are abusing alcohol, you could try Soberlink’s accurate alcohol breathalyzer to get back on the right track with friends and family. 

It’s thought that Americans spend a hundred billion dollars annually on just four drugs. These are marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. 

3. Recovery from Addiction Is Possible

With treatment by trained professionals, it is possible for a person to recover from drug addiction. Addiction is highly personalized. That means it will manifest itself differently from one person to the next. 

Treatment plans at Drug Rehab Centers are tailored to the person. That begins with a detailed evaluation. Treatment strategies might include group therapy, medical assistance, and counseling. 

4. Unsupervised Recovery Can Be Fatal

Recovery from addiction means abstaining from using drugs. This can cause some very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. These can include anxiety, insomnia, tremors, and severe mood swings. 

It is recommended that when a person quits drugs, they do so in a safe environment where they’ll be supported such as at rehab centers like desert hope treatment. In the case of the benzodiazepine class of drugs, it is critical that any detox takes place under medical supervision.

Withdrawal symptoms from these drugs can be so severe as to be life-threatening. Medication may have to be administered for the patient’s safety.

5. Nobody Knows What Causes Addiction

Addiction is a multi-faceted disease. A factor that may play a role includes genetics. That means some people are predisposed to addictions from the moment they’re born.

Addiction can also be sparked by emotional trauma. A family history of addiction may cause addictive patterns of behavior to be learned. These are then passed from generation to generation. 

Even if a person thinks they’re just using drugs recreationally or socially, regular and heavy use can cause changes in the brain. This can lead to addictive behavior. 

6. Some Addicts Need Drugs to Feel Normal           

The brain of someone who’s addicted to drugs will undergo both physical and chemical changes. It’s often these changes that make it so hard to overcome an addiction.

When a drug is ingested, the brain causes pleasure-producing hormones to flood through the body. Over time, a person might then lose the ability to produce these hormones naturally.

This means that if they aren’t using drugs, they won’t be able to experience normal pleasure. They’ll have ended up in a situation when they need drugs for this to happen. It can take months for a recovering addict’s brain chemistry to rebalance.

7. A Recovering Addict Is Not a Cured Addict

Addiction is a chronic and progressive illness. An addict will always need to be careful in case they have a relapse. 

Unless action is taken, the disease will worsen, sometimes to the point of being fatal. There’s no such thing as an addict who’s recovered. A drug addict who’s recovering would not be able to go back to some form of recreational drug use. 

Addiction needs to be managed. Time and therapy can repair a lot of the damage a person may have inflicted upon themselves through drug use.

8. Addiction Is a Lonely Disease 

Many addicts are in denial and may deceive those they love about the extent of their illness. This can make them feel isolated and cause their addiction to get worse.

Addicts are far from alone in their suffering, however. There is help available everywhere. Even small communities will have access to professional drug rehab programs.

9. Recovery from Addiction and Lifestyle Choices

People in recovery drug addiction may have to make big changes to the way they live. That can mean giving up friends who were part of their drug-taking scene.

This can often be an opportunity to start a better and healthier lifestyle. It’s possible to replace going to places where drugs are prevalent with going somewhere more positive.

10. Addiction Knows No Boundaries

There’s no such thing as a stereotypical drug addict. Some people still have a mental picture of an addict as a homeless, dirty, and criminal. Some may fit that profile but there are many more who appear outwardly normal.

A person may appear to have everything from a great job to a seemingly-happy family. However, they may still be lost to the disease of addiction.

Interesting Facts About Drugs and Addiction

Reading interesting facts about drugs can help us understand more about addiction. We may have a friend or family member who has a drug addiction problem. If so, the best way to support them is to point them toward professional help.

Be sure to read more helpful articles about drug-related issues on our site. 

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