Substance Abuse and Addiction

Addiction researchers use the term "natural recoverers" to refer to people who are able to overcome addiction on their own, without treatment or self-help groups. Researchers suspect that former smokers are the largest group of natural... Full Answer

I do know how hard it is to give up or walk away from an addiction. The suggestion I have for those addicted is to go inside and find your inner strength. Your first strength is in admitting you have an addiction. If you can do this, you have... Full Answer

Although different substances and behaviors associated with addiction (a condition characterized by loss of control over the use of a psychoactive drug or the participation in an activity, such as gambling) have some similar effects on the brain,... Full Answer

The social and environmental context within which a person uses a psychoactive substance (any substance that changes your mood, thinking, or behavior) or engages in a rewarding activity—what psychologists call the "setting"—alters the... Full Answer

Although objects of addiction can have profound effects on the brain, the brain itself exerts some control over how it allows itself to change. Your mindset and expectations when you're using a psychoactive substance or engaging in a rewarding... Full Answer

In 2010, 2.5 million people reported nonmedical use of prescription tranquilizers and sedatives. Older people, especially older women, may be at higher risk for abusing these drugs, in part because they are more likely to receive prescriptions... Full Answer

To prevent overdoses of prescription painkillers, individuals can: Use prescription painkillers only as directed by a health care provider. Make sure they are the only one to use their prescription painkillers. Not selling or sharing them with... Full Answer

In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new formulation of oxycodone intended to prevent users from tampering with the pills. The pills turn into a gel when dissolved in water and are much harder to crush into a fine powder.... Full Answer

More than five million Americans reported nonmedical use of prescription painkillers and 1.9 million were dependent on or abusing this class of drugs in 2010—nearly twice as great as the number of people addicted to cocaine. Friends and... Full Answer

The risk of opioid addiction among people with chronic pain is low—except for those with a personal or family history of drug abuse or mental illness. Short-term use also minimizes the risk of addiction. On the other hand, prescriptions for... Full Answer