Recently Answered
- Q Could I become addicted to opioids if I have chronic pain?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineThe 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
1 Answer
A
- Q Why is prescription drug abuse increasingly common?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineAccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), three factors have fueled prescription drug abuse: Misperceptions about safety: People assume drugs that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and prescribed by doctors are safe... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q What age groups are at risk of prescription drug abuse?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineVarious surveys show that young adults (ages 18 to 25) reported the highest rate and largest increase in prescription drug abuse for each of three use timeframes: the past month, the past year, and during their lifetime. Adults over age 50 also... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q What is prescription drug abuse?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineMost people use prescription medications responsibly, but a growing number are taking certain classes of these drugs for nonmedical reasons—a phenomenon the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) refers to as "prescription drug abuse."... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q How does addiction affect the amount of dopamine my brain releases?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineDopamine is a neurotransmitter that seems to be especially important in the development and maintenance of addiction. The insidious thing about addiction is that the phenomenon itself paradoxically robs the brain of dopamine stimulation. When... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q Is a person with mental illness at higher risk of developing an addiction?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicinePeople with mental illness seem to be particularly vulnerable to addiction, and addiction and mental illness often overlap. By some estimates, as many as 65% of people who have drug addiction also have a mental illness such as depression,... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q How do my past experiences and childhood affect my risk of addiction?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineThe environment in which people grow up and their personal histories affect how likely they are to develop addiction. People who were abused or neglected as children, for example, have a higher risk of developing addiction than people who were... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q When do my risks drop after quitting smoking, drinking and abusing drugs?
-
Dr. Howard LeWine, Internal MedicineIt is never too late to make healthier lifestyle choices.The health risks of using tobacco and over using alcohol and illicit drugs begin to drop within days after you stop using them. How your past use will affect how long you live or the quality of... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q What are risk factors for addiction?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineStudies of twins and of families that are prone to addiction suggest that about 50% of the risk for drug addiction is genetically based. The genetic ties to behavioral expressions of addiction have not been studied as thoroughly, but there is... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
- Q Can my primary care doctor diagnose a substance abuse problem?
-
Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineA survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that fewer than one-third of primary care physicians thoroughly screen their patients for substance abuse problems, including alcohol problems. In the... Full Answer
1 Answer
A
