Drugs of Abuse
A huge percentage of drug addiction is related to the most used, (prescribed and illicit), drugs available. The Rehab Doc has taken a long hard look at the top 40 drugs of abuse – every one of them is slightly different in what they do, what they were designed or developed for and how they are used and abused. But they are all addictive, destructive and dangerous.
Amphetamine Addiction
Amphetamine addiction often begins when students are working hard to prepare for exams, or those at work are doing long shifts at anti-social hours. Use and abuse of amphetamines has a detrimental effect on the physical and psychological state of users. Long term amphetamine addiction can cause psychosis and even schizophrenia. Learn more about what amphetamine addiction does before you take just another pill to get through the night.
Barbiturate Addiction
Barbiturates are narcotics that have been (and still are) used to help patients sleep, relax tense patients; manage anxiety disorders and a host of other illnesses. Barbiturates are addictive, popular and relatively inexpensive drugs of abuse that are difficult to stop using and famously easy to overdose with.
Benzodiazepine Addiction
Benzodiazepine is a psycho-active anti-depressant frequently prescribed for Parkinson’s disease because of the anti-convulsant properties associated with it. There are around 35 branded drugs that are all derived from benzodiazepine. The topic, the numbers of branded drugs, street drugs and different users is huge. Learn about benzodiazepine addiction in detail in the article.
Biphetamine Addiction
Biphetamine is a combination of 2 amphetamines. The drug was developed for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy, and is effective when monitored carefully, in the management of these conditions. It has been prescribed for weight loss, although the dangers of biphetamine addiction and overdose are more fully understood it is rarely used this way. More information about this frequently abused and dangerous drug can be found in our article biphetamine addiction.
Cocaine Addiction
Cocaine is a headline, hard and highly addictive drug that almost everyone is aware of. The social, financial and individual consequences of cocaine addiction can be catastrophic, and the demographics of cocaine abuse are surprising. Find out more in the article cocaine addiction.
Crack Cocaine Addiction
Crack cocaine is so addictive that it is possible to experiment just once or twice and be in the grip of this notorious drug. Quitting crack cocaine needs dedicated professional support and treatment, a change of environment and careful supervision through detox and withdrawal to an extensive rehab and recovery program. Read about crack cocaine addiction, the facts, the treatments and how you can help.
Codeine Addiction
Prescribed for the relief of chronic pain, dispensed in hundreds of over the counter medications and found in one form or another in virtually every household medicine cabinet, codeine addiction is widespread and hard to pinpoint. To learn more read about codeine addiction.
Demerol Addiction
Demerol is most commonly used in pre and post operative surgical procedures. Although it is very effective in blocking severe pain it is unfortunately highly addictive, and Demerol addiction forms quickly. Treatment for Demerol addiction is complex, read more if you think you or some you know has an addiction to Demerol.
Dextromethorphan Addiction
Few people realize how extensively dextromethorphan is used in hundreds of over the counter household medicines. Dextromethorphan addiction is a constant danger for young people and children who mistakenly believe that they are doing nothing wrong by ingesting large amounts of a cough medicine because it makes them feel good. The false sense of security that it must be alright as the chemist sells it can lead to Dextromethorphan addiction.
Fentanyl Addiction
Fentanyl is an analgesic used for the treatment of severe or excruciating pain. Often prescribed for cancer patients, it is a medication of last-resort because of its addictive properties and potential risks. Fentanyl is given when other opiates such as morphine no longer give pain relief – an indication of the drugs potency. Abused by many because of the high it gives, Fentanyl addiction is a growing problem that many are not aware of.
Flunitrazepam Addiction
It is cheap and easy to get hold of and flunitrazepam addiction is on the rise among our young people. Withdrawal from flunitrazepam addiction shows the dangers of this benzodiazepine, and must be carefully managed to avoid potentially lethal side-effects. Read the article to find out why flunitrazepam addiction is becoming such a scourge in our society.
GHB Addiction
GHB is produced by the human body, and is prescribed for a variety of anxiety disorders. Used appropriately GHB is effective, and although it is addictive this can be managed when medication is properly supervised. The dark side of GHB is a problem though. Available as liquid, powder pills and tablets GHB is known as the date rape drug. Used recreationally addiction is swift and overdose can rapidly kill. GHB addiction is more common than one might suppose, and has particular indicators of addiction.
Heroin Addiction
Heroin has a useful place in appropriate medication for the management of pain and other conditions, but it is best known as one of the worst drugs of abuse and addiction. Derived from opium, and romanticized in fiction, heroin addiction is a dangerous, dirty and frequently fatal habit. Learn more about spotting the signs of heroin addiction and how to help a heroin addict.
Hydrocodone Addiction
Hydrocodone is a potent and addictive opioid and hydrocodone addiction is similar to cocaine or heroin addiction. Used far less these days as a prescription medication, the abuse of Hydrocodone has continued and it is a popular drug of abuse in younger people. You can find out more in the article Hydrocodone addiction.
Inhalant Addiction
Some chemicals give off vapors that can be inhaled to get a high. Inhalant addicts are typically very young and find obtaining spray paints, room deodorants, paint removers and other solvents very easy. Inhaling these vapors is dangerous and carries significant side-effects, some are potentially lethal. If you want to know which of your common household goods could pose a threat to your children read the article inhalant addiction, then go and buy a few locks for your cupboards.
Ketamine Addiction
Ketamine was first used as an anesthetic in cats and then it was licensed for human use. Ketamine is a disassociative drug that blocks messages to the brain. Users generally prepare carefully when they intend to take a dose of Ketamine because they are likely to fall or trip and injure themselves when high. There are many side-effects of Ketamine abuse and Ketamine addiction. For more information read the article.
LSD Addiction
Is LSD addictive? Can addiction be only psychological? Many LSD abusers can attest to the addiction being only too real, even if physical dependency is not apparent, the need for LSD addicts to take another dose and go outside the physical world is compelling, and the results can be catastrophic. LSD addiction has consequences far beyond those a casual observer might realize. More information can be found in our article LSD addiction.
Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana is perhaps one of the most widely used drugs of all time. The age range, demographic and social standing of marijuana abusers is phenomenal. Today the drug has been changed by developing particular strains of cannabis, and often by the addition of other chemicals to give more intense experiences. For an in-depth look at marijuana and marijuana addiction read the article.
MDMA Addiction
The hug drug, X, ecstasy – MDMA is a club drug taken by a large proportion of club and rave attendees. But MDMA is rarely sold without additional drugs in the pills, and these are most frequently either cocaine or heroin. MDMA addiction is more common than users think so find out more and then avoid it.
Methamphetamine Addiction
Methamphetamine is illegal to possess, make, use or sell. The long sentences and heavy fines applied to those involved in any way with the manufacture, possession or supply of methamphetamine are an indication of how seriously governments in the United States, Europe and the UK regard methamphetamine addiction.
Morphine Addiction
The medical profession uses morphine far less now than in the recent past because it is highly addictive and has side-effects that can be lethal even when dose and use are carefully monitored. Development of alternative analgesics has helped, but morphine addiction is still a problem for many. You can find more in-depth information in our article.
Opium Addiction
Opium is still used today; it is not a drug only of the dim and distant past. Of course as opium is still used, so opium addiction remains a problem which is difficult to help addicts through because most of the time they will have been addicted for a long time. Opium is not a romantic drug from the past, opium addiction is still kicking; learn more about it in our article opium addiction.
Oxycodone Addiction
Oxycodone addiction is a prescription addiction that can develop very quickly and causes havoc. Careful prescribing for short term treatment of sports injuries and other aches and pains, Oxycodone is effective and useful. Extended or prolonged use of Oxycodone will result in Oxycodone addiction.
Oxycontin Addiction
In 2007 world production of Oxycontin was over 75 tons – that gives an idea of how many prescriptions are given to a huge number of people around the globe. A substitute for stronger opioids, Oxycontin is addictive and dangerous in its own right. Oxycontin addiction is complicated, and Oxycontin addicts are everywhere. To find out more about Oxycontin addiction read the article.
PCP Addiction
PCP is a synthetic that acts directly on brain functions. It remains in the body for up to 8 days after use, and is highly addictive. PCP addicts sniff, smoke, spray on marijuana and inject the drug. Physical addiction is quick, and the hallucinogenic qualities of PCP are an additional pull that addicts find almost impossible to resist… The whole story is in our article PCP addiction.
Percocet Addiction
Percocet is contra-indicated in a range of conditions but it is nevertheless widely prescribed when appropriate, and an effective medication for relief of severe pain due to injury. It is addictive and can be dangerous if used inappropriately. Using Percocet without full knowledge of the dangers could be lethal, you can read more about it in our article Percocet addiction.
Pethidine Addiction
A commonly used analgesic, Pethidine is a formulation of Demerol. Pethidine addiction is difficult for many to accept – a high percentage of Pethidine addicts are not people often associated with drug addiction of any kind. Pethidine addiction is difficult to address, and needs to be understood, not judged.
Propoxyphene Addiction
Narcotics are addictive and Propoxyphene is a narcotic with the addictive properties of other more well known narcotics. Propoxyphene addiction is best treated in a residential facility where withdrawal and rehab can be most effectively managed.
Ritalin Addiction
Ritalin is addictive and young people prescribed Ritalin for the treatment of ADHD are carefully weaned down from relatively high doses before cessation of ingestion. Ritalin abuse damages the brain and if a Ritalin addiction is left untreated for a long time the damage can be extensive. If you need to know more about Ritalin, its uses and effects read more in the article Ritalin addiction.
Valium Addiction
Valium – mother’s little helper – a highly addictive benzodiazepine derivative, Valium has been widely prescribed for decades. Nowadays prescriptions for Valium rarely exceed one month, and are never repeated with full checks by the prescribing physician. If you regularly take Valium find out how to avoid the worst problems of Valium addiction.
Vicodin Addiction
Vicodin is a formulation of Hydrocodone often prescribed for mild pain relief. Vicodin addiction is both physical and emotional so it is not easy to treat, and should not be under-estimated. More information about Vicodin addiction, side-effects and treatments can be found in the article.
Xanax Addiction
Another of the addictive benzodiazepine narcotics, Xanax is used primarily as a tranquillizer. Generally use of Xanax to relieve depression and other anxiety or stress disorders is lengthy, so the probability of addiction is high. Signs of Xanax addiction can be confused with the condition it was prescribed to treat so it is important to understand how it works and what the dangers of Xanax addiction are.
