With thousands of people in our country developing drug addictions and many people dying from overdoses, it’s important to learn about drug abuse facts. One of the primary reasons people don’t get the help they need is because they’re not properly educated. You may be struggling with the early stages of a drug addiction because you don’t understand how addiction works. Learning these facts can help you get the treatment you need before your situation gets worse.

Prescription Drug Abuse Facts

When many people think of the drug epidemic, heroin is the first drug that comes to mind. However, prescription drug addiction is currently a much bigger issue. In fact, prescription drugs contributed to over 64,000 overdose deaths in the past year alone. This isn’t only limited to prescription opioids either.

The most commonly abused addictive prescription medications include:

  • Pain medications (opiates and opioids)
  • Anxiety Medications (Benzodiazepines)
  • ADHD Medications (Amphetamines)

The early signs of an addiction to prescription medications start off with the abuse of these medications. Abuse is defined as taking the medication in any way that’s not as instructed. This can include taking more than what’s prescribed, mixing it with other drugs or alcohol as well as buying the medication illegally.

Alcohol and Cocaine Drug Abuse Facts

Even though most people don’t think of it as such, alcohol is a drug—a dangerous one at that. It’s common that people who use powder cocaine drink heavily, but they think only one of the substances is their problem. The reality is that polysubstance abuse means the brain is wired to want both of the substances. The idea that only one substance is the issue causes many people to relapse once they leave addiction treatment.

If you’re abusing cocaine while drinking, you probably do this so you can stay awake longer and drink more. With the way that cocaine affects you, your body doesn’t tell you when you’ve had too much to drink. Without this type of defense system, many people who are abusing both substances suffer from alcohol poisoning.

Age and Drug Abuse Facts

Young people are at a far greater risk of developing an addiction because their brains are still developing. Young people have an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that helps regulate dopamine. Without this part of the brain functioning to its fullest, a young person is much more likely to become dependent.

Ashley Addiction Treatment is here to help you on the road to recovery before it’s too late. Some of the addiction treatment programs we offer include:

Find out more about our addiction treatment center by calling us today at 866-313-6307.