Of all the problems facing Delaware, substance abuse is on top of the list. Drug addiction has become a problem for both developed and developing countries for a variety of reasons; ranging from mental and physical illnesses to social and psychological problems.
Drugs are chemical substances which are administered into the body via different methods and they alter the chemical compositions of brain and body’s cells. In changing the chemical composition of cells, drugs alter their functioning hence the functioning of the body and brain.
Drugs can be classified according to their effects in the body and mind (speeding, slowing or altering thinking) or according to their medicinal value (prescription drugs – issued with use instructions for treatment of diseases, and recreational drugs – for leisure and have no intake instructions).
Drug use and abuse
Drug use is the intake of drugs for the purposes those drugs were issued for and following the intake instructions given by the doctor or any other medical practitioner. Drug abuse, also called substance abuse, is the intake of prescription drugs for other reasons other than what they were meant for and without/ against user instructions. It is also the unregulated and excessive use of any other drug; be they legal recreational drugs such as alcohol or hard illegal drugs.
Drug addiction
Drug addiction is a perpetual compelling need for the drug (both physical and psychological) characterized by withdrawal symptoms if the particular drug one is addicted to is withdrawn. Addiction develops from increased tolerance (resulting from prolonged use and abuse of a drug); which forces the person to continuously increase the amount of the drug taken for the same intensity of effects earlier produced by smaller amounts.
Increased tolerance develops into physical dependence (which makes the body function less and less effectively in the absence of the drug) and this is what develops into addiction. Of course addiction can also advance to chronic levels if no intervention to reverse the situation is put in place.
Intervention during drug abuse to addiction
An intervention is an effort that is geared towards reversing a current state of drug use, abuse, dependence etc. to prevent it from advancing to the next progressively worse level, which is just about guaranteed. It is sad that in most cases, an interventionist will come in almost too late; when the person has already become addicted to whatever substance they were using.
Whereas addicts could be treated at this stage and helped to get off the drug, too much physical, psychological, social and financial damage might have already been done and it would have been better if abuse was detected early before tolerance and the other stages develop. There is always hope for any situation, an advanced stage of addiction just poses a greater challenge for recovery.
Drug addiction treatment in Delaware
Many people get addicted to depressant drugs (such as: alcohol, heroin, morphine, prescription pain killers such as buprenorphine, hydrocodone, Fentanyl etc.), stimulant drugs (such as: crack cocaine, Ritalin, crystal meth/ methamphetamine etc.) and hallucinogens especially marijuana. In states throughout the country from here to Florida or as far away as Alaska, treatment centers for addiction (regardless) focus on detoxifying the addict from the drug (by withdrawing the drug and treating its withdrawals) as well as counseling the addicts to get to the bottom of the addiction.
