drug abuse

Drug abuse describes taking a psychoactive drug or performance-enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. The most commonly abused drugs include alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Drug abuse may lead to health problems, social problems, morbidity, injuries, unprotected sex, violence, deaths, motor vehicle accidents, homicides, suicides, mortality, physical dependence, or psychological addiction.



Articles Related to drug abuse

Actor Wes Bentley Rebuilds Career after Beating Addiction

Eleven years ago, Wes Bentley was a 21-year-old Julliard dropout living in Los Angeles with a Polaroid for a head shot and not enough money to eat at Taco Bell, writes Patrick Healy of the New York Times. But after his performance as Ricky Fitts in “American Beauty,” which won the Academy...
February 11th, 2010 | Types of Addiction | Read More

Ozzy Osbourne Talks Addiction

In his autobiography “I Am Ozzy,” newly released in the US, heavy-metal pioneer Ozzy Osbourne, now 61, chronicles his drug- and alcohol-fueled behavior. Gelu Sulugiuc of Bloomberg.com writes that Osbourne was hampered by undiagnosed dyslexia in school, later failing miserably at various factory...
January 27th, 2010 | Types of Addiction | Read More

Study Examines Drug Abuse in Turkey

A new report by the Turkish Drug and Drug Addiction Monitoring Center shows that the youngest age of drug abusers in Turkey is 11, while the oldest is 67. Released last month, the report also shows the route of drug trafficking, which starts in Afghanistan and passes through Turkey to reach Italy and...
January 22nd, 2010 | Research & News | Read More

Man’s Video Game Addiction Gets Him Caught on Drug Charges

Two weeks ago, a man wanted on drug charges was caught through another addiction—playing the role-playing computer videogame “World of Warcraft.”
January 4th, 2010 | Internet & Video Game Addiction | Read More

Researchers Studying Addictive Effects of Caffeine on Young People

Being “addicted” to caffeine is considered perfectly normal among adults. But how strong is caffeine’s appeal in young people who regularly drink caffeine-laden soft drinks? What impact does acute and chronic caffeine consumption have on children’s blood pressure, heart rate, and hand tremor?...
December 31st, 2009 | Types of Addiction | Read More

Drug Users are Well Informed About the Harms of Drug Abuse

Drug users are well informed about the harms associated with the drugs they use, and they perceive alcohol and tobacco to be amongst the most dangerous substances, according to a survey by researchers from University College London (UCL) and Imperial College London. The findings, published in the Journal...
November 25th, 2009 | Research & News | Read More

Aerosmith Frontman Steven Tyler May Be Abusing Drugs

Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford told rockradio.com that he believes singer Steven Tyler is still struggling with a drug problem.
November 19th, 2009 | Research & News | Read More

Vladimir Putin Warns Young Russians about Substance Abuse at Hip-Hop Awards Show

At a Russian hip-hop awards show Friday night, young fans were praising their prime minister by chanting “Respect, Vladimir Vladimirovich.” Putin took the stage after a rapper’s performance to warn Russia’s youth about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, which are both major...
November 16th, 2009 | Research & News | Read More

Substance Abuse Screening for Teens Can Also Predict Risky Sexual Behavior

Alcohol and drug use are known contributors to adolescents engaging in dangerous sexual activity, which can lead to health risks such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. However, research suggests that fewer than half of pediatricians report screening patients for substance use...
November 10th, 2009 | Adolescent Drug Abuse | Read More

Britain Named European Capital for “Legal Highs”

A new report by the European Union’s drug agency found that Britain is the online capital of Europe for potent synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of illegal substances such as Spice, a cannabis substitute sold as a herbal smoking mixture.
November 6th, 2009 | Types of Addiction | Read More