Drug Addiction Facts

Drug addiction facts are invaluable for anyone who suffers from a drug addiction problem or knows someone else who does. On this page we will provide you with the most valuable information on this subject. In today's society, drug addiction is a rising epidemic. It is beneficial to you and those you care about to know the drug addiction facts that are plaguing your cities and towns. It is surprising how many individuals are unaware of how alcohol affects the body or the differing side effects of marijuana's on men verses women. Drug addiction is a problem that nobody wants to develop. However, many people unfortunately find themselves caught in drug addiction. Once you know the drug addiction facts you will be able to make more informed decisions and help others around you to do the same. Below are drug addiction facts about the most commonly abused drugs.

Benzoylecognine, a metabolite unique to cocaine, can be detected in the user's urine for 2-4 days. However, the disruption to brain chemistry can remain for much longer. Individuals who have become dependent on cocaine will feel intense cravings for cocaine long after use has ceased, making recovery difficult.

Even first time users of cocaine may experience seizures or heart attacks which can be fatal. Crack cocaine can make you violent or even make you do bizarre, repetitive motions. Some users sit and repetitively draw doodles or, in severe cases, pick at themselves over and over to get imaginary bugs out from underneath their skin.

Research links Ecstasy use to long-term damage on parts of the brain which are critical to thought and memory. One study, in primates, showed that exposure to Ecstasy for 4 days caused brain damage that was evident 6 to 7 years later.

In addition to the effects of the heroin by itself, street heroin may have additives that do not readily dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs.

Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of the lungs and airways. Scientists have found signs of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke.

Meth has become one of the most dangerous drugs is America. Traffickers make and distribute the drug in some of our country's most rural areas. Twelve to fourteen year olds that live in smaller towns are 104% more likely to use meth than those who live in larger cities.

If a patient decides discontinue their methadone maintenance after several months, the detox is generally longer and more painful than if they had detoxed from heroin initially.

A plaintiffs group in Washington, D.C., has filed a $5.2 billion lawsuit against Purdue Pharma LP and Abbott Laboratories Inc. charging the drug companies with allegedly failing to warn patients that the painkiller OxyContin is dangerously addictive.

Another drug addiction fact comes to us by way of the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). Fourteen of the top twenty most abused controlled substances in the United States are prescription drugs. Benzodiazepines rank highest on the list, and are followed by the opiates or painkillers.

Top 20 Most Abused Drugs

   1. Cocaine
   2. Marijuana
   3. Heroin
   4. Unspecified benzodiazepines
   5. Alprazolam (Xanax)
   6. Clonazepam (Klonopin)
   7. Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab)
   8. Amphetamines
   9. Diazepam (Valium)
  10. Lorazeparm (Ativan)
  11. Metharmphetamine (speed)
  12. Trazadone (Desyrel)
  13. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  14. Carisoprodol
  15. Oxycodone (Percocet 5, Perdocan, Tylox)
  16. Valproic acid
  17. d-Propoxyphene (Darvocet N, Darvon)
  18. Amitriptyline (Elavil)
  19. Methadone
  20. LSD 

Source: Drug Abuse Warning Network Emergency Room Data, 1999, Table 2.06A. Drug addiction facts about the categories of controlled substances In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act to better regulate the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of controlled substances. The act divides those drugs known to have potential for physical or psychological harm into five schedules based on their potential for abuse, medical use, and safety under medial supervision. Here is the break down of drug addiction facts by their schedule. Schedule I drugs, such as heroin, have a high potential for abuse and addiction. They have no accepted medical use and are not available through legal means. Schedules II through V contain drugs with accepted medical uses but do have abuse and addiction potential. Schedule II pharmaceuticals are the most likely to be abused. Schedule V drugs are the least likely to be abused. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) monitors the registration, record-keeping, and drug security of those handling and receiving controlled substances. Examples from the five categories of controlled substances are listed below.

Schedule I These illegal drugs have no legitimate medical use.

Heroin

LSD

Marijuana

MDA

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Methaqualone (formerly Quaalude)

Mescaline

Peyote

Phencyclidine (PCP)

Psilocybin Schedule II These drugs have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Their use may lead to severe physical or psychological addiction. Prescriptions must be written in ink, or typewritten and signed by the practitioner. Verbal prescriptions must be confirmed in writing within 72 hours and may be given only in a genuine emergency. No refills are permitted.

Alfentanil (Afenta)

Amobarbital (Amytal)

Amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall)

Cocaine

Codeine

Fentanyl (Sublimaze, Duragesic)

Glutethimide

Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)

Levomethadyl (ORLAAM)

Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran)

Meperidine (Demerol)

Methadone (Dolophine)

Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Morphine (MS Contin, Oramorph, Roxanol, Duramorph, others)

Opium

Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet, Roxicodone, Tylox)

Oxymorphone (Numorphan)

Pentobarbital (Nembutal)

Phenmetrazine (Preludin)

Secobarbital (Seconal)

Sufentanil (Sufenta) Schedule III These drugs have potential for abuse and addiction. They may produce low-to-moderate physical addiction or high psychological addiction. These prescriptions may be oral or written. Up to five refills are permitted within six months.

Anabolic steroids (numerous products such as Anadrol-50, Deca-Durabolin, Halotestin, Oxandrin, Winstrol)

Benzphetamine (Didrex)

Butabarbital (Butisol)

Butalbital (Fiorinal, Fioricet)

Camphorated tincture of opium (Paregoric)

Codeine (low doses combined with non-narcotic medications such as Tylenol, Phenaphen, Aspirin, Empirin, Soma Compound)

Hydrocodone (with acetaminophen - Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin; with Aspirin - Lortab ASA; with chlorpheniramine - Tussionex)

Marinol (Dronabinol)

Methyprylon (Noludar)

Nalorphine (Nalline)

Phendimetrazine (Plegine)

Testosterone Schedule IV Schedule IV have the potential for abuse and addiction. Their use may lead to limited physical or psychological addiction. Prescriptions for Schedule IV drugs may be oral or written. Up to five refills are permitted within six months.

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Butorphanol (Stadol)

Chloral Hydrate (Noctec)

Chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Libritabs)

Clorazepate (Tranxene)

Ethchlorvynol (Placidyl)

Clonazepam (KIonopin)

Diazepam (Valium)

Flurazepam (Dalmane)

Lorazepam (Ativan)

Mephobarbital (Mebaral)

Meprobamate (Equinil, Miltown)

Midazolam (Versed)

Oxazepam (Serax)

Pentazocine (Talwin)

Phentermine (Fastin)

Pemoline (Cylert)

Phenobarbital (Luminal)

Prazepam (Centrax)

Propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet)

Quazepam (Doral)

Temazepam (Restoril)

Triazolam. (Halcion) Schedule V These drugs are subject to state and local regulations. The abuse and addiction potential is low; addictive medication is often combined with nonaddicting medicines to reduce abuse potential. A prescription may not be required.

Buprenorphine (Buprenex, Temgesic)

Codeine (in low doses combined with non-narcotic medications such as Actifed, Novahistine DH, Terpin Hydrate, Ambenyl, Prometh, Pbenergan, Dihistine DH, Dimetane-DC, Robitussin A-C, Cheracol)

Diphenoxylate (Lomotil) Drug Addiction Facts

The facts listed below relate to drug addiction in many aspects. Facts range from crime statistics and drug using population to drug addiction treatment and the cost of drug addiction on society.

The average individual with a drug addiction needs $200.00 per day to support their drug addiction.

90% of property crimes and muggings are drug related.

The average individual with a drug addiction has to steal an average of $1,000.00 worth of property and goods to raise the $200.00.

The average individual with a drug addiction "self medicates" a physical, emotional, or spiritual hurt with drugs because they have not been able to deal with it in a healthy manner.

Most prison inmates have a drug addiction.

There is a gradual dissemination of the 'harder drugs' heroin and cocaine into younger and younger populations as the stigma of drug use breaks down. The alarming decrease in the cost of hard drugs also means that they now represent better 'value for money' than alcohol.

70% of violent crime is committed by people who are intoxicated by either alcohol or drugs.

People who have been drinking are at greater risk of being the victim of violent crime and are also more likely to be involved in accidents, fires, and to engage in self-harm.

In one study conducted at the National Addiction Center, 650 individuals with a heroin addiction committed more than 70,000 crimes in a three-month period.

It is estimated that in 1997, more than 30 million people in the United States and Europe suffered from chronic alcohol and drug addiction; approximately 22 million individuals with an alcohol addiction, 6 million individuals with a cocaine addiction and almost 2 million individuals with a heroin addiction.

There were approximately 250,000 emergency room admissions for cocaine overdose in 1997.

In 1997, an estimated 2 million people sought treatment for their drug and alcohol addictions at approximately 1,200 drug rehabilitation clinics in the United States and Europe.

Currently, an estimated 20 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Approximately 80% of all crime in the U.S. is related to drug or alcohol addiction.

Approximately 135,000 people die each year as a consequence of alcohol and drugs, costing about $46 billion dollars each year.

Alcoholism is associated with 25% of all hospital admissions.

Every dollar spent on treatment leads to a $7.46 reduction in crime related expenses and lost productivity. When health care savings are added in, every $1 invested in treatment for addiction yields a total return of $12 saved.

Treatment of all drug addicts would save more than $150 billion dollars in social costs over the next 15 years.

Treatment is 15-17 times more effective than prison. For every crime that incarceration would eliminate, treatment would eliminate 15.

More than eight out of ten teenagers and their parents said illegal drugs are a major problem for teenagers nationally.

An overwhelming majority of teenagers and their parents agreed that alcohol use is a greater problem than the use of other drugs.

Four out of ten teenagers reported having friends who use drugs; more than a quarter said someone has tried to sell them illegal drugs.

More than 55% of the interviewed parents acknowledged that they had smoked marijuana sometime in their lives, and one out of five admitted using other illegal drugs.