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Essay on Drug Abuse

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Essay on Drug Abuse in 150 words

Essay on drug abuse in 250-300 words, essay on drug abuse in 500-1000 words.

Drug abuse is a global issue that poses serious risks to individuals and society. It involves the harmful and excessive use of drugs, leading to physical and mental health problems. Drug abuse can result in addiction, organ damage, cognitive impairment, and social and economic difficulties. Prevention efforts should focus on education, raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse, and promoting healthy lifestyles. Access to quality healthcare and addiction treatment services is crucial for recovery. Strengthening law enforcement measures against drug trafficking is necessary to address the supply side of the problem. Creating supportive environments and opportunities for positive engagement can help prevent drug abuse. By taking collective action, we can combat drug abuse and build healthier communities.

Drug abuse is a growing global concern that poses significant risks to individuals, families, and communities. It refers to the excessive and harmful use of drugs, both legal and illegal, that have negative effects on physical and mental health.

Drug abuse has severe consequences for individuals and society. Physically, drug abuse can lead to addiction, damage vital organs, and increase the risk of overdose. Mentally, it can cause cognitive impairment, and psychological disorders, and deteriorate overall well-being. Additionally, drug abuse often leads to social and economic problems, such as strained relationships, loss of employment, and criminal activities.

Preventing drug abuse requires a multi-faceted approach. Education and awareness programs play a crucial role in informing individuals about the dangers of drug abuse and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Access to quality healthcare and addiction treatment services is vital to help individuals recover from substance abuse. Strengthening law enforcement efforts to curb drug trafficking and promoting international cooperation is also essential to address the supply side of the issue.

Community support and a nurturing environment are critical in preventing drug abuse. Creating opportunities for individuals, especially young people, to engage in positive activities and providing social support systems can serve as protective factors against drug abuse.

In conclusion, drug abuse is a significant societal problem with detrimental effects on individuals and communities. It requires a comprehensive approach involving education, prevention, treatment, and enforcement. By addressing the root causes, raising awareness, and providing support to those affected, we can combat drug abuse and create a healthier and safer society for all.

Title: Drug Abuse – A Global Crisis Demanding Urgent Action

Introduction :

Drug abuse is a pressing global issue that poses significant risks to individuals, families, and communities. It refers to the excessive and harmful use of drugs, both legal and illegal, that have detrimental effects on physical and mental health. This essay explores the causes and consequences of drug abuse, the social and economic impact, prevention and treatment strategies, and the importance of raising awareness and fostering supportive communities in addressing this crisis.

Causes and Factors Contributing to Drug Abuse

Several factors contribute to drug abuse. Genetic predisposition, peer pressure, stress, trauma, and environmental influences play a role in initiating substance use. The availability and accessibility of drugs, as well as societal norms and cultural acceptance, also influence drug abuse patterns. Additionally, underlying mental health issues and co-occurring disorders can drive individuals to self-medicate with drugs.

Consequences of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse has devastating consequences on individuals and society. Physically, drug abuse can lead to addiction, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Substance abuse affects vital organs, impairs cognitive function, and increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis, are often associated with drug abuse. Substance abuse also takes a toll on relationships, leading to strained family dynamics, social isolation, and financial instability. The social and economic costs of drug abuse include increased healthcare expenses, decreased productivity, and the burden on criminal justice systems.

Prevention and Education

Preventing drug abuse requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach. Education and awareness programs are essential in schools, communities, and the media to inform individuals about the risks and consequences of drug abuse. Promoting healthy coping mechanisms, stress management skills, and decision-making abilities can empower individuals to resist peer pressure and make informed choices. Early intervention programs that identify at-risk individuals and provide support and resources are crucial in preventing substance abuse.

Treatment and Recovery

Access to quality healthcare and evidence-based addiction treatment is vital in addressing drug abuse. Treatment options include detoxification, counseling, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatments. Rehabilitation centers, support groups, and outpatient programs provide a continuum of care for individuals seeking recovery. Holistic approaches, such as addressing co-occurring mental health disorders and promoting healthy lifestyles, contribute to successful long-term recovery. Support from family, friends, and communities plays a significant role in sustaining recovery and preventing relapse.

Law Enforcement and Drug Policies

Effective law enforcement efforts are necessary to disrupt drug trafficking and dismantle illicit drug networks. International cooperation and collaboration are crucial in combating the global drug trade. Additionally, drug policies should focus on a balanced approach that combines law enforcement with prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies. Shifting the emphasis from punitive measures toward prevention and rehabilitation can lead to more effective outcomes.

Creating Supportive Communities:

Fostering supportive communities is vital in addressing drug abuse. Communities should provide resources, social support networks, and opportunities for positive engagement. This includes promoting healthy recreational activities, providing vocational training, and creating safe spaces for individuals in recovery. Reducing the stigma associated with drug abuse and encouraging empathy and understanding are crucial to building a compassionate and supportive environment.

Conclusion :

Drug abuse remains a complex and multifaceted issue with far-reaching consequences. By addressing the causes, raising awareness, implementing preventive measures, providing quality treatment and support services, and fostering supportive communities, we can combat drug abuse and alleviate its impact. It requires collaboration and a collective effort from individuals, communities, governments, and organizations to build a society that is resilient against the scourge of drug abuse. Through education, prevention, treatment, and compassion, we can pave the way toward a healthier and drug-free future.

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Drug Abuse among Teenagers Causes and Effects

Introduction, causes of drug abuse, effects of drug abuse, works cited.

Drug and substance abuse amongst teenagers is a global menace. Millions of youths are seriously engaging in drug and substance abuse posing a threat to the future generation. Youths across the world have now tested all kinds of drugs including cigarettes and alcohol to hard drugs like cocaine, cannabis, and heroin (Newcomb, Scheier, and Bentler 230).

The rates of drug abuse have been increasing over the decades. World drug report estimates indicate “Over 153 million and 300 million people aged 15-64 of the world’s population have consumed illicit drugs” (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime 48). Several organizations and initiatives have emphasized on this issue and tried to put strategies to handle it. Drug abuse among youths and teenagers has been eminent in almost all countries in the world cutting across developed countries to developing countries including famous countries and states like the US, Germany, and China.

According to Newcomb, Scheier, and Bentler (215), some of the commonly abused drugs by adolescents include alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, and cocaine. Youths have been doing drugs and thus creating serious addiction that further interferes with their personal as well as affecting people close to them. Despite acknowledging the adverse effects of drug abuse, youths have continuously kept on abusing drugs. Therefore, this essay seeks to identify major causes and effects related to drug misuse in teenagers.

There are numerous causes of drug abuse identified and tested empirically, viz. peer pressure, parental influence, and socio-economic aspects among others. Beginning with peer pressure, several studies have examined how peer pressure is a contributing factor in teenage drug abuse. Conventionally, individuals in most cases are normally defined with what happens within their environment. Most youths like associating themselves with groups commonly known as peer groups.

The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime indicates, “Most people obtain their first dose of illicit drugs from a friend, family member, or romantic partner” (91). In this context, a small number of drug users in a group will probably influence the rest of the members into consuming drugs. In most cases, human beings are greatly influenced by the living environment in which they spend most of their time. Peer groups develop within one’s immediate environment and in youth schools, neighborhoods and social clubs tend to influence the formation of peer groups.

Family structure and family behavior influence personal attributes. Most modern families tend to adopt elegant living styles influenced by westernization. A family living with traditional manners is mostly associated with naivety. In this modern world, cultural values have eroded consequently leading to a decline in social norms.

Bahr, Hoffman, and Yang observed social theories and concluded that family and peer relationships are important in examining causes of drug abuse, since they play significant roles in determining the attitudes and behaviors of individuals (530). In fact, with the increasing migration and urbanization rates, strong traditional family ties are gradually corroding and the traditional value systems are losing their importance in the modernized world. Most parents are nowadays spotted drinking alcohol and openly using drugs in the presence of their children. Squeezed urban centers also force this association.

Socio-economic status is another denotative cause of drug abuse. Globally, population rates are growing at alarming rates with several economical challenges experienced. Unemployment is one of the major influential factors for drug trafficking and illicit drug abuse. Due to the existing situation of unemployment across the globe, especially in developing countries, people are looking for alternative means of survival (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime 87-88).

As a result, individuals end up engaging in drug trafficking businesses thus reducing the gap between international barons and local drug vendors and consequently making the drugs easily accessible to teenagers. The high rates of unemployment amongst youths have consequently compelled them to engage in drug trafficking and illicit drug abuse.

However, unemployment is not the only socio-economic factor that pushes teenagers and youths into drug abuse and addiction. Others include inequalities in earnings and disposal funds given to youths in developed countries, which influence drug abuse in most youngsters. The funds given to young people are a catalyst for drug abuse and addiction if not used appropriately with due responsibility. On inequality in earnings, people earning meager salaries may be tempted to engage in drug trafficking as aforementioned.

Drug abuse is a dangerous activity that is associated with several devastating repercussions. People accustomed to drug abuse suffer numerous side effects ranging from psychological to social consequences. In terms of health, drug abuse leads to psychological disorders. Newcomb, Scheier, and Bentler posit, “Mental health problems are often observed in among drug abusers” (215). The psychological impacts of drug abuse can appear immediately or even later in the abuser’s life. Clinically examined there is a great relationship between drug abuse and psychopathology.

Clinical evidence indicates that intense drug use has psychopathology effects before, during, and even after getting treatment and undergoing rehabilitation (Newcomb, Scheier, and Bentler 215). Since the adolescent stage is a crucial phase in human development, drug abuse amongst youths and teenagers consequently results in mental disorders including posttraumatic disorders and emotional syndromes among others. These disorders affect personal development and growth and can result in adverse long-term negative effects on their adult life.

Drug abuse has on numerous occasions associated with the spread of the most threatening infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, “of the estimated 16 million people who inject drugs, about 3 million are living with HIV” (16). People have found themselves contacting the deadly disease while under the influence of drugs. Apart from acquiring infectious diseases while a person is under influence, drug abuse involves the sharing of personal items.

According to a recent world report, “Injecting drugs carries a high risk of infection with blood-borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B, and the sharing of contaminated needles and syringes is an important mode of transmission for those viruses” (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime 15). On several occasions, doctors and physicians have identified drug abuse as one of the major causes of the spread of infectious diseases. Drug abuse generally leads to careless living thus forcing individuals to engage in other dangerous activities including unprotected sex, prostitution, crime and violence, which increase the risk of HIV infection.

Globally, drug abuse has influenced drug related deaths amongst youths, popularly known as premature deaths. Drug abuse has been the major cause of deaths that result from accidents that occur when youths are driving, or even having fun. Main accidental deaths relating to drug abuse include suicidal cases, road accidents resulting from driving under the influence of drugs, murder cases, unintentional overdose, unintended infections, and even trauma (United Nations Office on Drug and Crime16).

Youths involved in drug abuse tend to gain the confidence to engage in life-threatening activities because of the effect of hallucinations caused by drug consumption. According to the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, the world drug report estimates that, globally, between 99,000 to 253,000 deaths resulting from accidents in the year 2010 resulted from drug abuse (16). It is very traumatizing to identify that of these deaths, over 77.9 cases of such deaths were people aged between 15-64 years, youths inclusive.

Drug abuse among youth is definitely a global predicament. Several factors have influenced teenagers to engage in drug abuse. Peer pressure is a contributing factor towards teenage drug abuse with those used to drug abuse influencing others into it. Family structure and family behavior influences drug abuse since most parents have adopted western culture leading to erosion of social norms, which are important in shaping youth behaviors. Globalization and rural-urban migration have been contributing to this predicament.

Socio-economic factors including unemployment have influenced drug abuse among youngsters, with several unemployed citizens finding possible ways of surviving. Unemployment leads to individuals engaging themselves in drug abuse and trafficking. Drugs abuse results in several negative consequences. Such repercussions may include psychopathology disorder, posttraumatic disorders, increased risks of HIV/AIDS infection and even an increase in death-related accidents. Drug abuse is still the most challenging thing and may remain troublesome if the relevant authorities will not put stringent measures to arrest the situation.

Bahr, Stephen, John Hoffmann, and Xiaoyan Yang. “Parental and Peer Influences On the Risk of Adolescent Drug Use.” Journal of Primary Prevention 26.6 (2005): 529-550. Print.

Newcomb, Michael, Lawrence Scheier, and Pauline Bentler. “Effects of Adolescent Drug Use on Adult Mental Health: A prospective Health Study of a community Sample.” Journal of American Psychological Association 1.4 (1993): 215 241. Print.

United Nations Office on Drug and Crime. World Drug Report United Nations . New York: United Nations Publications, 2012. Print.

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How To Write an Essay About Drug Abuse

Understanding the complexity of drug abuse.

When tackling an essay about drug abuse, it's essential to first comprehend the intricacies of the topic. Drug abuse, a prevalent issue globally, involves the chronic or habitual use of drugs for non-medical purposes, leading to health hazards and socio-economic problems. In your introduction, define drug abuse and distinguish it from drug use and addiction. Address the multifaceted nature of the issue, encompassing psychological, physiological, and societal dimensions. This foundation is crucial for guiding your exploration of drug abuse, its causes, effects, and potential solutions. Recognizing the sensitivity and complexity of this topic is key to writing an insightful and respectful essay.

Analyzing Causes and Effects

The body of your essay should delve into the causes and effects of drug abuse. Explore the various factors that can lead to drug abuse, such as psychological distress, peer pressure, socio-economic status, and exposure to drugs in the family or community. Then, discuss the ramifications of drug abuse on individuals, families, and society. These effects can include health issues, strained relationships, financial problems, and societal costs like increased crime and healthcare expenses. Use specific examples and data to support your points, while maintaining a compassionate tone, acknowledging that individuals suffering from drug abuse often face a complex interplay of challenges.

Addressing Prevention and Treatment

In this section, shift your focus to prevention and treatment strategies for drug abuse. Discuss different approaches to preventing drug abuse, such as education and awareness programs, policy changes, and community support initiatives. Then, examine the various treatment options available, including medical interventions, counseling, rehabilitation programs, and support groups. It's crucial to discuss the importance of a holistic approach to treatment, which addresses not just the physical aspect of addiction but also the psychological and social factors. This part of your essay should highlight the importance of compassion and support in addressing drug abuse, rather than solely punitive measures.

Concluding with a Call to Awareness and Action

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points and emphasizing the importance of addressing drug abuse in society. Reflect on the need for increased awareness, better prevention strategies, and effective treatment programs. Encourage readers to consider the role they can play in combating drug abuse, whether through personal support, advocacy, or policy change. A strong conclusion will not only provide closure to your essay but also inspire a sense of responsibility and urgency in dealing with this critical issue.

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Sample Essay On Cause And Effects Of Drug Abuse

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Law , Addiction , Human , Drug Abuse , Brain , Criminal Justice , Crime , Drugs

Published: 03/29/2020

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Many causes and effects of drug addiction are both related as to why a person is using illegal drugs and the outcome of becoming a drug addict. Being a drug addict creates a negative cycle, which undeniably precipitates some anomalies in the human brain. The process will result in strong cravings as well as involuntary inclination that prompt to use drugs. Drug addiction is a very serious threat to public safety and public health, not only in the United States, but also all over the world. Drug addiction develops in many ways. To better understand the causes of addiction, it would be essential to know how the use of illegal drugs is affecting the human brain. The human brain has its natural capability to reinforce and identify positive experiences. As an example, if a human eats his or her favorite food or puts a warm blanket during the cold winter nights, the brain will naturally release feel-good chemicals such as dopamine. By repeatedly experiencing these events, drugs will reinforce the human behavior through a process that teaches the brain to expect the positive experiences or pleasant sensations. However, none of these addiction causes will happen if there are no supporting factors that provoke people in getting addicted to drugs. Some people may not understand why other individuals are becoming addicted to drugs and how it changes the human brain’s activity to promote compulsive abuse of drugs. Sometimes, some people mistakenly observe drug addiction and abuse as one of the social problems. One of the causes of a person’s drug addiction is the surroundings. A person who lives in a community, where drug temptations are present, it is more likely that he or she may be with a group of people who use drugs. Therefore, the possibility of being in a group of drug users can be one of the causes of a person’s drug addiction. Another that factor that causes drug addiction is the person’s behavior. This normally happens to a person who normally gets along with a group of people who have similar behavior just like him. He will easily be convinced to use illegal drugs initially until he falls into addiction eventually. In some points, causes of drug abuse can be a personal or family matter. There may have a time that parents and guardian of a potential drug user may lack family openness, in which communication between family members is less. Therefore, there could be an attention deficiency, which they normally found from their peers. Experimentation many things including drug abuse could happen during the teenage years, which can worsen a person’s drug addiction in the long run. There could be hundreds of causes why a person becomes a drug addict. Along with this, there are also numerous effects that being a drug addict could provide. One of the effects of drug addiction could be a person’s attitude. A person who is addicted to drugs could turn his attitude to be a hot-tempered one. He or she tends to become irate as a response even on simple things. As a result, his or her relationship with her family and friends could become worse as his attitude becomes worse. In addition, drug addiction changes the human brain’s function. A drug addict will lose his self-control and his ability to recognize sounds. These effects could appear overtime as the person continues to use illegal drugs. The effects of being a drug user may depend on the length of time a person being into it. The longer a person uses illegal drugs, the more likely that he or she may have worse effects eventually. Besides emotional and social reasons, a person’s willingness to stop or continue using illegal drugs also contributes to being whether or not he is a drug abuser.

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The Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain and Body

Signs of drug addiction, effects of drug addiction.

Drug addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease that involves complex interactions between a person’s environment, brain circuits, genetics, and life experiences.

People with drug addictions continue to use drugs compulsively, despite the negative effects.

Substance abuse has many potential consequences, including overdose and death. Learn about the effects of drug addiction on the mind and body and treatment options that can help.

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Drug Abuse vs. Drug Addiction

While the terms “drug abuse” and “drug addiction” are often used interchangeably, they're different. Someone who abuses drugs uses a substance too much, too frequently, or in otherwise unhealthy ways. However, they ultimately have control over their substance use.

Someone with a drug addiction uses drugs in a way that affects many parts of their life and causes major disruptions. They can't stop using drugs, even if they want to.

The signs of drug abuse and addiction include changes in behavior, personality, and physical appearance. If you’re concerned about a loved one’s substance use, here are some of the red flags to watch out for:

• Changes in school or work performance
• Secretiveness 
• Relationship problems
• Risk-taking behavior
• Legal problems
• Aggression 
• Mood swings
• Changes in hobbies or friends
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Unexplained odors on the body or clothing

Drug Addiction in Men and Women

Men and women are equally likely to develop drug addictions. However, men are more likely than women to use illicit drugs, die from a drug overdose, and visit an emergency room for addiction-related health reasons. Women are more susceptible to intense cravings and repeated relapses.

People can become addicted to any psychoactive ("mind-altering") substance. Common addictive substances include alcohol , tobacco ( nicotine ), stimulants, hallucinogens, and opioids .

Many of the effects of drug addiction are similar, no matter what substance someone uses. The following are some of the most common effects of drug addiction.

Effects of Drug Addiction on the Body

Drug addiction can lead to a variety of physical consequences ranging in seriousness from drowsiness to organ damage and death:

• Shallow breathing
• Elevated body temperature
• Rapid heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Impaired coordination and slurred speech
• Decreased or increased appetite
• Tooth decay
• Skin damage
• Sexual dysfunction
• Infertility
• Kidney damage
• Liver damage and cirrhosis
• Various forms of cancer
• Cardiovascular problems
• Lung problems
• Overdose and death

If left untreated drug addiction can lead to serious, life-altering effects on the body.

Dependence and withdrawal also affect the body:

• Physical dependence : Refers to the reliance on a substance to function day to day. People can become physically dependent on a substance fairly quickly. Dependence does not always mean someone is addicted, but the longer someone uses drugs, the more likely their dependency is to become an addiction.
• Withdrawal : When someone with a dependence stops using a drug, they can experience withdrawal symptoms like excessive sweating, tremors, panic, difficulty breathing, fatigue , irritability, and flu-like symptoms.

Overdose Deaths in the United States

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 100,000 people in the U.S. died from a drug overdose in 2021.

Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain

All basic functions in the body are regulated by the brain. But, more than that, your brain is who you are. It controls how you interpret and respond to life experiences and the ways you behave as a result of undergoing those experiences.

Drugs alter important areas of the brain. When someone continues to use drugs, their health can deteriorate both psychologically and neurologically.

Some of the most common mental effects of drug addiction are:

• Cognitive decline
• Memory loss
• Mood changes and paranoia
• Poor self/impulse control
• Disruption to areas of the brain controlling basic functions (heart rate, breathing, sleep, etc.)

Effects of Drug Addiction on Behavior

Psychoactive substances affect the parts of the brain that involve reward, pleasure, and risk. They produce a sense of euphoria and well-being by flooding the brain with dopamine .

This leads people to compulsively use drugs in search of another euphoric “high.” The consequences of these neurological changes can be either temporary or permanent. 

• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability 
• Angry outbursts
• Lack of inhibition 
• Decreased pleasure/enjoyment in daily life (e.g., eating, socializing, and sex)
• Hallucinations

Help Someone With Drug Addiction

If you suspect that a loved one is experiencing drug addiction, address your concerns honestly, non-confrontationally, and without judgment. Focus on building trust and maintaining an open line of communication while setting healthy boundaries to keep yourself and others safe. If you need help, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

Effects of Drug Addiction on an Unborn Child

Drug addiction during pregnancy can cause serious negative outcomes for both mother and child, including:

• Preterm birth
• Maternal mortality

Drug addiction during pregnancy can lead to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) . Essentially, the baby goes into withdrawal after birth. Symptoms of NAS differ depending on which drug has been used but can include:

• Excessive crying
• Sleeping and feeding issues

Children exposed to drugs before birth may go on to develop issues with behavior, attention, and thinking. It's unclear whether prenatal drug exposure continues to affect behavior and the brain beyond adolescence.  

While there is no single “cure” for drug addiction, there are ways to treat it. Treatment can help you control your addiction and stay drug-free. The primary methods of treating drug addiction include:

• Psychotherapy : Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or family therapy , can help someone with a drug addiction develop healthier ways of thinking and behaving.
• Behavioral therapy : Common behavioral therapies for drug addiction include motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and contingency management (CM). These therapy approaches build coping skills and provide positive reinforcement.
• Medication : Certain prescribed medications help to ease withdrawal symptoms. Some examples are naltrexone (for alcohol), bupropion (for nicotine), and methadone (for opioids).
• Hospitalization : Some people with drug addiction might need to be hospitalized to detox from a substance before beginning long-term treatment.
• Support groups : Peer support and self-help groups, such as 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, can help people with drug addictions find support, resources, and accountability.

A combination of medication and behavioral therapy has been found to have the highest success rates in preventing relapse and promoting recovery. Forming an individualized treatment plan with your healthcare provider's help is likely to be the most effective approach.

Drug addiction is a complex, chronic medical disease that causes someone to compulsively use psychoactive substances despite the negative consequences.

Some effects of drug abuse and addiction include changes in appetite, mood, and sleep patterns. More serious health issues such as cognitive decline, major organ damage, overdose, and death are also risks. Addiction to drugs while pregnant can lead to serious outcomes for both mother and child.

Treatment for drug addiction may involve psychotherapy , medication, hospitalization, support groups, or a combination.

If you or someone you know is experiencing substance abuse or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

American Society of Addiction Medicine. Definition of addiction .

HelpGuide.org. Drug Abuse and Addiction .

Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. Warning signs of drug abuse .

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Sex and gender differences in substance use .

Cleveland Clinic. Drug addiction .

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction Drugs and the Brain .

American Heart Association. Illegal Drugs and Heart Disease .

American Addiction Centers. Get the facts on substance abuse .

Szalavitz M, Rigg KK, Wakeman SE. Drug dependence is not addiction-and it matters . Ann Med . 2021;53(1):1989-1992. doi:10.1080/07853890.2021.1995623

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. top 100,000 annually .

American Psychological Association. Cognition is central to drug addiction .

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts .

MedlinePlus. Neonatal abstinence syndrome .

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Treatment and recovery .

Grella CE, Stein JA.  Remission from substance dependence: differences between individuals in a general population longitudinal survey who do and do not seek help . Drug and Alcohol Dependence.  2013;133(1):146-153. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.05.019

By Laura Dorwart Dr. Dorwart has a Ph.D. from UC San Diego and is a health journalist interested in mental health, pregnancy, and disability rights.

• Patient Care & Health Information
• Diseases & Conditions
• Drug addiction (substance use disorder)

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.

Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins when they take prescribed medicines or receive them from others who have prescriptions.

The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others.

As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill. These are called withdrawal symptoms.

Help from your health care provider, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program can help you overcome your drug addiction and stay drug-free.

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Drug addiction symptoms or behaviors include, among others:

• Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a day
• Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
• Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
• Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended
• Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
• Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it
• Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use
• Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your life or causing you physical or psychological harm
• Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing
• Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug
• Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug
• Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug

Recognizing unhealthy drug use in family members

Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish normal teenage moodiness or anxiety from signs of drug use. Possible signs that your teenager or other family member is using drugs include:

• Problems at school or work — frequently missing school or work, a sudden disinterest in school activities or work, or a drop in grades or work performance
• Physical health issues — lack of energy and motivation, weight loss or gain, or red eyes
• Neglected appearance — lack of interest in clothing, grooming or looks
• Changes in behavior — major efforts to bar family members from entering the teenager's room or being secretive about going out with friends; or drastic changes in behavior and in relationships with family and friends
• Money issues — sudden requests for money without a reasonable explanation; or your discovery that money is missing or has been stolen or that items have disappeared from your home, indicating maybe they're being sold to support drug use

Recognizing signs of drug use or intoxication

Signs and symptoms of drug use or intoxication may vary, depending on the type of drug. Below you'll find several examples.

Marijuana, hashish and other cannabis-containing substances

People use cannabis by smoking, eating or inhaling a vaporized form of the drug. Cannabis often precedes or is used along with other substances, such as alcohol or illegal drugs, and is often the first drug tried.

Signs and symptoms of recent use can include:

• A sense of euphoria or feeling "high"
• A heightened sense of visual, auditory and taste perception
• Increased blood pressure and heart rate
• Decreased coordination
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Slowed reaction time
• Anxiety or paranoid thinking
• Cannabis odor on clothes or yellow fingertips
• Major cravings for certain foods at unusual times

Long-term use is often associated with:

• Decreased mental sharpness
• Poor performance at school or at work
• Ongoing cough and frequent lung infections

K2, Spice and bath salts

Two groups of synthetic drugs — synthetic cannabinoids and substituted or synthetic cathinones — are illegal in most states. The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and some ingredients may not be known.

Synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2 or Spice, are sprayed on dried herbs and then smoked, but can be prepared as an herbal tea. A liquid form can be vaporized in electronic cigarettes. Despite manufacturer claims, these are chemical compounds rather than "natural" or harmless products. These drugs can produce a "high" similar to marijuana and have become a popular but dangerous alternative.

• Elevated mood
• An altered sense of visual, auditory and taste perception
• Extreme anxiety or agitation
• Hallucinations
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure or heart attack
• Violent behavior

Substituted cathinones, also called "bath salts," are mind-altering (psychoactive) substances similar to amphetamines such as ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine. Packages are often labeled as other products to avoid detection.

Despite the name, these are not bath products such as Epsom salts. Substituted cathinones can be eaten, snorted, inhaled or injected and are highly addictive. These drugs can cause severe intoxication, which results in dangerous health effects or even death.

• Feeling "high"
• Increased sociability
• Increased energy and agitation
• Increased sex drive
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Problems thinking clearly
• Loss of muscle control
• Panic attacks
• Psychotic and violent behavior

Barbiturates, benzodiazepines and hypnotics

Barbiturates, benzodiazepines and hypnotics are prescription central nervous system depressants. They're often used and misused in search for a sense of relaxation or a desire to "switch off" or forget stress-related thoughts or feelings.

• Barbiturates. An example is phenobarbital.
• Benzodiazepines. Examples include sedatives, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium).
• Hypnotics. Examples include prescription sleeping medicines such as zolpidem (Ambien) and zaleplon (Sonata).
• Slurred speech
• Lack of coordination
• Irritability or changes in mood
• Problems concentrating or thinking clearly
• Memory problems
• Involuntary eye movements
• Lack of inhibition
• Slowed breathing and reduced blood pressure
• Falls or accidents

Meth, cocaine and other stimulants

Stimulants include amphetamines, meth (methamphetamine), cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis). They're often used and misused in search of a "high," or to boost energy, to improve performance at work or school, or to lose weight or control appetite.

• Feeling of happy excitement and too much confidence
• Increased alertness
• Increased energy and restlessness
• Behavior changes or aggression
• Rapid or rambling speech
• Larger than usual pupils, the black circles in the middle of the eyes
• Confusion, delusions and hallucinations
• Irritability, anxiety or paranoia
• Changes in heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature
• Nausea or vomiting with weight loss
• Poor judgment
• Nasal congestion and damage to the mucous membrane of the nose (if snorting drugs)
• Mouth sores, gum disease and tooth decay from smoking drugs ("meth mouth")
• Depression as the drug wears off

Club drugs are commonly used at clubs, concerts and parties. Examples include methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also called MDMA, ecstasy or molly, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known as GHB. Other examples include ketamine and flunitrazepam or Rohypnol — a brand used outside the U.S. — also called roofie. These drugs are not all in the same category, but they share some similar effects and dangers, including long-term harmful effects.

Because GHB and flunitrazepam can cause sedation, muscle relaxation, confusion and memory loss, the potential for sexual misconduct or sexual assault is associated with the use of these drugs.

Signs and symptoms of use of club drugs can include:

• Larger than usual pupils
• Chills and sweating
• Involuntary shaking (tremors)
• Behavior changes
• Muscle cramping and teeth clenching
• Muscle relaxation, poor coordination or problems moving
• Reduced inhibitions
• Heightened or altered sense of sight, sound and taste
• Memory problems or loss of memory
• Reduced consciousness
• Increased or decreased heart rate and blood pressure

Hallucinogens

Use of hallucinogens can produce different signs and symptoms, depending on the drug. The most common hallucinogens are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and phencyclidine (PCP).

LSD use may cause:

• Greatly reduced perception of reality, for example, interpreting input from one of your senses as another, such as hearing colors
• Impulsive behavior
• Rapid shifts in emotions
• Permanent mental changes in perception
• Rapid heart rate and high blood pressure
• Flashbacks, a reexperience of the hallucinations — even years later

PCP use may cause:

• A feeling of being separated from your body and surroundings
• Problems with coordination and movement
• Aggressive, possibly violent behavior
• Lack of pain sensation
• Increase in blood pressure and heart rate
• Problems with thinking and memory
• Problems speaking
• Intolerance to loud noise
• Sometimes seizures or coma

Signs and symptoms of inhalant use vary, depending on the substance. Some commonly inhaled substances include glue, paint thinners, correction fluid, felt tip marker fluid, gasoline, cleaning fluids and household aerosol products. Due to the toxic nature of these substances, users may develop brain damage or sudden death.

Signs and symptoms of use can include:

• Possessing an inhalant substance without a reasonable explanation
• Brief happy excitement
• Behaving as if drunk
• Reduced ability to keep impulses under control
• Aggressive behavior or eagerness to fight
• Nausea or vomiting
• Appearing under the influence of drugs, with slurred speech, slow movements and poor coordination
• Irregular heartbeats
• Lingering odor of inhalant material
• Rash around the nose and mouth

Opioid painkillers

Opioids are narcotic, painkilling drugs produced from opium or made synthetically. This class of drugs includes, among others, heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, fentanyl and oxycodone.

Sometimes called the "opioid epidemic," addiction to opioid prescription pain medicines has reached an alarming rate across the United States. Some people who've been using opioids over a long period of time may need physician-prescribed temporary or long-term drug substitution during treatment.

Signs and symptoms of narcotic use and dependence can include:

• A sense of feeling "high"
• Reduced sense of pain
• Agitation, drowsiness or sedation
• Problems with attention and memory
• Pupils that are smaller than usual
• Lack of awareness or inattention to surrounding people and things
• Problems with coordination
• Constipation
• Runny nose or nose sores (if snorting drugs)
• Needle marks (if injecting drugs)

When to see a doctor

If your drug use is out of control or causing problems, get help. The sooner you seek help, the greater your chances for a long-term recovery. Talk with your health care provider or see a mental health provider, such as a doctor who specializes in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

Make an appointment to see a provider if:

• You can't stop using a drug
• You continue using the drug despite the harm it causes
• Your drug use has led to unsafe behavior, such as sharing needles or unprotected sex
• You think you may be having withdrawal symptoms after stopping drug use

If you're not ready to approach a health care provider or mental health professional, help lines or hotlines may be a good place to learn about treatment. You can find these lines listed on the internet or in the phone book.

When to seek emergency help

Seek emergency help if you or someone you know has taken a drug and:

• May have overdosed
• Shows changes in consciousness
• Has trouble breathing
• Has seizures or convulsions
• Has signs of a possible heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure
• Has any other troublesome physical or psychological reaction to use of the drug

Staging an intervention

People struggling with addiction usually deny they have a problem and hesitate to seek treatment. An intervention presents a loved one with a structured opportunity to make changes before things get even worse and can motivate someone to seek or accept help.

It's important to plan an intervention carefully. It may be done by family and friends in consultation with a health care provider or mental health professional such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, or directed by an intervention professional. It involves family and friends and sometimes co-workers, clergy or others who care about the person struggling with addiction.

During the intervention, these people gather together to have a direct, heart-to-heart conversation with the person about the consequences of addiction. Then they ask the person to accept treatment.

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Like many mental health disorders, several factors may contribute to development of drug addiction. The main factors are:

• Environment. Environmental factors, including your family's beliefs and attitudes and exposure to a peer group that encourages drug use, seem to play a role in initial drug use.
• Genetics. Once you've started using a drug, the development into addiction may be influenced by inherited (genetic) traits, which may delay or speed up the disease progression.

Changes in the brain

Physical addiction appears to occur when repeated use of a drug changes the way your brain feels pleasure. The addicting drug causes physical changes to some nerve cells (neurons) in your brain. Neurons use chemicals called neurotransmitters to communicate. These changes can remain long after you stop using the drug.

Risk factors

People of any age, sex or economic status can become addicted to a drug. Certain factors can affect the likelihood and speed of developing an addiction:

• Family history of addiction. Drug addiction is more common in some families and likely involves an increased risk based on genes. If you have a blood relative, such as a parent or sibling, with alcohol or drug addiction, you're at greater risk of developing a drug addiction.
• Mental health disorder. If you have a mental health disorder such as depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or post-traumatic stress disorder, you're more likely to become addicted to drugs. Using drugs can become a way of coping with painful feelings, such as anxiety, depression and loneliness, and can make these problems even worse.
• Peer pressure. Peer pressure is a strong factor in starting to use and misuse drugs, particularly for young people.
• Lack of family involvement. Difficult family situations or lack of a bond with your parents or siblings may increase the risk of addiction, as can a lack of parental supervision.
• Early use. Using drugs at an early age can cause changes in the developing brain and increase the likelihood of progressing to drug addiction.
• Taking a highly addictive drug. Some drugs, such as stimulants, cocaine or opioid painkillers, may result in faster development of addiction than other drugs. Smoking or injecting drugs can increase the potential for addiction. Taking drugs considered less addicting — so-called "light drugs" — can start you on a pathway of drug use and addiction.

Complications

Drug use can have significant and damaging short-term and long-term effects. Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol. Here are some examples.

• Methamphetamine, opiates and cocaine are highly addictive and cause multiple short-term and long-term health consequences, including psychotic behavior, seizures or death due to overdose. Opioid drugs affect the part of the brain that controls breathing, and overdose can result in death. Taking opioids with alcohol increases this risk.
• GHB and flunitrazepam may cause sedation, confusion and memory loss. These so-called "date rape drugs" are known to impair the ability to resist unwanted contact and recollection of the event. At high doses, they can cause seizures, coma and death. The danger increases when these drugs are taken with alcohol.
• MDMA — also known as molly or ecstasy — can interfere with the body's ability to regulate temperature. A severe spike in body temperature can result in liver, kidney or heart failure and death. Other complications can include severe dehydration, leading to seizures. Long-term, MDMA can damage the brain.
• One particular danger of club drugs is that the liquid, pill or powder forms of these drugs available on the street often contain unknown substances that can be harmful, including other illegally manufactured or pharmaceutical drugs.
• Due to the toxic nature of inhalants, users may develop brain damage of different levels of severity. Sudden death can occur even after a single exposure.

Other life-changing complications

Dependence on drugs can create a number of dangerous and damaging complications, including:

• Getting an infectious disease. People who are addicted to a drug are more likely to get an infectious disease, such as HIV , either through unsafe sex or by sharing needles with others.
• Other health problems. Drug addiction can lead to a range of both short-term and long-term mental and physical health problems. These depend on what drug is taken.
• Accidents. People who are addicted to drugs are more likely to drive or do other dangerous activities while under the influence.
• Suicide. People who are addicted to drugs die by suicide more often than people who aren't addicted.
• Family problems. Behavioral changes may cause relationship or family conflict and custody issues.
• Work issues. Drug use can cause declining performance at work, absenteeism and eventual loss of employment.
• Problems at school. Drug use can negatively affect academic performance and motivation to excel in school.
• Legal issues. Legal problems are common for drug users and can stem from buying or possessing illegal drugs, stealing to support the drug addiction, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or disputes over child custody.
• Financial problems. Spending money to support drug use takes away money from other needs, could lead to debt, and can lead to illegal or unethical behaviors.

The best way to prevent an addiction to a drug is not to take the drug at all. If your health care provider prescribes a drug with the potential for addiction, use care when taking the drug and follow instructions.

Health care providers should prescribe these medicines at safe doses and amounts and monitor their use so that you're not given too great a dose or for too long a time. If you feel you need to take more than the prescribed dose of a medicine, talk to your health care provider.

Preventing drug misuse in children and teenagers

Take these steps to help prevent drug misuse in your children and teenagers:

• Communicate. Talk to your children about the risks of drug use and misuse.
• Listen. Be a good listener when your children talk about peer pressure and be supportive of their efforts to resist it.
• Set a good example. Don't misuse alcohol or addictive drugs. Children of parents who misuse drugs are at greater risk of drug addiction.
• Strengthen the bond. Work on your relationship with your children. A strong, stable bond between you and your child will reduce your child's risk of using or misusing drugs.

Preventing a relapse

Once you've been addicted to a drug, you're at high risk of falling back into a pattern of addiction. If you do start using the drug, it's likely you'll lose control over its use again — even if you've had treatment and you haven't used the drug for some time.

• Follow your treatment plan. Monitor your cravings. It may seem like you've recovered and you don't need to keep taking steps to stay drug-free. But your chances of staying drug-free will be much higher if you continue seeing your therapist or counselor, going to support group meetings and taking prescribed medicine.
• Avoid high-risk situations. Don't go back to the neighborhood where you used to get your drugs. And stay away from your old drug crowd.
• Get help immediately if you use the drug again. If you start using the drug again, talk to your health care provider, your mental health provider or someone else who can help you right away.

Drug addiction (substance use disorder) care at Mayo Clinic

• Substance-related and addictive disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. 5th ed. American Psychiatric Association; 2013. https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org. Accessed Aug. 15, 2022.
• Brown AY. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. April 13, 2021.
• DrugFacts: Understanding drug use and addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction. Accessed Aug. 15, 2022.
• American Psychiatric Association. What is a substance use disorder? https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction-substance-use-disorders/what-is-a-substance-use-disorder. Accessed Sept. 2, 2022.
• Eddie D, et al. Lived experience in new models of care for substance use disorder: A systematic review of peer recovery support services and recovery coaching. Frontiers in Psychology. 2019; doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01052.
• Commonly used drugs charts. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/commonly-used-drugs-charts. Accessed Aug. 16, 2022.
• Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-misuse-addiction. Accessed Aug. 16, 2022.
• Drugs of abuse: A DEA resource guide/2020 edition. United States Drug Enforcement Administration. https://admin.dea.gov/documents/2020/2020-04/2020-04-13/drugs-abuse. Accessed Aug. 31, 2022.
• Misuse of prescription drugs research report. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/overview. Accessed Aug. 17, 2022.
• Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide. 3rd ed. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/preface. Accessed Aug. 17, 2022.
• The science of drug use: A resource for the justice sector. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/drug-topics/criminal-justice/science-drug-use-resource-justice-sector. Accessed Sept. 2, 2022.
• Naloxone DrugFacts. National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/naloxone. Accessed Aug. 31, 2022.
• Drug and substance use in adolescents. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/problems-in-adolescents/drug-and-substance-use-in-adolescents. Accessed Sept. 2, 2022.
• DrugFacts: Synthetic cannabinoids (K2/Spice). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/synthetic-cannabinoids-k2spice. Accessed Aug. 18, 2022.
• Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. March 5, 2021.
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Consequences of Drug Abuse

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Benefits of Using Drugs

Drawbacks of drug use.

Currently, people around the globe have access to a wider range of substances than ever was available to the mankind. While some substances are prescribed by healthcare practitioners to relieve pain or combat virus, others are purchased illegally for recreational purposes. The endless stream of drugs, obtainable to the individuals with little or no restrictions, poses a serious inquiry. The question is as follows – is drug use a curse or a blessing of the twenty-first century?

Attributable to environmental, social, and cultural factors, research behind drug use fails to explain why some people tend to abuse substances while others can control themselves when it comes to developing addictions. Essentially, addiction does not develop overnight rather being a consequence of using drugs with habit-forming characteristics. Therefore, there is no absolute answer to the everlasting dilemma of using drugs, and two sides need to be evaluated separately.

When assessing the advantages of using pharmaceutical drugs, it is essential to consider the severity of health conditions existing. Advanced pharmaceutical drugs allow to decrease or completely eliminate the suffering of people, minimizing their physical pain (Earp et al. 136). Apart from serving as painkillers, medical substances frequently prevent individuals from getting diseases. Vaccines, immune modulating drugs, and vitamin supplements constitute only a small portion of such substances. For example, cases of smallpox were almost annihilated with the introduction of Fleming’s vaccination in 1800. Similarly to polio, a life-threatening illness leading to permanent paralysis, which was eradicated with the help of vaccines.

Medical drugs also allow people with incurable diseases to live longer and more comfortably. With the use of daily treatments, patients with diabetes, HIV, and depression substantially improve their quality of life, reducing symptoms and pain associated with them (Earp et al. 146). Antibiotics are vital for the treatment of bacterial infections, while marijuana is effective for cancer patients. Consequently, the aforementioned advantages of using drugs advocate for the positive side of the discussion.

At its core, drug use is not harmful to people, bringing a variety of benefits to patients suffering from severe diseases. Yet, the problem arises when individuals start confusing drug use with abuse. A clear line should be drawn between consuming prescribed medical substances to treat a health condition and taking drugs without medical assistance (Earp et al. 136). The three major clusters of the issue should be addressed:

• recreational drugs;
• prescription drugs;
• unethical healthcare treatment.

First, abuse of recreational drugs is prevalent among common people due to the availability and accessibility of the so-called street substances. Reasons why individuals decide to take drugs vary depending on their ultimate goal. For instance, heroin and cocaine lead to euphorical feelings; LSD causes hallucinations; Marijuana relaxes and induces good mood. Abuse of recreational drugs is likely to result in loss of employment, crime, divorce, lower performance at school, and other consequences discussed later (Earp et al. 137). Second, Abuse of prescription drugs occurs when patients decide to present misleading information to the doctors in order to obtain necessary drugs.

One of the most commonly abused prescribed substance is marijuana. As people are seeking to use medical characteristics of cannabis to induce mood without the corresponding health condition, the addiction appears quick to develop (Earp et al. 147). Third, unethical healthcare practices constitute another cluster of drug abuse. When doctors refuse to seek causes for the real diagnosis of the person and prescribe a painkiller to ease the symptoms, patients are likely to grow the addiction to the substance consumed.

All the aforementioned constituents of drug abuse may have similar negative effects on the individual’s wellness. People facing drug abuse are more likely to engage in delinquency and commit crimes than those refusing to take substances (Earp et al. 141). While there is no proven causal relationship between drug addiction and felony, the established positive correlation suggests that individuals abusing drugs often fall under the influence of negative peer groups (Earp et al. 142).

Such adverse impact of the peers is the primary reason for higher crime rates among the addicts. With the loss of judgement and independence, addicts can find it difficult to combat stress, irritability, and anxiety, searching for alternative sources to restore the lost feeling of control over one’s life. In this case, violence and behavioral misconduct appear as accessible options.

Drug addiction oftentimes results in distorted social interaction with friends, colleagues, and family members. There is an observed tendency for drug users to distant themselves from their significant others which leads to psychological, financial, and emotional crisis of the social units (Earp et al. 138). Substance abuse impairs judgment and decreases decision-making ability, contributing to the feelings of hostility and aggression (Earp et al. 139).

Furthermore, drug abusers may alienate themselves from peers, disengaging from the usual community events. Other psychosocial dysfunctions prevalent among drug addicts include but are not limited to apathy, withdrawal, and depression, proving that people who abuse substances are more susceptible to mental problems (Earp et al. 140). In this case, mental impairments range from personality disorders to learning disabilities, as individuals struggle to maintain healthy psychomotor skills and memory capacity.

Apart from distorted social interaction, drug addiction is closely associated with the decline in the academic or professional performance. One explanation behind such finding is that drug abusers are subject to absenting from work-related activities. Another reason is cognitive and behavioral problems induced by alcohol and drug addiction that interfere with the academic performance (Earp et al. 142).

For example, drug abuse has harmful effects on the patient’s perception skills, concentration, and motor function that is one of the reasons why driving under the influence of substances is so dangerous. Behavioral problems associated with drug addiction are closely linked to the lack of judgment and controlled impulse among the substance abusers (Earp et al. 142). Adverse behavioral patterns vary from sharing used needless to engaging into non-consensual sexual activities with a high risk of getting STD.

It is evident that drugs are strongly beneficial for people suffering from severe illnesses. Minimizing pains, decreasing the risk of obtaining contagious disease, and treating existing conditions are few of the advantages of medical substances. Yet, the issue arises as drugs in harmful doses remain highly accessible for common people to purchase. Damaging to health, substances can also have negative consequences on the person’s social interactions, resulting in job losses, imprisonment, and toxic relationships. When making an informed decision to consume drugs, an individual should be able to find a balance between medical drugs that save lives and abused substances that substantially decrease life quality.

Earp, Brian D., et al. “Addiction, Identity, Morality.” AJOB Empirical Bioethics , vol. 10, no. 2, 2019, pp. 136–153. Web.

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Common Comorbidities with Substance Use Disorders Research Report Part 1: The Connection Between Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness

Many individuals who develop substance use disorders (SUD) are also diagnosed with mental disorders, and vice versa. 2,3 Although there are fewer studies on comorbidity among youth, research suggests that adolescents with substance use disorders also have high rates of co-occurring mental illness; over 60 percent of adolescents in community-based substance use disorder treatment programs also meet diagnostic criteria for another mental illness. 4

Data show high rates of comorbid substance use disorders and anxiety disorders—which include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. 5–9 Substance use disorders also co-occur at high prevalence with mental disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, 6,9–11 attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 12,13 psychotic illness, 14,15 borderline personality disorder, 16 and antisocial personality disorder. 10,15 Patients with schizophrenia have higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use disorders than the general population. 17 As Figure 1 shows, the overlap is especially pronounced with serious mental illness (SMI). Serious mental illness among people ages 18 and older is defined at the federal level as having, at any time during the past year, a diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, and other mental disorders that cause serious impairment. 18 Around 1 in 4 individuals with SMI also have an SUD.

Data from a large nationally representative sample suggested that people with mental, personality, and substance use disorders were at increased risk for nonmedical use of prescription opioids. 19 Research indicates that 43 percent of people in SUD treatment for nonmedical use of prescription painkillers have a diagnosis or symptoms of mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. 20

Youth—A Vulnerable Time

Although drug use and addiction can happen at any time during a person’s life, drug use typically starts in adolescence, a period when the first signs of mental illness commonly appear. Comorbid disorders can also be seen among youth. 21–23 During the transition to young adulthood (age 18 to 25 years), people with comorbid disorders need coordinated support to help them navigate potentially stressful changes in education, work, and relationships. 21

Drug Use and Mental Health Disorders in Childhood or Adolescence Increases Later Risk

The brain continues to develop through adolescence. Circuits that control executive functions such as decision making and impulse control are among the last to mature, which enhances vulnerability to drug use and the development of a substance use disorder. 3,24 Early drug use is a strong risk factor for later development of substance use disorders, 24 and it may also be a risk factor for the later occurrence of other mental illnesses. 25,26 However, this link is not necessarily causative and may reflect shared risk factors including genetic vulnerability, psychosocial experiences, and/or general environmental influences. For example, frequent marijuana use during adolescence can increase the risk of psychosis in adulthood, specifically in individuals who carry a particular gene variant. 26,27

It is also true that having a mental disorder in childhood or adolescence can increase the risk of later drug use and the development of a substance use disorder. Some research has found that mental illness may precede a substance use disorder, suggesting that better diagnosis of youth mental illness may help reduce comorbidity. One study found that adolescent-onset bipolar disorder confers a greater risk of subsequent substance use disorder compared to adult-onset bipolar disorder. 28 Similarly, other research suggests that youth develop internalizing disorders, including depression and anxiety, prior to developing substance use disorders. 29

Untreated Childhood ADHD Can Increase Later Risk of Drug Problems

Numerous studies have documented an increased risk for substance use disorders in youth with untreated ADHD, 13,30 although some studies suggest that only those with comorbid conduct disorders have greater odds of later developing a substance use disorder. 30,31 Given this linkage, it is important to determine whether effective treatment of ADHD could prevent subsequent drug use and addiction. Treatment of childhood ADHD with stimulant medications such as methylphenidate or amphetamine reduces the impulsive behavior, fidgeting, and  inability to concentrate that characterize ADHD. 32

That risk presents a challenge when treating children with ADHD, since effective treatment often involves prescribing stimulant medications with addictive potential. Although the research is not yet conclusive, many studies suggest that ADHD medications do not increase the risk of substance use disorder among children with this condition. 31,32 It is important to combine stimulant medication for ADHD with appropriate family and child education and behavioral interventions, including counseling on the chronic nature of ADHD and risk for substance use disorder. 13,32

The Impact of Drugs on the Teenage Brain

Here is an overview of the research on drug abuse from a teenager's perspective..

Updated September 4, 2024 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

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• Teenage years are a time of rapid brain development, making teenagers more vulnerable to the effects of drugs.
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• Different drugs may affect the teenage brain in different ways.

This post was coauthored by Gabriella P. Oettinger and Juan M. Dominguez, Ph.D.

As we begin the new school year, the importance of understanding the challenges and risks that students face becomes particularly pressing. Amid these challenges, illegal substance use remains a serious issue, especially given its impact on the developing teenage brain.

This summer, my laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin welcomed a bright high school student as a volunteer. Members of my lab are interested in how hormones act in the brain to influence response to drugs of abuse. This student was engaged in primarily archival research on this topic.

During her time with us, I assigned her a recently published review article on the potential effects of various drugs on the developing teenage brain [1]. Given her aptitude and enthusiasm, I expected her to find the article accessible. However, while she understood and processed most of the material, she struggled with some of the more complex aspects of the paper. It then dawned on me that even highly capable teenagers might find it challenging to capture such crucial information about drugs and the teenage brain.

The teenage years are a time of significant brain development, and understanding how drug abuse might impact this process is important for young people, not just brain scientists. This recognition led to the collaborative project presented below, where we coauthored this entry, hoping to make some of the science behind drug effects on the teenage brain more accessible from the standpoint of a teenage student. In this piece, we discuss key points from the review article and explore how different substances can affect the brain during this critical stage of development. It is our hope that this entry will reach the most relevant audience for this topic: teenagers.

In 2022, over 70 million teenagers reported using some form of illegal drug. By 2023, more than 30 percent of high school seniors admitted to using drugs in the past year. The immediate dangers of substance use are well-known, but for teenagers, the risks extend beyond the immediate. The teenage brain is in a crucial stage of development, making it particularly susceptible to the potential long-term impacts of drugs.

As many teenagers may have heard from their parents, drug use is especially dangerous during these years because the brain is still developing. Unfortunately, as much as teenagers don’t want to hear it, this isn’t just parental advice; it’s the reality. This has real implications for the long-term health and well-being of young people. The brain is constantly changing during adolescence , making teenagers more susceptible to the effects of drugs.

Substance use disorder is characterized by three main features: a compulsion to take the drug, an inability to control intake, and the emergence of negative emotions when not using the drug. Drug addiction includes both impulsive and compulsive behaviors ; impulsive disorders are marked by tension and excitement before acting, while compulsive disorders involve anxiety and relief after the act. The transition from impulsive to compulsive drug-taking characterizes a shift from a positive to a negative drive for substance use, a pattern that has both a significant social and economic cost. Drug addiction literally changes the brain’s pathways, and these changes don’t just disappear when someone stops using drugs.

Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to drugs for several reasons.

One key area of the brain that isn’t fully developed during the teenage years is the frontal lobe, which is responsible for rational decision-making and self-regulation . This lack of development makes it harder for teenagers to control their drug use, increasing the risk of addictive disorders.

The frontal lobe also helps regulate emotions, so when it is underdeveloped, teenagers may struggle while coping with stress and are more likely to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like drug use. In addition, while most teenagers understand the short-term dangers of drug use, such as alcohol poisoning, lung damage from smoking, or the risk of overdosing, many of them are less aware of the long-term effects. Drugs can effectively alter the developing brain, affecting not only the likelihood of drug abuse but also other aspects of mental and physical health into adulthood.

While the ways that drugs affect the teenage brain is still a topic of great interest to many behavioral neuroscientists who study it to this day, we already have significant insight into the changes that can be impacted by drugs in this stage of development. The teenage brain is still developing, and this rapid process continues until the mid-20s, when it experiences a significant slowdown.

During adolescence, the brain’s neural pathways are not fully developed. This can make the integration of reward stimuli stronger, meaning that, on average, emotions and drug effects are felt more strongly by teenagers than by adults. This increased intensity can make teenagers more susceptible to addiction.

The brain’s reward pathways, which encourage the repetition of activities that provide pleasure (reinforcement), are also very sensitive during adolescence. When drugs disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters, the brain starts to reroute these pathways to reward drug use, leading to a cycle of dependence and abuse.

While most drugs act in the same brain reward systems, the specific changes and effects may be different. The following includes a general description of the effects of some of the more widely used drugs in teenagers.

Nicotine: Research shows that teenagers find nicotine more pleasurable than adults. Nicotine binds to receptors in the brain, triggering the release of dopamine , which creates a sensation of feeling good. Over time, the brain creates more of these receptors, leading to cravings and dependence. The developing reward system in teenagers makes them particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction .

Cannabis: Teens’ brains react differently to cannabis compared to adults. While adults may experience heightened anxiety and reduced movement after using cannabis, teenagers are less affected by these aversive effects, leading to increased use. This increased use can have effects on memory , cognition , and IQ . Additionally, early cannabis use has been linked to greater sensitivity to other drugs, like cocaine, later in life.

Alcohol: Adolescents metabolize alcohol faster than adults, meaning it leaves their system quicker. However, drinking alcohol during adolescence can negatively impact the development of the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for memory formation. Teens are also more sensitive to the rewarding effects of alcohol, which increases the risk of binge drinking and addiction.

Cocaine: Cocaine creates a surge of neurotransmitters like dopamine, leading to a short-lived high followed by a crash. Teenagers are less sensitive to cocaine’s effects than adults, but their sensitive reward system makes them more prone to addiction. The impulsive decision-making, which is common in teenagers, is worsened by cocaine use and can lead to immediate dangers and long-term damage to the brain.

Opioids: Opioids are particularly dangerous due to their high risk of addiction and overdose. Teenagers exhibit greater levels of sensitization to opioids, leading to a quicker development of dependence. The combination of a developing reward system and greater sensitization to opioids makes teenagers more likely to engage in drug-seeking behaviors, increasing the risk of addiction and overdose.

In summary, being a teenager comes with a multitude of new experiences, challenges, and responsibilities. The brain is in a crucial stage of development, adapting to new physical, social, and academic situations. However, this growth also makes teenagers more vulnerable to the effects of substances. The part of the brain responsible for impulse control and decision-making isn’t fully mature, which can lead to risky behaviors and poor decision-making. Understanding the potential effects of drug use on the developing brain is essential to help educate those who are most susceptible and for preventing substance use disorder, thereby promoting long-term health.

[1] Ahmadi-Soleimani, S. M., Salmanzadeh, H., & Azizi, H. (2023). Experimental Evidence on Age-related Differential Outcomes Associated With Substance Abuse. Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 15(1), 27-36. http://dx.doi . org/10.32598/bcn.2023.587.1

Juan Dominguez, Ph.D. , is a professor at the University of Texas.

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18 Surprising Things That Happen to Your Body When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

From weight loss to better sleep, the long-term and short-term side effects can be noticeable.

What happens to your body when you stop drinking?

Alcohol withdrawal timeline, how to stop drinking, bottom line.

If you’re thinking about joining the #SoberCurious movement , you’re not alone. There are currently over 750,000 uses of the hashtag on Instagram, and more and more people are considering giving up alcohol as an experiment (think: Dry January but at other points in the year) — or for good. So what happens to your body when you stop drinking alcohol? We asked experts to break down everything you might notice immediately, and the effects that can continue long after you’ve had your last sip.

What does alcohol do to your body?

You’d be hard-pressed to think of something in your body that isn’t impacted by alcohol. According to Matthew Mosquera , MD, the Medical Director of the Alcohol, Drugs, and Addiction Inpatient Program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts and an instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, alcohol affects three main systems in your body:

Light drinkers tend to be mostly spared from the effects on the liver, but for heavy drinkers, the liver becomes inflamed, which can be dangerous over time,” says Dr. Mosquera. According to The National Institute for Health,  light drinking is defined as seven drinks per week for women, with no more than three in one day, and no more than 14 drinks per week for men, with no more than four in one day .  That said, your liver has to work hard to process and filter alcohol, no matter the quantity. When you’re drinking heavily on a regular basis, it can overwhelm the liver’s capabilities, causing a cascade of health issues, including liver disease, liver cancer, and  acute alcohol-related hepatitis  — all of which can be deadly.

Cardiovascular System

“Alcohol is a monkey wrench in our homeostasis,” says Dr. Mosquera. “Both light and heavy drinking dehydrates you, so your heart compensates by elevating your blood pressure and your heart rate.” In fact,  an analysis of seven studies  in the journal Hypertension , found that  people who had just one drink per day showed elevated blood pressure when compared to non-drinkers.

Cognitive Function

Drinking increases anxiety levels and impairs your memory’s ability to function, adds Dr. Mosquera. But we’re not just talking about one night of “blacking out” and forgetting what happened. The compound effects of drinking on your brain can be serious. One study found that even moderate alcohol consumption can cause changes to the brain’s structure , leading to cognitive decline in areas associated with memory and reasoning. In the study, more excessive drinking translated to more rapid cognitive decline.

While these areas may take the greatest hit from regular drinking, they aren’t the only ones affected. Alcohol’s inflammatory properties don’t just affect the liver — the stomach can also become inflamed, which, along with the dehydration, can affect digestion and lead to constipation . While your liver and stomach can usually rebound if you stop drinking, with inflammation comes an increased cancer risk over time.

Alcohol can also impair your ability to get restorative rest because you’re less likely to enter REM sleep, which has been shown to increase your risk of dementia .

Regular drinking raises estrogen levels and reduces testosterone. For men, this can look like lowered libido and erectile dysfunction, as well as decreased muscle mass. For women, it can increase the risk of breast cancer, impair bone health, and lead to mood changes.

And, emotionally, alcohol can make you not only more anxious, but more irritable, more impulsive and less inhibited — not just after a drink, but compounded over time, says Dr. Mosquera. These effects can also be exacerbated if you have a mental health diagnosis like bipolar disorder, he says.

Ironically, some of the first things you might notice are similar to what happens to your body when you’re drinking. “Anxiety is the most common thing people notice upon stopping,” says Dr. Sharone Abramowitz , MD, a psychiatrist and president of the California Society of Addiction Medicine . She also notes that a craving for alcohol is common once people stop.

Other common side effects:

• rapid heart rate
• restlessness
• sleep problems

The good news? These effects will subside as your body adjusts to the absence of alcohol.

The first few days:

Some positive effects of no alcohol will come on after just a few days of giving up your nightly nightcap. Alcohol inhibits your ability to reach a REM state while asleep, so after a few days without alcohol, you’ll start to notice that you’re dreaming more and getting deeper, more restorative rest. “You’re also more hydrated, so your heart rate will start to go down,” says Dr. Mosquera. “After a few days, you’ll notice an increase in energy and more mental clarity.”

After a week:

After just seven days without alcohol, your immune system starts bouncing back. While you might not notice it, your hormones are starting to improve as well, with libido and sexual function revving back up. While heavy drinkers are the only ones who experience liver effects from alcohol, the improvements can be felt very quickly. “If you’re a heavy drinker, this is where your liver health starts rebounding,” says Dr. Mosquera.

After a month:

Your body’s systems bounce back over time, but after about 30 days, you’ll start seeing a difference. “Your skin has had a month to absorb all the hydration and nutrients and B vitamins that your body hadn’t been getting while you were drinking, so this is when you’ll see noticeable improvements to your skin,” says Dr. Mosquera. There’s also likely to be some weight loss within a month, due to the absence of the calories you were ingesting in alcohol (as long as you haven’t swapped them for equally high-calorie comfort foods).

After 3 months:

Consider this when the cloud will start lifting mentally. “After a few months, the brain will begin to return to health,” says Dr. Abramowitz. Your alcohol-induced anxiety levels have likely stabilized, too. Your sleep cycle is continuing to improve, so you’re getting even more REM sleep and feeling more rested.

After 6 months:

Six months without alcohol is when you can begin to see your immune system optimizing and fighting the good fight again, though depending on the time of year and your environment, you might not immediately notice. If it’s winter, you may notice fewer colds than in the past, but in warmer months, the changes may be more subtle, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Your body is starting to operate more efficiently, too. “Giving your body six months of water absorption will improve your digestion and constipation,” says Dr. Mosquera.

After a year:

“The one-year mark is when your overall risk of different cancers has leveled off,” says Dr. Mosquera. “No level of drinking is safe when it comes to cancer risk, but after a year without alcohol, you’ve experienced a significant risk reduction.” After all this time, you might also appreciate a lot of the emotional effects of a life without alcohol. “Your relationships are likely improved, and your resilience has increased,” says Dr. Mosquera.

On top of that, you’re likely feeling less anxiety and are better able to regulate your emotions when life’s hiccups arise.

Depending on whether you’re a light or heavy drinker, your strategy around cutting back will be different. “For a light drinker, you don’t really need to taper,” says Dr. Mosquera. “Heavy drinkers should make a plan to avoid withdrawal symptoms like seizures.” If you’re drinking more than seven drinks a week for a woman or 14 for a man, especially for extended periods of time, consider talking to a doctor first before stopping cold turkey.

If you’re considering a break from alcohol, it might also be helpful to think about why you drink. “Everyone turns to alcohol for a reason,” says Dr. Mosquera. “Maybe it’s relief from your worries or connection with friends. Try to think about what you’ll replace alcohol with so that you can still get that outlet.” Instead of meeting friends regularly at a bar to connect and wind down, suggest a new workout class you could do together or just meet up for a walk. If drinking is your go-to way to blow off steam after a busy week, schedule a booze-free, self-care activity for Friday afternoons, like indulging in a hobby you enjoy or a pampering session like a massage.

Quitting without a plan can be extra tough because you’ll still want to fill the emotional void that alcohol used to sop up. Make sure you have another strategy lined up that actually works for you (i.e., don’t say you’ll take up yoga if you hate yoga), so you won’t feel tempted to rush back to drinking when life gets stressful. Another potential option: The rise in great-tasting non-alcoholic beverages may make the switch even easier.

Why trust Good Housekeeping

Brittany Burke Robert, the author of this article, has written about health for Oprah Daily, Well+Good, Livestrong, Reebok and other publications and digital brands for over 15 years. She has extensive experience working alongside clinicians and providers to create physical and mental well-being content that's useful, informative, and clinically effective. For this article, she conducted interviews with multiple doctors for their expertise and recommendations and read research on alcohol and its effect on the body. In addition, the editor of this article has spent the last 15 years as a health editor, covering all things health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness and adheres to the highest journalistic standards.

Brittany Burke Robert has written about health for Oprah Daily, Well+Good, Livestrong, Reebok, and other publications and digital brands for over 15 years. She has extensive experience working alongside clinicians and providers to create physical and mental well-being content that's useful, informative and clinically effective.

Jihan Myers is an award-winning journalist and editor who has covered women's health for more than 17 years for digital brands and publications including Good Housekeeping, O, The Oprah Magazine, Prevention, and Marie Claire , among others. She has experience covering all things health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness and adheres to the highest journalistic standards.

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• DOI: 10.59493/ajopred/2023.3.7
• Corpus ID: 266994781

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Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety

.header_greentext{color:green!important;font-size:24px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_bluetext{color:blue!important;font-size:18px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_redtext{color:red!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_darkred{color:#803d2f!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_purpletext{color:purple!important;font-size:31px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_yellowtext{color:yellow!important;font-size:20px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_blacktext{color:black!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_whitetext{color:white!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_darkred{color:#803d2f!important;}.Green_Header{color:green!important;font-size:24px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Blue_Header{color:blue!important;font-size:18px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Red_Header{color:red!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Purple_Header{color:purple!important;font-size:31px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Yellow_Header{color:yellow!important;font-size:20px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Black_Header{color:black!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.White_Header{color:white!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;} What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners insert fine needles into the skin to treat health problems. The needles may be manipulated manually or stimulated with small electrical currents (electroacupuncture). Acupuncture has been in use in some form for at least 2,500 years. It originated from  traditional Chinese medicine but has gained popularity worldwide since the 1970s.

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According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture is used in 103 of 129 countries that reported data.

In the United States, data from the National Health Interview Survey show that the use of acupuncture by U.S. adults more than doubled between 2002 and 2022. In 2002, 1.0 percent of U.S. adults used acupuncture; in 2022, 2.2 percent used it. 

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National survey data indicate that in the United States, acupuncture is most commonly used for pain, such as back, joint, or neck pain.

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How acupuncture works is not fully understood. However, there’s evidence that acupuncture may have effects on the nervous system, effects on other body tissues, and nonspecific (placebo) effects. 

• Studies in animals and people, including studies that used imaging methods to see what’s happening in the brain, have shown that acupuncture may affect nervous system function.
• Acupuncture may have direct effects on the tissues where the needles are inserted. This type of effect has been seen in connective tissue.
• Acupuncture has nonspecific effects (effects due to incidental aspects of a treatment rather than its main mechanism of action). Nonspecific effects may be due to the patient’s belief in the treatment, the relationship between the practitioner and the patient, or other factors not directly caused by the insertion of needles. In many studies, the benefit of acupuncture has been greater when it was compared with no treatment than when it was compared with sham (simulated or fake) acupuncture procedures, such as the use of a device that pokes the skin but does not penetrate it. These findings suggest that nonspecific effects contribute to the beneficial effect of acupuncture on pain or other symptoms. 
• In recent research, a nonspecific effect was demonstrated in a unique way: Patients who had experienced pain relief during a previous acupuncture session were shown a video of that session and asked to imagine the treatment happening again. This video-guided imagery technique had a significant pain-relieving effect.

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Research has shown that acupuncture may be helpful for several pain conditions, including back or neck pain, knee pain associated with osteoarthritis, and postoperative pain. It may also help relieve joint pain associated with the use of aromatase inhibitors, which are drugs used in people with breast cancer. 

An analysis of data from 20 studies (6,376 participants) of people with painful conditions (back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, or headaches) showed that the beneficial effects of acupuncture continued for a year after the end of treatment for all conditions except neck pain.

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• In a 2018 review, data from 12 studies (8,003 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than no treatment for back or neck pain, and data from 10 studies (1,963 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture. The difference between acupuncture and no treatment was greater than the difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture. The pain-relieving effect of acupuncture was comparable to that of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• A 2017 clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians included acupuncture among the nondrug options recommended as first-line treatment for chronic low-back pain. Acupuncture is also one of the treatment options recommended for acute low-back pain. The evidence favoring acupuncture for acute low-back pain was judged to be of low quality, and the evidence for chronic low-back pain was judged to be of moderate quality.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on low-back pain .

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• In a 2018 review, data from 10 studies (2,413 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than no treatment for osteoarthritis pain, and data from 9 studies (2,376 participants) showed acupuncture was more effective than sham acupuncture. The difference between acupuncture and no treatment was greater than the difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture. Most of the participants in these studies had knee osteoarthritis, but some had hip osteoarthritis. The pain-relieving effect of acupuncture was comparable to that of NSAIDs.
• A 2018 review evaluated 6 studies (413 participants) of acupuncture for hip osteoarthritis. Two of the studies compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture and found little or no difference between them in terms of effects on pain. The other four studies compared acupuncture with a variety of other treatments and could not easily be compared with one another. However, one of the trials indicated that the addition of acupuncture to routine care by a physician may improve pain and function in patients with hip osteoarthritis.
• A 2019 clinical practice guideline from the American College of Rheumatology and the Arthritis Foundation conditionally recommends acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, or hand. The guideline states that the greatest number of studies showing benefits have been for knee osteoarthritis.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on osteoarthritis .

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• A 2020   review of nine studies that compared acupuncture with various drugs for preventing migraine found that acupuncture was slightly more effective, and study participants who received acupuncture were much less likely than those receiving drugs to drop out of studies because of side effects.
• There’s moderate-quality evidence that acupuncture may reduce the frequency of migraines (from a 2016 evaluation of 22 studies with almost 5,000 people). The evidence from these studies also suggests that acupuncture may be better than sham acupuncture, but the difference is small. There is moderate- to low-quality evidence that acupuncture may reduce the frequency of tension headaches (from a 2016 evaluation of 12 studies with about 2,350 people).

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on headache .

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• Myofascial pain syndrome is a common form of pain derived from muscles and their related connective tissue (fascia). It involves tender nodules called “trigger points.” Pressing on these nodules reproduces the patient’s pattern of pain.
• A combined analysis of a small number of studies of acupuncture for myofascial pain syndrome showed that acupuncture applied to trigger points had a favorable effect on pain intensity (5 studies, 215 participants), but acupuncture applied to traditional acupuncture points did not (4 studies, 80 participants).  

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• Sciatica involves pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg, usually on one side of the body, caused by damage to or pressure on the sciatic nerve—a nerve that starts in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg.
• Two 2015 evaluations of the evidence, one including 12 studies with 1,842 total participants and the other including 11 studies with 962 total participants, concluded that acupuncture may be helpful for sciatica pain, but the quality of the research is not good enough to allow definite conclusions to be reached.

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• A 2016 evaluation of 11 studies of pain after surgery (with a total of 682 participants) found that patients treated with acupuncture or related techniques 1 day after surgery had less pain and used less opioid pain medicine after the operation.

.header_greentext{color:green!important;font-size:24px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_bluetext{color:blue!important;font-size:18px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_redtext{color:red!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_darkred{color:#803d2f!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_purpletext{color:purple!important;font-size:31px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_yellowtext{color:yellow!important;font-size:20px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_blacktext{color:black!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_whitetext{color:white!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_darkred{color:#803d2f!important;}.Green_Header{color:green!important;font-size:24px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Blue_Header{color:blue!important;font-size:18px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Red_Header{color:red!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Purple_Header{color:purple!important;font-size:31px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Yellow_Header{color:yellow!important;font-size:20px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Black_Header{color:black!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.White_Header{color:white!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;} Cancer Pain

• A 2016 review of 20 studies (1,639 participants) indicated that acupuncture was not more effective in relieving cancer pain than conventional drug therapy. However, there was some evidence that acupuncture plus drug therapy might be better than drug therapy alone.
• A 2017 review of 5 studies (181 participants) of acupuncture for aromatase inhibitor-induced joint pain in breast cancer patients concluded that 6 to 8 weeks of acupuncture treatment may help reduce the pain. However, the individual studies only included small numbers of women and used a variety of acupuncture techniques and measurement methods, so they were difficult to compare.
• A larger 2018 study included 226 women with early-stage breast cancer who were taking aromatase inhibitors. The study found that the women who received 6 weeks of acupuncture treatment, given twice each week, reported less joint pain than the participants who received sham or no acupuncture.

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• Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a condition in men that involves inflammation of or near the prostate gland; its cause is uncertain.
• A review of 3 studies (204 total participants) suggested that acupuncture may reduce prostatitis symptoms, compared with a sham procedure. Because follow-up of the study participants was relatively brief and the numbers of studies and participants were small, a definite conclusion cannot be reached about acupuncture’s effects.

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• A 2019 review of 41 studies (3,440 participants) showed that acupuncture was no more effective than sham acupuncture for symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, but there was some evidence that acupuncture could be helpful when used in addition to other forms of treatment.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on irritable bowel syndrome .

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• A 2019 review of 12 studies (824 participants) of people with fibromyalgia indicated that acupuncture was significantly better than sham acupuncture for relieving pain, but the evidence was of low-to-moderate quality.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on fibromyalgia . 

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In addition to pain conditions, acupuncture has also been studied for at least 50 other health problems. There is evidence that acupuncture may help relieve seasonal allergy symptoms, stress incontinence in women, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatment. It may also help relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life in people with asthma, but it has not been shown to improve lung function.

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• A 2015 evaluation of 13 studies of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis, involving a total of 2,365 participants, found evidence that acupuncture may help relieve nasal symptoms. The study participants who received acupuncture also had lower medication scores (meaning that they used less medication to treat their symptoms) and lower blood levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), a type of antibody associated with allergies.
• A 2014 clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery included acupuncture among the options health care providers may offer to patients with allergic rhinitis.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on seasonal allergies .

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• Stress incontinence is a bladder control problem in which movement—coughing, sneezing, laughing, or physical activity—puts pressure on the bladder and causes urine to leak.
• In a 2017 study of about 500 women with stress incontinence, participants who received electroacupuncture treatment (18 sessions over 6 weeks) had reduced urine leakage, with about two-thirds of the women having a decrease in leakage of 50 percent or more. This was a rigorous study that met current standards for avoiding bias.

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• Experts generally agree that acupuncture is helpful for treatment-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, but this conclusion is based primarily on research conducted before current guidelines for treating these symptoms were adopted. It’s uncertain whether acupuncture is beneficial when used in combination with current standard treatments for nausea and vomiting.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on cancer .

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• In a study conducted in Germany in 2017, 357 participants receiving routine asthma care were randomly assigned to receive or not receive acupuncture, and an additional 1,088 people who received acupuncture for asthma were also studied. Adding acupuncture to routine care was associated with better quality of life compared to routine care alone.
• A review of 9 earlier studies (777 participants) showed that adding acupuncture to conventional asthma treatment improved symptoms but not lung function.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on asthma .

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• A 2018 review of 64 studies (7,104 participants) of acupuncture for depression indicated that acupuncture may result in a moderate reduction in the severity of depression when compared with treatment as usual or no treatment. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because most of the studies were of low or very low quality.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on depression .

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• In recommendations on smoking cessation treatment issued in 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel of experts that makes evidence-based recommendations about disease prevention, did not make a recommendation about the use of acupuncture as a stop-smoking treatment because only limited evidence was available. This decision was based on a 2014 review of 9 studies (1,892 participants) that looked at the effect of acupuncture on smoking cessation results for 6 months or more and found no significant benefit. Some studies included in that review showed evidence of a possible small benefit of acupuncture on quitting smoking for shorter periods of time.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on quitting smoking .

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• A 2021 review evaluated 6 studies (2,507 participants) that compared the effects of acupuncture versus sham acupuncture on the success of in vitro fertilization as a treatment for infertility. No difference was found between the acupuncture and sham acupuncture groups in rates of pregnancy or live birth.
• A 2020 review evaluated 12 studies (1,088 participants) on the use of acupuncture to improve sperm quality in men who had low sperm numbers and low sperm motility. The reviewers concluded that the evidence was inadequate for firm conclusions to be drawn because of the varied design of the studies and the poor quality of some of them. 

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• A 2018 review of 12 studies with 869 participants concluded that acupuncture and laser acupuncture (a treatment that uses lasers instead of needles) may have little or no effect on carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms in comparison with sham acupuncture. It’s uncertain how the effects of acupuncture compare with those of other treatments for this condition.    
• In a 2017 study not included in the review described above, 80 participants with carpal tunnel syndrome were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: (1) electroacupuncture to the more affected hand; (2) electroacupuncture at “distal” body sites, near the ankle opposite to the more affected hand; and (3) local sham electroacupuncture using nonpenetrating placebo needles. All three interventions reduced symptom severity, but local and distal acupuncture were better than sham acupuncture at producing desirable changes in the wrist and the brain.

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• A 2018 review of studies of acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause (hot flashes and related symptoms such as night sweats) analyzed combined evidence from an earlier review of 15 studies (1,127 participants) and 4 newer studies (696 additional participants). The analysis showed that acupuncture was better than no acupuncture at reducing the frequency and severity of symptoms. However, acupuncture was not shown to be better than sham acupuncture.

For more information, see the  NCCIH webpage on menopause .

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• Auricular acupuncture is a type of acupuncture that involves stimulating specific areas of the ear. 
• In a 2019 review of 15 studies (930 participants) of auricular acupuncture or auricular acupressure (a form of auricular therapy that does not involve penetration with needles), the treatment significantly reduced pain intensity, and 80 percent of the individual studies showed favorable effects on various measures related to pain.
• A 2020 review of 9 studies (783 participants) of auricular acupuncture for cancer pain showed that auricular acupuncture produced better pain relief than sham auricular acupuncture. Also, pain relief was better with a combination of auricular acupuncture and drug therapy than with drug therapy alone.
• An inexpensive, easily learned form of auricular acupuncture called “battlefield acupuncture” has been used by the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to treat pain. However, a 2021 review of 9 studies (692 participants) of battlefield acupuncture for pain in adults did not find any significant improvement in pain when this technique was compared with no treatment, usual care, delayed treatment, or sham battlefield acupuncture.

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• Relatively few complications from using acupuncture have been reported. However, complications have resulted from use of nonsterile needles and improper delivery of treatments.
• When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections, punctured organs, and injury to the central nervous system.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires that they be sterile and labeled for single use only.

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• Some health insurance policies cover acupuncture, but others don’t. Coverage is often limited based on the condition being treated.
• An analysis of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a nationally representative U.S. survey, showed that the share of adult acupuncturist visits with any insurance coverage increased from 41.1 percent in 2010–2011 to 50.2 percent in 2018–2019.
• Medicare covers acupuncture only for the treatment of chronic low-back pain. Coverage began in 2020. Up to 12 acupuncture visits are covered, with an additional 8 visits available if the first 12 result in improvement. Medicaid coverage of acupuncture varies from state to state.

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• Most states license acupuncturists, but the requirements for licensing vary from state to state. To find out more about licensing of acupuncturists and other complementary health practitioners, visit the NCCIH webpage  Credentialing, Licensing, and Education . 

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NCCIH funds research to evaluate acupuncture’s effectiveness for various kinds of pain and other conditions and to further understand how the body responds to acupuncture and how acupuncture might work. Some recent NCCIH-supported studies involve:

• Evaluating the feasibility of using acupuncture in hospital emergency departments.
• Testing whether the effect of acupuncture on chronic low-back pain can be enhanced by combining it with transcranial direct current stimulation.
• Evaluating a portable acupuncture-based nerve stimulation treatment for anxiety disorders.

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• Don’t use acupuncture to postpone seeing a health care provider about a health problem.
• Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.

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Nccih clearinghouse.

The NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on NCCIH and complementary and integrative health approaches, including publications and searches of Federal databases of scientific and medical literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners.

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226

Telecommunications relay service (TRS): 7-1-1

Website: https://www.nccih.nih.gov

Email: [email protected] (link sends email)

Know the Science

NCCIH and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide tools to help you understand the basics and terminology of scientific research so you can make well-informed decisions about your health. Know the Science features a variety of materials, including interactive modules, quizzes, and videos, as well as links to informative content from Federal resources designed to help consumers make sense of health information.

Explaining How Research Works (NIH)

Know the Science: How To Make Sense of a Scientific Journal Article

Understanding Clinical Studies (NIH)

A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed® contains publication information and (in most cases) brief summaries of articles from scientific and medical journals. For guidance from NCCIH on using PubMed, see How To Find Information About Complementary Health Approaches on PubMed .

Website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

NIH Clinical Research Trials and You

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You, to help people learn about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate. The site includes questions and answers about clinical trials, guidance on how to find clinical trials through ClinicalTrials.gov and other resources, and stories about the personal experiences of clinical trial participants. Clinical trials are necessary to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.

Website: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you

Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools Expenditures & Results (RePORTER)

RePORTER is a database of information on federally funded scientific and medical research projects being conducted at research institutions.

Website: https://reporter.nih.gov

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• Befus D, Coeytaux RR, Goldstein KM, et al.  Management of menopause symptoms with acupuncture: an umbrella systematic review and meta-analysis . Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2018;24(4):314-323.
• Bleck   R, Marquez E, Gold MA, et al.  A scoping review of acupuncture insurance coverage in the United States . Acupuncture in Medicine. 2020;964528420964214.
• Briggs JP, Shurtleff D.  Acupuncture and the complex connections between the mind and the body. JAMA. 2017;317(24):2489-2490.
• Brinkhaus B, Roll S, Jena S, et al.  Acupuncture in patients with allergic asthma: a randomized pragmatic trial. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2017;23(4):268-277.
• Chan MWC, Wu XY, Wu JCY, et al.  Safety of acupuncture: overview of systematic reviews. Scientific Reports. 2017;7(1):3369.
• Coyle ME, Stupans I, Abdel-Nour K, et al.  Acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture for in vitro fertilisation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in Medicine. 2021;39(1):20-29.
• Hershman DL, Unger JM, Greenlee H, et al.  Effect of acupuncture vs sham acupuncture or waitlist control on joint pain related to aromatase inhibitors among women with early-stage breast cancer: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2018;320(2):167-176.
• Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al.  Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;(6):CD001218. Accessed at  cochranelibrary.com on February 12, 2021.
• Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, et al.  Acupuncture for the prevention of tension-type headache. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;(4):CD007587. Accessed at  cochranelibrary.com on February 12, 2021.
• MacPherson H, Vertosick EA, Foster NE, et al. The persistence of the effects of acupuncture after a course of treatment: a meta-analysis of patients with chronic pain . Pain. 2017;158(5):784-793.
• Qaseem A, Wilt TJ, McLean RM, et al.  Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;166(7):514-530.
• Seidman MD, Gurgel RK, Lin SY, et al.  Clinical practice guideline: allergic rhinitis. Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. 2015;152(suppl 1):S1-S43.
• Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, et al. Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data meta-analysis . The Journal of Pain. 2018;19(5):455-474.
• White AR, Rampes H, Liu JP, et al.  Acupuncture and related interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014;(1):CD000009. Accessed at  cochranelibrary.com on February 17, 2021.
• Zia FZ, Olaku O, Bao T, et al.  The National Cancer Institute’s conference on acupuncture for symptom management in oncology: state of the science, evidence, and research gaps. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs. 2017;2017(52):lgx005.

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• Adams D, Cheng F, Jou H, et al. The safety of pediatric acupuncture: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2011;128(6):e1575-1587.
• Candon M, Nielsen A, Dusek JA. Trends in insurance coverage for acupuncture, 2010-2019. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(1):e2142509.
• Cao J, Tu Y, Orr SP, et al. Analgesic effects evoked by real and imagined acupuncture: a neuroimaging study. Cerebral Cortex. 2019;29(8):3220-3231.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Decision Memo for Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain (CAG-00452N). Accessed at https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-decision-memo.aspx?NCAId=295 on June 25, 2021.
• Chen L, Lin C-C, Huang T-W, et al. Effect of acupuncture on aromatase inhibitor-induced arthralgia in patients with breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials . The Breast. 2017;33:132-138. 
• Choi G-H, Wieland LS, Lee H, et al. Acupuncture and related interventions for the treatment of symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018;(12):CD011215. Accessed at cochranelibrary.com on January 28, 2021.
• Cui J, Wang S, Ren J, et al. Use of acupuncture in the USA: changes over a decade (2002–2012). Acupuncture in Medicine. 2017;35(3):200-207.
• Federman DG, Zeliadt SB, Thomas ER, et al. Battlefield acupuncture in the Veterans Health Administration: effectiveness in individual and group settings for pain and pain comorbidities. Medical Acupuncture. 2018;30(5):273-278.
• Feng S, Han M, Fan Y, et al. Acupuncture for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. 2015;29(1):57-62.
• Franco JV, Turk T, Jung JH, et al. Non-pharmacological interventions for treating chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018;(5):CD012551. Accessed at cochranelibrary.com on January 28, 2021.
• Freeman MP, Fava M, Lake J, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine in major depressive disorder: the American Psychiatric Association task force report. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry . 2010;71(6):669-681.
• Giovanardi CM, Cinquini M, Aguggia M, et al. Acupuncture vs. pharmacological prophylaxis of migraine: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020;11:576272.
• Hu C, Zhang H, Wu W, et al. Acupuncture for pain management in cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016;2016;1720239.
• Jiang C, Jiang L, Qin Q. Conventional treatments plus acupuncture for asthma in adults and adolescent: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine . 2019;2019:9580670.
• Ji M, Wang X, Chen M, et al. The efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  2015;2015:192808.
• Kaptchuk TJ. Acupuncture: theory, efficacy, and practice. Annals of Internal Medicine . 2002;136(5):374-383.
• Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Care & Research. 2020;72(2):149-162. 
• Langevin H. Fascia mobility, proprioception, and myofascial pain. Life. 2021;11(7):668. 
• Liu Z, Liu Y, Xu H, et al. Effect of electroacupuncture on urinary leakage among women with stress urinary incontinence: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017;317(24):2493-2501.
• MacPherson H, Hammerschlag R, Coeytaux RR, et al. Unanticipated insights into biomedicine from the study of acupuncture. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2016;22(2):101-107.
• Maeda Y, Kim H, Kettner N, et al. Rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in carpal tunnel syndrome with acupuncture. Brain. 2017;140(4):914-927.
• Manheimer E, Cheng K, Wieland LS, et al. Acupuncture for hip osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018;(5):CD013010. Accessed at cochranelibrary.com on February 17, 2021. 
• Moura CC, Chaves ECL, Cardoso ACLR, et al. Auricular acupuncture for chronic back pain in adults: a systematic review and metanalysis. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P. 2019;53:e03461.
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Acknowledgments

NCCIH thanks Pete Murray, Ph.D., David Shurtleff, Ph.D., and Helene M. Langevin, M.D., NCCIH for their review of the 2022 update of this fact sheet. 

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.

NCCIH has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider(s). We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCIH.

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