Whether it's an illicit narcotic or a medication prescribed by a doctor, problems with drugs affect many Americans from all walks of life every day. Issues with substance use come in many different forms, but help is available and recovery is possible.
Author Nic Sheff talks about how his addiction changed his parents
Stories of Hope
Dawn's story of life after meth
Life After Meth
William shares his story overcoming addiction
Faces & Voices of Recovery
"Tweak" author Nic Sheff speaks about how his addiction changed his parents' lives.
CloseDawn shares her story of struggling with addiction and the recovery that led to reclaiming her family.
CloseWilliam speaks about his past substance use and how he found the help he needed.
CloseDrug addiction is a chronic disease that causes people to keep misusing substances even when they know they’re experiencing harmful effects. Drugs change the brain in a way that reduces a user’s self-control and ability to resist urges. Users may also experience a physical dependence, which causes withdrawal symptoms when they stop using and make it even more difficult to quit.
If you are not sure if you or a loved one has a drug problem, learn to recognize signs and symptoms. Addiction is different from person to person, but some common signs include withdrawing from people and becoming irritable toward friends and family, or experiencing behavior and mood changes.
Someone with a drug use disorder can often lose self-control and continue to have urges to use, even in recovery. After treatment, there are steps you can take to keep living sober. Support is available through every stage of the recovery process, no matter what you’re going through.
Learn more about some of the commonly misused drugs and their effects below: