Illegal drug abuse

What is illegal drug abuse?
Illegal drug abuse includes use of illicit drugs and of substances like glue or spray paint to get high. In 2004, 19.1 million, or almost 8% of Americans 12 and older, were current users of illegal drugs. More than 22 million Americans in the same age group abused or were addicted to illegal drugs and/or alcohol. Read more about abuse of these illegal substances:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Methamphetamine
• MDMA/Ecstasy
• Inhalants

Read more about drug abuse.

Signs & symptoms
Signs and symptoms of illegal drug abuse vary with the type of substance. Some general signs:

• Drop in performance in school or at work
• Frequent absence from school or work
• Listlessness, lack of interest in favorite activities
• Poor personal grooming
• Drastic behavior changes
• Denying there's a problem
• Withdrawal from family and friends

Who's at risk?
People of all educational backgrounds, income levels and cultural heritages abuse drugs. Teens are especially vulnerable, and so are people with mental illness. Some other risk factors:

• Family history of alcohol or drug problems
• Social environment that's favorable to drug use
• Lack of supervision (teens)
• Depression, anxiety or other mental health condition

Women and girls are more likely to abuse drugs than males in order to lose weight, relieve stress, improve mood or increase confidence. Risk factors for female drug abuse include:

• History of physical or sexual abuse or other trauma
• Depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions
• Eating disorders
• Early puberty
• Mothers who smoked or drank alcohol when pregnant
• Parents or other adult role models who drink or abuse drugs
• Friends who drink or abuse drugs
• Transitions in school, such as from middle school to high school

Professional help
Drug abuse and drug addiction - the compulsive, uncontrollable use of a drug - are chronic conditions that can be successfully treated with behavior modification therapy, attending recovery support groups and in some cases, medication. But even after treatment, many people fall back into drug use. That's why the earlier you get help, the better chance you have of a long-term recovery. Priority Health members can check here for information on getting help with drug abuse and addiction problems.

What you can do
If you're a parent, you can have a big influence on whether or not your kids use drugs.

• Talk with your kids about the dangers of using drugs.
• Be involved in their school work and activities.
• Know where they are, who they're with and when they're coming home.
• Find out about drug prevention programs you and your kids can participate in together.

If you're in treatment, here are some things you can do to help yourself stay drug-free.

• Stay with the program. It usually takes several months to see improvement, so don't give up too soon on your treatment.
• Get help for other health conditions. People with depression, anxiety or other mental health problems are more likely to abuse drugs. If you have signs or symptoms of any of these, see your doctor for treatment. Read more about mental and emotional health conditions.
• Don't put yourself at risk. Stay away from the places you used to get drugs and the people you did drugs with.