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Factors such as peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, early exposure to drugs, stress, and parental guidance can greatly affect a person’s likelihood of drug use and addiction. Development . Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person’s life to affect addiction risk.
Learn more about clinical research and how to participate in a NIDA-funded or NIDA-conducted clinical trial. NIDA's mission is to advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. NIDA is one of the National Institutes of Health.
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. † It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking ...
National drug use surveys indicate some children are using drugs by age 12 or 13. Prevention is the best strategy. These prevention programs work to boost protective factors and eliminate or reduce risk factors for drug use. The programs are designed for various ages and can be used in individual or group settings, such as the school and home.
Treatment enables people to counteract addiction's disruptive effects on their brain and behavior and regain control of their lives. These images showing the density of dopamine transporters in the brain illustrate the brain's remarkable ability to recover, at least in part, after a long abstinence from drugs—in this case, methamphetamine. 51.
Cancer. HIV/AIDS. Hepatitis B and C. Lung disease. Mental disorders. Beyond the harmful consequences for the person with the addiction, drug use can cause serious health problems for others. Some of the more severe consequences of addiction are: Negative effects of drug use while pregnant or breastfeeding: A mother's substance or medication use ...
Trends & Statistics. NIDA uses multiple sources to monitor the prevalence and trends regarding drug use in the United States. The resources on this webpage cover a variety of drug-related issues, including information on drug use, emergency room data, prevention and treatment programs, and other research findings.
Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts. | En español. | Provides an overview of drug use and addiction, including what happens in the brain during drug use, why some people become addicted while others don't, and the importance of prevention. DrugFacts.
Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter in the body. This allows the drugs to attach onto and activate the neurons. Although these drugs mimic the brain’s own chemicals, they don’t activate neurons in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter ...
Parents & Educators. Find the latest science-based information about drug use, health, and the developing brain. Designed for young people and those who influence them—parents, guardians, teachers, and other educators—these resources inspire learning and encourage critical thinking so teens can make informed decisions about drug use and ...