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Many people view drug and alcohol abuse and addiction as strictly a social or moral problem. Parents, teens, older adults, and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs or drink alcohol as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies, believing that alcoholics, drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop using through a commitment to change their behavior. These are myths that have stereotyped those with drug-related problems, as well as their families, their communities, and the healthcare professionals who work with them.
Addiction does begin with drug or alcohol abuse, when an individual makes a conscious choice to use drugs. Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only do drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug or alcohol abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this compulsive behavior.
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