Drug addiction is a disease.  There’s no doubt about that.  In fact experts say that drug addiction is more of a brain disease than anything else.  Scientific advances have offered amazing insights into how the brain works and what drugs do to the way the brain functions.  Luckily, however, this disease is treatable and curable.  

Although drug use initially is voluntary once an addiction develops, that control is markedly changed.  Imaging studies have shown specific abnormalities in the brains of some, but not all, addicted individuals. While scientific advancements in the understanding of addiction have occurred at unprecedented speed in recent years, unanswered questions remain that highlight the need for further research to better define the neurobiological processes involved in addiction.

Recent studies have increased our knowledge of how drugs affect gene expression and brain circuitry, and how these factors affect human behavior. They have shed new light on the relationship between drug abuse and mental illness, and the roles played by heredity, age, and other factors in increased vulnerability to addiction. New knowledge from future research will guide new strategies and change the way clinicians approach the prevention and treatment of addiction.

Statistics show a dangerous trend in prescription drug abuse, particularly among teens. In Arizona, the local office of the DEA announced this week that Phoenix high school students abuse prescription drugs more than hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Police in West Virginia announced yesterday that 75% of teens at one middle school have been exposed to prescription drug abuse. And a story earlier this week pointed out that sixty percent of Wisconsin teenagers have access to controlled substances in and around their homes and 20 percent of them have abused them to get high. Only yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans to reduce the risks of illicit use of pain medication, citing a 2007 survey showing that in one month, 5.2 million Americans aged 12 or older used prescription pain meds for non-medical purposes.

Because Scientology churches around the world carry out grass roots activities to help youth make informed choices about drugs, the Church of Scientology International became aware of the serious threat prescription drug abuse presents to today’s youth and created a public service announcement to raise awareness of the problem to help reverse this trend. This edgy 1-minute video impacts teens, exposing the lie that prescription drug abuse is “safe” or “trendy” by showing its fatal consequences.

Drug addiction and loved ones.  What could be worse when someone you love is addicted to prescription pain pills, cocaine, heroine or methamphetamines?  And what, if anything can you do to help?  Here are some ways to deal with the drug addiction of a loved one.

As much as you want to, you can’t make a drug addict give up his or her addiction.  Often, you can’t even make him realize that he has a problem with abusing drugs.  Drug addiction is a deceptive illness, and most addicts are convinced they can quit whenever they want.  It’s not true, but that doesn’t stop them from believing it.

Unfortunately, most drug addicts have to hit rock bottom before they see the light.  Your job is to make sure you and your family members don’t slide into that pit with them.