Welcome to the C.A.R.E. Florida Addiction Resource Center
Addiction Treatment DictionaryHelpful ArticlesAddiction Glossary |
Addiction Glossary
Alcohol
Alcohol is an ingredient in a variety of beverages including beer, wine, liqueurs, cordials and mixed or straight drinks. Pure ethyl alcohol gives about 80 calories per ounce.
Ambien
|
Ambien is the brand name for the generic drug zolpidem, a sedative and hypnotic drug taken as a sleep aid. Ambien affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and, as a result, cause sleep problems or a condition known as insomnia. Ambien is meant to be used as a short-term treatment for insomnia. It causes helps a person relax so they can fall asleep and stay asleep. |
|
| Read more... |
Anorexia
Anorexia is an eating disorder that is characterized by patients losing large amounts of weight due to voluntarily starving themselves. Some anorexics also abuse laxatives, cause themselves to vomit if they do eat, and exercise excessively, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. Considered a mental illness, anorexia causes its victims to have a distorted sense of their body shape and size. Anorexics also tend to be obsessed with food and weight loss.
Ativan
Ativan, or lorazepam, is frequently prescribed for anxiety disorders. A member of the benzodiazepine family, Ativan is a mild tranquillizer and sedative and acts as a central nervous system depressant. Among the symptoms of anxiety disorder are fear of losing control, fear of death, a pounding and racing heart, shaking, nervousness, tenseness, a knot in the stomach, fear of particular places or activities, and abnormal sweating or trembling. Ativan can aid in the control of these symptoms.
Bulimia
Bulimia, also known as bulimia nervosa, is an eating disorder where the victim eats abnormally large quantities of food and then causes themselves to vomit. Bulimia is also considered a mental illness, because the patient often has a distorted sense of their body size and shape.
Cocaine
Cocaine is an alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the South American coca shrub. Street names for the drug include coke, toot, snow, flake, blow, crack, nose candy, and rock. Cocaine works on the central nervous system, causing excessive amounts of dopamine to build up in the brain. Cocaine users experience an intense feeling of euphoria with increased energy. Feelings of increased strength, self-confidence, alertness, mental clarity, and a sense of well-being are common among coke users.
Codeine
Many people take codeine to relieve pain, clear up a cough, or to get rid of a cold—not to become an addict. Yet an increasing number of people are finding themselves popping pills for longer than intended. Codeine is a powerful substance but addiction can be overcome with proper treatment.
Crack
There are few substances as powerful and addictive as crack cocaine. People have been known to become addicted to crack with just one hit. Since its introduction to the U.S. in the early '80s, crack has destroyed millions of lives every year. Because it's affordable, accessible, and profitable, crack has infiltrated poor urban areas and ghettos. The road to recovery is rough, but with appropriate treatment, crack addiction can be overcome.
Demerol
Demerol is the trade name for meperidine, a narcotic drug that can be synthesized by combining benzyl cyanide with dichlorodiethyl methylamine. Demerol was originally intended to be used to treat muscle spasms, but since the analgesic properties of the drug were discovered, it has been prescribed almost exclusively for moderate to severe pain relief. It is a Schedule II controlled substance similar to morphine that can be equally addictive.
Eating Disorders
Millions of people suffer from eating disorders. Both women and men are affected. Eating disorders can cause long-lasting psychological problems and damage to the body's organs, as well as extreme weight fluctuations and interference with daily activities.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy is the slang term for the synthetic drug MDMA or 3, 4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine. Ecstasy is a recreational drug often used in the party scene at raves, nightclubs, bars, concerts and college parties. Ecstasy belongs to the entactogen family of drugs, entactogen drugs act as stimulants, hallucinogens and mood elevators. Other street names for the drug include E, XTC, clarity, insight, essence, Adam and love drug.
GHB
Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a clear liquid classified as a sedative. Sometimes referred to as liquid ecstasy, Georgia home boy, scoop, grievous bodily harm, easy lay, or goop, GHB is a club drug that lowers inhibitions and makes the user feel relaxed, mildly euphoric, and energetic. GHB is easily made and sold at cheap prices. It can be made from solvents used to strip paint, degreasing solvents, drain cleaner, and other household products. This chemical concoction's ingredients vary widely based on the manufacturing process and the manufacturer.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are groups of drugs that differ from one another in chemical structure but generally cause changes in one's thoughts, moods, or perceptions. Although these drugs do not always cause hallucinations, they usually do change thought processes and mood.
Heroin
Heroin is a highly addictive drug that can be injected, smoked, or snorted. It is a derivative of morphine, which is a product of the opium poppy. The use of heroin interferes with the pleasure receptors in the brain, blocking the ability to perceive pain. The most effective delivery is by injection into a vein. This delivers a "rush," and the user feels a sudden joyous euphoria. The skin becomes warm and limbs feel heavy. Shortly after the initial rush, the user goes into alternating states of drowsing and wakefulness, commonly called "going on the nod." Thoughts are cloudy and focus is difficult as the drug depresses the central nervous system. Speech becomes slurred, it is difficult to walk at a normal pace, vision is impaired, eyelids are droopy, and pupils are constricted. In some cases, it causes vomiting and constipation.
LSD
While it may not seem that a drug derived from an active ingredient in fungus would be too appealing, the millions of people out there that abuse lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as LSD, would probably beg to differ. LSD is a dangerous street drug that is known to cause hallucinations in those who take it. It is sold in many forms, from small tablets to capsules or even a liquid. In most cases, it is added to highly absorbent paper and cut into small squares that are worth one dose each. When taken orally, these papers can create the state of extreme high that LSD is so noted for.
Marijuana
Statistics show that nearly 40 percent of the United States population has tried marijuana at least once. Also called weed, pot, grass, or hemp, it is the most widely used recreational drug, used by people of all ages and economic backgrounds. Oftentimes, users don't feel it is an actual drug like cocaine, LSD, or heroin. While it may not be as immediately dangerous as other drugs, marijuana is a real drug with real effects, and it can be highly addictive.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine, or meth, has serious effects on the mind and body, causing people to lose teeth, weight, and skin elasticity. It is one of the most highly addictive drugs available and can be taken in several ways. Whether it is snorted, injected, or smoked, methamphetamine has dangerous effects on the nervous system by altering the neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood and body movements.
Morphine
Morphine is noted for its benefits in relieving extreme pain, and is used by people all over the world to relieve the discomfort caused by illness, surgery, or severe injury. Just as it is known for its medicinal qualities, morphine is also well known for its addictive qualities. It is one of the most habit-forming pain medications available.
Opiates
Opiates, Opium, and Opioids
Opiates are narcotic drugs which contain opium or a derivative of it. Opium is processed from the sap of the poppy plant. The major opiates include morphine, codeine, thebaine, and papaverine. It is from these four alkaloids that heroin and hydrocodone, synthetic opioids, are processed.
OxyContin
OxyContin was first made available to patients in 1995. It is made from oxycodone, with chemicals added to slow the release of the pain relief, making the affects of the drug last longer. It is a schedule II pain reliever, meaning that a prescription is necessary for the medication. It is a narcotic, and similar to morphine.
Percocet
Percocet is a brand name for a narcotic pain reliever—oxycodone—derived from the opium plant, and combined with the non-narcotic pain reliever acetaminophen. It is usually prescribed in tablet form to be taken orally, and alleviates moderate or severe pain.
Prescription Drugs
Recovery from substance abuse sometimes involves the use of prescription drugs. The main function of the medication is to ease the symptoms that occur as the body and mind undergo withdrawal. When a qualified physician prescribes the drugs and the condition of the patient is closely monitored, medication can be a valuable tool in helping the patient to move forward.
Valium
Valium (diazepam) is a member of the benzodiazepine family and is prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, tremors, seizures, night terrors, delirium, and to help overcome alcoholism. Valium is considered safe to use in small doses for a short period of time, but when used longer than a few weeks, it may become addictive. An estimated 50 percent of people show addictive signs to Valium when taking the prescribed drug for more than six months.
Xanax
Xanax (alprazolam) is a central nervous system depressant similar to Valium. Like Valium, Xanax is a member of the benzodiazepine family. It is prescribed in the treatment of panic attacks, nervousness, and tension. Xanax poses no serious side effects when used for a short period of time, but it can lead to tolerance, addiction, and withdrawal when used longer than intended.
