We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

Logo

  • A Research Guide
  • Research Paper Topics
  • 40 Drug Abuse & Addiction Research Paper Topics

40 Drug Abuse & Addiction Research Paper Topics

Drug abuse and sociology, drug abuse and medicine, drug abuse and psychology.

  • Drug abuse and the degradation of neuron cells
  • The social aspects of the drug abuse. The most vulnerable categories of people
  • Drugs and religion. Drug abuse as the part of the sacred rituals
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • Drug abuse as the part of human trafficking and as psychological defence of victims
  • Reversible and irreversible consequences of drug abuse
  • Drug abuse and minors
  • Ethnic and cultural traditions that may lead to drug abuse
  • Medical marijuana. Can legalizing it lead to drug abuse?
  • The ethical questions of abusing painkiller drugs or other drugs that ease the state of a person
  • The “club culture”. May it enhance the danger of drug abuse?
  • Preventing drug abuse. Mandatory examination or voluntary learning: what will help most?
  • The abstinence after the drug abuse. Rehabilitation and resocialization of the victims of it
  • The harm done by drug abuse to the family and social relations
  • The types of drugs and the impact of their abuse to the human body
  • The positive effects of drugs. May they be reached without drawbacks of drug abuse?
  • Alcoholics Anonymous, similar organisations and their role in overcoming the dependency
  • Is constant smoking a drug abuse? Quitting smoking: government and social decisions
  • Exotic addictions: game addiction, porn addiction etc. Do they have the effects similar to drug abuse?
  • Substance abuse during pregnancy and before conceiving. What additional harm it causes?
  • The correlation between drugs and spreading of HIV/AIDS
  • Drug abuse and crime rates
  • History of drug abuse. Opium houses, heroin cough syrup and others
  • Drunk driving and drunk violence. The indirect victims of alcohol abuse
  • The social rejection of the former drug abusers and the way to overcome it
  • The main causes of drug abuse in the different social groups
  • Drug abuse and mental health
  • LGBTQ+ and drug abuse
  • The development of drug testing. The governmental implementation of it
  • Geniuses and drug abuse. Did drugs really helped them to create their masterpieces?
  • Shall the laws about drug abuse be changed?
  • Health Care Information Technology
  • Drug abuse and global health throughout the 20-21 centuries
  • Personal freedom or the safety of society: can drugs be allowed for personal use?
  • Legal drinking age in different countries and its connection to the cultural diversity
  • The different attitude to drugs and drug abuse in the different countries. Why it differs so much?
  • Teenage and college culture. Why substance abuse is considered to be cool?
  • Drugs, rape and robbery. Drugging people intentionally as the way to prevent them defending themselves
  • 12-Step Programs and their impact on healing the drug addiction
  • Alcohol, tobacco and sleeping pills advertising. Can it lead to more drug abuse?

By clicking "Log In", you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We'll occasionally send you account related and promo emails.

Sign Up for your FREE account

Change Password

Your password must have 6 characters or more:.

  • a lower case character, 
  • an upper case character, 
  • a special character 

Password Changed Successfully

Your password has been changed

Create your account

Forget yout password.

Enter your email address below and we will send you the reset instructions

If the address matches an existing account you will receive an email with instructions to reset your password

Forgot your Username?

Enter your email address below and we will send you your username

If the address matches an existing account you will receive an email with instructions to retrieve your username

Psychiatry Online

  • February 01, 2024 | VOL. 181, NO. 2 CURRENT ISSUE pp.83-170
  • January 01, 2024 | VOL. 181, NO. 1 pp.1-82

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use , including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

Substance Use Disorders and Addiction: Mechanisms, Trends, and Treatment Implications

  • Ned H. Kalin , M.D.

Search for more papers by this author

The numbers for substance use disorders are large, and we need to pay attention to them. Data from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health ( 1 ) suggest that, over the preceding year, 20.3 million people age 12 or older had substance use disorders, and 14.8 million of these cases were attributed to alcohol. When considering other substances, the report estimated that 4.4 million individuals had a marijuana use disorder and that 2 million people suffered from an opiate use disorder. It is well known that stress is associated with an increase in the use of alcohol and other substances, and this is particularly relevant today in relation to the chronic uncertainty and distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic along with the traumatic effects of racism and social injustice. In part related to stress, substance use disorders are highly comorbid with other psychiatric illnesses: 9.2 million adults were estimated to have a 1-year prevalence of both a mental illness and at least one substance use disorder. Although they may not necessarily meet criteria for a substance use disorder, it is well known that psychiatric patients have increased usage of alcohol, cigarettes, and other illicit substances. As an example, the survey estimated that over the preceding month, 37.2% of individuals with serious mental illnesses were cigarette smokers, compared with 16.3% of individuals without mental illnesses. Substance use frequently accompanies suicide and suicide attempts, and substance use disorders are associated with a long-term increased risk of suicide.

Addiction is the key process that underlies substance use disorders, and research using animal models and humans has revealed important insights into the neural circuits and molecules that mediate addiction. More specifically, research has shed light onto mechanisms underlying the critical components of addiction and relapse: reinforcement and reward, tolerance, withdrawal, negative affect, craving, and stress sensitization. In addition, clinical research has been instrumental in developing an evidence base for the use of pharmacological agents in the treatment of substance use disorders, which, in combination with psychosocial approaches, can provide effective treatments. However, despite the existence of therapeutic tools, relapse is common, and substance use disorders remain grossly undertreated. For example, whether at an inpatient hospital treatment facility or at a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program, it was estimated that only 11% of individuals needing treatment for substance use received appropriate care in 2018. Additionally, it is worth emphasizing that current practice frequently does not effectively integrate dual diagnosis treatment approaches, which is important because psychiatric and substance use disorders are highly comorbid. The barriers to receiving treatment are numerous and directly interact with existing health care inequities. It is imperative that as a field we overcome the obstacles to treatment, including the lack of resources at the individual level, a dearth of trained providers and appropriate treatment facilities, racial biases, and the marked stigmatization that is focused on individuals with addictions.

This issue of the Journal is focused on understanding factors contributing to substance use disorders and their comorbidity with psychiatric disorders, the effects of prenatal alcohol use on preadolescents, and brain mechanisms that are associated with addiction and relapse. An important theme that emerges from this issue is the necessity for understanding maladaptive substance use and its treatment in relation to health care inequities. This highlights the imperative to focus resources and treatment efforts on underprivileged and marginalized populations. The centerpiece of this issue is an overview on addiction written by Dr. George Koob, the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and coauthors Drs. Patricia Powell (NIAAA deputy director) and Aaron White ( 2 ). This outstanding article will serve as a foundational knowledge base for those interested in understanding the complex factors that mediate drug addiction. Of particular interest to the practice of psychiatry is the emphasis on the negative affect state “hyperkatifeia” as a major driver of addictive behavior and relapse. This places the dysphoria and psychological distress that are associated with prolonged withdrawal at the heart of treatment and underscores the importance of treating not only maladaptive drug-related behaviors but also the prolonged dysphoria and negative affect associated with addiction. It also speaks to why it is crucial to concurrently treat psychiatric comorbidities that commonly accompany substance use disorders.

Insights Into Mechanisms Related to Cocaine Addiction Using a Novel Imaging Method for Dopamine Neurons

Cassidy et al. ( 3 ) introduce a relatively new imaging technique that allows for an estimation of dopamine integrity and function in the substantia nigra, the site of origin of dopamine neurons that project to the striatum. Capitalizing on the high levels of neuromelanin that are found in substantia nigra dopamine neurons and the interaction between neuromelanin and intracellular iron, this MRI technique, termed neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI), shows promise in studying the involvement of substantia nigra dopamine neurons in neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric illnesses. The authors used this technique to assess dopamine function in active cocaine users with the aim of exploring the hypothesis that cocaine use disorder is associated with blunted presynaptic striatal dopamine function that would be reflected in decreased “integrity” of the substantia nigra dopamine system. Surprisingly, NM-MRI revealed evidence for increased dopamine in the substantia nigra of individuals using cocaine. The authors suggest that this finding, in conjunction with prior work suggesting a blunted dopamine response, points to the possibility that cocaine use is associated with an altered intracellular distribution of dopamine. Specifically, the idea is that dopamine is shifted from being concentrated in releasable, functional vesicles at the synapse to a nonreleasable cytosolic pool. In addition to providing an intriguing alternative hypothesis underlying the cocaine-related alterations observed in substantia nigra dopamine function, this article highlights an innovative imaging method that can be used in further investigations involving the role of substantia nigra dopamine systems in neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Charles Bradberry, chief of the Preclinical Pharmacology Section at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, contributes an editorial that further explains the use of NM-MRI and discusses the theoretical implications of these unexpected findings in relation to cocaine use ( 4 ).

Treatment Implications of Understanding Brain Function During Early Abstinence in Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder

Developing a better understanding of the neural processes that are associated with substance use disorders is critical for conceptualizing improved treatment approaches. Blaine et al. ( 5 ) present neuroimaging data collected during early abstinence in patients with alcohol use disorder and link these data to relapses occurring during treatment. Of note, the findings from this study dovetail with the neural circuit schema Koob et al. provide in this issue’s overview on addiction ( 2 ). The first study in the Blaine et al. article uses 44 patients and 43 control subjects to demonstrate that patients with alcohol use disorder have a blunted neural response to the presentation of stress- and alcohol-related cues. This blunting was observed mainly in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a key prefrontal regulatory region, as well as in subcortical regions associated with reward processing, specifically the ventral striatum. Importantly, this finding was replicated in a second study in which 69 patients were studied in relation to their length of abstinence prior to treatment and treatment outcomes. The results demonstrated that individuals with the shortest abstinence times had greater alterations in neural responses to stress and alcohol cues. The authors also found that an individual’s length of abstinence prior to treatment, independent of the number of days of abstinence, was a predictor of relapse and that the magnitude of an individual’s neural alterations predicted the amount of heavy drinking occurring early in treatment. Although relapse is an all too common outcome in patients with substance use disorders, this study highlights an approach that has the potential to refine and develop new treatments that are based on addiction- and abstinence-related brain changes. In her thoughtful editorial, Dr. Edith Sullivan from Stanford University comments on the details of the study, the value of studying patients during early abstinence, and the implications of these findings for new treatment development ( 6 ).

Relatively Low Amounts of Alcohol Intake During Pregnancy Are Associated With Subtle Neurodevelopmental Effects in Preadolescent Offspring

Excessive substance use not only affects the user and their immediate family but also has transgenerational effects that can be mediated in utero. Lees et al. ( 7 ) present data suggesting that even the consumption of relatively low amounts of alcohol by expectant mothers can affect brain development, cognition, and emotion in their offspring. The researchers used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a large national community-based study, which allowed them to assess brain structure and function as well as behavioral, cognitive, and psychological outcomes in 9,719 preadolescents. The mothers of 2,518 of the subjects in this study reported some alcohol use during pregnancy, albeit at relatively low levels (0 to 80 drinks throughout pregnancy). Interestingly, and opposite of that expected in relation to data from individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, increases in brain volume and surface area were found in offspring of mothers who consumed the relatively low amounts of alcohol. Notably, any prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with small but significant increases in psychological problems that included increases in separation anxiety disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. Additionally, a dose-response effect was found for internalizing psychopathology, somatic complaints, and attentional deficits. While subtle, these findings point to neurodevelopmental alterations that may be mediated by even small amounts of prenatal alcohol consumption. Drs. Clare McCormack and Catherine Monk from Columbia University contribute an editorial that provides an in-depth assessment of these findings in relation to other studies, including those assessing severe deficits in individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome ( 8 ). McCormack and Monk emphasize that the behavioral and psychological effects reported in the Lees et al. article would not be clinically meaningful. However, it is feasible that the influences of these low amounts of alcohol could interact with other predisposing factors that might lead to more substantial negative outcomes.

Increased Comorbidity Between Substance Use and Psychiatric Disorders in Sexual Identity Minorities

There is no question that victims of societal marginalization experience disproportionate adversity and stress. Evans-Polce et al. ( 9 ) focus on this concern in relation to individuals who identify as sexual minorities by comparing their incidence of comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders with that of individuals who identify as heterosexual. By using 2012−2013 data from 36,309 participants in the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions–III, the authors examine the incidence of comorbid alcohol and tobacco use disorders with anxiety, mood disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings demonstrate increased incidences of substance use and psychiatric disorders in individuals who identified as bisexual or as gay or lesbian compared with those who identified as heterosexual. For example, a fourfold increase in the prevalence of PTSD was found in bisexual individuals compared with heterosexual individuals. In addition, the authors found an increased prevalence of substance use and psychiatric comorbidities in individuals who identified as bisexual and as gay or lesbian compared with individuals who identified as heterosexual. This was most prominent in women who identified as bisexual. For example, of the bisexual women who had an alcohol use disorder, 60.5% also had a psychiatric comorbidity, compared with 44.6% of heterosexual women. Additionally, the amount of reported sexual orientation discrimination and number of lifetime stressful events were associated with a greater likelihood of having comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders. These findings are important but not surprising, as sexual minority individuals have a history of increased early-life trauma and throughout their lives may experience the painful and unwarranted consequences of bias and denigration. Nonetheless, these findings underscore the strong negative societal impacts experienced by minority groups and should sensitize providers to the additional needs of these individuals.

Trends in Nicotine Use and Dependence From 2001–2002 to 2012–2013

Although considerable efforts over earlier years have curbed the use of tobacco and nicotine, the use of these substances continues to be a significant public health problem. As noted above, individuals with psychiatric disorders are particularly vulnerable. Grant et al. ( 10 ) use data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions collected from a very large cohort to characterize trends in nicotine use and dependence over time. Results from their analysis support the so-called hardening hypothesis, which posits that although intervention-related reductions in nicotine use may have occurred over time, the impact of these interventions is less potent in individuals with more severe addictive behavior (i.e., nicotine dependence). When adjusted for sociodemographic factors, the results demonstrated a small but significant increase in nicotine use from 2001–2002 to 2012–2013. However, a much greater increase in nicotine dependence (46.1% to 52%) was observed over this time frame in individuals who had used nicotine during the preceding 12 months. The increases in nicotine use and dependence were associated with factors related to socioeconomic status, such as lower income and lower educational attainment. The authors interpret these findings as evidence for the hardening hypothesis, suggesting that despite the impression that nicotine use has plateaued, there is a growing number of highly dependent nicotine users who would benefit from nicotine dependence intervention programs. Dr. Kathleen Brady, from the Medical University of South Carolina, provides an editorial ( 11 ) that reviews the consequences of tobacco use and the history of the public measures that were initially taken to combat its use. Importantly, her editorial emphasizes the need to address health care inequity issues that affect individuals of lower socioeconomic status by devoting resources to develop and deploy effective smoking cessation interventions for at-risk and underresourced populations.

Conclusions

Maladaptive substance use and substance use disorders are highly prevalent and are among the most significant public health problems. Substance use is commonly comorbid with psychiatric disorders, and treatment efforts need to concurrently address both. The papers in this issue highlight new findings that are directly relevant to understanding, treating, and developing policies to better serve those afflicted with addictions. While treatments exist, the need for more effective treatments is clear, especially those focused on decreasing relapse rates. The negative affective state, hyperkatifeia, that accompanies longer-term abstinence is an important treatment target that should be emphasized in current practice as well as in new treatment development. In addition to developing a better understanding of the neurobiology of addictions and abstinence, it is necessary to ensure that there is equitable access to currently available treatments and treatment programs. Additional resources must be allocated to this cause. This depends on the recognition that health care inequities and societal barriers are major contributors to the continued high prevalence of substance use disorders, the individual suffering they inflict, and the huge toll that they incur at a societal level.

Disclosures of Editors’ financial relationships appear in the April 2020 issue of the Journal .

1 US Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality: National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2018. Rockville, Md, SAMHSA, 2019 ( https://www.samhsa.gov/data/nsduh/reports-detailed-tables-2018-NSDUH ) Google Scholar

2 Koob GF, Powell P, White A : Addiction as a coping response: hyperkatifeia, deaths of despair, and COVID-19 . Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1031–1037 Link ,  Google Scholar

3 Cassidy CM, Carpenter KM, Konova AB, et al. : Evidence for dopamine abnormalities in the substantia nigra in cocaine addiction revealed by neuromelanin-sensitive MRI . Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1038–1047 Link ,  Google Scholar

4 Bradberry CW : Neuromelanin MRI: dark substance shines a light on dopamine dysfunction and cocaine use (editorial). Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1019–1021 Abstract ,  Google Scholar

5 Blaine SK, Wemm S, Fogelman N, et al. : Association of prefrontal-striatal functional pathology with alcohol abstinence days at treatment initiation and heavy drinking after treatment initiation . Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1048–1059 Abstract ,  Google Scholar

6 Sullivan EV : Why timing matters in alcohol use disorder recovery (editorial). Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1022–1024 Abstract ,  Google Scholar

7 Lees B, Mewton L, Jacobus J, et al. : Association of prenatal alcohol exposure with psychological, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study . Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1060–1072 Link ,  Google Scholar

8 McCormack C, Monk C : Considering prenatal alcohol exposure in a developmental origins of health and disease framework (editorial). Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1025–1028 Abstract ,  Google Scholar

9 Evans-Polce RJ, Kcomt L, Veliz PT, et al. : Alcohol, tobacco, and comorbid psychiatric disorders and associations with sexual identity and stress-related correlates . Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1073–1081 Abstract ,  Google Scholar

10 Grant BF, Shmulewitz D, Compton WM : Nicotine use and DSM-IV nicotine dependence in the United States, 2001–2002 and 2012–2013 . Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1082–1090 Link ,  Google Scholar

11 Brady KT : Social determinants of health and smoking cessation: a challenge (editorial). Am J Psychiatry 2020 ; 177:1029–1030 Abstract ,  Google Scholar

  • Cited by None

drug addiction research paper topics

  • Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
  • Addiction Psychiatry
  • Transgender (LGBT) Issues

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • View all journals

Addiction articles from across Nature Portfolio

Addiction involves loss of control over use of a substance, often in the presence of physiological and psychological dependence on a substance and compulsion to continue seeking and using the substance despite possible negative consequences.

Latest Research and Reviews

drug addiction research paper topics

Extracellular matrix abnormalities in the hippocampus of subjects with substance use disorder

  • Jake Valeri
  • Charlotte Stiplosek
  • Harry Pantazopoulos

drug addiction research paper topics

Paternal cocaine-seeking motivation defines offspring’s vulnerability to addiction by down-regulating GABAergic GABRG3 in the ventral tegmental area

drug addiction research paper topics

Discriminative functional connectivity signature of cocaine use disorder links to rTMS treatment response

The authors used a machine learning model to distinguish patients with cocaine use disorder and polysubstance use history from healthy controls, using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging functional connectivity data.

  • Kanhao Zhao
  • Gregory A. Fonzo

drug addiction research paper topics

Pleiotropy and genetically inferred causality linking multisite chronic pain to substance use disorders

  • Dora Koller
  • Eleni Friligkou
  • Renato Polimanti

drug addiction research paper topics

Memory persistence: from fundamental mechanisms to translational opportunities

  • Santiago Abel Merlo
  • Mariano Andrés Belluscio
  • Emiliano Merlo

drug addiction research paper topics

tRNA epitranscriptomic alterations associated with opioid-induced reward-seeking and long-term opioid withdrawal in male mice

  • Jennifer Blaze
  • Caleb J. Browne
  • Schahram Akbarian

Advertisement

News and Comment

drug addiction research paper topics

Addiction biotypes: a paradigm shift for future treatment strategies?

  • Mauro Pettorruso
  • Giorgio Di Lorenzo
  • Giovanni Martinotti

drug addiction research paper topics

Brain stimulation reduces cigarette craving but not anxiety symptoms

Nicotine withdrawal and anxiety symptoms are overlapping barriers to smoking cessation. We examined the effects of a smoking cessation treatment — noninvasive neuromodulation — on nicotine withdrawal and anxiety symptoms, which revealed information on how neuromodulation can treat substance use disorders.

Balancing desires and control

  • Katharina Bernecker

Influence of gut microbiome metabolites on cocaine demand and cocaine-seeking behavior

  • Amanda M. Acuña
  • M. Foster Olive

Rewinding reward

Increasing levels of glial-derived neurotrophic factor using a gene-therapy approach in a macaque model of alcohol use disorder resulted in a lower tendency to relapse into alcohol consumption after a period of abstinence.

Calcitonin receptor signal: a potential target for opioid use disorder?

  • Rosa A. M. Marino
  • Marco Venniro

Quick links

  • Explore articles by subject
  • Guide to authors
  • Editorial policies

drug addiction research paper topics

Logo

  • Signs of Addiction

Addiction Research

Discover the latest in addiction research, from the neuroscience of substance use disorders to evidence-based treatment practices. reports, updates, case studies and white papers are available to you at hazelden betty ford’s butler center for research..

Man Writing paper

Why do people become addicted to alcohol and other drugs? How effective is addiction treatment? What makes certain substances so addictive? The Butler Center for Research at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation investigates these and other questions and publishes its scientific findings in a variety of alcohol and drug addiction research papers and reports. Research topics include:

  • Evidence-based treatment practices
  • Addiction treatment outcomes
  • Addiction, psychiatry and the brain
  • Addictive substances such as prescription opioids and heroin
  • Substance abuse in youth/teens, older adults and other demographic groups such as health care or legal professionals

These research queries and findings are presented in the form of updates, white papers and case studies. In addition, the Butler Center for Research collaborates with the Recovery Advocacy team to study special-focus addiction research topics, summarized in monthly  Emerging Drug Trends  reports. Altogether, these studies provide the latest in addiction research for anyone interested in learning more about the neuroscience of addiction and how addiction affects individuals, families and society in general. The research also helps clinicians and health care professionals further understand, diagnose and treat drug and alcohol addiction. Learn more about each of the Butler Center's addiction research studies below.

Research Updates

Written by Butler Center for Research staff, our one-page, topic-specific summaries discuss current research on topics of interest within the drug abuse and addiction treatment field.

View our most recent updates, or view the archive at the bottom of the page.

Patient Outcomes Study Results at Hazelden Betty Ford

Trends and Patterns in Cannabis Use across Different Age Groups

Alcohol and Tobacco Harm Reduction Interventions

Harm Reduction: History and Context

Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Addiction

Psychedelics as Therapeutic Treatment

Sexual and Gender Minority Youth and SUDs

Health Care Professionals and Mental Health

Grief and Addiction

Helping Families Cope with Addiction

Emerging Drug Trends Report and National Surveys

Shedding New Light on America’s No. 1 Health Problem

In collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Public Health and with support from the Butler Center for Research, the Recovery Advocacy team routinely issues research reports on emerging drug trends in America. Recovery Advocacy also commissions national surveys on attitudes, behaviors and perspectives related to substance use. From binge drinking and excessive alcohol use on college campuses, to marijuana potency concerns in an age of legalized marijuana, deeper analysis and understanding of emerging drug trends allows for greater opportunities to educate, inform and prevent misuse and deaths.

Each drug trends report explores the topic at hand, documenting the prevalence of the problem, relevant demographics, prevention and treatment options available, as well as providing insight and perspectives from thought leaders throughout the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

View the latest  Emerging Drug Trends  Report:

Pediatricians First Responders for Preventing Substance Use

  • Clearing Away the Confusion: Marijuana Is Not a Public Health Solution to the Opioid Crisis
  • Does Socioeconomic Advantage Lessen the Risk of Adolescent Substance Use?
  • The Collegiate Recovery Movement Is Gaining Strength
  • Considerations for Policymakers Regarding Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use Disorders
  • Widening the Lens on the Opioid Crisis
  • Concerns Rising Over High-Potency Marijuana Use
  • Beyond Binging: “High-Intensity Drinking”

View the latest  National Surveys :

  • College Administrators See Problems As More Students View Marijuana As Safe

College Parents See Serious Problems From Campus Alcohol Use

  • Youth Opioid Study: Attitudes and Usage

About Recovery Advocacy

Our mission is to provide a trusted national voice on all issues related to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery, and to facilitate conversation among those in recovery, those still suffering and society at large. We are committed to smashing stigma, shaping public policy and educating people everywhere about the problems of addiction and the promise of recovery. Learn more about recovery advocacy and how you can make a difference.

Evidence-Based Treatment Series

To help get consumers and clinicians on the same page, the Butler Center for Research has created a series of informational summaries describing:

  • Evidence-based addiction treatment modalities
  • Distinctive levels of substance use disorder treatment
  • Specialized drug and alcohol treatment programs

Each evidence-based treatment series summary includes:

  • A definition of the therapeutic approach, level of care or specialized program
  • A discussion of applicability, usage and practice
  • A description of outcomes and efficacy
  • Research citations and related resources for more information

View the latest in this series:

Motivational Interviewing

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Case Studies and White Papers

Written by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation researchers and clinicians, case studies and white papers presented by the Butler Center for Research provide invaluable insight into clinical processes and complex issues related to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery. These in-depth reports examine and chronicle clinical activities, initiatives and developments as a means of informing practitioners and continually improving the quality and delivery of substance use disorder services and related resources and initiatives.

  • What does it really mean to be providing medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction?

Adolescent Motivational Interviewing

Peer Recovery Support: Walking the Path Together

Addiction and Violence During COVID-19

The Brain Disease Model of Addiction

Healthcare Professionals and Compassion Fatigue

Moving to Trauma-Responsive Care

Virtual Intensive Outpatient Outcomes: Preliminary Findings

Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis

Vaping and E-Cigarettes

Using Telehealth for Addiction Treatment

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Substance Use Disorders Among Military Populations

Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

Women and Alcohol

Prescription Rates of Opioid Analgesics in Medical Treatment Settings

Applications of Positive Psychology to Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorders Among Legal Professionals

Factors Impacting Early Alcohol and Drug Use Among Youths

Animal-Assisted Therapy for Substance Use Disorders

Prevalence of Adolescent Substance Misuse

Problem Drinking Behaviors Among College Students

The Importance of Recovery Management

Substance Use Factors Among LGBTQ individuals

Prescription Opioids and Dependence

Alcohol Abuse Among Law Enforcement Officers

Helping Families Cope with Substance Dependence

The Social Norms Approach to Student Substance Abuse Prevention

Drug Abuse, Dopamine and the Brain's Reward System

Women and Substance Abuse

Substance Use in the Workplace

Health Care Professionals: Addiction and Treatment

Cognitive Improvement and Alcohol Recovery

Drug Use, Misuse and Dependence Among Older Adults

Emerging Drug Trends

Does Socioeconomic Advantage Lessen the Risk of Adolescent Substance Use

The Collegiate Recovery Movement is Gaining Strength

Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use Disorders

Widening the Lens of the Opioid Crisis

Beyond Binge Drinking: High Intensity Drinking

High Potency Marijuana

National Surveys

College Administrators See Problems as More Students View Marijuana as Safe

Risky Opioid Use Among College-Age Youth

Case Studies/ White Papers

What does it really mean to be providing medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction

Are you or a loved one struggling with alcohol or other drugs? Call today to speak confidentially with a recovery expert. Most insurance accepted.

Harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, we are a force of healing and hope ​​​​​​​for individuals, families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions..

accreditation badge

Banner

  • MJC Library & Learning Center
  • Research Guides

Drug Abuse, Addiction, Substance Use Disorder

  • Research Drug Abuse

Start Learning About Your Topic

Create research questions to focus your topic, find books in the library catalog, find articles in library databases, find web resources, cite your sources, key search words.

Use the words below to search for useful information in   books  and  articles .

  • substance use disorder 
  • substance abuse
  • drug addiction
  • substance addiction
  • chemical dependency
  • war on drugs
  • names of specific drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin
  • opioid crisis

Background Reading:

It's important to begin your research learning something about your subject; in fact, you won't be able to create a focused, manageable thesis unless you already know something about your topic.

This step is important so that you will:

  • Begin building your core knowledge about your topic
  • Be able to put your topic in context
  • Create research questions that drive your search for information
  • Create a list of search terms that will help you find relevant information
  • Know if the information you’re finding is relevant and useful

If you're working from off campus , you'll be prompted to log in just like you do for your MJC email or Canvas courses. 

All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff. 

  • Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window Use this database for preliminary reading as you start your research. Try searching these terms: addiction, substance abuse

Other eBooks from the MJC Library collection:

Cover Art

Use some of the questions below to help you narrow this broad topic. See "substance abuse" in our Developing Research Questions guide for an example of research questions on a focused study of drug abuse. 

  • In what ways is drug abuse a serious problem? 
  • What drugs are abused?
  • Who abuses drugs?
  • What causes people to abuse drugs?
  • How do drug abusers' actions affect themselves, their families, and their communities?
  • What resources and treatment are available to drug abusers?
  • What are the laws pertaining to drug use?
  • What are the arguments for legalizing drugs?
  • What are the arguments against legalizing drugs?
  • Is drug abuse best handled on a personal, local, state or federal level?
  • Based on what I have learned from my research what do I think about the issue of drug abuse?

Why Use Books:

Use books to read broad overviews and detailed discussions of your topic. You can also use books to find  primary sources , which are often published together in collections.  

Where Do I Find Books?

You'll use the library catalog to search for books, ebooks, articles, and more.  

What if MJC Doesn't Have What I Need?

If you need materials (books, articles, recordings, videos, etc.) that you cannot find in the library catalog , use our  interlibrary loan service .

All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, & staff.

  • EBSCOhost Databases This link opens in a new window Search 22 databases simultaneously that cover almost any topic you need to research at MJC. EBSCO databases include articles previously published in journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
  • Gale Databases This link opens in a new window Search over 35 databases simultaneously that cover almost any topic you need to research at MJC. Gale databases include articles previously published in journals, magazines, newspapers, books, and other media outlets.
  • Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection This link opens in a new window Contains articles from nearly 560 scholarly journals, some dating as far back as 1965
  • Access World News This link opens in a new window Search the full-text of editions of record for local, regional, and national U.S. newspapers as well as full-text content of key international sources. This is your source for The Modesto Bee from January 1989 to the present. Also includes in-depth special reports and hot topics from around the country. To access The Modesto Bee , limit your search to that publication. more... less... Watch this short video to learn how to find The Modesto Bee .

Use Google Scholar to find scholarly literature on the Web:

Google Scholar Search

Browse Featured Web Sites:

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA's mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction. This charge has two critical components. The first is the strategic support and conduct of research across a broad range of disciplines. The second is ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve prevention and treatment and to inform policy as it relates to drug abuse and addiction.
  • Drug Free America Foundation Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. is a drug prevention and policy organization committed to developing, promoting and sustaining national and international policies and laws that will reduce illegal drug use and drug addiction.
  • Office of National Drug Control Policy A component of the Executive Office of the President, ONDCP was created by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. ONDCP advises the President on drug-control issues, coordinates drug-control activities and related funding across the Federal government, and produces the annual National Drug Control Strategy, which outlines Administration efforts to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences.
  • Drug Policy Alliance The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is the nation's leading organization promoting alternatives to current drug policy that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights.

Your instructor should tell you which citation style they want you to use. Click on the appropriate link below to learn how to format your paper and cite your sources according to a particular style.

  • Chicago Style
  • ASA & Other Citation Styles
  • Last Updated: Feb 14, 2024 12:41 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.mjc.edu/drugabuse

Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0 Licenses .

Put a stop to deadline pressure, and have your homework done by an expert.

Drug Topics For School Projects And Academic Research

drug topics

Research papers and essays on drug topics address sociology, pharmacology, medicine, psychology, statistics, history, and criminology issues. Drug abuse is a serious problem in modern society. It’s a serious issue that different countries are trying to combat. As such, educators ask learners to write academic papers and essays on drug abuse topics to understand this subject better.

Many countries have spent billions of dollars fighting addiction and treating drug addicts. Countless lives have been lost to drug addiction. The increasing crime rates in many countries have also been attributed to drug abuse and addiction. What’s more, people in different social groups gave initiated campaigns against drug use and trade. It’s, therefore, reasonable for educators to ask learners to write about drug and alcohol topics.

Choosing Drug Research Topics

  • Interesting Drug Topics for Papers and Essays
  • Effects of Drug Addiction Topics

Argumentative Research Topics about Drug Use

Drug and alcohol group topics, drug legislation research essay topics.

As students write academic papers on drug related research topics, they engage in research that helps them come to terms with the extent of this problem. They also learn how illicit drug use affects human life. War on drugs research topics helps learners to know the number of resources their governments are spending trying to deal with this problem. Such knowledge can help learners avoid addictive drugs.

But, choosing the drug research topics to write about is not easy. That’s because learners should choose interesting topics for which they can find adequate information to write about. If struggling to pick topics on drug abuse for your academic papers and essays, here are 100 great ideas from our assignment service .

Interesting Drug Topics for Papers and Essays

  • The government should legalize marijuana use
  • Drug users should go to rehabs, not jail
  • The government should eliminate cash bail and legalize marijuana
  • How illicit drugs benefit society
  • Interesting medical uses of cannabis
  • Effects of illicit drugs on society
  • Why teens abuse drugs
  • Possible solutions to the drug abuse problem among teenagers
  • What are the effects of early drug abuse?
  • Health benefits of marijuana
  • Why athletes need marijuana
  • Discuss the long-term effects of illicit drug use
  • History of drug abuse
  • What prompts a person to abuse drugs?
  • Is the war against drug abuse necessary?
  • Can the government win the war against illicit drugs?
  • Can technology be used to fight drug abuse and addiction?
  • How do movies promote drug abuse?
  • Are modern celebrities promoting drug abuse?
  • How can the government deal with prescription drug abuse?

These are interesting ideas for research papers and essays, especially for learners that want to write about controversial drug topics. Nevertheless, be ready to invest time and effort in research, analysis, and writing if you pick any of these research paper topics on drug abuse.

Effects of Drug Addiction Topics

Some people want to know how drug addiction affects a person’s life. As such, this category comprises some of the most interesting drug related topics for learners. Here are some of the best drug addiction research topics to consider if interested in the consequences of addictive substances.

  • Does the amount of abused drugs affect its impact?
  • Why are some people more addicted to drugs than others?
  • How does drug addiction differ between men and women?
  • Why are there differences in drug addiction levels between men and women?
  • What influences the effects of illicit drugs?
  • Why do different drugs affect humans differently?
  • What are the major signs of alcoholism?
  • What are the effects of abusing marijuana?
  • What are the effects of psychoactive substances on the human brain?
  • Explain the main social issues caused by alcohol abuse
  • How does drug abuse affect the social life of a person?
  • How do addicts try to hide the effects of addictive substances?
  • Can family members help an addict deal with the effects of an illicit drug?
  • Can a person deal with the effects of illicit drug abuse alone?
  • Why is rehab necessary when dealing with the effects of illicit drugs?
  • Is withdrawal syndrome an effect of illicit drug addiction
  • Can abusing alcohol affect the judgment of a person?
  • Why is it not advisable to drink alcohol and operate machinery or drive?
  • Common myths about the effects of alcohol
  • Common myths about the effects of marijuana

Choose any of these drug research paper topics if interested in learning how illicit substances affect the users. Nevertheless, be prepared to research extensively to come up with a solid paper about any of these essay topics on drug addiction.

Maybe you hold a certain perspective about drug use. Some people may not agree with you but you would like to persuade them. In that case, you might consider argumentative essay topics drug addiction ideas. That way, you can express your views on the topic professionally. Here are some of the best persuasive essay topics about drugs to consider.

  • Addiction is a disease
  • The genetic makeup of a person can prompt them to abuse drugs
  • The environment of a person can influence them to abuse drugs
  • Social and cultural factors play a role in drug addiction
  • Drug abuse does not always lead to bad behaviors
  • Mass media can encourage drug abuse and addiction
  • Celebrities can influence drug abuse among teenagers
  • Drug addiction treatments should focus on inner motivations
  • Imprisonment does not help a drug addict
  • Interactions with drug addicts can have a negative influence on kids
  • The environment is not to blame for drug addiction
  • Schools can help prevent drug abuse among the teens
  • The perceived correlation between delinquency and drug abuse is wrong
  • The effect of drugs on a person’s perception is not always negative
  • Parents are partly to blame for drug abuse by teens
  • A person who has never had an addiction can’t understand how it feels to battle drug addiction
  • Drug addiction takes control over a person
  • Behavioral and cognitive problems can also affect the academic performance of students that abuse drugs and alcohol
  • Isolating drug addicts will only escalate their addiction
  • Family members should play a role in the treatment of drug addicts

Pick a topic on drug addiction from this category if ready to research extensively and come up with strong points to support your argument. That’s because you must convince readers to support your position in your argument.

Perhaps, you’re looking for drug project ideas that touch on group mentality or perception. In that case, this category has some of the best academic papers and essay topics for drug abuse that you should consider.

  • What are the major social aspects of drug addiction?
  • Which are the most vulnerable social groups when it comes to drug addiction?
  • Is drug abuse part of sacred rituals in some religions?
  • Minors and drug abuse
  • Irreversible effects of drug abuse among teens
  • What is the psychological defense of drug abuse by human trafficking victims
  • Cultural and ethnic traditions that compel some social groups to abuse drugs
  • Can legalizing marijuana make some social groups abuse it more?
  • Why do most women abuse painkiller drugs?
  • How does the “club culture” enhance drug abuse?
  • Who can benefit from the mandatory examination for drug abuse?
  • How drug abuse affects social relations
  • Can a family be affected negatively by substance abuse by one of its members?
  • Drug abuse among the LGBTQ
  • Why drug abuse is considered cool among teenagers
  • How college culture enhances drug abuse
  • How does attitude towards drugs differ among social groups?
  • How does the legal drinking age differ based on cultural diversity?
  • Should countries have similar laws on drug abuse?
  • What are the main causes of drug abuse in various social groups?

These are also great drug debate topics for students in different study levels. However, they also require extensive research to come up with good papers and essays.

If you decide to write about topics for a paper on drug war, you may want to talk about policies, laws, and regulations that touch on different illicit substances. This category has research paper topics drugs ideas that may also focus on legislation.

  • Common substance abuse laws in most countries
  • Effects of drug abuse policies
  • How some legislations compel people to abuse drugs
  • How substance abuse laws can help in the war against the drug trade
  • Top drug laws in the U.S
  • Explain the confidentiality of drug and alcohol abuse patients’ records
  • Explain the disparity in drug law among people of different races
  • How governments can use legislation to fight drug abuse
  • Should the government legalize marijuana?
  • Scaling up the war against drug abuse through legislation
  • Important legislations for enhancing the war against drugs
  • Legislations for preventing underage alcohol consumption
  • How can the government use legislation to fight drug abuse without infringing on human rights?
  • Legislation to channel more resources to the war on drug abuse
  • Causes of illegal drug use among women
  • Vaping legislation to prevent drug abuse
  • Important legislation to prevent prescription drug abuse
  • Legislations to curb military populations’ drug abuse
  • Enforcing law to curb college drug abuse
  • Addressing the increasing cases of people drinking under the influence of alcohol

Drug abuse is a broad subject. Pick some of these drugs essay topics and then research them extensively to come up with papers that will earn you the top scores. Also, you can take a look at these health topics .

nursing concept map

Get on top of your homework.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Characteristics of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug Use Among Persons Aged 13–18 Years Being Assessed for Substance Use Disorder Treatment — United States, 2014–2022

Weekly / February 8, 2024 / 73(5);93–98

Sarah Connolly, PhD 1 ,2 ; Taryn Dailey Govoni, MPH 3 ; Xinyi Jiang, PhD 2 ; Andrew Terranella, MD 2 ; Gery P. Guy Jr., PhD 2 ; Jody L. Green, PhD 3 ; Christina Mikosz, MD 2 ( View author affiliations )

What is already known about this topic?

Substance use, including drugs and alcohol, often begins during adolescence.

What is added by this report?

Among adolescents being assessed for substance use disorder treatment, the most commonly reported reasons for substance use included seeking to feel mellow or calm, experimentation, and other stress-related motivations. Most reported using substances with friends; however, approximately one half of respondents who reported past–30-day prescription drug misuse reported using alone.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Reducing stress and promoting mental health among adolescents might lessen motivations for substance use. Educating adolescents on harm reduction practices, including the risks of using drugs alone and ensuring they are able to recognize and respond to overdose (e.g., administering naloxone), could prevent fatal overdoses.

  • Article PDF
  • Full Issue PDF

The figure is a graphic with text about how clinicians can help address teen substance use with illustrations of teens doing healthy activities.

Substance use often begins during adolescence, placing youths at risk for fatal overdose and substance use disorders (SUD) in adulthood. Understanding the motivations reported by adolescents for using alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs and the persons with whom they use these substances could guide strategies to prevent or reduce substance use and its related consequences among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents being assessed for SUD treatment in the United States during 2014–2022, to examine self-reported motivations for using substances and the persons with whom substances were used. The most commonly reported motivation for substance use was “to feel mellow, calm, or relaxed” (73%), with other stress-related motivations among the top reasons, including “to stop worrying about a problem or to forget bad memories” (44%) and “to help with depression or anxiety” (40%); one half (50%) reported using substances “to have fun or experiment.” The majority of adolescents reported using substances with friends (81%) or using alone (50%). These findings suggest that interventions related to reducing stress and addressing mental health concerns might reduce these leading motivations for substance use among adolescents. Education for adolescents about harm reduction strategies, including the danger of using drugs while alone and how to recognize and respond to an overdose, can reduce the risk for fatal overdose.

Introduction

Initiation of substance use often occurs during adolescence ( 1 ), and adolescents commonly report using substances to feel good or get high and to relieve pain or aid with sleep problems ( 2 , 3 ). Adverse consequences of adolescent substance use include overdose, risk for development of substance use disorder (SUD), negative impact on brain development, and death. Prescription opioid misuse during adolescence is associated with SUD in adulthood ( 4 ). In the event of an overdose, immediate medical attention is necessary; bystanders can respond by calling emergency medical personnel and administering naloxone, which reverses overdoses caused by opioids. To guide the development and implementation of prevention strategies and help reduce substance use and fatal overdoses among youths, the motivations for substance use and the persons with whom adolescents report using substances were studied.

Data Source

Data were obtained from the National Addictions Vigilance Intervention and Prevention Program’s Comprehensive Health Assessment for Teens (CHAT) ( 5 ). CHAT is a self-reported, online assessment for persons aged 13–18 years who are being evaluated for SUD treatment. Assessments conducted during January 1, 2014–September 28, 2022, were analyzed. Because the assessment may be completed more than once, assessments completed by the same person within 60 days of a previous assessment were removed. The data set was restricted to assessments reporting past–30-day use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs* and with at least one option selected for motivation or persons with whom substances were used.

Respondents were asked to report specific substances used within six categories: 1) alcohol, 2) marijuana, hashish, or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 3) drugs other than alcohol or marijuana, † and misuse § of 4) prescription pain medications, ¶ 5) prescription stimulants,** or 6) prescription sedatives or tranquilizers. †† Motivation for use was asked for each of the six categories; each motivation question had 15 response options §§ and respondents were asked to select all options that applied. Respondents were also asked to select the persons with whom they used substances from four categories of substances: 1) alcohol, 2) marijuana, hashish, or THC, 3) drugs other than alcohol or marijuana, and 4) prescription drugs (which included prescription pain medications, prescription stimulants, and prescription sedatives or tranquilizers). Ten options describing the persons with whom substances were used were presented, ¶¶ and respondents were asked to select all that applied.

Data Analysis

The percentages of each motivation and the persons with whom substances were used were calculated.*** Responses were not mutually exclusive: a respondent could report more than one motivation or person with whom substances were used; therefore, the percentages sum to >100. R software (version 4.2.2; R Foundation) was used to conduct all analyses. This activity was reviewed by CDC, deemed not research, and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy. †††

Substance Use

Among 15,963 CHAT assessments conducted during the study period, 9,557 (60%) indicated past–30-day use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs. Of those, 9,543 reported at least one motivation or person with whom substances were used and were included in further analyses. Marijuana was most commonly reported (84% of assessments), followed by alcohol (49%) ( Figure ) ( Table ). Nonprescription drug use was indicated on 2,032 (21%) assessments; those most commonly reported were methamphetamine (8%), cough syrup (7%), and hallucinogens (6%). Prescription drug misuse was indicated on 1,812 (19%) assessments, with prescription pain medication reported most commonly (13%), followed by prescription sedatives or tranquilizers (11%), and prescription stimulants (9%).

Reasons Reported for Using Substances

Overall, the most common reasons adolescents reported for using substances were to feel mellow, calm, or relaxed (73%), to have fun or experiment (50%), to sleep better or to fall asleep (44%), to stop worrying about a problem or to forget bad memories (44%), to make something less boring (41%), and to help with depression or anxiety (40%). By category, the most frequently reported motivation for alcohol use and nonprescription drug misuse was to have fun or experiment (51% and 55%, respectively), whereas use to feel mellow, calm, or relaxed was the most reported motivation for use of marijuana (76%), and misuse of prescription pain medications (61%) and prescription sedatives or tranquilizers (55%). The most common motivation for prescription stimulant misuse was to stay awake (31%).

Persons with Whom Substances Were Used

Adolescents most commonly used substances with friends (81%), a boyfriend or girlfriend (24%), anyone who has drugs (23%), and someone else (17%); however, one half (50%) reported using alone. Although using with friends and using alone were reported most often for all substances, the prevalence varied by substance type. Approximately 80% of adolescents who reported using alcohol, marijuana, or nonprescription drugs reported using these substances with friends; however, 64% of those who reported misusing prescription drugs used them with friends. Among adolescents reporting prescription drug misuse, more than one half (51%) reported using these drugs alone, whereas using alone was reported by 44% of those who used marijuana, 39% of those who used nonprescription drugs, and 26% of those who used alcohol.

This analysis summarizing self-reported motivations for use of various substances among adolescents being assessed for SUD treatment who used alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs during the previous 30 days, and the persons with whom adolescents used these substances, found that many adolescents use substances to have fun or experiment or to seek relief mentally, emotionally, or physically. These findings are consistent with those reported in a 2020 study that examined motivations for the nonmedical use of prescription drugs in a sample of young adults, which identified recreational and self-treatment motivations among young adults over time and across drug classes ( 2 ). Anxiety and experiencing traumatic life events have been associated with substance use in adolescents ( 6 ). Specific reporting of motivations, including “to stop worrying about a problem or to forget bad memories” and “to help with depression or anxiety,” underscores the potential direct impact that improving mental health could have on substance use.

One half of adolescents reported using substances while alone. Of particular concern, more than one half of respondents who reported past–30-day prescription drug misuse reported using the drugs alone. Prescription drug misuse while alone presents a significant risk for fatal overdose, especially given the proliferation of counterfeit pills resembling prescription drugs and containing illegal drugs (e.g., illegally manufactured fentanyl) ( 7 ). Education about harm reduction behaviors, such as using in the presence of others and expanding access to naloxone to all persons who use drugs, could reduce this risk.

Adolescents most commonly reported using substances with friends, which presents the opportunity for bystander intervention in the event of an overdose. Nearly 70% of fatal adolescent overdoses occurred with a potential bystander present, yet in most cases no bystander response was documented ( 8 ). Overdose deaths can be prevented through education tailored to adolescents to improve recognition of signs of overdose and teach bystanders how to respond, including the administration of naloxone ( 9 ) and increasing awareness of local Good Samaritan laws, which protect persons against liability when they provide emergency care to others ( 10 ). In addition, ensuring access to effective, evidence-based treatment for SUD and mental health conditions might decrease overdose risk.

Limitations

The findings in this report are subject to at least three limitations. First, the population represents a convenience sample of adolescents being assessed for SUD treatment and is not generalizable to all adolescents in the United States. Second, the assessment is self-reported and subject to potential reporting and recall biases as well as social desirability bias. Finally, several questions on motivations and persons with whom respondents use substances refer to categories of substances; thus, it was not possible to ascertain to which specific drug a person might be referring in their response if use of more than one substance within a drug category was reported.

Implications for Public Health Practice

Harm reduction education specifically tailored to adolescents has the potential to discourage using substances while alone and teach how to recognize and respond to an overdose in others, which could thereby prevent overdoses that occur when adolescents use drugs with friends from becoming fatal. Public health action ensuring that youths have access to treatment and support for mental health concerns and stress could reduce some of the reported motivations for substance use. These interventions could be implemented on a broad or local scale to improve adolescent well-being and reduce harms related to substance use.

Acknowledgment

Akadia Kacha-Ochana, CDC.

Corresponding author: Sarah Connolly, [email protected] .

1 Epidemic Intelligence Service, CDC; 2 Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC; 3 Inflexxion, Irvine, California.

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

* Two assessments that reported using only methadone were excluded.

† The category “drugs, other than alcohol or marijuana” included the following nonprescription drugs: inhalants, cocaine, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, phenylcyclidine or ketamine, heroin, ecstasy or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, gamma hydroxybutyrate or rohypnol, cough syrup, illegally made fentanyl (added to assessment in 2017), and xylazine (added to assessment in 2022), methadone, “other drug,” and “any drug.”

§ Misuse is described as prescription medication use “not as prescribed,” “without a prescription from a doctor,” “to get high,” or “to change how you feel.”

¶ A description of prescription pain medications provided in the assessment states, “Examples of painkillers include Oxycontin, Vicodin, and Percocet. Pain medications help people feel less pain after surgery, and help manage intense chronic pain.”

** A description of prescription stimulants provided in the assessment states, “Examples of stimulants include Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine. Stimulants help people concentrate or focus better.”

†† A description of prescription sedatives or tranquilizers provided in the assessment states, “Examples of sedatives include Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin. Sedatives or tranquilizers help people sleep or feel less anxious.”

§§ 1) To feel mellow, calm, or relaxed, 2) to sleep better or fall asleep, 3) to stay awake, 4) to feel less shy or more social, 5) to stop worrying about a problem or forget bad memories, 6) to have fun or experiment, 7) to be sexier or make sex more fun, 8) to lose weight, 9) to make something less boring, 10) to improve or get rid of the effects of other drugs, 11) to concentrate better, 12) to deal with chronic pain, 13) to help with depression or anxiety, 14) to fit in, or 15) other reasons.

¶¶ 1) Friend or friends, 2) brother or sister, 3) parent or parents, 4) adult relative or other adult, 5) relative near adolescent’s own age, 6) boyfriend or girlfriend, 7) coworker, 8) someone else, 9) anyone who has drugs, or 10) used alone.

*** The number of assessments for which an option was selected was divided by the total number of assessments in that substance type category.

††† 45 C.F.R. part 46.102(l)(2), 21 C.F.R. part 56; 42 U.S.C. Sect. 241(d); 5 U.S.C. Sect. 552a; 44 U.S.C. Sect. 3501 et seq.

  • Meich RA, Johnston LD, Patrick ME, O’Malley PM, Bachman JG. Monitoring the future: national survey results on drug use, 1975–2022: secondary school students. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan; 2023. https://monitoringthefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/mtf2023.pdf
  • Drazdowski TK, Kelly LM, Kliewer WL. Motivations for the nonmedical use of prescription drugs in a longitudinal national sample of young adults. J Subst Abuse Treat 2020;114:108013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108013 PMID:32527515
  • Groenewald CB, Patel KV, Rabbitts JA, Palermo TM. Correlates and motivations of prescription opioid use among adolescents 12 to 17 years of age in the United States. Pain 2020;161:742–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001775 PMID:31815917
  • McCabe SE, Veliz PT, Boyd CJ, Schepis TS, McCabe VV, Schulenberg JE. A prospective study of nonmedical use of prescription opioids during adolescence and subsequent substance use disorder symptoms in early midlife. Drug Alcohol Depend 2019;194:377–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.027 PMID:30481692
  • Lord SE, Trudeau KJ, Black RA, et al. CHAT: development and validation of a computer-delivered, self-report, substance use assessment for adolescents. Subst Use Misuse 2011;46:781–94. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2010.538119 PMID:21174498
  • Richert T, Anderberg M, Dahlberg M. Mental health problems among young people in substance abuse treatment in Sweden. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2020;15:43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-020-00282-6 PMID:32580732
  • O’Donnell J, Tanz LJ, Miller KD, et al. Drug overdose deaths with evidence of counterfeit pill use—United States, July 2019–December 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:949–56. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7235a3 PMID:37651284
  • Tanz LJ, Dinwiddie AT, Mattson CL, O’Donnell J, Davis NL. Drug overdose deaths among persons aged 10–19 years—United States, July 2019–December 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:1576–82. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7150a2 PMID:36520659
  • Walley AY, Xuan Z, Hackman HH, et al. Opioid overdose rates and implementation of overdose education and nasal naloxone distribution in Massachusetts: interrupted time series analysis. BMJ 2013;346:f174. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f174 PMID:23372174
  • Hamilton L, Davis CS, Kravitz-Wirtz N, Ponicki W, Cerdá M. Good Samaritan laws and overdose mortality in the United States in the fentanyl era. Int J Drug Policy 2021;97:103294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103294 PMID:34091394

FIGURE . Percentage of persons aged 13–18 years being assessed for substance use disorder treatment reporting specific substances used during the previous 30 days* — National Addictions Vigilance Intervention and Prevention Program Comprehensive Health Assessment for Teens, United States, 2014–2022

Abbreviations: GHB = gamma hydroxybutyrate; MDMA = 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine; PCP = phenylcyclidine.

* Among those reporting previous 30-day use of any alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs, and at least one motivation or person with whom substances were used.

Abbreviation: THC = tetrahydrocannabinol. * Includes motivations or persons with whom adolescents used substances reported for any of the following: alcohol, marijuana, nonprescription drugs, prescription drug misuse, methadone, “other drug,” and “any drug.” † The alcohol motivation question is phrased, “People use alcohol for many reasons. Why have you used alcohol? Select all that apply.” The question asking with whom alcohol is used is phrased, “When you drink, who do you drink with? Select all that apply.” § The marijuana motivation question is phrased, “People use marijuana, hashish, or THC for many reasons. Why have you used marijuana, hashish, or THC? Select all that apply.” The question asking with whom marijuana is used is phrased, “When you use marijuana, hashish, or THC, who do you use it with? Select all that apply.” ¶ Inhalants, cocaine, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, phenylcyclidine or ketamine, heroin, ecstasy or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, gamma hydroxybutyrate or rohypnol, cough syrup, illegally made fentanyl (added to assessment in 2017), and xylazine (added to assessment in 2022). The motivation question is phrased, “People use drugs for many reasons. Why have you used drugs, other than alcohol or marijuana? Select all that apply.” The question asking with whom these substances are used is phrased, “When you use drugs, other than alcohol or marijuana, who do you use them with? Select all that apply.” This assessment section also included methadone, “other drug,” and “any drug,” which are captured by the same motivation question and the question asking with whom persons use. If a person reported methadone, “other drug,” or “any drug” in addition to one or more nonprescription drugs, the motivations and with whom they use (for methadone, “other drug,” or “any drug”) cannot be differentiated and are counted in this table. ** Includes persons who responded affirmatively to assessment questions asking about prescription pain medication use “not as prescribed,” “without a prescription from a doctor,” “to get high,” or “to change how you feel.” The motivation question is phrased, “People use drugs for many reasons. Why have you used prescription pain medications on your own? Select all that apply.” †† Includes persons who responded affirmatively to assessment questions asking about prescription stimulant use “not as prescribed,” “without a prescription from a doctor,” “to get high,” or “to change how you feel.” The motivation question is phrased, “People use drugs for many reasons. Why have you used prescription stimulants on your own? Select all that apply.” §§ Includes persons who responded affirmatively to assessment questions asking about prescription sedative and tranquilizer use “not as prescribed,” “without a prescription from a doctor,” “to get high,” or “to change how you feel.” The motivation question is phrased, “People use drugs for many reasons. Why have you used prescription sedatives or tranquilizers on your own? Select all that apply.” ¶¶ The question asking with whom substances are used is asked once for all prescription drugs and is phrased, “When you use prescription drugs, who do you use them with? Select all that apply.” The denominator for the number of assessments indicating past–30-day misuse of at least one prescription drug is 1,812. *** Motivation and persons with whom substances are used questions are in a “select all that apply” format; therefore, percentages sum to >100. Median and IQR summarize the number of motivations and the number of persons with whom they use substances that respondents selected for each question.

Suggested citation for this article: Connolly S, Govoni TD, Jiang X, et al. Characteristics of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug Use Among Persons Aged 13–18 Years Being Assessed for Substance Use Disorder Treatment — United States, 2014–2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:93–98. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7305a1 .

MMWR and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report are service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of the date of publication.

All HTML versions of MMWR articles are generated from final proofs through an automated process. This conversion might result in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version ( https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr ) and/or the original MMWR paper copy for printable versions of official text, figures, and tables.

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
  • Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
  • You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
  • CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples

Are you looking for a good drugs research title? You’re at the right place! StudyCorgi has prepared a list of engaging drug essay topics and questions for your project, discussion, debate, and other assignments.

💊 TOP 7 Drug Presentation Topics

🏆 best essay topics on drugs, ❓ research questions about drugs, 👍 good drugs research topics & essay examples, ✏️ topics about drugs for argumentative essay, 🌶️ hot drug topics to write about, ✍️ war on drugs essay topics, 🎓 most interesting research topics about drugs, 📌 easy drugs essay topics, 📝 engaging drug essay examples, 💡 simple drug titles for essays, 🔎 current research topics on drugs.

  • Drug Addiction: Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Drug Abuse among Teenagers Causes and Effects
  • Impacts of Drugs on the Society
  • Causes and Effects of Drug Addiction
  • Drug and Alcohol Abuse among Young People
  • Ethical and Legal Implications of Prescribing Drugs
  • Shoppers Drug Mart: History, Founder, SWOT Analysis
  • Miami Drug Wars of the 70s and 80s Drug use is a subject that has raised controversies for decades. This paper focuses on the drug wars in Miami outlining their social, political, and economic impacts.
  • Adolescent Drug Abuse, Their Awareness and Prevention This essay provides a critique of an article written by Chakravarthy, Shah, and Lotfipour about adolescent drug abuse prevention interventions.
  • Canadians’ Reaction to Alcohol as a Newly-Invented Illicit Drug The possible reaction of Canadians to alcohol, if it was a newly-invented illicit drug, will differ depending on their personal characteristics and external circumstances.
  • Monopoly Drugs Versus Generic Drugs When a pharmaceutical company creates a new drug it may apply for and be granted a patent that is a legal protection that shelters an invention from being used, copied, or traded without permission.
  • Drug Abuse and Theories Explaining It This paper aims to examine several theories explaining drug addiction. The theories for analysis are biological, psychological, and sociological.
  • The Link Between Drug Abuse and Corruption This paper discusses that drug abuse and corruption deserve attention. It introduces causes and reasons for drug abuse and corruption.
  • Shoppers Drug Mart Company’s Retail Networks The paper presents the analysis of business concept applications on the example of the Shoppers Drug Mart company. It suggests ways to maintain the market share of retail networks.
  • Drug Abuse Relation to the Violent Behavior Various groups of drugs greatly vary and relate to violence in different ways. Any person with heavy drug habits may act negatively and involve in violent acts punishable by law.
  • Drug Use and Heroin Addiction: Informative Speech The illegality of drugs makes it impossible to research the actual numbers of people using drugs and situations making these persons initiate drug abuse and harm their health.
  • Drug Legalization from the Utilitarian Perspective The focus of the paper will be mainly on marijuana use, and such utilitarian principles as the principle of utility and the felicific calculus will be primarily applied.
  • Apis Mellifica as a Homeopathic Drug for Headaches Homeopathy is one of the systems of alternative medicine. The paper investigates the effectiveness of using a homeopathic drug to address headaches.
  • Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation’s Retail and Services Shoppers Drug Mart pays significant attention to the development of an efficient retail network that makes the business attractive to customers.
  • The Crisis of Drug Addiction This essay will focus on the crisis of drug addiction in general. It will also include some factors that lead to drug abuse. The paper will cover the dynamics of drug addiction in the USA.
  • Classification of Legal and Illegal Drugs The classification of drugs as either legal or illegal provides a baseline foundation for the effect on victims and the attribute of addiction.
  • War on Drugs: Fighting the Way We Are Not Likely to Win The spread of drugs is showing a steady growth trend; its adverse consequences are very multifaceted both for the drug addicts themselves and for the society in which they exist.
  • Case Study of Drug Addiction The case study provides a platform for evaluating treatment priorities and agencies crucial for the full recovery of substance abuse patients.
  • How Drugs Influence the Crimes This essay discusses five major questions about ‘Drug and Crimes’, namely, what is the extent to which the drug subculture influences criminal behavior?, etc.
  • Drug Testing Problem Reflection The paper discusses a need for the maintenance of a drug test policy. In the present world, this issue is further exacerbated by the legalization of marijuana in all states.
  • Drug Addiction in America: Effects and Solutions The problem of illegal drug use is a major health issue in the United States, it affects thousands of people, the specified concern must be handled on the level of state policies.
  • Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) Assays Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) refers to the measurement of chemical or biochemical parameters in the lab to inform drug prescribing procedures.
  • Drug Abuse in Homeless Community The number of homeless people is continuously increasing, creating a severe threat to a country’s general well-being.
  • Juvenile Drug Abuse Problems Analysis This essay describes the problem of juvenile drug use and applies the relevant delinquency theory. Additionally, the interventions or programs to fix the issue will be highlighted.
  • The Practice of Nursing Research: Drug Round Tabards The study has several implications for hospitals and nurses involved in medication distribution. It demonstrates that the implementation of drug round tabards is worth attention.
  • Carl Hart’s Talk on Racism, Poverty, and Drugs In his TED Talk, Carl Hart, a professor of neuroscience at Columbia University who studies drug addiction, exposes a relationship between racism, poverty, and drugs.
  • Why Government Needs Drug Control Policy? The use of stopping drugs trafficked to or through the US territory should be evaluated since it usually causes strained relations from the countries where the drugs originate from.
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: Drug Development Drug development is a lengthy process but rightly so since the result should be playing a curative role and not disease inducer.
  • Social Problems Related to Alcohol and Drugs The present paper will explain the content of three articles relating to the issue of Alcohol and drug use while also providing a personal reflection on the readings.
  • Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Workplace Alcohol and drug abuse is one of the major causes of accidents in the workplace. Random alcohol and drug tests would discourage employees of organization from abusing alcohol or drugs.
  • Mandatory Drug Tests for Nursing Students Nursing schools have therefore tried to address this issue and one of the most commonly used tools is the mandatory drug test.
  • Drugs and Society Violent Crime: Public Drunkenness Violent crime that is associated with public drunkenness is not only caused by regular alcohol consumption but also by other factors that accompany alcohol trading.
  • Food and Drug Administration History The paper provides a brief introduction, background, and history of the FDA and the ways in which it operates, and the practices implemented.
  • Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illegal Drugs: Use Consequences Although tobacco, alcohol, and drugs cause severe physical and mental health problems and spoil a person’s social life, the image created for them contributes to harm devaluation.
  • A Right to Experimental Drugs The question of whether patients should have access to experimental drugs for treatment is based on the ethical standards governing the protection of humans in this area.
  • How Can Illegal Drugs Be Prevented From Entering Prison?
  • Can Economic Aid Make a Difference in the Flow of Drugs?
  • Are Novel Drugs Riskier for Patients Than Less Novel Drugs?
  • Can the Drugs Problem Be Tackled Primarily Through Legal Enforcement?
  • Do Drugs Are Barriers to Our Future?
  • Are Anabolic Steroids Really Pernicious Deleterious Drugs?
  • How Can Kids Best Be Convinced Not for Do Drugs?
  • Have Newer Cardiovascular Drugs Reduced Hospitalization?
  • Are Illegal Drugs Inferior Goods in the U.S.?
  • How Dangerous Are Drugs?
  • Are Psychotherapeutic Drugs Overprescribed for Treating Mental Illness?
  • How Dangerous Are Drugs and What Can We Do About the Drug Problem?
  • Are Drugs Taking Away the Excitement in Sports?
  • How Antidepressant Drugs Work Effect Us?
  • Does Medicaid Pay Too Much for Prescription Drugs?
  • Are Drugs More Detrimental to Educational Attainment?
  • Are Diet Drugs Are Safe for People?
  • Can Pharmacogenomics Improve Drugs Safely?
  • Does Price Reveal Poor-Quality Drugs?
  • How Are Biosimilar Drugs More Extensive Than Those of Generic?
  • Are Illegal Drugs Inferior Goods?
  • Does Previous Marijuana Use Increase the Use of Other Drugs?
  • How Are Drugs and Alcohol Affecting the Teenagers?
  • Are Any Drugs Derived From the Ocean Presently Approved?
  • Are the More Educated More Likely to Use New Drugs?
  • Does Coffee Contain Drugs?
  • Has the Time Come to Legalize Drugs?
  • How Cost-Effective Are New Cancer Drugs in the U.S.?
  • Are Adolescents With Abusive Parents at a Greater Risk of Abusing Drugs?
  • Can Production and Trafficking of Illicit Drugs Be Reduced?
  • The Theme of Drug Abuse in Egan’s Book In her novel “A Visit from the Goon Squad”, Jennifer Egan discusses a number of problems of modern society. Among them is the problem of drug abuse.
  • Arguments For and Against Allowing Drug Use in Sports The main argument supporting the drug use in sports is that the drugs are medicines, improving the organism ability to mobilize its potential.
  • Drug Abuse and Its Effects on Families Because of the lack of control that a substance abuse patient has over their actions, families of the people that develop chemical dependency are under constant threat.
  • Drug Dependency: Construction of a Rehabilitation Center Creating a program that would act as a foundation to help drug addicts recover from drug usage would help lessen drug dependency.
  • Teenage Drug Addiction Problem The modern world is full of diverse activities and hobbies that can have both positive and negative effects. This essay aims at discussing the phenomenon of teenage drug addiction.
  • Drug Theme in “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin In the story “Sonny’s Blues” by Baldwin, Sonny’s friend felt responsible for what was happening to Sonny because he told him that taking heroine felt great.
  • A Right to Experimental Drugs It is necessary to examine whether terminal patients have a moral right to the experimental treatment and suggest possible outcomes for this type of cure.
  • Drug and Substance Abuse: Sociological Causes and Explanations It is normal to think that drug and substance abuse affects only consumers. However, it also affects various aspects of society.
  • Drug Cartels in Mexico: Definition, Background, Mexican War on Drugs Mexican drug cartels, as one of the most powerful and well-known internationally, present the primary focus of interest in the research paper.
  • Drug Addiction: A Choice or a Medical Disease? This article examines two opposing points of view on the problem of drug addiction – does a person have a choice to be a drug addict or is drug addiction a medical disease?
  • Schizophrenia Treatment With Approved Drug Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental disorders in the US. Treatment of schizophrenia is critical since patients stand as dangers to themselves and society.
  • Drug Abuse Among Teenagers Before analyzing the causes of addiction among teenagers, we have to look at this issue from sociological point of view.
  • Mechanism of Action and Clinical Application of Antiviral Drugs Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was first reported in 1981 by the Centers for Disease Control, with the identification of the HIV-1 as the causative agent.
  • Pharmacology: Drug Licensing Opportunity Obtaining a license for a new drug is a very costly and time consuming affair. Any pharmaceutical company would have to weigh all its options before embarking on such a process.
  • Drug Abuse Case: Jenny G This paper present the case of drug abuse. Jenny G., a 48-year-old recovering IV drug abuser, presents with general malaise, anorexia, abdominal pain, and slight jaundice.
  • Drug Abuse Treatment in Nursing Jenny G., a 48-year-old recovering IV drug abuser, presents with general malaise, anorexia, abdominal pain, and slight jaundice. She is currently staying in a women’s shelter and looking for a job.
  • Drug Interactions Prevention in Nursing Guidelines The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed new guidelines to dictate how and when medications should be provided.
  • The Phenomenon of The Use of Prescription Drugs The need to have a prescription before the drugs are acquired is usually applied in order to prevent illegal distribution, and effective use of such medicine.
  • Drugs and Prison Overcrowding There are a number of significant sign of the impact that the “war on drugs” has had on the communities in the United States.
  • Economic Evaluation: Prevention of Suicide and Drug Overdose The economic evaluation of the provided scenario was conducted in four dimensions: cost-of-illness, programmatic, benefit-cost, and cost-effectiveness analyses.
  • Victimless Crimes: Drug Abuse and Sex Work This work’s primary objective is to research and analyze victimless crimes, namely drug abuse and sex work, from the viewpoint of criminology.
  • Drugs and Social Life in Iceland The nature of drug use in Iceland can be described as experimental — young people see something new in them and decide to try it out.
  • The Use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs The information herein identifies particular risk factors that expose the global community to the objectionable concerns linked with the goods.
  • Evaluating Harm Reduction Program for Drug Users The target population of this quantitative study includes substance users with a focus on drug addicts. Harm reduction program addresses the needs of drug addicts who seek help.
  • Drugs and Substance Abuse in College: Effects and Treatments The paper will give a review of a treatment approach to drug abuse and describe the effects of substance abuse on a person who is in college.
  • Medication Safety and Drug Therapy Process This article reviews the literature on medication safety from a global perspective. It discusses how the drug therapy process has influenced medication safety.
  • The Role of Forensics in the War on Drugs This essay looks at chemicals that are used by forensic experts and the role forensics play in the war on drugs.
  • The Effects of Drugs on a Man’s Reproductive System In this article, the author examines the reasons why drug and alcohol abuse negatively affects the reproductive health of men.
  • The Drug Courts: The Question of Drug Abuse Drug abuse is one of the most prevalent crimes in the world. It is a concern for both local governments and international organizations.
  • Quality Patient Care: Drug Errors and Nurses The role played by nurses in patient care cannot be underestimated and therefore any idea that can make it even better is something that should be highly encouraged.
  • Research Drug Safety Approaches Adverse effects of drugs implemented in certain treatment and care plans began to be noted a long time ago by health care specialists and scientists.
  • Mandatory Job Drug Test Should Be Allowed Drug testing for jobs in the US started in earnest in 1986 with the enactment of an executive order that required all federal employees to keep off illegal drugs.
  • Psychotherapy and Counseling for Drug Abuse Treatment Drugs are the biggest vice of humanity, along with the mental and moral deviations, horrible diseases of modern times, social neglect and abuse it causes and goes along with.
  • E-Prescribing Drug Technology in the Healthcare Drug prescriptions are one of the most complex healthcare delivery aspects, vital for the treatment process, and require significant resources to ensure safety.
  • Mandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients Mandatory drug testing should be implemented in the US to ensure that taxpayer money is allocated to the assistance of socially and economically disadvantaged persons.
  • Psychoactive Drugs, Society, and Human Behaviour Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that affect mood, perception, the way of thinking, and behaviour. Cocaine has an adverse impact on the cardiovascular system.
  • Drug Abuse Among Homeless People in Miami This paper aims to better assess the disaster of drug abuse among homeless people in Miami, and develop ways to counter this issue.
  • Drug Abuse and Alcohol-Related Crimes in Adolescents The current paper focuses on the topic of drug abuse and alcohol-related crimes among teenagers, showing that substances remain the most notable factor in juvenile crime.
  • The Influence of Drugs and Alcohol on Date Rape While drugs can affect mental health and make the victim forget everything, the perpetrators indulge in alcohol abuse to escape the blame and deny non-consensual sex.
  • Forensic Drug Analysis Course: Reflection The most interesting part of the course is the study of various techniques for the analysis of substances and their impact on forensic research.
  • The legalization of recreational marijuana: pros and cons.
  • Should drug users be criminalized or treated?
  • Are drug companies liable for the opioid crisis?
  • Are safe injection sites effective in preventing drug overdoses?
  • The gateway drug theory: reality or a myth?
  • Are mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses justified?
  • The impact of zero tolerance drug policies in schools.
  • The therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances.
  • Why is drug testing essential in the workplace?
  • Should drug education programs be mandatory in schools?
  • Decriminalizing the Simple Possession of Illegal Drugs The decriminalization of illicit drugs has been mentioned as one of the most effective ways of dealing with the crisis in America.
  • National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors This paper will consider the fourth principle of the organization’s ethical code, which reads: “Working in a culturally diverse world.”
  • Analysis of Drug Classification The article argues drug reactions depend considerably on patients and administration methods, that’s why employees must know the basics of drug classification.
  • The Problem of Legalizing Drugs The problem of drugs legalization is a topic for debate in many countries where politicians, sociologists, philosophers, and other experts try to address the consequences of using drugs.
  • The Drug Trafficking as Organized Crime Drug trafficking is among the recently organized crimes, and it has a direct influence on the economy as it earns a lot of money.
  • Doctors’ Knowledge on Drug Prescription The reason why doctors have little knowledge of the drugs they prescribe is misplaced priorities during clinical trials.
  • Regulation of Drug Compounding Drug compounding is necessary in exceptional cases where a patient may not use drugs approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Drugs in Perspective: Models of Addiction The moral model of addiction is a notion that has very little in common with biological or genetic components of addiction. The disease model of addiction is a lifelong addiction.
  • Performance Enhancing Drugs and the Student Athletes Many physicians, parents, and coaches worry about the effect of performance-enhancing drugs in schools and colleges.
  • Clandestine Drug Laboratory Dangers Apart from side effects of drugs made from CDLs, they have several other dangers. The dangers associated with CDLs are either immediate or overtime as a result of contamination.
  • The Relationship Between Drugs and Addiction to Crime Systemic crime emerges from the arrangement of drug circulation. It includes conflicts over the region in rival drug traders, attacks, and executions committed in involved groups.
  • Drug Enforcement and War on Drugs “War on Drugs” has both positive and negative impact on criminal justice, creating certain stereotypes and putting pressure on the law enforcement agencies.
  • Performance Enhancing Drugs Legalization in Sports The question that was going to be answered through various arguments in this paper was whether these drugs should be legalized.
  • Fear Appeal in Anti-Drug Abuse Public Campaign The problem of prescription drug abuse has become a crucial concern for Florida residents. The public campaign proposes raising awareness about the dangers of prescription drugs.
  • War on Drugs Through a Socio-Political Framework Drug addiction is a problem that concerns not only the health of particular members of society suffering from this disease but also the country as a whole.
  • Eli Lilly and Company: Drug Firm Analysis Eli Lilly and Company is an American drug firm whose head office is situated in Indianapolis. Eli Lilly and Company cares about its clientele by monitoring the benefits and risks of its drugs.
  • The Drug Enforcement Administration Business Model This paper evaluates the business canvas of the Drug Enforcement Administration and provides recommendations for the improvement of cooperation with partners.
  • Drug Addiction among Nurses The United States of America has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Drug abuse among nurses is a serious problem that threatens the quality care that is offered.
  • Drug-Drug and Food-Drug Interactions Drug-drug interactions occur when a medicine interferes or affects the activity of a second drug when administered together.
  • Drug Courts Policy and Its Evaluation Drug courts mark a considerable approach in the struggle to combat drugs. This paper gives a clear description and analysis of the drug court program since the 1980s.
  • Drug’s, Poverty’s and Beauty’s Effects on Health Some serious health outcomes emanate from frequent consumption of drugs, poverty, and a stringent adherence to the global trends of beauty.
  • The Issue of Misuse of Prescription Drugs The paper discusses the growing problem of prescription drug abuse in the United States, its consequences such as addiction and overdose, and possible solutions.
  • Drug Abuse During Pregnancy: Policy Options Heated discussions on whether or not drug abuse during pregnancy should be illegal due to the potential risks to the developing fetus or child persist.
  • Disclosure and Nondisclosure in Drugs Prescription The case focuses on the ethical and legal implications of prescribing new medication currently in the development stage for a child under the age of 12.
  • Illegal Drug Use in Nurses: Discussion There are reasons why nurses are at risk of developing a drug addiction, which means that there is a high chance for practitioners to work with nurses who illegally use drugs.
  • Leadership in Drug Abuse Program Development Within the context of a potential intervention for drug abuse, the roles and competencies of leaders are the primary emphasis of this paper.
  • Drugs and Violence Go Hand in Hand From the point of view of American researchers, substance abuse increases the chances of subjects being drawn into conflict relationships.
  • Alcohol in the Drugs and Behavior Context It is no secret that alcohol and human health are incompatible things. The most significant influence of alcohol falls on the cerebral cortex.
  • Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s Public Relations The campaign conducted by Alcohol and Drug Foundation is a vivid example of how the theories and practices of PR can help alter people’s behavior.
  • Illegal Drugs: Types and Influences Illegal drugs include substances that affect the body and the brain of a person. They are divided into several groups, depending on the method of use and the impact on the brain.
  • Drug Addiction: A Disease or a Choice? Drug addiction remains a serious health concern for contemporary society. The problem of whether drug addiction can be viewed as a disease or a choice remains topical.
  • Wellbutrin and Lexapro: Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitters Wellbutrin and Lexapro are effective drugs in the fight against depressive disorder. However, the drugs are addictive.
  • Drugs and Behavior: History of Alcohol in America The ordinary colonial American drank roughly twice as much alcohol in 1770 as it does today—about three and a half gallons annually.
  • Incretin Mimetic Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes In patients with type 2 diabetes, there is a significant decrease in the incretin effect and a decrease in insulin secretion in response to an oral load.
  • Drug Abuse and Its Impact on Creativity The boosting effect of drugs on creativity is a myth because changes in thinking are a brain reaction to a narcotic that is temporary yet severe.
  • Drug Addiction: The Brain Disease Drug addiction acts similarly to neurological diseases. Substances directly affected the brain, with addiction being the most acute phase of substance use disorder.
  • Random Drug Testing at the Workplace Employees in law enforcement, public health and safety, and national security should all be subjected to random drug testing.
  • Drug Errors: Enhancing Care Quality and Safety Though numerous new technologies have been developed to improve healthcare delivery, drug errors continue to be an issue in the United States.
  • Drug Repurposing in Cancer Treatment This article examines the concept of drug repurposing in the context of pharmaceutical companies’ innovation policy: the methods and economic feasibility of repurposing drugs.
  • Public Policies Related to Drug Addiction Public policies related to drug addiction need to be enforced in a compassionate manner that pays attention to the unique needs of American society.
  • The war on drugs: the causes of its failures.
  • The impact of the war on drugs on minorities.
  • The link between the war on drugs and mass incarceration.
  • Alternatives to the war on drugs.
  • The war on drugs and human rights violations.
  • The economic costs of the war on drugs.
  • The effects of the war on drugs on drug prices and availability.
  • The impact of drug prohibition on drug use patterns.
  • The influence of the war on drugs on drug-producing countries.
  • Unintended adverse effects of the war on drugs.
  • The War on Drugs in the United States The United States government’s combat with substance abuse is called the “War on Drugs,” addressing the campaign initiated by President Nixon.
  • STDs Transmission Involving Drug Use This paper draws a hypothesis suggesting that preventive techniques need to specifically target drug addicts and sex workers to combat the STD epidemic.
  • Drug Addiction and Best Treatment Practices This paper will determine the role of treatment in the recovery process and analyze the best evidence-based practices.
  • Zero Discrimination for People Who Use Drugs From all of the above, it follows that HIV-infected prisoners should have the same access to timely and high-quality medical care as the population.
  • The Drug Abuse Problem in Indiana Drug usage is one of Indiana’s most serious societal problems, affecting the state’s health, economy, behavioral, and criminal elements.
  • The Effect of an Antimicrobial Drug on Gene Expression This paper critically evaluates methods and techniques that can be used to assess the effect of an antimicrobial drug on global gene expression.
  • Drugs: Myths and Misconceptions Starting from the very beginning of the twentieth century and ending even today, drugs as a topic have been surrounded by a mass of myths and misconceptions.
  • Drug Addiction as Moral Failure The paper shows that drug abuse cannot be viewed as a moral failure. Kuhar’s scientific examinations made him come to that conclusion.
  • The Ethical Side of Drug Patents In modern times, the property is no longer strictly bound to any physical representation since it can also be intellectual and intangible.
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases Transmission Involving Drug Use Preventive techniques need to target drug addicts and sex workers to combat the STD epidemic and offer interventions to reduce risky sexual behaviors and drug use.
  • Effects of Drug Use on Society Every society encounters a variety of problems that it needs to address, and one of the most common is drug use among the population.
  • Overcoming the Drug Abuse Addiction The use of narcotic drugs brings irreparable harm to health and diminishes the quality of life. Opioid abuse is a predominant problem that continues to be a concern.
  • Psychotropic Drugs Usage, Effects, Consequences Numerous aspects determine the effectiveness of drug therapy with psychotropic medication, for example, the appropriateness of the choice of pills for the disease.
  • The Problems of Drug Misuse and Abuse and Their Management This research aims to determine the best ways to prescript drugs, the importance of drug interactions, and the potential dangers of drug abuse.
  • Drug Misuse, Abuse, and Their Factors Addiction is a recurrent, chronic disorder characterized by compulsive substance seeking and use despite harmful consequences.
  • The Anti-Drug Programs in Boston The history of drug abuse across the US has been a challenge for decades. There were various anti-drug programs introduced in Boston to curb the spread of its use in the city.
  • Drug Prescription Issues and Abuse This paper aims to determine the best ways to prescript drugs, the importance of drug interactions, and the potential dangers of drug abuse.
  • History of Drug Use in Incarceration The history of drug use in prisons go beyond 2008 with some documents indicating a steady rise in drug use between 1980 and 2008.
  • Rohypnol and Illegal Drugs in Clinical Trials The current paper discusses Rohypnol. It is a generic drug known as flunitrazepam which contains lorazepam, diazepam, and alprazolam.
  • Media Misinformation About Drug Use The United States is one of the countries with the strictest policies, rules, and regulations against the peddling and abuse of illicit drugs.
  • Drug Misuse and Its Effects on Children Health and body functioning are negatively affected, and the condition may manifest itself in drug dependence or an array of other harmful and problematic behaviors.
  • A Spontaneous Reporting System for Drug Safety Surveillance Post-marketing in clinical trials uses a spontaneous reporting system for drug safety surveillance where potential AEs induced by the drugs are detected.
  • Drug Abuse Demographics in Prisons Drug abuse, including alcohol, is a big problem for the people contained in prisons, both in the United States and worldwide.
  • Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Strains As with any other infectious disease, TB exhibits specific signs and symptoms that help distinguish it from other illnesses.
  • Correlation of HIV, AIDS in White Males Who Are Injection Drug Users The testable hypothesis for this work states that socioeconomic status is correlated with HIV/AIDS in white males who are injection drug users.
  • Assessment and Therapeutic Approaches for Drug Addiction Clients The paper uses various drug addiction assessment methods to examine the severity, give clinicians insight into the problem and assist in psychotherapy.
  • COVID-19 Epidemic and Alcohol and Drug Addiction The sudden life changes during the COVID-19 epidemic make it difficult for people who suffer from alcohol and drug dependence to fight their addictions.
  • High-Level Drug Trafficking in Australia Media articles explain the problem of narcotics trafficking across the Australian border. Australia is an effective participant in international drug trafficking organizations.
  • Drug Addiction and Stigmatization The horrifying nature of stigmatization is one of the perplexing factors of drug addiction, so society should understand the role of mental and physical help for such people.
  • Drug Addiction: Analysis of Goeders and Guerin Research Goeders & Guerin (1994) point out that anxiety and stress may be involved in drug use and increased risk of dependency, as these are involved in the etiology of cocaine use.
  • COVID-19 and Drugs at Schools as Public Health Issues This paper discusses two articles on community and public health issues, specifically, concerning COVID vaccination and drugs at schools.
  • Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative There is a significant unmet need for the treatment of many neglected diseases, as well as for patient groups impacted by these.
  • Negative Effects of Drugs on Voice The essay explores the influence of drug intake on the singer’s voice and illustrate the importance of the topic for the singer’s vocal cords maintenance.
  • Drug Abuse at the Workplace and a Policy to Address It In this proposal, a policy to address worker substance abuse and addiction, will be discussed, with both its major goals and potential benefits being outlines.
  • Drug Legalization: Arguments For and Against Some people would say that the U.S. should stop the war on drugs because this war caused enormous imprisonment of small-time drug dealers.
  • Act Liability for Price-Fixing of Generic Drugs The United States Department of Justice reported that Apotex Corporation, among other drug manufacturers, paid over $400 to settle violations of the False Claims Act.
  • The Emergence of Drug-Resistant Pathogens The drug-resistant pathogens phenomenon has endangered the efficacy of drugs such as antibiotics which have helped transform modern medicine and saved countless lives.
  • Non-Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports The use of drugs is prohibited in professional sports. As for the drugs that do not improve performance, they also require control.
  • The Adverse Consequences of Substance Use Tool and the Psychoactive Drug History The patient is a 25-years old White male, homosexual, currently single. He has a medical history of having a severe case of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, clinical depression.
  • Vaccine and Antiviral Drug Supply and Distribution Problem Once the cause of the vaccine and antiviral drugs supply and distribution problem is established, it becomes possible to offer a solution.
  • Drug Addiction Treatment & Benchmark Program
  • The Mexican Drug War and “Queen of the South”
  • Improving Drug Administration in Healthcare Facility
  • Law Enforcement of Drug Business on the Demand Side
  • Effects of the War on Drugs on Latinos in the US and the Role of Stereotypes
  • Causes and Consequences of Alcohol and Drug Addiction
  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Globalization
  • Six Stages of Change: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction
  • Types of Drugs and Types of Domestic Abuse Correlation
  • Drug Production During Crisis: The Case of COVID-19
  • High U.S. Drug Prices: Health Policy Log
  • Why Adolescents Take Drugs: Human Development
  • Prescription Drug Abuse Problem
  • The Influence of Drugs and Social Media
  • War on Drugs: Causes and Problems
  • Drug War in Border Cities: Causes and Consequences
  • Consumption of Illicit Drugs in the United States
  • Court Decisions on Drug Offenders
  • Drug Testing in Pharmacology
  • Cause and Effect of Drug Addiction
  • Drug Use and Addiction Correlations
  • Support for the Legalization of the Drug Consumption
  • Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Program
  • Analysis of Drugs in American Society by E. Goode
  • Male Health Drugs:Overview and Effects
  • Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among the Aboriginal and Torres Islander People
  • Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986: Crack vs. Cocaine Sentencing Disparity
  • The Effect of Prohibition Alcohol and Drug Use
  • Escalating Drug Prices: Solution to the Problem
  • Drugs and Alcohol Influence on Drivers
  • How Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry is Used in Drug Screening
  • Random Drug Testing: Pros and Cons
  • Drugs in the Modern Sports
  • Patient Rights to Experimental Drugs
  • Drug Issues in Watertown, New York
  • Accessory Plus Incorporated’s Drug Abuse Case
  • Racism, Racial Profiling and Bias in the War on Drugs
  • Children Insecurity in the Context of Mother’s Drug Misuse
  • Variables That Impact Sentencing Decision of Judges in Drug Offender Cases
  • The Effectiveness of Drugs in Medicine
  • Drug Trafficking and Terrorism in the Middle East
  • Drugs and Crime Committed Under the Influence
  • Combating the Local Drug Distribution in Missouri
  • Colombian and Mexican Drug Cartels and Their Impact in the U.S.
  • Prescription Drug Abuse as a Community Health Issue
  • Crime Trends: Drug Abuse in Adults and Juveniles
  • Substance Abuse: Alcohol and Drugs in the Movie “Ray”
  • Trade and Usage Control: Drug Enforcement Administration
  • “Addicts Who Survived” by David Courtwright: American Addiction to Narcotics Problem and Anti-drug Policies
  • Social Factors of Substance Drug Abuse
  • The Interrelationship Among a Bacterial Pathogen and Antimicrobial Drugs
  • Should All or Certain Drugs Be Legalized?
  • Drug Release: Ethical Dilemma in Pharmaceutics
  • Drug Abuse in Correction Facilities
  • Distribution of Fake Drugs: Analysis of a Criminal Case
  • Reducing the Number of Adverse Drug Events Among Older Adults: An Action Plan
  • A Study of Drug Allergy, Iron Poisoning and Abnormal Bone Mineral Metabolism
  • Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Amendment
  • Drugs and Crime Description: Federal Drug Statutes
  • Patients Receiving Antipsychotic Drugs: Neuroleptic Syndrome
  • Reducing Adverse Drug Events Among Older Adults
  • The U.S. Drug Prices Assessment
  • Drug Abuse in the United States’ Social Context
  • Judicial Process in Drug Offender Cases: Research Design
  • Drugs for Treating Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders
  • The Importation of Drugs into the United States
  • Drug Courts and Criminal Courts Compared
  • Americcan College of Radiology Protocol and Cancer Therapy Response to Antiangiogenetic Drug
  • Community Health: Prescription Drug Abuse
  • The Concept of the “War on Drugs”
  • Two Acts on Drug Law Comparison
  • Drug Addiction: Elimination of Incarcerations
  • Health Issue Analysis: Prescription Drug Abuse
  • Juveniles and Drugs in the US
  • The Control the Availability of Illicit Drugs
  • “Addicts Who Survived” by David Courtwright: Crucial Work on Drug Addiction
  • Pharmacogenomics Impact on Individual Drug Effectiveness
  • Drug Use and Biological Development in Adolescents
  • Reality in Drug Addiction Research: Ethnography
  • The Drug Abuse in the U.S. Navy: The Problem Analysis
  • The High Cost of Specialty Drugs
  • Overmedication of Children With Psychotropic Drugs
  • Misguided Perception of Drug Addiction
  • International Drug Policy in Russia and the US
  • OxyContin as a Legitimate Drug and a Drug of Abuse
  • Drug Dealing on College Campuses
  • Drug Trade. “Crack” Book by David Farber
  • “Should Drugs Be Legalized?” by William Bennett
  • Combating the Local Drug Distribution
  • Drug Abuse Factors: Substance Use Disorder
  • Prescription Drug Cost Transparency
  • Effects of Drugs on the State of Consciousness
  • Response to a Journal Article on Drug Control Policy
  • Ilaris(R)-Drug Usage in U.S. and Australia
  • Legalization of Marijuana and Other Illegal Drugs
  • The Problem of Increased Morbidity From Adverse Drug Events in Older Adults
  • Drug Abuse and Addiction: Risk Factors
  • Bacterial Cells and Chemotherapeutic Drugs
  • Detention of a Minor While Using Drugs
  • The Relations Between Drug Abuse and Criminal Justice
  • Cocaine as a Drug Chosen for Medical Research
  • Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Organizations
  • Specialty Drugs Costs and Insurance
  • Legalization of Marijuana: The Pros and Cons of the Drug
  • Drug Abuse: Impaired American Society
  • The Issue of Drug Abuse in the Community of Kinsburg
  • Caffeine and Performance of Drugs in Adolescents
  • Adolescent Drug Abuse: Diagnosis and Cultural Awareness
  • Support Services and the Case Review: Drug and Alcohol Addiction
  • Health Reform Bill on Drugs in the United States
  • Research Design for a New Drug That Reduces Appetite
  • The Money Factor in Drug and Alcohol Treatment
  • The Problem of Prescription Drug Abuse in the United States
  • A Health Issue Analysis: Prescription Drug Abuse
  • Drug Use, Dealing and Violence
  • Global Trends Affecting a Local Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers
  • Criminalizing Drug Usage: Effects and Consequences
  • Drugs to Wipe Out Traumatic Memories
  • Mexican Drug Cartels: A Transnational Threat
  • Information Technology and Mexican Drug Cartels
  • Investigating the Issue of Drug Trafficking Through the Points
  • Profession of US Drug Enforcement Agent
  • Random Drug Test on College Athletes
  • Opioid Drug Regulation: Legislative Letter
  • American Prohibition and the War Against Drugs
  • Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction and Various Policies Related to Drugs
  • Drug Abuse and Crime Correlation
  • Drug Addiction: The Problem of Xanax Abuse and Its Consequences
  • Physical Privacy and Drug Testing
  • Drugs and Drug Related Crimes
  • Sports Violations: Drug Use in Baseball
  • Anti-Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco Education Programs
  • Criminal Justice System: Drugs and Crime
  • “Blood for Sale” and “Drug Dilemmas”: Articles Reviews
  • Legalizing Drugs, an Irrational and Harmful Choice
  • Mifepristone Drug: To Approve or to Disapprove?
  • Criminal Justice Ethics: Police Corruption & Drug Sales
  • Prescribed Drugs With Complementary and Alternative Medicines
  • Current Sources of Evidence-Based Standards and Guidelines for Prescribing Psychiatric Drugs
  • Drug Addiction Is a Chronic Disease
  • Drug Trafficking: Investigation on Frank Lucas
  • Law: Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
  • Drug Use in the Workplace: The Case of Acme-Antiroadrunner Inc.
  • Violence in the 20th-Century Latin America: Colombian Drug Wars, Dictatorship in Chile, and Undiscovered Personal Tragedies
  • Nurse Misconduct and Drug Diversion as Legal Issue
  • Computerized Provider Order Entry Against Drug Errors
  • Drug Monitoring and Florida’s State Strategies
  • Drug Prescription Policy Analysis
  • Prescription Drug Misuse in Elderly Patients
  • Improper Drug Administration as a Nursing Practice Issue
  • Food and Drug Administration – Regulatory Agency
  • Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Offenders
  • Soderbergh’s Traffic and the U.S. War on Drugs
  • Public Policy Meeting: Prescription Drug Supply and Cost
  • Health Policy: 340B Drug Pricing Program
  • Brain Gain: The Underground World of Neuroenhancing Drugs
  • Drug-Dealing Organizations in Latin American Politics
  • Drugs and Society: Drug Use and Its Impact on Culture and Society
  • Random Drug Testing in Schools
  • Black Theology and Its Impact on Drug Addiction
  • Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Effectiveness
  • Drug Trafficking Reduction in the United States
  • Undercover Police Investigations in Drug-Related Crimes
  • “Adolescent Alcoholism and Drug Addiction” by Choate
  • Behind the War on Drugs
  • Drug Test on Welfare Recipients
  • Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Aspirin
  • Pramlintide as Anti-Diabetic Drug
  • Antiseizure Medications and Antipsychotic Drugs
  • Addressing the Growing Cost of the Prescription Drugs
  • Nurse Practitioner as a Drug Prescriber
  • Pharmacy and Policy: Inappropriate Prescription of Drugs
  • Teenage Drug and Substance Abuse
  • The Problem of Drug Use and Heroin Addiction in US
  • Using Free and Secure Trade to Smuggle Drugs
  • Food and Drug Administration Fast-Track Approval
  • Computerized Entry of Drug Prescribing Order
  • Healthcare Financing and Drug Addiction
  • Ethics of Abortion and Over-the-Counter Drugs
  • Drug Therapy: Nicotine Interference with Contraceptives
  • Drugs Comparison: Montelukast, Flovent and Albuterol
  • Prescription Drug Use in the United States
  • Drug Safety Approach in Advanced Nursing Practice
  • Drug Abuse, HIV/AIDS, and Songs on Social Issues
  • Drug War Failure and Associated Problems
  • Adverse Drug Events: Evidence-Based Project
  • Miami-Dade Community Needs: Alcohol and Drug Addiction
  • Can Hospitals Manufacture Drugs in the US?
  • Prescription Drugs Prices and Services in Florida
  • Female Drug Abuser’s Recovery Care Plan
  • Nonmedical Use of Drugs and Negative Sexual Events
  • The War on Drugs and the Corrections System
  • Drug Dependency and Behavioral Addictions
  • Casinos: Occupational Safety and Drug-Free Workplace
  • Drug Safety Approach in Administration and Nursing
  • Adverse Drug Events and Nurses’ Awareness
  • Drug War’s Impact on the US Correction System
  • American Drug War and Its Ineffectiveness
  • How Mexico Drug Cartels Are Supporting Conflicts?
  • Sentencing Policies on Drug Offences
  • Drug Dealing Reasons in East Harlem, New York City
  • Drugs and Jazz in James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”
  • American Great Wall to Reduce the Number of Illegal Immigrants and Illegal Drugs
  • Analysis of Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Characteristics, Treatment and Prevention
  • Illicit Drug Use Among American Youths
  • Minimizing Prescription Drug Abuse in Oklahoma
  • Performance Enhancing Drugs and Professional Sport
  • Sociology: Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problem
  • Crisis of Chemical Dependence: Drug Abuse

This article has covered:

Cite this post

  • Chicago (N-B)
  • Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2021, September 9). 419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/drugs-essay-topics/

"419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples." StudyCorgi , 9 Sept. 2021, studycorgi.com/ideas/drugs-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2021) '419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples'. 9 September.

1. StudyCorgi . "419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/drugs-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/drugs-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Questions + Examples." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/drugs-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Drugs were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 22, 2024 .

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

  • Publications
  • Account settings
  • Advanced Search
  • Journal List
  • Indian J Psychiatry
  • v.52(Suppl1); 2010 Jan

Substance use and addiction research in India

Pratima murthy.

Department of Psychiatry, De-Addiction Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore - 560 029, India

N. Manjunatha

B. n. subodh, prabhat kumar chand, vivek benegal.

Substance use patterns are notorious for their ability to change over time. Both licit and illicit substance use cause serious public health problems and evidence for the same is now available in our country. National level prevalence has been calculated for many substances of abuse, but regional variations are quite evident. Rapid assessment surveys have facilitated the understanding of changing patterns of use. Substance use among women and children are increasing causes of concern. Preliminary neurobiological research has focused on identifying individuals at high risk for alcohol dependence. Clinical research in the area has focused primarily on alcohol and substance related comorbidity. There is disappointingly little research on pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. Course and outcome studies emphasize the need for better follow-up in this group. While lack of a comprehensive policy has been repeatedly highlighted and various suggestions made to address the range of problems caused by substance use, much remains to be done on the ground to prevent and address these problems. It is anticipated that substance related research publications in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry will increase following the journal having acquired an ‘indexed’ status.

INTRODUCTION

Substance use has been a topic of interest to many professionals in the area of health, particularly mental health. An area with enormous implications for public health, it has generated a substantial amount of research. In this paper we examine research in India in substance use and related disorders. Substance use includes the use of licit substances such as alcohol, tobacco, diversion of prescription drugs, as well as illicit substances.

METHODOLOGY

For this review, we have carried out a systematic web-based review of the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (IJP). The IJP search included search of both the current and archives section and an issue-to-issue search of articles with any title pertaining to substance use. This has included original articles, reviews, case series and reports with significant implications. Letters to editor and abstracts of annual conference presentations have not been included.

Publications in other journals were accessed through a Medlar search (1992-2009) and a Pubmed search (1950-2009). Other publications related to substance use available on the websites of international and national agencies have also been reviewed. In this review, we focus mainly on publications in the IJP and have selectively reviewed the literature from other sources.

For the sake of convenience, we discuss the publications under the following areas: Epidemiology, clinical issues (diagnosis, psychopathology, comorbidity), biological studies (genetics, imaging, electrophysiology, and vulnerability), interventions and outcomes as well as community interventions and policies. There is a vast amount of literature on tobacco use and consequences in international and national journals, but this is outside the scope of this review. Tobacco is mentioned in this review of substance use to highlight that it should be remembered as the primary licit substance of abuse in our country.

The number of articles (area wise) available from IJP, other Indian journals and international journals are indicated in Figures ​ Figures1 1 and ​ and2. 2 . A majority of the publications in international journals relate to tobacco, substance use co-morbidity and miscellaneous areas like animal studies.

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is IJPsy-52-189-g001.jpg

Publications in the area of substance use and related disorders

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is IJPsy-52-189-g002.jpg

Break up of areas of publication

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Much of the earlier epidemiological research has been regional and it has been very difficult to draw inferences of national prevalence from these studies.

Regional studies

Studies between 1968 until 2000 have been primarily on alcohol use [ Table 1 ]. They have varied in terms of populations surveyed (ranged from 115 to 16,725), sampling procedures (convenient, purposive and representative), focus of enquiry (alcohol use, habitual excessive use, alcohol abuse, alcoholism, chronic alcoholism, alcohol and drug abuse and alcohol dependence), location (urban, rural or both, Slums), in the screening instruments used (survey questionnaires and schedules, semi-structured interviews, quantity frequency index, Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) etc). Alcohol ‘use/abuse’ prevalence in different regions has thus varied from 167/1000 to 370/1000; ‘alcohol addiction’ or ‘alcoholism’ or ‘chronic alcoholism’ from 2.36/1000 to 34.5/1000; alcohol and drug use/abuse from 21.4 to 28.8/1000. A meta-analysis by Reddy and Chandrashekhar[ 26 ] (1998) revealed an overall substance use prevalence of 6.9/1000 for India with urban and rural rates of 5.8 and 7.3/1000 population. The rates among men and women were 11.9 and 1.7% respectively.

Regional epidemiological studies in substance use: A summary

U - Urban; R - Rural; Sl - Slum; SR - Semi-rural; NM - Not mentioned

Regional studies between 2001 and 2007 continue to reflect this variability. Currently, the interest is to look at hazardous alcohol use. A study in southern rural India[ 27 ] showed that 14.2% of the population surveyed had hazardous alcohol use on the AUDIT. A similar study in the tertiary hospital[ 28 ] showed that 17.6% admitted patients had hazardous alcohol use.

The only incidence study on alcohol use from Delhi[ 17 ] found that annual incidence of nondependent alcohol use and dependent alcohol use among men was 3 and 2 per 1000 persons in a total cohort of 2,937 households.

National Studies

The National Household Survey of Drug Use in the country[ 29 ] is the first systematic effort to document the nation-wide prevalence of drug use [ Table 2 ]. Alcohol (21.4%) was the primary substance used (apart from tobacco) followed by cannabis (3.0%) and opioids (0.7%). Seventeen to 26% of alcohol users qualified for ICD 10 diagnosis of dependence, translating to an average prevalence of about 4%. There was a marked variation in alcohol use prevalence in different states of India (current use ranged from a low of 7% in the western state of Gujarat (officially under Prohibition) to 75% in the North-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Tobacco use prevalence was high at 55.8% among males, with maximum use in the age group 41-50 years.

Nationwide studies on substance use prevalence

H-H - House to house survey; M - Male; F - Female; A - Alcohol, C - Cannabis; O - Opioids; T - Tobacco

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)[ 30 ] provides some insights into tobacco and alcohol use. The changing trends between NFHS 2 and NFHS 3 reflect an increase in alcohol use among males since the NFHS 2, and an increase in tobacco use among women.

The Drug Abuse Monitoring System,[ 29 ] which evaluated the primary substance of abuse in inpatient treatment centres found that the major substances were alcohol (43.9%), opioids (26%) and cannabis (11.6%).

Patterns of substance use

Rapid situation assessments (RSA) are useful to study patterns of substance use. An RSA by the UNODC in 2002[ 31 ] of 4648 drug users showed that cannabis (40%), alcohol (33%) and opioids (15%) were the major substances used. A Rapid Situation and Response Assessment (RSRA) among 5800 male drug users[ 32 ] revealed that 76% of the opioid users currently injected buprenorphine, 76% injected heroin, 70% chasing and 64% using propoxyphene. Most drug users concomitantly used alcohol (80%). According to the World Drug Report,[ 33 ] of 81,802 treatment seekers in India in 2004-2005, 61.3% reported use of opioids, 15.5% cannabis, 4.1% sedatives, 1.5% cocaine, 0.2% amphetamines and 0.9% solvents.

Special populations

In the last decade, there has been a shift in viewing substance use and abuse as an exclusive adult male phenomenon to focusing on the problem in other populations. In the GENACIS study[ 34 ] covering a population of 2981 respondents [1517 males; 1464 females], across five districts of Karnataka, 5.9% of all female respondents (N =87) reported drinking alcohol at least once in the last 12 months, compared to 32.7% among male respondents (N = 496). Special concerns with women’s drinking include the fetal alcohol spectrum effects described with alcohol use during pregnancy.[ 35 ]

Abuse of other substances among women has largely been studied through Rapid Assessment Surveys. A survey of 1865 women drug users by 110 NGOs across the country[ 36 ] revealed that 25% currently were heroin users, 18% used dextropropoxyphene, 11% opioid containing cough syrups and 7% buprenorphine. Eighty seven per cent concomitantly used alcohol and 83% used tobacco. Twenty five per cent of respondents had lifetime history of injecting drug use and 24% had been injecting in the previous month. There are serious sexually transmitted disease risks, including HIV that women partners and drug users face.[ 36 , 37 ]

Substance use in medical fraternity

As early as 1977, a drug abuse survey in Lucknow among medical students revealed that 25.1% abused a drug at least once in a month. Commonly abused drugs included minor tranquilizers, alcohol, amphetamines, bhang and non barbiturate sedatives. In a study of internees on the basis of a youth survey developed by the WHO in 1982,[ 38 ] 22.7% of males ‘indulged in alcohol abuse’ at least once in a month, 9.3% abused cannabis, followed by tranquilizers. Common reasons cited were social reasons, enjoyment, curiosity and relief from psychological stress. Most reported that it was easy to obtain drugs like marijuana and amphetamines. Substance use among medical professionals has become the subject of recent editorials.[ 39 , 40 ]

Substance use among children

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey[ 41 ] in 2006 showed that 3.8% of students smoke and 11.9% currently used smokeless tobacco. Tobacco as a gateway to other drugs of abuse has been the topic of a symposium.[ 42 ]

A study of 300 street child laborers in slums of Surat in 1993[ 43 ] showed that 135 (45%) used substances. The substances used were smoking tobacco, followed by chewable tobacco, snuff, cannabis and opioids. Injecting drug use[ 44 ] is also becoming apparent among street children as are inhalants.[ 45 ]

A study in the Andamans[ 46 ] shows that onset of regular use of alcohol in late childhood and early adolescence is associated with the highest rates of consumption in adult life, compared to later onset of drinking.

Studies in other populations

A majority of 250 rickshaw pullers interviewed in New Delhi[ 47 ] in 1986 reported using tobacco (79.2%), alcohol (54.4%), cannabis (8.0%) and opioids (0.8%). The substances reportedly helped them to be awake at night while working. In a study of prevalence of psychiatric illness in an industrial population[ 48 ] in 2007, harmful use/dependence on substances (42.83%) was the most common psychiatric condition. A study among industrial workers from Goa on hazardous alcohol use using the AUDIT and GHQ 12 estimated a prevalence of 211/1000 with hazardous drinking.[ 19 ]

Hospital-based studies

These studies have basically described profiles of substance use among patients and include patterns of alcohol use,[ 49 – 53 ] opioid use,[ 54 – 56 ] pediatric substance use,[ 57 ] female substance use,[ 58 ] children of alcoholics[ 59 ] and geriatric substance use.[ 60 ]

Alcohol misuse has been implicated in 20% of brain injuries[ 61 ] and 60% of all injuries in the emergency room setting.[ 62 ] In a retrospective study of emergency treatment seeking in Sikkim between 2000 and 2005,[ 63 ] substance use emergencies constituted 1.16% of total psychiatric emergencies. Alcohol withdrawal was the commonest cause for reporting to the emergency (57.4%).

Effects of substance use disorders

Mortality and morbidity due to alcohol and tobacco have been extensively reviewed elsewhere[ 35 , 64 – 66 ] and are beyond the scope of this review. The effects of cannabis have also been reviewed.[ 67 ] Mortality with injecting drug use is a serious concern with increase in crude mortality rates to 4.25 among injecting drug users compared to the general population.[ 68 ] Increased susceptibility to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases has been reported with alcohol[ 69 ] as well as injecting drug use.[ 70 ]

Clinical issues

Harmful alcohol use patterns among admitted patients in general hospital has highlighted the importance of routine screening and intervention in health care settings.[ 71 ]

Peer influence is a significant factor for heroin initiation.[ 72 ] Precipitants of relapse (dysfunction, stress and life events) differ among alcohol and opioid dependents.[ 73 ] Chronologies in the development of dependence have been evaluated in alcohol dependence.[ 74 , 75 ]

Craving a common determinant of relapse has been shown to reduce with increase in length of period of abstinence.[ 76 ]

Alcohol dependence constitutes a significant group among the psychiatric population in the Armed Forces.[ 77 ] A study of personality factors[ 78 ] among 100 alcohol dependent persons showed significantly high neuroticism, extroversion, anxiety, depression, psychopathic deviation, stressful life events and significantly low self-esteem as compared with normal control subjects. Alcohol dependence causes impairment in set shifting, visual scanning and response inhibition abilities and relative abstinence has been found to improve this deficit.[ 79 , 80 ] Alcohol use has had a significant association with head injury and cognitive deficits.[ 81 , 82 ] Persistent drinking is associated with persisting memory deficits in head injured alcohol dependent patients.[ 82 ] Mild intellectual impairment has been demonstrated in patients with bhang and ganja dependence.[ 83 – 86 ]

Kumar and Dhawan[ 87 ] found that health related reasons like death/physical complications due to drug use in peers and patients themselves, knowledge of HIV and difficulties in accessing veins were the main reason for reverse transition (shift from parenteral to inhalation route).

Evaluation and assessment

Diagnostic issues have focused on cross-system agreement[ 88 ] between ICD-10 and DSM IV, variability in diagnostic criteria across MAST, RDC, DSM and ICD[ 89 ] and suitability of MAST as a tool for detecting alcoholism.[ 90 ] The CIWA-A was found useful in monitoring alcohol withdrawal syndrome.[ 91 ]

The utility of liver functions for diagnosis of alcoholism and monitoring recovery has been demonstrated in clinical settings.[ 92 – 94 ] A range of hepatic dysfunction has been demonstrated through liver biopsies.[ 95 ]

A few studies have focused on scale development for motivation[ 96 , 97 ] and addiction related dysfunction[ 98 ] (Brief Addiction Rating Scale). An evaluation of two psychomotor tests comparing smokers and non-smokers found no differences across the two groups.[ 99 ]

Typology research has included validation of Babor’s[ 100 ] cluster A and B typologies, age of onset typology,[ 101 ] and a review on typology of alcoholism.[ 102 ]

Craving plays an important role in persistence of substance use and relapse. Frequency of craving has been shown to decrease with increase in length of abstinence among heroin dependent patients. Socio-cultural factors did not influence the subjective experience of craving.[ 76 ]

In a study of heroin dependent patients, their self-report moderately agreed with urinalysis using thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).[ 103 ] The authors, however, recommend that all drug dependence treatment centers have facilities for drug testing in order to validate self-report.

Comorbidity/dual diagnosis

Cannabis related psychopathology has been a favorite topic of enquiry in both retrospective[ 104 , 105 ] and prospective studies[ 106 ] and vulnerability to affective psychosis has been highlighted. The controversial status of a specific cannabis withdrawal syndrome and cannabis psychosis has been reviewed.[ 67 ]

High life time prevalence of co-morbidity (60%) has been demonstrated among both opioid and alcohol dependent patients.[ 107 ] In alcohol dependence, high rates of depression and cluster B personality disorders[ 54 , 108 ] and phobia[ 109 ] have been demonstrated, but the need to revaluate for depressive symptoms after detoxification has been highlighted.[ 110 ] It is necessary to evaluate for ADHD, particularly in early onset alcohol dependent patients.[ 111 ] Seizures are overrepresented in subjects with alcohol and merit detailed evaluation.[ 112 ] Delirium and convulsions can also complicate opioid withdrawal states.[ 113 , 114 ] Skin disease,[ 115 ] and sexual dysfunction[ 116 ] have also been the foci of enquiry. Phenomenological similarities between alcoholic hallucinosis and paranoid schizophrenia have been discussed.[ 117 ] Opioid users with psychopathology[ 118 ] have diverse types of psychopathology as do users of other drugs.[ 119 ]

In a study of 22 dual diagnosed schizophrenia patients, substance use disorder preceded the onset of schizophrenic illness in the majority.[ 120 ] While one study found high rates of comorbid substance use (54%) in patients with schizophrenia with comorbid substance users showing more positive symptoms[ 121 ] which remitted more rapidly in the former group,[ 122 ] other studies suggest that substance use comorbidity in schizophrenia is low, and is an important contributor to better outcome in schizophrenia in developing countries like India.[ 123 , 124 ]

The diagnosis and management of dual diagnosis has been reviewed in detail.[ 125 ]

Social factors

Co-dependency has been described in spouses of alcoholics and found to correlate with the Addiction Severity scores of their husbands.[ 126 ] Coping behavior described among wives of alcoholics include avoidance, indulgence and fearful withdrawal.[ 127 ] These authors did not find any differences in personality between wives of alcoholics compared to controls.[ 128 ] Delusional jealousy and fighting behavior of substance abusers/dependents are important determinants of suicidal attempts among their spouses.[ 129 ] Parents of narcotic dependent patients, particularly mothers also show significant distress.[ 130 ]

BIOLOGY OF ADDICTION

An understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of drug dependence has led to a reformulation of the etiology of this complex disorder.[ 131 ] An understanding of specific neurotransmitter systems has led to the development of specific pharmacotherapies for these disorders.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms

Altered alcohol metabolism due to polymorphisms in the alcohol metabolizing enzymes may influence clinical and behavioral toxicity due to alcohol. Erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase was demonstrated to be suitable as a peripheral trait marker for alcohol dependence.[ 132 ] Single nucleotide polymorphism of the ALDH 2 gene has been studied in six Indian populations and provides the baseline for future studies in alcoholism.[ 133 ] An evaluation of ADH 1B and ALDH 2 gene polymorphism in alcohol dependence showed a high frequency of the ALDH2*2/*2 genotype among alcohol-dependent subjects.[ 134 ] DRD2 polymorphisms have been studied in patients with alcohol dependence, but a study in an Indian population failed to show a positive association. Genetic polymorphisms of the opioid receptor µ1 has been associated with alcohol and heroin addiction in a population from Eastern India.[ 135 ]

Neuro-imaging and electrophysiological studies

Certain individuals may develop early and severe problems due to alcohol misuse and be poorly responsive to treatment. Such vulnerability has been related to individual differences in brain functioning [ Figure 3 ]. Individuals with a high family history of alcoholism (specifically of the early-onset type, developing before 25 years of age) display a cluster of disinhibited behavioral traits, usually evident in childhood and persisting into adulthood.[ 136 ]

An external file that holds a picture, illustration, etc.
Object name is IJPsy-52-189-g003.jpg

Brain volume differences between children and adolescents at high risk and low risk for alcohol dependence

Early onset drinking may be influenced by delayed brain maturation. Alcohol-naïve male offspring of alcohol-dependent fathers have smaller (or slowly maturing) brain volumes compared to controls in brain areas responsible for attention, motivation, judgment and learning.[ 137 , 138 ] The lag is hypothesized to work through a critical function of brain maturation-perhaps delayed myelination (insulation of brain pathways).

Functionally, this is thought to create a state of central nervous system hyperexcitability or disinhibition.[ 139 ] Individuals at risk have also been shown to have specific electro-physiological characteristics such as reduced amplitude of the P300 component of the event related potential.[ 140 , 141 ] Auditory P300 abnormalities have also been demonstrated among opiate dependent men and their male siblings.[ 142 ]

Such brain disinhibition is manifest by a spectrum of behavioral abnormalities such as inattention (low boredom thresholds), hyperactivity, impulsivity, oppositional behaviors and conduct problems, which are apparent from childhood and persist into adulthood. These brain processes not only promote impulsive risk-taking behaviors like early experimentation with alcohol and other substances but also appear to increase the reinforcement from alcohol while reducing the subjective appreciation of the level of intoxication, thus making it more likely that these individuals are likely not only to start experimenting with alcohol use at an early age but are more likely to have repeated episodes of bingeing.[ 143 ]

INTERVENTIONS, COURSE AND OUTCOME

Although there are a few review articles on pharmacological treatment of alcoholism,[ 144 , 145 ] there is a dearth of randomized studies on relapse prevention treatment in our setting.

Treatment of complications of substance use has been confined to case reports. A case report of thiamine resistant Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome[ 146 ] successfully treated with a combination of magnesium sulphate and thiamine. Another case of subclinical psychological deterioration[ 147 ] (alcoholic dementia) improved with thiamine and vitamin B supplementation.

Pharmacological intervention

A randomized double blind study compared the effectiveness of detoxification with either lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide among hundred alcohol dependent inpatients with simple withdrawal. Lorazepam was found to be as effective as the more traditional drug chlordiazepoxide in attenuating alcohol withdrawal symptoms as assessed using the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scale.[ 148 ] This has implications for treatment in peripheral settings where liver function tests may not be available. However, benzodiazepines must be used carefully and monitored as dependence is very common.[ 149 ]

In a study closer to the real-world situation from Mumbai, 100 patients with alcohol dependence with stable families were randomized to receive disulfiram or topiramate. At the end of nine months, though patients on topiramate had less craving, a greater proportion of patients on disulfiram were abstinent (90% vs. 56%). Patients in the disulfiram group also had a longer time to their first drink and relapse.[ 150 ] Similar studies by the same authors and with similar methodology had earlier found that disulfiram was superior to acamprosate and Naltrexone. Though the study lacked blinding, it had an impressively low (8%) dropout rate.[ 151 , 152 ] A chart based review has shown there was no significant difference with regard to abstinence among the patients prescribed acamprosate, naltrexone or no drugs. Although patients on acamprosate had significantly better functioning, lack of randomization and variations in base line selection parameters may have influenced these findings.[ 153 ] Short term use of disulfiram among alcohol dependence patients with smoking was not associated with decrease pulmonary function test (FEV 1 ) and airway reactivity.[ 154 ]

Usefulness of clonidine for opioid detoxification has been described by various authors. These studies date back to 1980 when there was no alternative treatment for opioid dependence and clonidine emerged as the treatment of choice for detoxification in view of its anti adrenergic activity.[ 155 – 157 ] Sublingual buprenorphine for detoxification among these patients was reported as early as 1992. At that time the dose used was much lower, i.e. 0.6 -1.2 mg/ day which is in contrast to the current recommended dose of 6-16 mg/day. Comparison of buprenorphine (0.6-1.2 mg/ day) and clonidine (0.3-0.9 mg/day) for detoxification found no difference among treatment non completers. Maximum drop out occurred on the fifth day when withdrawal symptoms were very high.[ 158 ] A 24- week outcome study of buprenorphine maintenance in opiate users showed high retention rates of 81.5%, reduction in Addiction Severity Index scores and injecting drug use. Use of slow release oral morphine for opioid maintenance has also been reported.[ 159 ] Effectiveness of baclofen in reducing withdrawal symptoms among three patients with solvent dependence is reported.[ 160 ]

Psychosocial

Psychoeducational groups have been found to facilitate recovery in alcohol and drug dependence.[ 161 ] Family intervention therapy in addition to pharmacotherapy was shown to reduce the severity of alcohol intake and improve the motivation to stop alcohol in a case-control design study.[ 162 ] Several community based models of care have been developed with encouraging results.[ 163 ]

Course and outcome

An evaluation after five years, of 800 patients with alcohol dependence treated at a de-addiction center, found that 63% had not utilized treatment services beyond one month emphasizing the need to retain patients in follow-up.[ 164 ]

In a follow-up study on patients with alcohol dependence, higher income and longer duration of in-patient treatment were found to positively correlate with improved outcome at three month follow up. Outcome data was available for 52% patients; 81% of those maintained abstinence.[ 165 ] Maximum attrition was between three to six months. In a similar study among in-patients, 46% were abstinent. The drop out rate was 10% at the end of one year.[ 101 ] Studies done in the community setting have shown the effectiveness of continued care in predicting better outcome in alcohol dependence. In one study the patient group from a low socio-economic status who received weekly follow up or home visit at a clinic located within the slum showed improvement at the end of month 3, 6 and 9, and one year, in comparison with a control group that received no active follow-up intervention.[ 166 ] In a one-year prospective study of outcome following de-addiction treatment, poor outcome was associated with higher psychosocial problems, family history of alcoholism and more follow-up with mental health services.[ 167 ]

COMMUNITY INTERVENTIONS AND POLICIES

The camp approach for treatment of alcohol dependence was popularized by the TTK hospital camp approach at Manjakkudi in Tamil Nadu.[ 168 ] Treatment of alcohol and drug abuse in a camp setting as a model of drug de-addiction in the community through a 10 day camp treatment was found to have good retention rates and favorable outcome at six months.

Community perceptions of substance related problems are useful to understand for policy development. In a 1981 study in urban and rural Punjab of 1031 respondents, 45% felt people could not drink without producing bad effects on their health, 26.2% felt they could have one or two drinks per month without affecting their health. About one third felt it was alright to have one or two drinks on an occasion. 16.9% felt it was normal to drink ‘none at all’. Alcoholics were identified by behavior such as being dead drunk, drinking too much, having arguments and fights and creating public nuisance. Current users gave the most permissive responses and non-users the most restrictive responses regarding the norms for drinking.[ 169 ] The influence of cultural norms[ 170 ] has led the tendency to view drugs as ‘good’ and ‘bad’.

Simulations done in India have demonstrated that implementing a nationwide legal drinking age of 21 years in India, can achieve about 50-60 % of the alcohol consumption reducing effects compared to prohibition.[ 171 ] However, recently there are attempts to increase the permissible legal alcohol limit. This kind of contrarian approach does not make for coherent policy.

It has been argued that the 1970s saw an overzealous implementation of a simplistic model of supply and demand.[ 171 ] A presidential address[ 172 ] in 1991 emphasized the need for a multipronged approach to addressing alcohol-related problems. Existing programs have been identified as being patchy, poorly co-ordinated and poorly funded. Primary, secondary and tertiary approaches were discussed. The address highlighted the need for supply and demand side measures to address this significant public health problem. It highlighted the political and financial power of the alcohol industry and the social ambivalence to drinking. More recently, the need to have interventions for harmful and hazardous use, the need to develop evidence based combinations of pharmacotherapy and psychosocial interventions and stepped care solutions have been highlighted.[ 173 ] Standard treatment guidelines for alcohol and other drug use disorders have suggested specific measures at the primary, secondary and tertiary health care level, including at the solo physician level.[ 174 ] An earlier report in 1988 on training general practitioners on management of alcohol related problems[ 175 ] suggests that their involvement in alcohol and health education was modest, involvement in control and regulatory activities minimal, and they perceived no role in the development of a health and alcohol policy.

There have been reviews of the National Master Plan 1994, which envisaged different responsibilities for the Ministries of Health and the Ministry of Welfare (presently Social Justice and Empowerment) and the Drug Dependence Program 1996.[ 176 , 177 ] A proposal for adoption of a specialty section on addiction medicine[ 178 ] includes the development of a dedicated webpage, co-ordinated CMEs, commissioning of position papers, promoting demand reduction strategies and developing a national registry.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

While epidemiological research has now provided us with figures for national-level prevalence, it would be prudent to recognize that there are regional differences in substance use prevalence and patterns. It is also prudent to recognize the dynamic nature of substance use. There is thus a need for periodic national surveys to determine changing prevalence and incidence of substance use. Substance use is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Substance use among women and children is increasingly becoming the focus of attention and merits further research. Pharmaceutical drug abuse and inhalant use are serious concerns. For illicit drug use, rapid assessment surveys have provided insights into patterns and required responses. Drug related emergencies have not been adequately studied in the Indian context.

Biological research has focused on two broad areas, neurobiology of vulnerability and a few studies on molecular genetics. There is a great need for translation research based on the wider body of basic and animal research in the area.

Clinical research has primarily focused on alcohol. An area which has received relatively more attention in substance related comorbidity. There is very little research on development and adaptation of standardized tools for assessment and monitoring, and a few family studies. Ironically, though several evidence based treatments have now become available in the country, there are very few studies examining the utilization and effectiveness of these treatments, given that most treatment is presently unsubsidized and dependent on out of pocket expenditure. Both pharmacological and psychosocial interventions have disappointingly attracted little research. Course and outcome studies emphasize the need for better follow-up in this group.

While a considerable number of publications have lamented the lack of a coherent policy, the need for human resource enhancement and professional training and recommended a stepped-care multipronged approach, much remains to be done on the ground.

Finally, publication interest in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry in the area of substance use will undoubtedly increase, with the journal having become indexed.

Source of Support: Nil

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Mark Gold M.D.

Key Addiction Points You Need to Know

Make a difference in the current opioid crisis..

Updated February 18, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

  • What Is Addiction?
  • Find a therapist to overcome addiction
  • Adolescents should avoid drug experimentation to prevent problematic changes in their developing brains.
  • The U.S. concentrates on reversing opioid drug overdosages, but other strategies are necessary.
  • Drugs like opioids target the brain’s pleasure system, causing brain changes.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is the nation's most pressing public health challenge, and the most urgent SUD in 2024 is opioid abuse and dependency. According to the CDC, more than one million people have died since 1999 from drug overdose. In 2022, nearly 74,000 people in the U.S. died from fentanyl overdose, more than double the deaths in 2019.

From necessity, opioid crisis policy in the United States has focused on reversing overdose deaths rather than treating individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). This approach has created a revolving door of overdose-rescue-treatment-overdose. Narcan-naloxone, an antidote to opioid overdose I used in the 1970s, still saves lives today, yet overall, U.S. life expectancy is decreasing because of opioid deaths.

The Opioid Crisis

We are in the third phase of the opioid crisis, which began with the epidemic abuse of Oxycontin. The second phase was a heroin epidemic. The third phase is the fentanyl epidemic.

An unintended consequence of changing from prescription opioids to heroin and fentanyl is most users have no idea of the dosage or purity of their drugs. During the Oxycontin phase, users knew their pill was pure and FDA-approved, and the dosage was imprinted on each pill. Drug dealers today offer counterfeit pills that may contain nothing of what they are sold as, as well as adulterated heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, making street use a Russian roulette .

Naloxone Overdose Reversals

Opioid overdoses are reversed when naloxone is administered. However, most overdoses occur outside the hospital when users are home or elsewhere. There is much to gain from giving naloxone to everyone who overdoses. Whether a person or their friends say overdose is due to cocaine, methamphetamine, or another drug is less critical.

Also, after an overdose reversal, individuals who administered naloxone should call 911 because naloxone wears off, longer-acting opioids are still present, and the person can re-overdose .

Addiction and Time

Addiction , especially to opioids, takes time. The longer use continues, the stronger the bond between the user and the drug. Other bonds weaken, such as ties with the person's family, friends, and colleagues. Over time, free will is compromised, with survival-related priorities losing influence.

The evolving concept of pre-addiction, modeled on pre-diabetes, focuses on identifying and treating problematic users. This means doing something now rather than waiting for overdoses or hitting bottom.

Most Addicts Take Multiple Drugs

Although we often talk about opioids in isolation, drugs are usually abused with other drugs. Treatment of OUD usually means treating multiple medical and psychiatric problems and SUD co-addictions. We have no treatment medications for methamphetamine and cocaine overdoses or medication -assisted treatment (MAT) for them.

Postmortems of opioid overdose patients usually show the deceased person consumed other drugs, cannabis or tobacco, and medications like antidepressants , sleeping pills, or benzodiazepines. Another key point: Most overdoses occur in people with a history of overdoses. This means carrying naloxone and remaining vigilant is important for family and friends.

Support Continued MAT Treatment

MAT only works if patients take their medicine. Most patients drop out of treatment and have about the same risk of overdose as before starting MAT. Sometimes, they stop MAT to prove they are cured when the opposite is true. Keep in mind that slips and relapses may also be caused by untreated psychiatric illness or inability to manage sleep, pain, stress , or drug cravings.

Oddly, some experts suggest if MAT treatment does not work, it is the patient's fault. They have not hit bottom or should retry the previously failed treatment. Instead, more treatment options are needed, from telehealth to residential treatment. Also, we need to consider some non-responders might represent a new category of OUD, treatment-resistant opioid use disorder (TROUD).

drug addiction research paper topics

Methadone Is Underused

If important outcome measures are prevention of overdose and retention in long-term treatment, methadone is usually best. An important study released in 2018 of nearly 18,000 adults who survived an opioid overdose revealed overdose deaths decreased 59 percent for those receiving methadone and 38 percent for those receiving buprenorphine over 12 months.

However, methadone is underutilized because the drug is under strict prescriber regulations absent from other FDA-approved OUD medicines. For example, Suboxone, but not methadone, can be prescribed by physicians and nurse practitioners and available by telemedicine . These guidelines make little sense today.

A classic study proved methadone maintenance should be managed like other SUD treatments and combined with counseling and lifestyle changes. Yet many programs have devolved into medication-only drug delivery vehicles.

Addiction May Have Genetic Risks

Genetic risk factors may increase risks for OUD. These allow for the futuristic possibility of identifying genetic test markers linked to personal risks for developing OUD. Eventually, genetic testing may help us understand why some individuals say they were addicted the first time they took an opioid. In contrast, others reportedly used the drug for weeks before the same thing happened to them.

But even when a person has OUD risk genes , keep in mind these risks aren't destiny and can be modified by the environment . For example, posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) makes overdoses more likely, while a higher educational level makes overdoses less likely.

In addition , when in the lifecycle the drug is taken and whether the person is under 18 or has preexisting PTSD, trauma , serious pain, or a psychiatric illness are all significant factors affecting addiction risks.

Drugs Change the Pleasure System

Drugs are abused to elicit artificial pleasure, and over time, these drugs alter the brain's pleasure system. The identical dose taken intravenously or by smoking does not have the same effects as taken orally or intranasally, and the faster the drug gets to the pleasure system, the more addicting it is. All drugs of abuse can compromise the natural system by repeated use, causing a pleasure deficiency syndrome.

Some people use drugs because they have a psychiatric illness like depression . For others, the drug itself causes chemical changes, making susceptible individuals depressed and hopeless. Fentanyl may have even more severe effects compared with other opioids in producing anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), depression, despair, and suicidal thinking.

Unsurprisingly, many patients with OUDs are depressed, and some who overdose are suicidal. In a Harvard study of overdose survivors, suicide or suicidal thinking was at the top of their minds when people overdosed.

Yet, as a society, we have taken a bizarre approach to overdoses. We do not track overdoses, reversals, or loss of consciousness caused by drugs in a way that helps patients. Many OUD patients have had so many overdoses, reversals, loss of consciousness, falls, head trauma, and injuries that by the time they are evaluated, they have signs of brain injury. Respiratory depression is a defining characteristic of opioid overdose, and prolonged cerebral hypoxia may cause brain injuries and neurocognitive impairments that need evaluation and treatment, like head injuries in sports medicine.

The Bottom Line

Continued research and outcomes analysis are needed. Applying what we know works while rejecting old ideas that are no longer relevant is best. When we say this is a matter of life and death, we mean it.

Connery HS, Weiss RD, Griffin ML, Trinh CD, Kim J, Rockett IRH, McHugh RK. Suicidal motivations among opioid overdose survivors: Replication and extension. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Jun 1;235:109437. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109437. Epub 2022 Apr 2. PMID: 35427980; PMCID: PMC9106902

Lee YK, Gold MS, Blum K, Thanos PK, Hanna C, Fuehrlein BS. Opioid use disorder: current trends and potential treatments. Front Public Health. 2024 Jan 25;11:1274719. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1274719. PMID: 38332941; PMCID: PMC10850316

Mahoney JJ 3rd, Winstanley EL, Castillo F, Luba R, Marton J, Alschuler DM, Liu Y, Comer SD. A pilot study investigating cognitive impairment associated with opioid overdose. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 Jun 1;247:109865. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109865. Epub 2023 Apr 5. PMID: 37094488; PMCID: PMC10230403

Mark Gold M.D.

Mark S. Gold, M.D., is a pioneering researcher, professor, and chairman of psychiatry at Yale, the University of Florida, and Washington University in St Louis. His theories have changed the field, stimulated additional research, and led to new understanding and treatments for opioid use disorders, cocaine use disorders, overeating, smoking, and depression.

  • Find a Therapist
  • Find a Treatment Center
  • Find a Psychiatrist
  • Find a Support Group
  • Find Teletherapy
  • United States
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • Chicago, IL
  • Houston, TX
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • New York, NY
  • Portland, OR
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Washington, DC
  • Asperger's
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Chronic Pain
  • Eating Disorders
  • Passive Aggression
  • Personality
  • Goal Setting
  • Positive Psychology
  • Stopping Smoking
  • Low Sexual Desire
  • Relationships
  • Child Development
  • Therapy Center NEW
  • Diagnosis Dictionary
  • Types of Therapy

January 2024 magazine cover

Overcome burnout, your burdens, and that endless to-do list.

  • Coronavirus Disease 2019
  • Affective Forecasting
  • Neuroscience

America's addiction crisis: It's not just fentanyl. These drugs play a growing role.

drug addiction research paper topics

Illicit fentanyl, the driving force behind the U.S. overdose epidemic, is increasingly being used in conjunction with methamphetamine, a new report shows.

The laboratory Millennium Health said 60% of patients whose urine samples contained fentanyl last year also tested positive for methamphetamine. Cocaine was detected in 22% of the fentanyl-positive samples.

Millennium officials said the report represents the impact of the "fourth wave" of the nation's overdose epidemic, which began over a decade ago with the misuse of prescription opioids, then came a heroin crisis and more recently an increase in the use of illicit fentanyl. The study found that people battling addiction are increasingly using illicit fentanyl along with other substances, including stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine.

The report suggests heroin and prescription opioids are being abused less often than they were a decade ago. Of the urine samples containing fentanyl analyzed in the report, 17% also contained heroin and 7% showed the presence of prescription opioids.

The Millennium report is based on analyses of urine samples collected from more than 4.1 million patients in 50 states from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 15, 2023. The samples were collected in doctors' offices and clinics that see patients for pain, addiction and behavioral health treatment.

Overall, 93% of fentanyl samples tested positive for at least one other substance, a concerning finding, said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

"I did not expect that number to be so high," she said.

Overdose deaths climb

Drug overdose deaths in the United States surged past 100,000 in 2021 and increased again in 2022. Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed overdose deaths through September 2023 increased about 2% compared with the year before.

Other reports show that stimulants, mostly methamphetamine, are increasingly involved in fentanyl overdoses. In 2021, stimulants were detected in about 1 in 3 fentanyl overdose deaths, compared with just 1 in 100 in 2010.

The finding of methamphetamine in so many samples is especially concerning, said Eric Dawson, vice president of clinical affairs Millennium Health.

"Methamphetamine is more potent, more pure and probably cheaper than it's ever been at any time in this country," Dawson said. "The methamphetamine product that is flooding all of our communities is as dangerous as it's ever been."

Methamphetamine has no rescue drugs, treatments

As methamphetamine use appears to play a larger role in the addiction crisis, the medical community does not have the same tools to counter its misuse.

Naloxone and similar overdose reversal medications counteract opioid overdoses by blocking opioid receptors in the brain to quickly reverse the effects of an overdose. Narcan, a nasal spray version of naloxone, can be purchased and is kept in stock by public health departments, schools, police and fire departments and federal agencies nationwide. Chain retailers such as CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Walmart began selling Narcan  over the counter without a prescription.

But there is no medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for overdoses involving stimulants such as methamphetamine.

Opioid substitute medications such as methadone and buprenorphine are used to reduce cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms from opioids. There are no equivalent medications, however, for people who are dependent on methamphetamine or other stimulants, Dawson said.

That deficit is glaring, Dawson said: "We need effective treatments for stimulant-use disorder."

Meth samples more common in the West

The Millennium report also found that drug use differed by region, and methamphetamine samples were detected more frequently in the western U.S.

Methamphetamine was detected in more than 70% of fentanyl-positive urine samples in the Pacific and Mountain West states. Meth showed up least often in fentanyl-positive samples in the mid- and south-Atlantic states, the report said.

Cocaine appeared to be more prevalent in the eastern U.S. More than 54% of fentanyl-positive samples in New England also had cocaine. By comparison, fewer than 1 in 10 of the samples showed cocaine in the mountain region of the West, the report said.

Other findings from the report:

∎ The presence of cocaine samples in fentanyl-positive specimens surged 318% from 2013 to 2023.

∎ The presence of heroin in fentanyl-positive specimens dropped by 75% after a peak in 2016.

∎ The presence of prescription opioids in fentanyl-positive specimens dropped to an all-time low in 2023, which researchers cite as evidence that the U.S. addiction crisis has shifted from pain medications.

Nationwide, the addiction epidemic has evolved to a phase in which people are often using multiple substances, not just fentanyl, Volkow said. This polysubstance abuse complicates matters for public health authorities seeking to slow the nation's overdose deaths.

Volkow said reports such as Millennium Health's are important because they give researchers a snapshot of the nation's evolving drug use and provide more timely data than death investigations from overdoses can offer.

Ken Alltucker is on X, formerly Twitter, at @kalltucker, or can be emailed at [email protected] .

Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts

Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives.

What Is drug addiction?

Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.

It's common for a person to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and should be adjusted based on how the patient responds. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing needs.

Video: Why are Drugs So Hard to Quit?

Illustration of female scientist pointing at brain scans in research lab setting.

What happens to the brain when a person takes drugs?

Most drugs affect the brain's "reward circuit," causing euphoria as well as flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. A properly functioning reward system motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and spending time with loved ones. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy behaviors like taking drugs, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.

As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it. This reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as tolerance. They might take more of the drug to try and achieve the same high. These brain adaptations often lead to the person becoming less and less able to derive pleasure from other things they once enjoyed, like food, sex, or social activities.

Long-term use also causes changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well, affecting functions that include:

  • decision-making

Despite being aware of these harmful outcomes, many people who use drugs continue to take them, which is the nature of addiction.

Why do some people become addicted to drugs while others don't?

No one factor can predict if a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. For example:

Girl on a bench

  • Biology . The genes that people are born with account for about half of a person's risk for addiction. Gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may also influence risk for drug use and addiction.
  • Environment . A person’s environment includes many different influences, from family and friends to economic status and general quality of life. 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. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier that drug use begins, the more likely it will progress to addiction. This is particularly problematic for teens. Because areas in their brains that control decision-making, judgment, and self-control are still developing, teens may be especially prone to risky behaviors, including trying drugs.

Can drug addiction be cured or prevented?

As with most other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, treatment for drug addiction generally isn’t a cure. However, addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. People who are recovering from an addiction will be at risk for relapse for years and possibly for their whole lives. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medicines with behavioral therapy ensures the best chance of success for most patients. Treatment approaches tailored to each patient’s drug use patterns and any co-occurring medical, mental, and social problems can lead to continued recovery.

Photo of a person's fists with the words "drug free" written across the fingers.

More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media are effective for preventing or reducing drug use and addiction. Although personal events and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people view drug use as harmful, they tend to decrease their drug taking. Therefore, education and outreach are key in helping people understand the possible risks of drug use. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.

Points to Remember

  • Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.
  • Brain changes that occur over time with drug use challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. This is why drug addiction is also a relapsing disease.
  • Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop. Relapse indicates the need for more or different treatment.
  • Most drugs affect the brain's reward circuit by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy activities, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.
  • Over time, the brain adjusts to the excess dopamine, which reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as tolerance. They might take more of the drug, trying to achieve the same dopamine high.
  • No single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction.
  • Drug addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed.
  • More good news is that drug use and addiction are preventable. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.

For information about understanding drug use and addiction, visit:

  • www.nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction

For more information about the costs of drug abuse to the United States, visit:

  • www.nida.nih.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics#costs

For more information about prevention, visit:

  • www.nida.nih.gov/related-topics/prevention

For more information about treatment, visit:

  • www.nida.nih.gov/related-topics/treatment

To find a publicly funded treatment center in your state, call 1-800-662-HELP or visit:

  • https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced in its entirety without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated, using the following language: Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

IMAGES

  1. Drug Addiction

    drug addiction research paper topics

  2. Drug addiction and the law.

    drug addiction research paper topics

  3. How to Write an Essay about Drugs

    drug addiction research paper topics

  4. (PDF) Drug Addiction: A review of challenges and solutions

    drug addiction research paper topics

  5. project report on drugs addiction

    drug addiction research paper topics

  6. (PDF) Substance Abuse: A Literature Review of the Implications and

    drug addiction research paper topics

VIDEO

  1. Exploring Drug Addiction and its Impact on Homelessness in Kensington

  2. ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ADDICTION

  3. Research Paper Topics 😮😮😯 Best for Beginners 👍

  4. The Solution to Drug Addiction

  5. Health Impacts of Policy, Drug Decrim, and Service Access Panel

  6. Neurobiological Pathways to Addiction Drive Novel Treatment Interventions

COMMENTS

  1. 40 Drug Abuse & Addiction Research Paper Topics

    The research paper about the drug abuse can be of any subject: Sociology, Criminology, Psychology, Medicine, Pharmacology, Statistics, even History. This problem emerges at the very dawn of humanity. So, the topic itself is too vast to capture it all in one paper. To make a really great research you should narrow it a bit.

  2. Substance Use Disorders and Addiction: Mechanisms, Trends, and

    This issue of the Journal is focused on understanding factors contributing to substance use disorders and their comorbidity with psychiatric disorders, the effects of prenatal alcohol use on preadolescents, and brain mechanisms that are associated with addiction and relapse.

  3. Research Topics

    Drug Use and Addiction Learn how science has deepened our understanding of drug use and its impact on individual and public health. Addiction Science Adolescent Brain Comorbidity COVID-19 Drug Checking

  4. The Neuroscience of Drug Reward and Addiction

    II. DRUG REWARD. Dopamine (DA) lies at the center of drug reward (85, 182).Every drug with addiction potential increases DA, either through direct or indirect effects on DA neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) with the consequent release of DA in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) ().Drugs of abuse increase DA through their initial action on different molecular targets and, depending on their ...

  5. Substance Abuse and Public Health: A Multilevel Perspective and

    2. Substance Abuse and Different Social Groups. When researching substance abuse and its harmful effects, researchers predominantly focus on certain social groups with a higher tendency towards substance taking and misuse, such as adolescents and male adults [13,14,15,16,17,18].This is valid, as they may encounter various demanding life and social challenges, expectations, interpersonal ...

  6. Addiction as a brain disease revised: why it still matters, and the

    Close to a quarter of a century ago, then director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse Alan Leshner famously asserted that "addiction is a brain disease", articulated a set of implications of this position, and outlined an agenda for realizing its promise [ 1 ].

  7. The Changing Opioid Crisis: development, challenges and opportunities

    The opioid crisis is a complex, evolving phenomenon. It involves neurobiological vulnerabilities and social determinants of health. Successfully addressing the crisis will require advances in basic science, development of more effective treatments, and public health approaches to implement current and emerging knowledge.

  8. Publications

    Access a wealth of information and downloadable full-text publications on a range of topics, including addiction science, medical consequences, trends and statistics, and the link between drugs and HIV. The NIDA Drug Pubs clearinghouse closed its doors on April 7, 2022. We will no longer be shipping hard copy NIDA publications.

  9. Addiction

    Addiction involves loss of control over use of a substance, often in the presence of physiological and psychological dependence on a substance and compulsion to continue seeking and using the...

  10. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction

    At the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), we believe that increased understanding of the basics of addiction will empower people to make informed choices in their own lives, adopt science-based policies and programs that reduce drug use and addiction in their communities, and support scientific research that improves the Nation's well-being.

  11. Addiction Research

    These research queries and findings are presented in the form of updates, white papers and case studies. In addition, the Butler Center for Research collaborates with the Recovery Advocacy team to study special-focus addiction research topics, summarized in monthly Emerging Drug Trends reports. Altogether, these studies provide the latest in ...

  12. Research Drug Abuse

    This charge has two critical components. The first is the strategic support and conduct of research across a broad range of disciplines. The second is ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve prevention and treatment and to inform policy as it relates to drug abuse and ...

  13. Drug Addiction: Current Trends and Management

    Abstract Drug addiction has become a worldwide problem and the leading cause of death. The global problem of addiction and drug abuse is responsible for millions of deaths and millions of...

  14. Technology and addiction: What drugs can teach us about digital media

    Over the past years, popular and scholarly discourse around the topic of "smartphone addiction" (more generally referred to as "tech addiction") has boomed. Over 10,000 scientific papers using the phrase "smartphone addiction" have been published since 2017. 3 This growing interest has so far not been translated into any medically ...

  15. Read Our 60+ Recommended Addiction Research Topics

    1 Drug abuse research topics 2 Alcohol addiction topics 3 Gambling addiction research topics 4 Relationships and addiction topics for paper Drug abuse research topics Overdosing is the main sign of drug abuse. The rules for taking drugs legally due to health conditions and individual needs.

  16. Addiction Science

    About Addiction Science. Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good ...

  17. Top 100 Drug Topics

    Research papers and essays on drug topics address sociology, pharmacology, medicine, psychology, statistics, history, and criminology issues. Drug abuse is a serious problem in modern society. It's a serious issue that different countries are trying to combat.

  18. Characteristics of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug Use Among Persons

    Introduction. Initiation of substance use often occurs during adolescence (1), and adolescents commonly report using substances to feel good or get high and to relieve pain or aid with sleep problems (2,3).Adverse consequences of adolescent substance use include overdose, risk for development of substance use disorder (SUD), negative impact on brain development, and death.

  19. 419 Drugs Essay Topics & Research Titles + Examples

    This paper aims to examine several theories explaining drug addiction. The theories for analysis are biological, psychological, and sociological. Drug Abuse Relation to the Violent Behavior Various groups of drugs greatly vary and relate to violence in different ways.

  20. Substance use and addiction research in India

    In this paper we examine research in India in substance use and related disorders. Substance use includes the use of licit substances such as alcohol, tobacco, diversion of prescription drugs, as well as illicit substances. Go to: METHODOLOGY

  21. Key Addiction Points You Need to Know

    Substance use disorder (SUD) is the nation's most pressing public health challenge, and the most urgent SUD in 2024 is opioid abuse and dependency. According to the CDC, more than one million ...

  22. PDF Drugs, Brains, and Behavior The Science of Addiction

    How does science provide solutions for drug abuse and addiction? Scientists study the effects that drugs have on the brain and on people's behavior. They use this information to develop programs for preventing drug abuse and for helping people recover from addiction. Further research helps transfer these ideas into practice in our communities. 3

  23. Methamphetamine plays increasing role in addiction crisis

    Methamphetamine has no rescue drugs, treatments. As methamphetamine use appears to play a larger role in the addiction crisis, the medical community does not have the same tools to counter its misuse.

  24. Research Paper: Drug Addiction

    TOPIC: Research Paper on Drug Addiction Assignment Addressing a social problem requires social resources. In regards to drug addiction, social entities such as the family, faith organizations, and the community are needed to provide addicts with the adequate amount of support needed to overcome their addiction. The family and members of the ...

  25. Research Reports

    Research Topics. Research Topics. Addiction Science. Cannabis (Marijuana) Cocaine. Fentanyl. Harm Reduction. Heroin. HIV. Kratom. Methamphetamine. Opioids. Prevention. ... Examines women and substance use and sex and gender differences in drug addiction treatment. Image. Research Report. Tobacco, Nicotine, and E-Cigarettes Research Report ...

  26. Grace Paul on Instagram: "My topic for Paper 1 is Drug Addiction in

    0 likes, 0 comments - gepaul27 on February 18, 2024: "My topic for Paper 1 is Drug Addiction in Adolescents. My research question is how can we prevent..." Grace Paul on Instagram: "My topic for Paper 1 is Drug Addiction in Adolescents.

  27. Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts

    Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. Brain changes that occur over time with drug use challenge an addicted person's self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs.