Simply put, drug addicts are individuals who are addicted to some substance other than – or in addition to – alcohol.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fourth edition), drug addiction is a three-stage process. These stages include preoccupation/anticipation, binge/intoxication, and withdrawal/negative affect. It’s not at all uncommon for drug addicts to have their own “drug of choice” – a particular drug that they prefer over any other substance. That, of course, doesn’t stop the drug addict from obtaining another substance if their favorite is not available.

There are those whose preference runs toward “uppers,” which include stimulant drugs such as cocaine and/or methamphetamine. And there are those whose drug of choice are “downers,” a category that includes opiates such as heroin, as well as prescription painkillers and marijuana. And then there are the non-discriminating drug addicts who shop around and consume both “uppers” and “downers.”

The drug addict is often also addicted to alcohol, although many will deny that notion. Problems arise when the addict attempts to end his drug habit once and for all by switching to drinking alcohol only. The effort is seldom successful. Addicts who assume they are not alcoholics and can substitute drunks for drugs find this a difficult task to accomplish. Many drug addicts are alcoholics, and the reverse is also often true.

Alcohol

There are many types of alcoholics. Some are binge drinkers and others have developed into daily drinkers. The bottom line is this: The alcoholic is someone who continues to drink despite negative consequences. Often the dependent alcoholic will develop severe withdrawal and tolerance to alcohol. The alcoholic will also have a preoccupation with drinking.

It is currently unclear what causes a person to become an alcoholic, but the general consensus is that it is a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Many people assume that a person must enjoy alcohol to be an alcoholic, but this is not always true. An alcoholic may detest alcohol, but drink it anyway. An alcoholic drinks alcohol essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol.

Cocaine

Cocaine is essentially a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. It suppresses appetite, produces a euphoric feeling, and increases energy. Cocaine can be smoked (free-basing), inhaled or injected.

Often people begin using the drug recreationally by inhaling into the nasal passage (snorting or sniffing). Cocaine is a highly addictive drug. People who use the drug only once or twice can become addicted to the drug physically. Cocaine is almost never pure. Dealers looking to increase their profit mix cocaine with other substances such as baby laxative.

Crack

Crack is the most addictive form of cocaine. It produces an intense high that only lasts for minutes. Only half of crack is made up of actual cocaine. The rest is often baking soda or some other adulterant. Crack addiction is difficult to treat successfully. The euphoric recall of the drug is intense, and those addicted to the substance tend to have a lower chance of success in treatment.

Crack cocaine releases a tremendous amount of dopamine quickly and when the level of dopamine drops suddenly, the result is depression and an intense feeling of sadness. The extreme highs and lows of the drug is what often creates psychological addiction.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a cheap and highly addictive stimulant drug. The white, bitter-tasting powder can be ingested orally, or can be inhaled, injected or smoked.

There have been reports that the methamphetamine currently being produced in makeshift labs across the country is the most addictive drug there is. Because it releases high levels of dopamine, methamphetamine produces a tremendous amount of energy coupled with euphoria.

Long-term use results in sleeplessness, weight loss (and not the attractive rock star weight loss), problems with the teeth and mouth, extreme paranoia and even hallucinations. Users are often called “tweakers” because of their exaggerated fidgeting, their insistence on fiddling with the objects around them and constantly scratching at their skin – as if bugs are crawling under the skin.

Methamphetamine addicts can stay awake for days and even weeks at a time. Methamphetamine often causes symptoms identical to paranoid schizophrenia after extended periods of use (amphetamine-induced psychosis). The symptoms can dissipate after drug use stops, but sometimes the symptoms persist for some time.

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