| Understanding Drug Addiction from the National Institute of Health |
There is a prevailing myth in our society that people with drug-related problems are morally weak and have criminal tendencies. It is often believed that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they are willing to change their behavior.
Addiction does begin when an individual makes a conscious choice to
use drugs, but addiction is not just frequent drug use. The drugs actually interfere with normal brain functioning creating long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. Ultimately, changes occur in the brain that turn drug abuse into addiction.
Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing illness that is clearly treatable. |
Support Groups in Pinellas County, Florida |
Nar-anon Friends & Family of Drug Abusers Helps co-dependents of addicts cope with their lives. A twelve-step program providing support for relatives, families, and friends of addicts to improve family attitudes.
Call Janet 321-8507 for meeting times and locations. (updated May 2007)
Solid Rock Christian Church
4224 28th St. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33714
Call for more information: (727) 521-6306 (updated May 2007) |
| Local Community Resources in Pinellas County, Florida |
W.I.N. Team
1-888-834-2946
Turning Point Detox (state funded)
(727) 823-7811
Operation Par Inc:
Clearwater, FL 33764 (727) 507-2100
(Adult Detox)
Town & Country Detox
(813) 884-1904
Turning Point of Tampa
1-800-397-3006 |
| Internet References |
| Club Drugs (Ecstasy, Meth, GHB) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH |
| Club Drugs from the Office of National Drug Control Policy |
| Club Drugs from the American Academy of Family Practice Physicians |
| Cocaine Abuse from the US National Library of Medicine & Nat'l Institute of Health. |
| Cocaine--Tips for Teens, The Truth about Cocaine US Department of Health and Human Services SAMSHA |
| Marijuana Info--The Facts about Marijuana from the National Institute for Drug Abuse, NIH |
| Marijuana--What Americans Need to Know about Marijuana There is a serious drug problem in this country, and marijuana is a much bigger part of the problem than most people realize. Marijuana is not harmless and it is addictive. More young people are now in treatment for marijuana dependency than for alcohol or for all other illegal drugs combined. from the Department of Health and Human Services |
| Meth--"Crystal Meth" overview from a Partnership for a Drug Free America |
| Meth--Tips for Teens, The Truth about Methamphetamine from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |
| Prescription Drug Abuse from the National Library of Medicine |
| Sexual Assault--Drug Facilitated--Fast Facts from the National Drug Intelligence Center |
| Steroid Abuse (Anabolic Steroids) from the National Institute for Drug Abuse, NIH |
| National Organizations and Websites |
| National Institute on Drug Abuse from the National Institute of Health |
| Office of National Drug Control Policy from the Office of the President of the U.S. |
| A Quick Guide to Finding Effective Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment from the The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) provides a toll-free, 24-hour treatment referral service to help you locate treatment options near you. For a referral to a treatment center or support group in your area, call: 1-800-487-4889 (TDD) • 1-877-767-8432 (Spanish |
| Workplace Substance Abuse from the US Department of Labor |
| --Written by N Thompson, ARNP October 2004, Updated November 2005 |
