COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Addiction is a complex, and often chronic, brain disease. It is characterized by substance craving, seeking, and use that can persist even in the face of devastating life consequences. Addiction results largely from brain changes that stem from prolonged use.

• Use: Substance use is any consumption of alcohol or drugs. Something as commonplace as having a beer with friends during dinner is considered substance use.
• Abuse: Substance abuse is when someone continues to use drugs or alcohol even when it causes problems, such as trouble with work, family, or their health. For instance, continuing to use drugs knowing you’ll be fired if you fail a drug test is a sign of abuse.
• Dependence: Substance dependence is an addiction to alcohol or drugs. You may be unable to stop drinking or using drugs, and have physical withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit.

Supporting a loved one through a struggle with substance use can be difficult. This process can be especially complicated when someone is resistant to getting help. While you may not have control over someone else's substance use, support is available to cope with how that substance use may affect you.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) operates the National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish).  If someone is experiencing an overdose, mental health crisis, or another emergency, call 9-1-1.

For local resources, check our resource page.

YES. For most, addiction to alcohol and drugs is a process - not an event. Most people who use alcohol and drugs do so with an intention of only using once or “once in a while.” No one decides that they want to become addicted to alcohol and drugs.

But, we are dealing with addictive drugs that directly affect the brain. It is easy for occasional use to change to frequent use or constant use--that is addiction. The only thing we know for sure: if you don't drink alcohol and don’t do drugs, you definitely won't become addicted.

Scientists say no single factor can predict whether a person might become addicted to drugs. But they think about half of the risk of addiction may come from a person’s biology and the other half from his or her environment.

• Environmental factors: lack of supports, availability of substances, friends/family who use substances
• Smoking or injecting a drug also increases the risk of addiction
• Age of first use: The earlier a person begins using a drug, the more likely he or she is to become addicted
• Prior mental health disorders: anxiety, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also have a higher risk of drug addiction

Anyone who takes prescription opioids can become addicted to them. You may also develop tolerance—meaning that over time you might need higher doses to relieve your pain, putting you at higher risk for a potentially fatal overdose. You can also develop physical dependence—meaning you have withdrawal symptoms when the medication is stopped.

To help reduce your risk:

• • Never take prescription opioids in greater amounts or more often than prescribed
  • Always let your doctor know about any side effects or concerns you have about using opioids
  • Avoid taking opioids with alcohol and other substances or medications. It is very dangerous to combine opioids with other drugs, especially those that cause drowsiness, such as:
    • Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax® and Valium®)
    • Muscle relaxants (such as Soma® or Flexeril®)
    • Sleep aids (such as Ambien® or Lunesta®)
    • Other prescription opioids
  • Do not share or sell your prescription opioids.
  • Store prescription opioids in a secure place, out of reach of others (including children, family, friends, and visitors)
  • Dispose of unused prescription opioids at the end of your treatment

Risk of opioid overdose and death increases at higher dosages and when taken for longer periods of time or more often than prescribed. It is also very dangerous to combine opioids with other drugs, especially those that cause drowsiness.

Overdose risk increases when your opioid medication is combined with:

• Alcohol
• Benzodiazepines (also known as “benzos,” including diazepam [Valium®] and alprazolam [Xanax®])
• Other sedatives like certain sleep medicines and muscle relaxants
• Other opioids (prescription or illicit, including heroin)

A standard alcohol drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol (0.6 ounces):

• 12-ounces of Beer or Cooler
• 8-ounces of Malt Liquor
• 5-ounces of Wine
• 1.5-ounces or “shot” of Distilled Spirits/Liquor (e.g., rum, gin, vodka, or whiskey).

Though some may claim vaping is less dangerous than traditional cigarettes, that doesn’t mean that vaping is safe. In other words, “safer” doesn’t mean safe. Studies have shown that the aerosol vapor can contain dangerous toxins, including heavy metals and chemicals known to cause cancer and other diseases. To create flavors, vape manufacturers mix chemicals that are harmful when inhaled, regardless of whether there’s nicotine.

The chemicals can damage the heart, lungs, and immune system. In addition, most vape products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Human brain development continues far longer than was previously realized (until age 25), and nicotine use during adolescence and young adulthood has been associated with lasting brain impairments, including effects on memory and attention.

Delta 8, 9, & 10 are chemical compounds found in cannabis. They are legally sold in NC when they are taken from hemp at a lower THC content.

The main difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC is their chemical structure and how they bond to brain chemicals, but this difference is enough to provide different effects to the user.  Delta 9 is more potent than Delta 8, which means that side effects like impaired motor skills and delusions are also stronger in Delta 9.

No, they are not. Cannabis and hemp plants do not contain a lot of Delta 10 chemical compounds Delta 10 is synthesized in a lab for mass production, while Delta 9 is naturally abundant. However, both Delta 9 and Delta 10 have psychedelic effects that can get you high to varying degrees.

Yes, it does. Delta 8, 9, & 10 and all THC forms show up in a drug test regardless of how little or how much you take.

Yes, marijuana is a plant but it has very real health consequences, including drug addiction. While some people think marijuana is a “harmless drug,” actual experience and the real science show a different reality about the effects of frequent use.

Brain health: Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quitting marijuana.

Mental health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes. It is not known, however, if marijuana use is the cause of these conditions.

Athletic Performance: Research shows that marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance.

Driving: People who drive under the influence of marijuana can experience dangerous effects: slower reactions, lane weaving, decreased coordination, and difficulty reacting to signals and sounds on the road.

Properly disposing of unused and expired medication is a great harm reduction strategy to prevent others from accidently or intentionally using them. It also prevents harmful drug residues from getting into the environment.

Drop Boxes are located throughout the community to collect no longer needed or outdated medicine. It is FREE, easy, and safe. You can drop off: prescription, animal, and over the counter medicines, vitamins, inhalants, and medicine samples. They will be collected and destroyed by county law enforcement.

Locations:
Boiling Springs Town Hall
KM Pharmacy
Fallston Pharmacy
Neal Senior Center
Medical Arts Pharmacy
Cleveland County Health Department
Professional Pharmacy
Community Pharmacy
Lafayette Street Pharmacy
Prescription Plus II
Cleveland County Court House
Shelby Police Department
Cleveland Count Department of Social Services
Shelby Medical Associates
Kintegra
Kings Mountain Medical Center
Cleveland Crisis & Recovery Center
Shelby Drugstore, Inc