Signs and symptoms
... The range of drugs to which you can become addicted is wide. The drugs include: Cannabis compounds. These compounds are found in marijuana and hashish. Central nervous system depressants. Barbiturates...

Causes
... Drug use or abuse crosses the line into drug addiction when you feel you have to have the drug, and you increase the amount of the drug you take. Various factors, such as your personality, your geneti...

Risk factors
... These factors increase the likelihood of your having an addiction to a legal or an illegal drug: Personality. If you have another psychological problem, such as depression, attention-deficit/hyperacti...

When to seek medical advice
... Addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder, meaning you tend to fall back into old addictive behaviors, including drug use, even after treatment. The sooner you seek help, the greater your chances are ...

Screening and diagnosis
... Diagnosing a drug addiction often starts at the family doctor level, often after one family member has raised concerns about another family member''s behavior. Your doctor may ask questions about the ...