Top Addictions in the Chicago Independence Boulevard Area

Most Commonly Abused Drugs and Addictions in Chicago

Common addictions in the Chicago Independence Boulevard area include cocaine, marijuana, opioids, benzodiazepines, methamphetamine, MDMA, alcohol, tobacco and food. Some of these substances are prescribed by doctors, some are obtained illegally and some are legal and easily obtainable without a prescription. All of these substances can become addictive.

Cocaine

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that creates a rush of pleasure in the brain by releasing neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters affect pleasure, memory and decision-making, which causes the brain to develop cocaine dependence. Essentially, cocaine overtakes the brain’s regular way of functioning and creates intense cravings and physical dependence.

The risk of developing an addiction to cocaine increases the longer a person uses it, and it is difficult to quit. Cocaine use can cause high blood pressure, nausea, headaches, confusion, sweating, chills, depression, trouble sleeping, seizures and coma. Long-term cocaine use can negatively affect the lungs, brain, kidneys, heart and gastrointestinal system.

Marijuana

There is a common misconception that marijuana is not addictive. While this may be true for some people, it is untrue for others. If someone uses marijuana and feels that they need it to get through the day or deal with daily situations, they may be addicted.

Marijuana is legal for recreational use, medicinal use or both, depending on the state. In some states, all forms of marijuana are illegal. On January 1, 2020, Illinois made it legal for anyone over 21 to purchase, possess and consume cannabis. While there are still restrictions on the amount of marijuana an individual can possess, this new law makes it easier for people to use marijuana and potentially become addicted.

Marijuana use can cause altered senses, mood changes, difficulty solving problems and difficulty moving. Long-term misuse can also negatively affect brain development, especially if an individual starts to use marijuana as an adolescent. Common effects of marijuana use include increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia and psychosis.

Most of the problems with marijuana use arise when users smoke it. Smoking marijuana can cause heavy coughing, a stinging or burning sensation in the mouth or throat and high phlegm production. People who smoke marijuana also have an increased risk of developing acute chest illnesses, lung infections and lung cancer.

The amount of THC in marijuana has increased rapidly, making it more potent. Higher potency increases the risk of addiction. The higher the THC concentration in the marijuana a person consumes, the quicker they become dependent on it.

Opioids

In 2013, Heroin was reported as the major opiate in Chicago. Heroin ranked as the main reason people living in Chicago entered drug treatment. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an intelligence report in 2019 that reported opioids as the greatest drug threat in the Chicago area. It listed fentanyl and heroin specifically.

In 2018, approximately 80% of overdose deaths in Illinois involved opioids, which equals about 2,169 deaths. About 1,568 of these deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogs. In 2018, overdose deaths involving heroin declined to 1,050, and overdose deaths involving prescription opioids declined to 539.

Opioids can cause problems for more than just adults. Infants born to women who use opiates are at risk for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Infants with NOWS will be dependent on opioids when they are born and experience withdrawal symptoms.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines can treat insomnia, seizures, anxiety, panic disorders, alcohol withdrawal, muscle spasms and other conditions when a doctor prescribes them. If people take them without a doctor’s recommendation, they can become addictive. There are two types of benzodiazepines. Hypnotics can treat sleep problems, and they are usually short-acting. Anxiolytics are usually used to treat anxiety, and they are longer-lasting. Common benzodiazepines include Temazepam, Clonazepam, Lorazepam and Alprazolam.

Benzodiazepines can cause a sense of euphoria because of how they interact with the brain. Some people misuse benzodiazepines for recreational use or to increase their effects. These drugs normally come in pill form, but some people snort the powder of crushed tablets or inject a mixture of water and crushed tablets to produce a more intense and faster high.

When people take benzodiazepines as prescribed for a few weeks or more, they can also be at risk for developing an addiction, emotional dependence or physical dependence on these drugs. Each year, doctors prescribe benzodiazepines to millions of people. Even when patients take the recommended dosage of these drugs, they can still struggle to come off of them.

Using benzodiazepines can produce drowsiness, insomnia, memory issues and difficulty with balance and coordination. When someone goes through withdrawal from benzodiazepines, they can experience symptoms that include restlessness, irritability, weakness, muscle tension, aches, pains, hallucinations, seizures and blurred vision.

Other drugs such as opioids and alcohol can increase the side effects of benzodiazepines. The combined effects of benzodiazepines and opioids can increase the risk of opioid overdose, so it’s dangerous to take both drugs together, even when one or the other is prescribed.

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine is a substance that can be injected, swallowed, snorted or smoked. Symptoms of methamphetamine use and withdrawal include anxiety, depression, psychosis, weight loss, tooth decay, the transmission of bloodborne viruses, increased risk of suicide and increased demand on the cardiovascular system.

Between 2007 and 2017, drug overdoses involving methamphetamine increased by over 670%. The number of drug overdoses involving methamphetamine rose from 1,378 in 2007 to 10,721 in 2017.

In 2017, the National Drug Threat Assessment Survey (NDTAS) reported that nearly 30% of law enforcement agencies who responded to the survey recognized methamphetamine as the greatest drug threat after heroin, and 37% of responding police department heads in Illinois recognized methamphetamine as the greatest drug threat in their communities.

Between 2010 and 2017, the arrest rate for offenses involving methamphetamines in Illinois more than tripled. In addition, between 2012 and 2018, the number of people in prison for methamphetamine-involved offenses increased by 67%. The number of admissions for methamphetamine use treatment also increased significantly over the years. Between 2000 and 2017, the number of people admitted into treatment for methamphetamine use increased five-fold, and the availability of methamphetamine increased in 2019.

MDMA

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is also known as ecstasy, and it is one of the most popular party drugs in the world. When people use it, it affects their sensory experiences and energy, leading to reckless behavior and dangerous health risks. People can become addicted to it when they use it regularly.

MDMA is a synthetic drug that enhances the senses of touch, sight and sound, and it can heighten feelings of happiness and friendliness. It can cause side effects such as increased body temperature, jaw clenching, muscle and joint stiffness, issues with attention and memory, confusion, anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia. An MDMA overdose can result in high blood pressure, faintness, panic attacks, loss of consciousness and seizures. Extended use of the drug can also cause damage in different areas of the brain.

Another risk with MDMA is that it can be cut with other harmful substances such as cocaine, heroin, rat poison, LSD and amphetamine. The designer pill version of MDMA and the crystal-like or powder form of MDMA known as Molly can be cut with other substances.

Alcohol

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) reports approximately 9,000 to 10,000 deaths from accidental injuries each year, and 40% of these deaths directly or indirectly involve alcohol or drug use. Alcohol misuse is common and can lead to addiction faster than most people think. Alcohol misuse can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, memory loss, liver damage, learning difficulties, alcoholic hepatitis, various types of cancer and stroke. 

Drinking alcohol is a common activity in Chicago. From bars to sporting events, alcohol is involved in many social situations, which means that alcohol misuse is also common. People have an increased risk of developing an alcohol use disorder if they start drinking at an early age, have mental health conditions, have a history of trauma or have a family history of alcohol misuse. How much alcohol a person drinks, as well as how fast and how often they drink it, also affects whether they develop an alcohol use disorder.

Tobacco

Tobacco use is the main cause of preventable death in America. Thirty-four million people in the United States smoke tobacco, and the majority of those people smoke every day. Tobacco can include cigarettes, cigars, vapes and smokeless products such as chewing tobacco. Nicotine is an addictive substance in tobacco products, and it increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. Tobacco use can also cause other health complications such as cancer, high blood pressure, tooth loss, a weakened immune system and other conditions.

Food

Addiction is not limited to drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Even substances such as food can become addictive. Approximately 5% of the population struggles with a food addiction, mainly caused by dysfunctional eating patterns. Various factors, such as fast food advertisements and the media’s portrayal of unrealistic ideas concerning body image, can lead to dysfunctional eating patterns. 

People who struggle with a food addiction often eat an excess of meals high in sugar and fat, but food addiction is not always considered an eating disorder. Using food to cope with emotional stress is known as emotional eating, and it’s a form of self-medicating that can lead to addiction.

Get Help With Your or a Loved One’s Addiction

The caring and compassionate staff at Gateway will help to create a treatment plan that works for you. Even the top addictions in the Chicago Independence Boulevard area are treatable, and there is hope for anyone struggling with addiction.

We offer various treatment programs such as cognitive behavioral therapy, 12-step facilitation and support, relapse prevention, group and individual therapy, outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment and more. At Gateway, we are with you for life. Contact us today to learn how we can help you overcome addiction and get back to living a fulfilled life. You don’t have to face this alone.