Am I abusing drugs?

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Make a change for yourself…make a change for the better

Drugs, including misuse of prescription medications can be harmful to your health.
Drug use can lead to addiction, a serious illness.
Drug use can cause damage to your body organs.
Some drugs can lead to serious infections such as HIV and Hepatitis.
Non-prescription/illegal drug use during pregnancy may harm the developing baby.
Drugs can interfere with your ability to think straight and make good decisions.
Drugs can control your life.
Drugs can cause problems with your relationships, money, school and work.
Drug (including prescription medications) abuse can lead to injury and death.
Drug use may be related to sadness, depression or troubled times.
Women can become addicted more quickly to certain drugs.
Illegal drugs can result in arrest and loss of child custody.
Drug use may lead to unprotected sex, unintended pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection.

Sometimes drug abuse is not obvious: you continue to use even when it causes health problems or you need to use more and more to get the same effect.
Using more than one drug.
Listen to friends or family who tell you they are concerned.
Take a self assessment see links below.

Avoid using illegal drugs and misusing prescription and over the counter drugs.
Talk to your health care provider about your drug use.
Contact the Washington Recovery Help Line: 866-789-1511.
Seek treatment and commit to quitting.
Get support from your friends and family and other organizations.
Use birth control. Many pregnancies just happen and drugs can seriously harm you and the developing baby.

Unless otherwise noted, all materials and forms on this page are in PDF format.

Links to external resources are provided as a public service and do not imply endorsement by the Washington State Department of Health.