Drug abuse occurs when drugs are used in an unsafe way. Addiction refers to a person’s compulsive need for that drug (Zilverstand et al., 2018). Do not become addicted after taking drugs. A substance can be abused without being dependent on it. It can take months to abuse marijuana before you become addicted. However, substance abuse can quickly develop into dependence on addictive substances. Heroin becomes addictive after a few uses. Chemicals make medicines. When you take drugs, they enter your brain and change how your brain cells function and how your nerve cells transmit, receive and process information (Mackey et al., 2019). Different drugs have different effects on brain cells. According to the National Center on Drug Abuse, addiction is different from drug addiction because it is a chronic condition that is difficult to control. Misusing certain substances, such as alcohol or prescription drugs, can change brain chemistry and lead to addiction. continue…