Substance Abuse Essay - 1867 Words

Substance abuse is a growing problem that not only affects the person who is abusing alcohol or drugs but affects the lives of those who are close to the abuser. Substance abuse is the abuse of any substance. A drug is a substance that modifies one or more of the body’s functions when it is consumed. Everything from over-the-counter pain medication, to opiates, prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and even coffee can be abused in one way or another. The two main substances being abused in our nation are nicotine and alcohol. According to the Michigan Institute for Social research, â€Å"Substance abuse is a major public health problem.† Substance abuse is responsible for half a million preventable deaths each year.†¦show more content†¦The biggest consequence to casual drug use can be that it develops into a true addiction. Very few addicts recognize when they have crossed the line from casual use to addiction. Most teens dont think that they will become addicted, and simply use drugs or alcohol to have a good time and be more like their friends. When teens become addicted they lose friends, develop health problems, start to fail in school, experience memory loss lose motivation, and alienate their family and friends with their negative behaviors and often unpredictable emotional swings.† Noticing changes in family members, friends and co-workers is the first step in identifying drug abuse. According to, http://helpguide.org, â€Å"You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of your drug use; You’re using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex; Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing toShow MoreRelatedDrug Abuse And Substance Abuse2025 Words   |  9 PagesDrug abuse is the recurrent use of illegal drugs, or the misuse of prescription or over the counter drugs with negative consequences. The two terms, drug abuse or substance abuse can be defined as the use of chemical substances that lead to an increased risk of problems and an inability to control the use of the substanc e. Although drug and substance abuse do differ from addiction it sometimes can be mistaken for one another. 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Substance abuse affects the user and everyone that they are around and most of the time the user doesn’t even realize nor care that it affects other people because they are consumed by the substances. These substances have the power to dramatically change people’s lives, such as the physical toll it takes on our body, the ways in which it corrupts our metal process, and the detrimental effects it has on our social lives. Most substances that are used in our societyRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Drug Therapy1101 Words   |  5 PagesA person who has a substance abuse and a mental health disorder are identified as having a co-occurring disorder. Patients with substance use and mental health share common ground, because they hold the philosophy that treatment of chronic illness requires a long-term approach in which stabilization, education, and self-management are central (Drake, Mercer-McFadden, Mueser, McHugo, Bond, 2016, p. 589). A counselor can help give resources (NA meetings being available in their community) as well