SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance Abuse

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “substance abuse” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “substance abuse” and the “diverse factors that significantly influence substance abuse”. Nevertheless, the research also analyzes “several litigations and regulations” that are constructed to cope with the problem of substance abuse. In addition, the research outlines several “effects of the substance abuse”. Finally the research proposes diverse strategies through which “substance abuse” can be treated and provides a platform for the future studies on “substance abuse”.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Discussion5

Factors Influencing Substance Abuse6

Legalities Imposed on Substance Abuse6

Substance Abuse and its Effects7

Effects of Substance Abuse on the Nervous System8

Substance Abuse Prevention9

Clinical Treatment for Substance Abuse10

The Impact of Counseling on Substance Abuse Treatment10

The Support from Family12

The Significance of the Substance Abuse Impediment13

Conclusion14

References16

Substance Abuse

Introduction

Substance abuse is a common correlate of criminal offending and victimization, yet there is no single, universal definition of substance abuse. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders generally defines substance abuse as any substance use that is associated with persistent interpersonal, legal, occupational or educational problems. It can also be used to refer to the use of substances in risky situations. The term substance abuse has been used broadly across research disciplines to cover behaviors such as substance use, misuse, abuse, and dependence.

Substance abuse is also known as drug abuse which is a pattern of the usage of any kind of drugs or alcohol which makes a user dependent on its use for survival. This term has different definitions in different contexts but primarily refers to negativity of the use of drugs. The drugs that are often associated with substance abuse include alcohol, “barbiturates”, “amphetamines” and “methaqualone”. Usage of drugs leads to various kinds of harm in terms of social, physical and psychological harm and also leads to criminal penalty at times but this depends on the local jurisdiction of a country.

Individuals normally initiate the usage of drugs and alcohol mostly during the time when they are adolescents while the elders are more prone to experiment new substances. Studies show that 47% of the drug users are the twelfth graders and most of the children in this grade have happened to have consumed drugs at least once. It has also been noticed that 21% of the students studying in high school have taken drugs without the prescription from a physician.

Moreover, in 2002, the World Health organization also estimated that 140 million individuals were dependent on alcohol and more than 400 million people suffered from problems related to alcohol. However, there are also many individuals who stop consuming drugs before it really becomes problematic for them. It can therefore be said that although the rates of drugs usage are high but the number of individuals who get prone to substance abuse is a lot lower. BBC Worldwide has also reported that more than 500 million users use morphine “diacetate”, which is heroin, “cocaine” and various kinds of synthetic ...