Substance Misuse - Essay Example

Substance Misuse Introduction In the twenty-first century, alcohol and drug use remain the psychological fabric of the society and are often considered as a public health problem. The present day society has learned to co-exist with drugs and alcohol, and its views of which drugs ought to be permissible or illicit change with time due to economic and political considerations. If a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is anything to go by, the growing epidemic of drug and/or substance abuse appeared to have slowed down due to positive and significant changes in world drugs markets (Seivewright 2000). As a result, there are signs of stability in the production, consumptions, and trafficking of substances such as heroin, cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis. For this reason, it is estimated that about 200 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 are users of illicit drugs, but only a significant number of these people can be considered to be abusing the substance. This habit is often referred to as substance abuse disorder. Substance use disorders are among the most compromising problems that confront health professionals (Westermeyer et al 2004). This paper will analyze the causes and effects of substance abuse as well as the guideline for the treatment of substance use disorders. Understanding substance abuse Substance use disorder is a term that encompasses a number of different substances and disorders. Out of these disorders, substance abuse and substance dependence are the disorders that are frequently encountered, and their criteria are applicable across substances. The approach with which a clinician will assess a substance abuse and/ or disorder will differ depending on the context in which a patient presents for treatment (Phelps & Hassed 2012). An individual who recognizes that he/she is suffering from a condition of substance abuse and/or dependence may present themselves willingly for treatment and be amenable to a thorough assessment. On the other hand, many individuals who happen to be victims of this disorder may not be similarly motivated, and retaining them in the treatment table will require the clinician to adapt the assessment process to their level of insight and motivational state. This will often call for the extension of the treatment phase over time rather than attempting to acquire all the information regarding the patient at once so that the clinician can tailor the intervention to the individual’s particular stage of change. A full assessment of an individual’s substance abuse and/or dependence may need to be gathered in pieces over time, with details being added to the initial picture when the individual is in a position to share information that is pertinent to the pattern of his or her condition and more motivated to think about change (Rasool 2009). Causes of substance abuse The causes of substance abuse and/or dependence are complex as they encompass social, economic and educational factors. However, the immediate treatment of this condition must address the underlying cause of substance abuse and/or treatment which includes poverty, inadequate health care, ethnic discrimination, hunger, and an inefficient educational system. Since these causes range from environmental, psychological, informational and social factors, it is evident that not even a persuasive campaign can address these factors at once. By implication, researchers are of the idea that a lack of information regarding the nature of substance abuse and/or dependence can directly affect the behaviour of the user. In other words, substance abuse is the result of ignorance about problems affiliated to drug and substance abuse (Lyman 2010). On the other hand, there are researchers who argue that although ignorance may be a problem, overcoming ignorance requires information that most people do not as yet possess about the beliefs of drug abusers. Effects of substance abuse The danger of substance abuse and/or dependence is the reality that drugs alter people’s behaviour. If an individual is addicted to psychoactive drugs, these substances may alter his or her moods, attitudes, perceptions and emotions. For this reason, concern is often expressed about the impact of substance abuse on work, family and social relations. More often than not, substance abuse will often provide the user with unintended side effects which may be short term and relatively harmless in nature, some have just the opposite effects (Donohew et al 2012). As for heroin users, they often take the substance for its euphoric effects, but they soon discover that euphoria is also accompanied by nausea, respiratory depression, and constricted pupils. Hashish and marijuana which are cannabis products will often lead to memory loss and disorientation. Individuals who are heavy users of hallucinogens such as LSD suffer the effects of bad hallucinations and imagined flashbacks. Nevertheless, what constitutes the effects of substance abuse and/or dependence depends on a number of factors such as how the substance was taken and the mood of the user. For example, cocaine is a substance that is known for elevating the mood of the user. However, in the case of users who are depressed prior to using this substance, it may result into a deeper depression. Furthermore, after the initial effects of the drugs wears off, cocaine users experience anxiety, fatigue, depression, and the desire to have more of the substance (Graham et al 2003). Treatment and prevention substance abuse The need for greater research and treatment resources has increased in the recent years, and substance abusers now have an opportunity to seek early treatment at a point when treatment can be administered more effectively. In addition, health care providers have been alerted to the need for early diagnosis and comprehensive care and new treatment concepts, both psychological and pharmacological have made the recovery process a possibility for most individuals who are dependent on substance abuse and/or dependence. Treatment providers can encounter numerous puzzles when trying to explain the motivation behind substance abuse and/or dependence. For some, especially those in the early stages of addiction, they seem to have clear motives for use (Walters & Rotgers 2011). The field of substance abuse is riddled with contradictions when it comes to treatment methods. There is simultaneously a push towards curriculum-based treatment and another push towards ensuring that all treatment is individualized. Individualized treatment is considered to be one of the scientifically based approaches in the field of substance abuse. It considers that since each individual is unique, an individualized approach is required to increase the odds of success. Therefore, this approach calls for an individualized treatment plan, understanding the needs of the patient, and resulting treatment interventions. Strength-based treatment is the latest trends in the field of substance abuse treatment. This form of treatment remains problem focused in that the focus of the professionals is pegged on solving the presenting problem. Nevertheless, strength-based treatment values and seeks to include the client’s strengths as part of the solution. This approach comes with various models such as motivational enhancement therapy. The use of this model helps the patient to increase motivation in order to produce change (Galanter & Kleber 2012). With this treatment method, the psychotherapist is able to focus on the patient’s strengths as opposed to their deficiencies. Conclusion It is evident that substance abuse and/or dependence is common among the general population based on the research study carried out by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Therefore, it is not surprising that epidemiological studies in the community and treatment settings have noted substance abuse to be rampant among those with severe psychological disorders. Psychologists and psychiatrists have gone the extra mile to identify the main causes of substance abuse, effects of substance abuse, and the treatment patterns. This has provided an overview to the issue of substance abuse among those with psychosis by exploration of different models and levels of conceptual framework within this substance abuse can be understood. References American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: Compendium 2006, Boulevard: American Psychiatric Association. Donohew, L, Sypher, HE & Bukoski, WJ, 2012. Persuasive Communication and Drug Abuse Prevention, New York: Routledge. Galanter, M & Kleber, HD, 2008. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment, Arlington: American Psychiatric Pub. Graham, HL, Copello, A, Birchwood, MJ & Mueser, KT, 2003. Substance Misuse in Psychosis: Approaches to Treatment and Service Delivery, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Lyman, MD, 2010. Drugs in Society: Causes, Concepts and Control, New York: Routledge. Phelps, K & Hassed, C, 2012. Substance Misuse: General Practice: The Integrative Approach Series, Chatswood: Elsevier Health Sciences Rassool, GH, 2009. Alcohol and Drug Misuse: A Handbook for Students and Health Professionals, New York: Routledge. Seivewright, N, 2000. Community Treatment of Drug Misuse: More than Methadone, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Walters, ST & Rotgers, F, 2011. Treating Substance Abuse: Theory and Technique, New York: Guilford Press. Westermeyer, J, Weiss, RD & Ziedonis, DM, 2004. Integrated Treatment for Mood and Substance Use Disorders, Maryland: JHU Press. Read More