Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse in the United States - Essay Example

 Alcohol and Other Substance Abuse in Society Introduction Alcohol and other substance abuses are a major problem in the United States. What makes these problems difficult to quantify is that there are many different catalysts that determine the risk factors for adopting dependency on alcohol or other substances, including cocaine, marijuana, and other narcotic substances. Alcohol and drug abuse impacts people of widely different socio-economic backgrounds, age and gender demographics, and lifestyles, thus there is no singular method of promoting treatment that can be deemed most effective to reduce this growing problem. The largest causes of alcohol and substance abuse in the United States include the factors of lifestyle transition from adolescence to young adulthood, historical scenarios involving maltreatment between parental figures and the child, as a tool to assist in coping with stress, and as an outcome of general anxiety disorder. A Discussion of the Causes of Abuse Drinking among college-aged youths in America continues to grow annually. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reported that in 2003, young adults between the ages of 21 and 24 made up 33.3 percent of all alcohol-related traffic crashes ending in fatalities (Zhang, et al., 2008). In 2008, approximately 190,000 visits to emergency rooms nationwide were a product of alcohol-related injuries and abuse conditions by people under age 21 (CDC, 2010). Why is this? Schulenberg, et al. (2000) indicate that the transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a complex period filled with difficulties that some youths have an arduous time trying to manage. It is during this period where most youths begin their new life trajectories, leaving the sanctity and security of the parental support system. Many youths in this age category are still undergoing psycho-social pursuit for establishing self-identity, looking toward other aspirational reference groups or peer associations to achieve a solid sense of belonging in society. Historically, the youth was able to rely on parental guidance systems to discuss complicated emotions about lifestyle transitioning, but during this period the majority of youths have no such support system readily available. Biopsychology also recognizes that young adults are not fully mature both physically and emotionally with abstract reasoning and a strong moral programming, thus it is not a surprise that drinking is a co-occurrence that escalates during this period (Schulenberg, et al., 2000). Furthermore, having a history of child abuse during formative years in childhood serves as a major predictor for adult alcohol and drug abuses. A 10-year study maintaining a large sample of adult women (1,099 respondents seeking alcohol treatment) asked for self-reports about their alcohol abuse and life histories. The study identified that those respondents that reported child sexual abuse had a much higher frequency of abusing alcohol than women with no such histories (Wilsnack, et al., 1997). Psychodynamic theory in psychology asserts that many abnormal or maladjusted behaviors are established by historical experiences that remain buried in the unconscious. The complexities of child sexual abuse seem to linger in the adult, thus creating a desire to use alcohol or other substances to keep these difficult memories covered. Dube, et al. (2002) further supports the role of childhood negative experiences as a catalyst for alcohol and substance abuse. Child maltreatment including sexual abuse, neglect, physical abuse, or role modeling of parents who also maintained alcohol dependency serve as predictors for future adult dependency issues. Another predictor of alcohol and other substance abuse in America is the high prevalence of individuals in society that have some mild or extreme form of anxiety disorder. Such disorders include panic disorders, social phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive, or generalized anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders affects approximately 15 million Americans in modern society (NIMH, 2009). This is representative of approximately 13 percent of adults in the U.S., a significant statistical volume. Common symptoms of some mild to moderate anxiety disorders include panic in social situations, profuse visible shaking and nervousness, fatigue, nausea, and an inability to focus or cease worry about perceived dangers (NIMH, 2009). Individuals experiencing anxiety disorders often worry about social chastisement and will not seek treatment, especially true in males, since they believe such disorders would be considered cowardly or the individual feeble-minded. Because of the social stigma associated with many who face anxiety disorders, they will turn to alcohol or drugs as a means of suppressing anxiety symptoms or masking the psycho-social reasons for anxiety development. The National Institute of Mental Health (2009) suggests that genetics play a factor in developing general anxiety disorder, however some individuals in society have poor emotional intelligence and self-awareness of their cognitive and emotional needs and therefore turn toward substances to overpower debilitating anxiety symptoms. Levendusky (2008) further supports the notion that some individuals in society turn toward alcohol and other substances as a coping mechanism in the face of anxiety disorder symptoms. People who do not want to seek help will choose a self-medicating strategy involving alcohol and other substances rather than seeking effective counseling or treatment. Since there is such a high volume of Americans that suffer from mild to severe anxiety disorders, it is not surprising that alcohol dependency and drug abuse continues to rise across the nation. Anxiety disorders also maintain symptoms of muscle tension, difficulty in sleeping, and irritability (NIMH, 2009). Alcohol or other drugs, based on their ability to provide sedative outcomes, allow the individual to get needed sleep when facing these moderate symptoms. However, when an individual begins relying on substances to induce sleep, their bodies still become dependent on chemical sleep encouragement and will cease production of certain natural chemicals. These are many of the risks that are also attached to product labeling for various sleeping pills offered by large pharmaceutical companies. Over time, using alcohol or drugs to provide tangible needs for rest, the outcome is addiction or alcohol dependency that maintains a variety of negative outcomes in the long-term. Individuals in society also turn toward substances when they are facing depressive symptoms due either to lifestyle or biological problems. The problem in this situation is that after an individual becomes addicted to alcohol and seeks treatment, depression symptoms actually worsen now that the person has to deal with their problems head-on. One such case in an empirical study had the drinker returning to their alcohol because the depressive symptoms had grown more severe post-treatment (Rosenthal, 2008). Thus, some people who genuinely want to cease their dependency on alcohol or other substances face difficult cognitive and physical challenges related to depression that makes substances a more viable and desired solution. Conclusion It is clear that there are many different factors that continue to drive alcohol and drug dependency in the country, each of which maintains unique outcomes and rationale for those who have strong reliance on chemicals. Inefficient coping skills, the complexities of transitioning into adulthood, depression and anxiety disorder symptoms, and even historical experiences in lifestyle contribute to this growing problem. Complicated emotions related to depression and lack of social and parental support for young adults are difficult sensations to manage and would even be further compounded with anxiety symptoms. Based on the research findings, it is not astonishing that quick fixes to regulate overwhelming emotional states would be preferred by members of society rather than dealing with the complexities of disturbing physical and mental changes. Some, as with the anxiety disorder, actually can alter behavior and physical capacity where alcohol and other substances provide short-term relief from incapacitating functioning in society. References CDC. (2010). Fact Sheets – Underage Drinking, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Retrieved September 6, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm Dube, S.R., Anda, R.F., Felitti, V.J. and Croft, V.J. (2003). Adverse Childhood Experiences and Personal Alcohol Abuse as an Adult, Addictive Behaviors, 27(5), pp.713-725. Levendusky, Philip G. (2008). What is the Relationship between Substance Abuse and Anxiety Disorders, ABC News, Retrieved September 6, 2012 from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AnxietyScreening/story?id=4660053 National Institute of Mental Health. (2009). Anxiety Disorders, p.10, Retrieved September 6, 2012 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety- disorders/nimhanxiety.pdf NIMH. (2009). Generalized Anxiety Disorder, National Institute of Mental Health, Retrieved September 7, 2012 from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety- disorders/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad.shtml Rosenthal, Richard N. (2008). Managing Depressive Symptoms in Substance Abuse Clients During Early Recovery, Department of Health and Human Services, Retrieved September 7, 2012 from http://www.kap.samhsa.gov/products/manuals/tips/pdf/TIP48.pdf Schulenberg, J., O’Malley, P.M., Bachman, J.G. & Johnston, L.D. (2000). Spread Your Wings and Fly: The course of well-being and substance use during the transition to young adulthood. In L.J. Crockett and R.K. Silbereisen, R.K. (Eds.) Negotiating Adolescence in Times of Social Change. New York: Cambridge University Press. Wilsnack, S.C., Vogeltanz, N.D., Klassen, A.D. and Harris, T.R. (1997). Childhood Sexual Abuse and Women’s Substance Abuse: National Survey Findings, Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 58(3), pp.264-270. Zhang, Y., Weiping, W., Scholl, J. & Buchanan, J. (2008). Who are the College Students Behind the Wheel after Drinking?, International Electronic Journal of Health Education, vol. 11, pp.109-118, Retrieved September 7, 2012 from http://www.aahperd.org/aahe/publications/iejhe/upload/08_Y_Zang.pdf Read More