Psychoactive Substances - Essay Example

Substance Disorders, generally, the taking of drugs habitually until a physical and mental addiction has taken hold is something that occurs every day. Many people see drug use as a disease, others think of it as a chosen behavior of the weak, and finally, in the eyes of religions, it very easily is seen as a sin (Sremac, 2010). However, addiction can result from many sources; there is no singular universal cause of addiction. For the most part, we can assume that there is pain, disappointment, depression, or some other “something” that is missing in their lives, leaving a hole. To fill the absence they turn to drugs, alcohol, or any other addictive or compulsory behavior. There are millions of people who are addicted to one sort of chemical, substance, and addictive behaviors that are both life-threatening and damaging to all of those around them. Addiction does not only affect the person who uses a substance but all of the people who are in their lives. Substance abusers can be manipulative, intimidating, and violent depending on the situation. They may mistreat family, friends, and spouses in order to continue to meet their needs.

Because drug use and substance abuse have become a worldwide problem finding prevention and treatment that is effective, feasible, and most likely to decrease the statistics of addiction. Prevention is a hard topic to address. Regardless of how many programs, documentaries, books, and articles preach the dangers and consequences of drug use people continue to fall victim to addiction. When treating addiction there is any number of varying locations, organizations, and centers that offer many different approaches to sobriety, from lockdown in-patient facilities to outpatient drug-assisted therapies, all have varying successes with different addicts. Because the nature of addiction can involve multiple factors, the individual's psychology, emotional stressors, biological contributors, physiological elements, and social aspects as well that layered therapies are probably the most advisable (Sremac, 2010). People who have a background in faith might benefit greatly from a spiritual element being added to their treatment. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12-15 New Standard Revised Version). A verse such as this could be hugely encouraging to a Christian that their work to avoid temptation and achieve sobriety has a greater reward in the end. Of Course, this inclusion in the treatment of spirituality for an atheist would hardly benefit from such exercises. However, all the same, there is no single treatment but a number of effective options that can be intermixed with others to design unique treatments as unique as the individual they are meant to benefit.