Psychology Behind Substance Abuse - Research Paper Example

1. Abstract: This paper is based on a highly sensitive issue regarding the psychological complications behind substance abuse. Psychological assessment plays an important role in the effective treatment of a substance abuser and helps in looking at all the possible classical manifestations related to addiction like repeated failures at work or severe stress. 2. Introduction: Recent research identifies substance abuse to be on a dramatic rise among all age groups, especially youth is the most sensitive target when substance abuse is talked about. It is an unequivocal fact that substance abuse is a severe psychological disorder and has always been one of the most horrendous issues in the world that keeps threatening the humanity in the worst imaginable way. The paradox is that this evil can never be eradicated from the world completely or majorly by simply forcing the drug abusers to go through any rehabilitation programme for a particular time period assuming they will learn the difference between right and wrong while locked up behind the iron bars. Rather, the crude psychology behind substance abuse needs to be scrutinized and understood well if any substance abuser has to be treated for the maladaptive use of alcohol, prescription medications, cocaine etc. Without caring to observe the psychology behind substance abuse, it is totally impossible to find out why a certain person rushes after a particular drug and if his/her abnormal tendency is linked to domestic violence, stress at work or peer pressure. Myriad psychological factors surface after deep analysis of a substance abuser like striving to experience positive pleasure, psychological reward, protection against harsh realities, and satisfying compulsion or psychological craving for a substance. 3. Positive pleasure and psychological reward: As mentioned above, more and more people presently are turning towards substance abuse for seeking relief from the distress of many everyday annoyances like paralyzing sense of failure, broken relationships, and other complex tragedies of life. (Ho, 2011) mentions that most of the people turn towards the option of drug abuse when they are psychologically saturated from the aggravated worries and this saturated point tempts them to abuse drugs so that they may be able to negate or exchange their blackened depression for positive pleasure or psychological reward. Whether the substance used by the abuser is a stimulant or a depressant, it helps him/her in temporarily forgetting the harsh or ruthless realities or failures of life. Psychological assessment helps in identification of the fact that the patient is habitually and inadequately using drugs because he/she is obsessive about seeking denial from mounting depression. The psychological disorder of substance abuse can be managed by effective communication with the patient rather than abruptly referring him/her to a rehabilitation centre without any psychological therapy. The initial euphoric sense that is experienced by a substance abuser serves as a potent psychological pleasure or reward for him/her, which is immediately followed by strengthened feelings of self-confidence in case of a stimulant abuse and relaxation in case of a depressant intake. The street name for such potent and weird psychological effects is rush, which is the bait for all drug abusers who desperately seek refuge from the brutal challenges of life which they find too hard to manage. Psychological analysis of rush reveals that this is experienced by a substance abuser because of the stimulation of the pleasure reward pathway in brain that results in excessive dopamine release, which is responsible for the regulation and transfer of drug and producing the overpowering sensations of pleasure, indulgence, confidence, and ego gratification. This gratifying but unearned psychological reward modulates the brain of a substance abuser in such a way that he/she develops a persistent longing for the preferred drug. 4. Rebellion and defiance lead to substance abuse: Rebellion in the present youth is another psychological factor that is potentially capable of promoting chronic substance abuse. Research suggests that more and more teenagers are turning towards drugs in an attempt to redefine themselves and display defiance or resistance towards authority. Psychological analysis of such teenagers show that they are either victims of domestic violence or excessively harsh treatment by their parents. Some parents develop a habit of scolding their children uselessly, insulting them in front of the guests, and passing harsh critical remarks whenever they cross their way without caring to respect their self-esteem and pride. In an attempt to groom their children in the best possible way, they end up mutilating their abilities and characters. On the other hand, limited communication and lack of supervision by the parents also leads to development of arrogance and criminal propensities in the youth. This offensive strategy adopted by some parents leads towards the rapid development of delinquency and defiance in the children, which flourishes in the schools and colleges where peer pressure plays a major role in suppressing their fears and doubts about drug abuse. Binge drinking is a common problem in many schools and colleges presently and poses a serious threat to the humanity. Stannett (cited in Ward, 2008) lays stress on the building of strong relationships with the arrogant and defiant youth, who seek refuge in substance abuse when depressed by the problematic or violent issues in their homes. Psychological analysis of such attention-deprived youngsters shows that they are severely thirsty for care and love at their homes, which ignites the blinding need for immediate refuge. Peer pressure makes them believe that their refuge lies in substance abuse only which makes them fall in the silken snare of crime. The attitudes of such people can be effectively modified by strongly relating with them and giving their problems honest consideration. 5. Link between psychological factors and drug dependence: (Worell, 2001, pp. 1114-1119) suggests that drug abuse is actually a biopsychosocial process and results from the combination of various biological, psychological, and social factors. Psychological factors like “attitudes toward, expectations of, and beliefs about drug use, sensation seeking, ability to postpone reward, and other psychological characteristics, also shape drug use.” (Worell, 2001, p. 1114). The emphasis is on the contribution of psychological factors in promoting substance abuse in this paper. When a person continues substance abuse despite having knowledge about his/her psychological problem that is aggravated by chronic abuse, his/her mental disorder is guaranteed. Psychological factors majorly contribute in the development of dependence. It is a medical fact that substance abusers develop a persistent or chronic physical or psychological need for drugs once they start abusing them beyond social norms. This horrible dependency is given the name of tolerance in medicine. Research suggests that dependence resulting from substance abuse co-occurs with anxiety, stress or mood problems. It results when a drug is continually taken over an extended period of time with the result that patient stops experiencing the same effect that was produced with initial amount of dose. In an order to overcome this deficiency, the patient keeps increasing the amount of drug so that he/she may experience the same elated euphoria that he/she experienced the first time. Eventually, the drug effect significantly diminishes and patient becomes a serious victim of substance abuse. Research suggests that dependence resulting from substance abuse co-occurs with anxiety, stress or mood problems and that is why, (Speilberger, 2004, p. 640) mentions that “drug abuse has the potential to create or worsen all psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, impulsive behavior, and antisocial behavior.” Identification of social and psychological factors linked with substance abuse is highly important for effective therapy of a patient and emphasis should be laid on this. Psychological analysis in context of substance abuse actually helps in detecting the actual reasons and stimulatory factors for abusing various drugs. References: Ho, D. (2011). The Psychology of Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5372674_psychology-drug-abuse.html Speilberger, C.D. Encyclopedia of applied psychology, Volume 3. Academic Press. Ward, L. (2008, Jan 23). Binge drinking fuels youth violence. Society Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jan/23/youngdrinkers Worell, J. (2001). Encyclopedia of women and gender: sex similarities and differences and the impact of society on gender, Volume 1. USA: Elsevier. Read More