StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems - Research Paper Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper describes the impact of substance abuse on the individual, families, and society. Addiction is a problematical condition, with psychological, behavioral, biological and spiritual characteristics. drug and alcohol abuse effects on individuals and society, as complicated disorders…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER93.3% of users find it useful
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems"

I. Introduction The detrimental effects of alcohol and drug abuse affect individuals, families, communities and the larger society in which they live. It can be stated in the immeasurable lost and anguish of those badly affected by substance use illnesses. Prevention is obviously the most economical means of reducing the detrimental impacts of substance abuse. The objective of this paper is to discuss the impact of substance abuse on the individual, families and the society. But then, how do we know if we have a problem with substance addiction? How do we know if a loved one or a close friend does? How can we identify addiction? Is an individual an addict if they use them merely due to the fact that they are illegal? In reality, determining the exact measure at which point substance use amounts to addiction should be simple, but it is not. Uncertainly arises for the reason that we are restricted to examining and explaining behaviors, when the fact is what we are attempting to describe entails an alteration in the functioning of the brain as an outcome of addictive substance use. Addiction is a problematical condition, with psychological, behavioral, biological and spiritual characteristics. Given this fact, it is best to perceive drug and alcohol addiction and its effects to individuals, families and the society, as complicated disorders. II. Impact of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Drug and alcohol abuse weakens physical health. For instance, persistent alcohol abuse is related to diseases of the heart, central nervous system and liver. Commonly, as in the case of Korsakoff’s condition or a brain disorder, the damage brought about by alcohol abuse is permanent. Other health problems resulting from substance use are well-documented. Familiar examples are chronic central nervous system injury stemming from solvent abuse, and lung cancer resulting from chain smoking (Bennett & Holloway, 2005). Moreover, several substances are lethal in too much doses, leading to a number of chronic and severe effects on health, possibly resulting in long-term disability or death. Ultimately, substance abuse worsens the risk for obtaining other acute health problems, such as sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, or trauma resulting from accidents that are caused by abusive use of psychoactive substances (Henderson, 2000). Mental health problems commonly arise with substance abuse. In a number of cases, psychiatric disorder comes first or even adds to the problem of substance abuse, while in others, behavioral and emotional disorders occur within the framework of drug and alcohol use problems. A great deal of research has described the inconsistent depiction of psychological disturbances in substance abusers. Involved are problems in behavior, personality, self-esteem, mood, and social functioning. Again, a number of these psychological problems could be manifest prior to the beginning of substance abuse, even though psychological performance commonly deteriorates over time in individuals suffering from disorders caused by substance abuse (Bennett & Holloway, 2005). Excessive use of particular substances could also contribute to quite distinctive psychological manifestations, such as the state of amotivation that has been associated to persistent use of marijuana. Additional psychological impacts of substance abuse are related to the biological effect of psychoactive substances, such as bad temper and fretfulness originating from withdrawal attempts, and the behaviors that are caused by drugs and alcohol dependence, such as obsession with acquiring craved substances (DiClemente, 2003). The family, as well, is considerably affected by substance abuse. Patterns of behavior that usually accompany substance dependence, such as participating in criminal activities in order to acquire money to satisfy addiction, involvement in perilous and threatening activities, and educational underperformance, can put enormous pressure on the financial and emotional resources of afflicted families (DiClemente, 2003). Furthermore, since substance abuse is more probable to arise in families that are previously troubled or maladaptive, trauma stemming from the addiction of a family member could further strain previously threatened coping abilities. Substance use in parents can lead to child abuse and abandonment, domestic violence, and lack of support and communication and unity within the family (Petersen & McBride, 2002). The effect of drug and alcohol abuse to the community and the larger society is also of apparent concern. It has been reported in some studies that substance abuse and crime have a direct relationship, particularly relating to illegal substances that are extremely addictive, such as heroin and marijuana. As the problem develops, individuals addicted to such substances usually resort to crime to acquire drugs to support their addictions (Petersen & McBride, 2002). Furthermore, addiction also enlarges the danger of being a crime victim. Drug-related activity, such as vending and purchasing, further weakens the community by introducing the youth to drugs, offering ease of access to illegal substances, and enabling organized crime penetration. Decisively, substance abuse dispossesses the society of human resources that could be maximized to reinforce and improve population strength (Ammerman, Ott & Tarter, 1999). Drugs and alcohol abusers are prone to perform incompetently at work, and are more likely to incur higher rates of absences. It is approximated that “lost work hours and poor performance cost employers $35 billion per year” (Ammerman, Ott & Tarter, 1999, 6). Further costs are sustained through employee rehabilitation programs for substance abusers, and premiums given to insurance providers to pay for treatment of substance abuse. At the federal, state and local levels, a massive amount of financial and human resources is allocated to trimming down the availability and accessibility of harmful substances. These attempts have inadequate effectiveness, further underlining the importance of prevention in reducing the prevalence of substance abuse (DiClemente, 2003). III. Substance Abuse Prevention The objectives of substance abuse prevention are quite evident. They comprise: (a) hinder onset of substance use; (b) restrict the quantity and kinds of substances abused; (c) prevent the shift from substance use to abuse: and (d) reduce the detrimental outcomes of those people who endeavor in substance use and sooner or later show signs of clinically relevant symptoms of disorders caused by substance abuse (Ammerman, Ott & Tarter, 1999). Completely realizing these objectives, though, has been vague. This results, primarily, from the deficient knowledge of the sources of substance use disorders, and our failure to accurately predict particular developmental courses for individuals and the larger populations. Consequently, much work is still needed before we can determine those people at greatest risk, evaluate their individual needs, and formulate and put into effect a most favorable intervention founded on an assessment. To a certain extent, we are at a point where we can determine individuals at greater or lesser threat, carry out evaluations that identify performance in key domains, but not essentially in all areas, significant to the individual, and conduct programs that deal with wide-ranging domains of need, but not essentially the particular and distinctive individual needs. These conditions are not exclusive to the area of substance abuse. In reality, it precisely describes present restrictions in performing psychological programs for children (Bennett & Holloway, 2005). In spite of these setbacks, several major developments have taken place in the prevention field in the recent decade. Apart from more truthfully explaining the processes by which drugs and alcohol use and abuse arise, and determining individuals at greater threat for developing problems of substance abuse, a number of particular prevention schemes have been empirically substantiated to reduce substance use and the ensuing build up of substance use disorders (Bennet & Holloway, 2005). Generally, prevention programs put emphasis on (a) modifying the psychological aspects of the person that influence or safeguard individuals from having problematic substance use; (b) altering the environmental situations that increase or reduce risk, and; (c) changing the relationship between these factors further classify prevention into five techniques: (a) models of information dissemination; (2) emotional education models; (3) alternative models; (4) models of social resistance abilities, and; (5) more wide-ranging skills training agendas. Each of these techniques has been embodied in general, preferred, and recommended programs. Even though it has merely been in recent times that programs for prevention have been subjected to organized empirical assessment, a more unambiguous understanding of important features of effective prevention attempts has surfaced (Petersen & McBride, 2002). IV. Conclusions Drugs and alcohol abuse not merely affects the individual who is afflicted by it, but also their families, their communities, and the society they live in. Biological, physiological and psychological disorders are the most well-known impacts of substance abuse. Hence, the need for more effective substance abuse prevention is continuously growing. Substance abuse prevention has made remarkable achievement in the recent decade. Theoretical designs have been improved that explain the intricate interaction of risk and preventive forces. There has been a growing awareness of substance abuse as arising from mechanisms of development, thus providing evidence to the significance of early involvement and prevention. Particular prevention schemes have underwent empirical assessment with more improved systematic thoroughness. Consequently, a number of prevention schemes have surfaced as capable, and a more unambiguous explanation of key elements to prevention has been acquired. Even though current developments in the field of prevention are heartening, a great deal of work still has to be done. There are apparently three subject matters that should be the emphasis of research in the future. Primarily, there is a necessity for a more direct relationship between the study of the sources of problems and prevention. Traditionally, these two domains in substance abuse have advanced separately. Prevention schemes have been significantly affected by practical restrictions, thus the focus on general prevention attempts, and etiological study has been carried out with negligible thought of the actual world hindrances confronted by professionals. There has been substantial growth in recent times in uniting these two areas, even though a great deal of work still has to be done. References Ammerman, R. T., Ott, P.J., & Tarter, R.E. (Eds.). (1999). Prvention and Societal Impact of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Bennett, T. & Holloway, K. (2005). Understanding Drugs, Alcohol and Crime. Maidenhead, England: Open University Press. DiClemente, C. C. (2003). Addiction and Change: How Addictions Develop and Addicted People Recover. New York: Guilford Press. Henderson, E. C. (2000). Understanding Addiction. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. Petersen, T., & McBride, A. (Eds.). (2002). Working with Substance Misusers: A Guide to Theory and Practice. New York: Routledge. Stout, C., & Levitt, J.L. (Eds.). (1992). Handbook for Assessing and Treating Addictive Disorders. New York: Greenwood Press. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems Research Paper, n.d.)
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems Research Paper. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1727754-drug-and-alcohol-abuse
(Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems Research Paper)
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems Research Paper. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1727754-drug-and-alcohol-abuse.
“Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems Research Paper”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1727754-drug-and-alcohol-abuse.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Drug and Alcohol Abuse Weakens Physical Health: Mental Health Problems

The long term effects of drug abuse on the unborn fetus of a pregnant mother

This paper aims to look into Axis II type problems caused by drug abuse by pregnant mothers in order to see how drug abuse affects the child's long term development.... The dependency of the drug abuser on the drugs causes the greatest problems during pregnancy because the drug abuser is unable to... It is no secret that drug abuse during pregnancy causes a host of physical and mental disabilities in children that persist with them throughout their lives....
17 Pages (4250 words) Dissertation

Brain Disease, Drug and Alcohol Abuses

Thus, drugs and alcohol abuse could be treated as medical threats even if they are not directly linked with microbes.... In the paper “Brain Disease' the author analyzes the term “brain disease” with drug and alcohol addiction, which has been questioned at the highest levels in the field of medicine.... Deviant drug and alcohol consumption came to be regarded as personal choice not only recently by even in earlier centuries when religious bodies such as "the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance (ASPT), founded by Evangelical clergymen in 1826, also gained support from farmers, industrialists, and homemakers" (Boyer, Paul S, 2001)....
3 Pages (750 words) Assignment

The Psychological Effects of Alcohol

The results can range from mild lowering of inhibitions to serious physical and mental health problems.... … This paper will explore the various psychological and health problems associated with differing patterns and levels of alcohol use.... The alcoholic may be successful at abstaining from alcohol, but in many cases the damage done by years of alcohol abuse can not be reversed.... Early symptoms of alcohol abuse are evident when the subject's drinking takes priority over all other social events....
9 Pages (2250 words) Essay

Understanding Mental Health

Our mental health influences our way of thinking, feeling and acting… It also decides our style of handling stress, managing relationships and making choices in our lives.... mental health enables a person to enjoy his life The term mental health refers to a state of complete cognitive, psychological, emotional and social well-being of a person.... he World Health Organization however advocates that mental health is “not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 2001, p....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

To End Teen Alcohol Abuse

nbsp; The author of the paper states that alcohol-related fatalities remain an important concern across the globe and alcohol abuse has been proven to lead to conflict and violence.... There are many other consequences of alcohol use for teenagers including health problems, an increased risk for accidents and anti-social behavior.... Seeking to explore the ramifications of alcohol use and abuse teenagers within society, the following will analyze the negative ramifications of teenage alcohol use and present a media campaign aimed at ending teenage alcohol abuse....
9 Pages (2250 words) Research Paper

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

This paper under the title "drug and alcohol abuse" focuses on the fact that drugs cause more losses to the family, employer, and society than alcohol.... drug and alcohol abuse can be considered a plague of modern society.... Both drug abuse and alcohol abuse have the negative impact upon the individual, the family, and society.... They begin using marijuana and shifted to other drugs while keeping with their tobacco and alcohol abuse (1)....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

A Close Relationship between Alcohol, Drugs, and Mental Health

… IntroductionThere is considered to be a close-relationship between alcohol, drugs and mental health.... Infact it is mostly claimed that superfluous intake of alcohol and drug twofold the mental health problem.... After caffeine alcohol is the second most IntroductionThere is considered to be a close-relationship between alcohol, drugs and mental health.... Infact it is mostly claimed that superfluous intake of alcohol and drug twofold the mental health problem....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Alcohol and Drug Use among Australian Adolescents

rug and alcohol use is a big problem among the Australian young population especially due to the ready availability of both legal and illegal drugs.... Legal drugs like tobacco and alcohol are readily available to adolescents since they are found in most homes where parents consume such substances.... Adolescents are vulnerable to many social evils such as crime, drug and substance abuse, risky sexual activity as well as violence.... However, drug and substance abuse is very rampant among adolescents with alcohol and tobacco being the most used substances due to their legality....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us