Do you or someone you know have a problem with drugs or alcohol? Has life become unmanageable? You should be aware of the differences between abuse and addiction. Because drug abuse and addiction disrupt so many aspects of your life, treatment is not simple. Understanding drug abuse and addiction and effective treatment approaches can better help a user or addict get their lives on track.
Abuse
Substance abuse involves excessive and repeated use of a drug in order to illicit pleasure or escape from problems or reality, in spite of negative consequences.
Abusing alcohol and other drugs leads to serious health problems, criminal activity, car crashes, and lost productivity in the workplace (H, W.C., 2002). Commonly abused substances include marijuana, stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine, opiates, hallucinogens, inhalants, steroids, prescription drugs, and alcohol. Oftentimes when users abuse substances, they are trying to escape reality or their problems. In doing so, many users create new problems. Whether they are legal, work-related, family or relationship related, or to their health, a substance abuser continues to use regardless of the consequences that their habitual use is causing them.
Addiction
Addiction or dependence can be physical, psychological, or both. Physical addiction refers to the physiological consequences of drug use and is typified by withdrawal symptoms when the user stops taking the drug and tolerance, which is the need to increase the amount used to achieve the initial “high.” Psychological dependence refers to the subjective feelings that the user requires in order to maintain feelings of pleasure or well-being.
For example, the user feels he/she needs the substance to numb the pain of an unpleasant experience. The key components that separate a user, who is abusing drugs and an addict, are the presence of withdrawal when the user stops taking the drug and builds up a tolerance to the substance. Addiction is rarely an acute illness, such as an infection or broken bone. For most addicts, it is a chronic, relapsing disorder, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. For many chronic substance abusers, poverty, homelessness and repeated incarceration are their way of life (Miller,1998). To treat addiction, one must seek treatment as if treating a chronic illness.
Treatment
What does one do when their life has become unmanageable? Recovery from addiction can be a hard road, and for many it will seem impossible. Thankfully there are many people and organizations in the community that can help. Obviously the first step is to make the decision to stop using. For many this can be the hardest step of all. After all, most addicts do not want to go through the discomfort of withdrawals. Talking to a family member or someone the addict trusts is a good idea when making a decision of this magnitude. Remember, the addict did not get into this predicament in one day, so easy does it. One sure way to get some answers is to seek the help of a professional. Counseling can be a great benefit in finding a path to sobriety. Many find their church to fill them with purpose and the support they need. Twelve-step programs such as NA and AA have been helping addicts for many years. No matter how an addict recovers, the most important part of any treatment is active participation.
Conclusion
Substance abuse and addiction affect more than the user. Controlled substances as well as alcohol when abused or not, can cause legal problems, relationship and family turmoil, physical and mental health complications, and in far too many cases, death. When the addict tires of hurting him/herself and all those who love them, there are many ways to seek help.
References
H, W. C. (2002). Bridging the gap between substance abuse practice and research: The national treatment plan initiative. Journal of Drug Issues,
32(3), 757-768. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/208840151?accountid=41759
Miller, J. S. (1998). A time for everything: Changing attitudes and approaches to reducing substance abuse. Canadian Medical Association.Journal, 159(5), 485-7. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204786799?accountid=41759
Remember! This is just a sample.
You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers.
Get your custom essay
Helping students since 2015
Essay Writing Service Features
Our Experience
No matter how complex your assignment is, we can find the right professional for your specific task. Contact Essay is an essay writing company that hires only the smartest minds to help you with your projects. Our expertise allows us to provide students with high-quality academic writing, editing & proofreading services.
Free Features
Free revision policy
$10Free bibliography & reference
$8Free title page
$8Free formatting
$8How Our Essay Writing Service Works
First, you will need to complete an order form. It's not difficult but, in case there is anything you find not to be clear, you may always call us so that we can guide you through it. On the order form, you will need to include some basic information concerning your order: subject, topic, number of pages, etc. We also encourage our clients to upload any relevant information or sources that will help.
Complete the order form
Once we have all the information and instructions that we need, we select the most suitable writer for your assignment. While everything seems to be clear, the writer, who has complete knowledge of the subject, may need clarification from you. It is at that point that you would receive a call or email from us.
Writer’s assignment
As soon as the writer has finished, it will be delivered both to the website and to your email address so that you will not miss it. If your deadline is close at hand, we will place a call to you to make sure that you receive the paper on time.
Completing the order and download