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The National Institute of Health reports over one million emergency room visits every year involving illegal drug use and nearly five million drug and alcohol abuse.
Drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers leads to catastrophic repercussions on their health and families. In the 15-24 age group, alcohol or drug misuse is involved in 50% of deaths (accidents, homicides and suicides). Physical and sexual aggressiveness, such as assault or rape, is also increased by drugs and alcohol.
Symptoms
Symptoms or behaviours associated with drug and alcohol addiction include, but are not limited to:
- Feeling compelled to use the substance regularly – every day or even many times a day
- Having intense cravings for the substance, preventing other thoughts
- Over time, requiring more of the substance to achieve the same result
- Ensuring that you have a steady supply of the drug or alcohol
- Spending money on an unaffordable substance
- Neglecting social obligations and work responsibilities
- Continuing to consume the substance despite knowing of its ill effects
- Resorting to any means, including stealing, to get the drug
- Investing a considerable amount of time in obtaining and taking the substance or recovering from its effects
- Failure to quit
- Withdrawal symptoms upon stopping usage of the substance.
Different treatment for drug and alcohol abuse
Counselling for behavioural issues
Counselling is a part of behavioural treatments to help people change their drinking habits. Research shows that counselling by health professionals is beneficial. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a useful strategy since it may be used to treat a variety of addictions, including but not limited to food, alcohol and prescription medication addiction. CBT can help detect undesirable behavioural patterns, recognise triggers and create coping strategies. CBT can also be used in conjunction with other treatment methods.
Prescription drugs
In the United States, three drugs are licensed to assist people in stopping or limiting their drinking and avoiding relapse. They are given by a primary care physician or a healthcare provider and can be taken alone or in conjunction with counselling.
Medication plays a significant part in many deaddiction regimens when paired with counselling and behavioural therapy to aid in a patient’s recovery. A variety of drugs may help lessen cravings and manage withdrawal from benzodiazepines, alcohol, opioids and other sedatives.
Mutual Support Organisations
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step organisations offer peer support to people quitting or reducing their alcohol consumption. When combined with professional treatment, mutual-support groups can provide a valuable additional support layer. Because mutual-support groups are anonymous, researchers find it difficult to compare their success rates to those led by health professionals.
Detoxification
Detoxification with medical assistance helps to clear the body of harmful chemicals safely. This is advantageous since drug withdrawal can occasionally result in unpleasant or even life-threatening bodily effects. Detox is usually used in conjunction with other therapies since it does not address the underlying behavioural reasons for addiction.
Outpatient Rehab & Intensive Outpatient Programs
Outpatient programmes do not require patients to be on-site or reside at the facility, so they can attend therapy and get treatment on their own time. Treatment might take place at a drug addiction treatment centre, a community health clinic, a hospital-affiliated clinic or another setting with regular meetings.
Some outpatient programmes also provide night and weekend services, making them a popular choice for people with personal, familial and/or professional obligations that make inpatient treatment difficult.
Risk
Drug and alcohol abuse significantly reduce inhibitions. They do this by flooding the brain’s reward region with dopamine, sometimes known as “the feel-good chemical.” Decision-making abilities significantly weaken when the brain is saturated with dopamine. Risky behaviour results from poor judgement, putting people in significant danger.
A single wrong judgement made while under the influence of drug and alcohol abuse can devastate a person for life.
Effects of alcohol and drug abuse on
- Well-being: Drug and alcohol abuse can harm internal organs, including the heart, liver, and brain, and leave them permanently damaged. Stroke and life-threatening infections are also significantly increased.
- Sanity: Addiction causes major behavioural issues, including paranoia, anger and impulsivity, among other things. It can also cause long-term alterations in brain function, affecting brain chemistry and impairing memory.
- Relationships: Consistently making poor decisions can harm relationships, separating one from friends and family.
- Economic situation: Addiction usually interferes with work performance, and many addicts lose jobs due to their inability to focus and complete professional responsibilities. Constantly battling to pay for drugs and alcohol can lead to financial disaster.
Conclusion
Although illegal drug use is unlawful, it does not automatically imply the presence of a substance use disorder. Legal substances, such as alcohol and prescription medicines (and, increasingly in the United States, marijuana) may result in a substance use problem. The problems produced by the use of prescribed and illicit drugs affect people from all walks of life.
