Substance Abuse
What is Substance Abuse?
Substance use disorder is a serious mental health condition that forces you to consume drugs and substances, knowing the effects and consequences. It is a mental illness that affects your brain function and behavior causing you to disturb your daily life. People having substance abuse disorder impact their lives causing problems with relationships, work, health, and finances.
The substance abuse symptoms develop based on genetic, environmental, and developmental factors. Any traumatic event, family issues, work pressure, or any other natural disaster affects the person pushing them toward substance abuse.
Substance use disorder can be low, mild, or severe. It can be treated by providing substance abuse counseling, therapy, or medications. Individuals can achieve long-term recovery, healthier minds, and an improved quality of life when treated with the right approach.
Substance Abuse Types
Any individual suffering from substance use disorder faces various issues in dealing with work, health, relationships, and family. Some major types of substance abuse disorders are:
Alcohol abuse
It is the most growing substance use disorder in the US. Excessive or non-stop drinking can cause this disorder leaving you unhealthy and mentally unstable to perform any daily activity.
Nicotine
This substance abuse causes dependence on tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, vape, or e-cigarettes. When you cannot consume it for any reason, it can bring frustration, restlessness, or anger issues. Excessive use of this can lead to cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Common Substance Abuse Symptoms
- Cravings and obsession to use the substance
- Repeated try to cut down on substance abuse
- Uncontrollable substance use and affecting life, relationships, and work.
- Making excuses to attend important events due to substance abuse
- Affecting health, memory, focus, and decision-making ability
- Performing illegal activities due to excessive substance use
- Neglecting family, relationships, work, and other important issues
- Mood swings, changes in personality, or, excessive frustration
Causes of Substance Use Disorder
Substance use disorders are not singly determined by a single factor; the factors include genes, environmental, and psychological factors. An individual’s vulnerability to genetic predispositions and the chemical balance in the brain can also cause substance abuse disorder. Other mental disorders such as psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, or trauma also increase the likelihood of substance use.
There are external factors including family and friends, social groups, and access to substances that also have a strong influence. It was also evident that early exposure or childhood adversity can be carried forward to the future and lead to substance misuse.
Other factors that may increase the risk include being impulsive, having no means or ways of managing stress or emotions, and age, especially adolescence. The precise cause is different for each individual; nevertheless, understanding these predisposing factors is critical to addressing the problem of substance use disorders and preventing related health issues.
Substance Abuse Treatment
Mostly an integrated approach is utilized to manage individuals who are displaying symptoms or disorders related to substance use. In both situations, treatment approaches include change in behavior, therapy, and sometimes the use of drugs.
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Substance Abuse
Addiction counseling, behavioral therapies, and FDA-approved medication are some of the recommended treatments to cure patients of substance abuse disorder. This model of medicated assisted drugs, together with behavioral therapies, aims to provide a better mental state for the patient and reduce the abuse of substances.
Common medications prescribed to excessive alcohol-consuming patients. Substance abuse counseling can play a vital role in the medication-assisted treatment process, helping addicts find recovery and learn how to face and overcome their issues.
Benefits of Substance Abuse Treatment
There are several ways to treat substance abuse disorders. By getting substance abuse help, you might be able to improve your mental well-being, achieve sober behavior, and sustain long-term recovery.
With substance abuse counseling and therapy, patients may be able to find ways to cope with growing disorders, resist cravings, and avoid relapse situations. Comprehensive approaches like therapy, counseling, and medications that can result in successful treatments allowing the patient for personal growth, self-esteem, and self-confidence to achieve the lost goals in life.
