A Society of Substance Abuse

Published May 24, 2010

Substance abuse in modern society is not simply defined by the abuse of illegal drugs. Substance abuse is characterized by a habitual pattern of abuse including that of drugs, alcohol and prescription pills. The epidemic is wide spread and crosses all the borders of age, sex, race and class. The use of drugs and alcohol in this way is usually for the purposes of altering state of mind; however, this is not necessarily the case with all substance abuse.

There is a visible and definable drug culture in our society that portrays illegal drug use in recreational sense. Many drugs are used recreationally and may not lead to an addiction or abuse of the drug. However, they are all illegal because of their destructive and addictive qualities that not only affect the user but also have a great impact on wider society. Many argue that any use of illegal substances is abuse. It is hard to distinguish where the use of drugs becomes excessive and therefore abusive.

Commonly used drugs include:

· Caffeine
· Alcohol
· Nicotine
· Marijuana
· Ecstasy
· Cocaine
· Heroin
· LSD
· Ketamine
· Methamphetamines

For serious substance abusers and their families, the effects of these drugs can be devastating and often fatal. The nature of addiction is such that users become extremely determined and desperate when it comes to procuring drugs or alcohol. The need to use can lead to lying, stealing, violence and criminal behavior. The use of these drugs can also lead to severe physical and mental health problems often to the point of death. Drug and alcohol treatment comes in many forms and rehabilitation is a life long endeavor.

The consumption of alcohol at every level in society makes it one of the most dangerous and hard to treat addictions in the world. Social drinking is not only accepted but is embraced by society. Alcoholism can be an everyday addiction or a binge-drinking problem. So, when does a social drink become an addiction and how do we as a society combats the effects?

For alcoholics, treatment can be conducted in several ways. Alcohol treatment will often try to deal with the reasons behind the addiction as well as the physical and psychological need. Treatment can be based within an alcohol treatment center where professionals assist the rehabilitation process. The most common form of treatment comes in the form of a support network. These begin with group meetings and cover the whole spectrum of the problem through focused discussion and by putting in place plans and programs for recovery.

Drug rehab is firstly about dealing with the physical addiction. This process may require medical assistance, as the physical effects of detoxification are extremely hard on the body. Withdrawals are common in drug rehab and range from cold sweats, cramping, vomiting, hallucinations and mood swings as well as extreme physical pain.

Salim Jordan is Editor and Publisher of MoreThanLinks.com. He writes regularly on health and related topics, including substance abuse. Visit http://health.morethanlinks.com

A Society of Substance Abuse

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