Substance Abuse Disorders

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What is substance abuse disorder

It is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.

SYMPTOMS OF EATING DISORDER

Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a day
Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended
Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it
Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use

Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your life or causing you physical or psychological harm
Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing
Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug
Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug
Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug

CAUSES OF substance abuse

The exact cause of eating disorders is unknown. As with other mental illnesses, there may be many causes,
such as:

Genetic Disposition to Abuse

You may have heard someone say they have “an addictive personality.” While we can’t really confirm that, many people are predisposed to having drug or alcohol abuse problems due to their genes. This may make them more likely to develop an abuse problem. However, not all people with a genetic predisposition develop drug or alcohol dependencies. Just because someone’s mother or father suffered a drug dependency does not necessarily mean the child will develop similar issues. In most cases, substance abuse arises from a complex combination of factors, and genetics could be one of them.

Mental Health

People with a history of mental health disorders are more likely to develop substance abuse problems than other people. Studies show that 60% of adolescents being treated for substance abuse disorder met diagnostic criteria for other mental illnesses as well. People diagnosed with substance abuse disorder are often simultaneously diagnosed with another mental health disorder, and vice versa.

Stress

People who experience excessive amounts of stress, no matter the cause, have an increased vulnerability to substance abuse. One way to define substance abuse is as a maladaptive coping strategy to stress. Exposure to stressors at an early age or for long periods throughout one’s life can cause chemical reactions in the brain, which increase the likelihood of developing addictive behaviors later in life.

Social and Environmental Factors

The environment in which one lives can significantly influence their lifestyle, choices, and preferences. For example, children and adolescents exposed to drug or alcohol abuse at home are more likely to start using substances themselves than children who are not. This is the clearest example of how the environment can influence people, but many other impactful social and environmental factors can lead to addictive behavior.

Childhood Neglect or Trauma

There is a huge link between childhood trauma and adult substance dependency. During childhood is when people’s brains undergo the most change and development. Neural pathways are created, changed, and sometimes discarded due to environmental stimulation. A person’s brain development is seriously affected by the things that go on during childhood. Studies have shown that witnessing or receiving abuse, neglect, loss of a parent, or having a family member who suffers from a mental or physical illness during childhood often leads to people developing mental illness or substance abuse disorders as adults.

Poor Social Skills or Lack of Social Support

While familial or spousal support is often a key to recovery from substance abuse, lack of support is a key factor in developing a substance abuse problem. People who have a social support system or a cohesive family are much less likely to develop mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders.

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure has consistently been found to affect people’s likelihood of developing a dependency on substances, especially in teens and adolescents. Many individuals who developed a dependency early on were first encouraged to use that substance by their peers.

Believing Addictive Substances Aren’t Bad

People coming from communities, families, or peer groups in which drug or alcohol use is common are more likely to develop a substance dependency later on. This is especially true of teenagers and younger individuals who were never exposed to the idea that drug and alcohol use was a bad thing and were unaware of the inherent risks and side effects before developing substance dependency.

RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS OF substance abuse disorder

RISKS

Direct effects of substances:

For example, snorting cocaine through the nose can damage nasal cartilage, and taking opiates can lead to opiate-induced constipation, a chronic and potentially fatal form of constipation if a person does not receive treatment. Regular tobacco use can cause a range of cancers and smoking methamphetamine might fuel a severe form of dental decay known as “meth mouth”.

Injury

This can occur during the administration of a drug, depending on the method. For example, injecting heroin with a needle can lead to skin and muscle damage at the point of injection, and many people take drugs by smoking, causing lung damage and respiratory illnesses. Injury can also occur while intoxicated. Often, drug use impairs coordination and balance and can lead to falls and injuries. Driving while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs is criminal in most countries and caused 28 percentTrusted Source of all deaths related to traffic across the United States in 2016. Some substances induce violent reactions in people and increase the likelihood of risky or confrontational behaviors.

Overdose

Taking too much of one substance or mixing substances together can result in an overdose. While this can also occur with medications and pharmaceuticals, it is more likely to occur in a person who takes a substance to alter their mood or for recreational purposes. An overdose can result in coma and death. On average, 115 peopleTrusted Source in the United States die every day by overdosing on opioid painkillers.

Cardiovascular health

Many substances lead to spikes in blood pressure and heart rate, placing strain on the heart and blood vessels and increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death.

Loss of hygiene and routine

Addiction can become an all-encompassing feature in a person’s life, and reward systems in the brain can rewire to prioritize the substance or behavior at the root of the addiction over nutrition, resolving stressful situations, and hygiene. Addiction can also mean that a person dedicates large sums of money each month to obtaining the substance, increasing the risk of poor nutrition. In some cases, addiction can lead to homelessness, greatly reducing protection and resources and increasing exposure to the elements.

Fetal damage

If a woman takes substances while pregnant, this can lead to congenital anomalies or even death in the fetus.

COMPLICATIONS

Serious health problems

Depression and Anxiety

Suicidal thoughts or Behaviour

Problem with growth and development

Social and Relationship Problems

Substance use disorder

Work and Social issues

Problem with growth and development

PREVENTIVE MEASURES OF substance abuse disorder

Avoid Temptation and Peer Pressure.

Develop healthy friendships and relationships by avoiding friends or family members who pressure you to use substances. It’s often said “we become most like those we surround ourselves by,” meaning if you surround yourself with people who abuse drugs and alcohol you are more likely to as well. Peer pressure is a major part of life for teens and adults. If you are looking to stay drug free, develop a good way to just say no, prepare a good excuse or plan ahead of time to keep from giving into peer pressure.

Seek help for mental illness

Talk to your child about self-image and offer reassurance that body shapes can vary. Avoid criticizing your own body in front of y Mental illness and substance abuse often go hand in hand. If you are dealing with a mental illness such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder you should seek professional help from a licensed therapist or counselor. A professional will provide you with healthy coping skills to alleviate your symptoms without turning to drugs and alcohol.our child.

Examine the risk factors.

Look at your family history of mental illness and addiction, several studies have shown that this disease tends to run in the family, but can be prevented. The more you are aware of your biological, environmental and physical risk factors the more likely you are to overcome them.

Keep a well-balanced life.

People often turn to drugs and alcohol when something in their life is missing or not working. Practicing stress management skills can help you overcome these life stressors and will help you live a balanced and healthy life.Develop goals and dreams for your future. These will help you focus on what you want and help you realize that drugs and alcohol will simply get in the way and hinder you from achieving your goals.

TYPES OF EATING DISORDERS

Commonly Abused Drugs

Alcohol

Prescription and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicine

Heroin

Cocaine

Marijuana

DIAGNOSIS OF substance abuse disorder

Diagnosing drug addiction (substance use disorder) requires a thorough evaluation and often includes an assessment by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
Blood, urine or other lab tests are used to assess drug use, but they’re not a diagnostic test for addiction. However, these tests may be used for monitoring treatment and recovery.
For diagnosis of a substance use disorder, most mental health professionals use criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.

History, symptoms, thought patterns, eating behaviour

Weight and height and comparison to previous records

Physical tests

What is the most important factor in substance abuse?

Peer pressure is a strong factor in starting to use and misuse drugs, particularly for young people. Lack of family involvement. Difficult family situations or lack of a bond with your parents or siblings may increase the risk of addiction, as can a lack of parental supervision.

What are two common factors to all substance-related disorders?

A stressful or chaotic lifestyle and low self-esteem are also common. Children who grow up seeing their parents using drugs may have a high risk of developing substance use problem later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons

What lifestyle disease is caused by substance abuse?

People with addiction often have one or more associated health issues, which could include lung or heart disease, stroke, cancer, or mental health conditions. Imaging scans, chest X-rays, and blood tests can show the damaging effects of long-term drug use throughout the body.

What are individual factors of substance abuse?

Early aggressive behavior, lack of parental supervision, academic problems, undiagnosed mental health problems, peer substance use, drug availability, poverty, peer rejection, and child abuse or neglect are risk factors associated with increased likelihood of youth substance use and abuse.

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