Substance Abuse Info

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Here's some basic substance abuse info:  substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, involves the repeated and excessive use of a drug in order to experience pleasure or escape from problems or from reality, despite negative outcomes.  The substance that is abused can be an illegal drug such as marijuana or cocaine, inhalants such as industrial cleaning solvents or model airplane glue, or prescription drugs such as vicodin or percocet that are taken inappropriately.

When substance abuse is examined at a deeper level of analysis, it becomes apparent that there are desired and undesired substance abuse effects.  To be more specific, the desired substance abuse effects are the "high," the "buzz," or the euphoria that results from the drug of choice.  As all drug abusers and drug addicts soon discover, however, along with the desired substance abuse effects, there are painful, discomforting, and undesirable substance abuse effects that get worse the longer the individual engages in substance abuse.

Dysfunctional Behavior and Psychological and Physical Dependence

Whatever the drug that is taken, substance abuse is typified by the dysfunctional ways in which the drug takes over the user’s life, disrupting his or her relationships and daily functioning at school, home, or work, leading to repeated drug-related legal difficulties, and negatively affecting his or her peace of mind.

Drug addiction can be psychological, physical, or both.  Psychological addiction refers to the subjective feelings the user needs in order to maintain pleasurable feelings or a sense of well-being.  For example, taking a drug in order to “relax” or to deaden the pain of an unpleasant situation are illustrations of psychological dependence.

Physical addiction, conversely, refers to the physiological effects of drug use and is characterized by withdrawal symptoms that are experienced when the user stops taking the drug, and tolerance, defined as the need to take increasing amounts of the drug in order to feel the initial “high” or “buzz.”

Sadly, the more that substance abuse begins to affect and manipulate a person’s life, the more likely it is that a person has a substance abuse problem.  Not only this, but the individuals who are actively involved in substance abuse are often the last ones to “see” their own symptoms of abuse and their negative abusive behavior.

The Different Kinds of Substances That Are Abused

Just about every drug has the potential for abuse and addiction.  Upon closer inspection, nevertheless, it can be shown that each substance affects the abusers' bodies and brains in different ways.  In short, the substance that is abused results in symptoms that are unique to each of the following substances:

• Uppers
• Narcotics
• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Steroids
• Inhalants
• Hallucinogens
• Downers

Substance Abuse Effects

It is important to emphasize that substance abuse effects and consequences make an impact on every facet of the person’s life.  In line with this logic, the following list represents some of the more common and recognizable substance abuse effects:

• An inability to relax or to have fun without taking drugs
• Alcohol or drug-related relationship problems
• Expressing feelings of exhaustion, hopelessness, or depression
• Frequently selling possessions, borrowing money, or stealing things from school, work, or from home
• Health problems
• Engaging in suspicious or secretive behaviors, such as making numerous trips to the restroom, basement, garage or other isolated areas where substance abuse can take place
• Drug or alcohol-related legal difficulties such as “driving under the influence” of drugs and/or alcohol
• Uncharacteristic increases in employment problems and school absences while quality of work or grades diminish
• Associating with known drug abusers or refusing to spend time with friends or family who don't use drugs
• Noticeable degradation regarding one’s physical appearance and grooming
• Irritability, wide mood swings, manic behavior, or angry outbursts
• Financial difficulties
• Talking incoherently or making inappropriate remarks
• Taking drugs the first thing in the morning
• A preoccupation with drugs exemplified by constantly talking about drugs and pressuring others to use join him or her in drug use

Substance Abuse Info:  Conclusion

The following represents basic substance abuse info that needs to be learned by all potential substance abusers.  Substance abuse can be defined as the repeated and excessive use of a drug in order to escape reality, experience pleasure, avoid problems and pain in spite of negative and damaging consequences.  

The substance that is abused can be inhalants such as model airplane glue or gasoline, prescription drugs such as codeine or oxycontin that are taken inappropriately, or an illegal drug such as heroin or marijuana.

The substance abuse effects that are experienced by the abuser makes a negative impact on every facet of his or her life.  Indeed, substance abuse effects and outcomes affect the abuser's relationships, health, finances, school or work, and legal affairs.

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