Substance abuse is very common in today's culture. There are many different substances that are abused. The most common abused substances are illegal street drugs and alcohol followed by prescription pills and medications. Technically speaking, most anything can be abused if it is taken excessively and without caution or consideration to the suggested directions. Even over the counter medications can be abused. It usually when unseen potential for dependence or abusive behaviors arise out of the general population that the authorities step in and begin to restrict its use.

Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem for many minorities, including disabled adults, the homeless, and minority populations (where it is more difficult to get quality treatment and community support).

A good example of this is Vicks inhalers. When the inhalers first hit the market they quickly became a popular item among addicts. Not just for the mild rush they would get from one use but the ability to extract certain amphetamine chemicals from them. Since then, Vicks has redistributed a similar inhaler that no longer contains these chemicals. But the use of Vicks inhalers alone does not usually lead to the extreme behaviors associated with other abused substances.

Substance Abuse can take two different forms: (a) the recreational, not yet addicted individual who continues until they either stop or become (b) the addict who is using and abusing substances to maintain a false level well being.

Children with prenatal cocaine exposure are more likely (1.5 times) to need special education services in school. Special education costs for this population are estimated at $23 million per year.

In the beginning of substance abuse, a common thought is, "I can stop whenever I want to". When in reality they can't. These people usually continue on until they have passed the point of no return and find themselves in the middle of a full blown addiction. By this time, it is too late for them to ever recover control, though brief periods of control may temporarily arise. They will sway back and forth between control and no control, ultimately bingeing for days, weeks, and in extreme cases months or years.

It's not a question of whether you are legally intoxicated, it's a question of whether or not it is safe to drive when you have consumed any amount of alcohol. Research shows that impairment begins long before a person reaches the blood alcohol concentration level of .08.

Substance abuse is where addiction takes root and is cultivated and grown. Once the addiction has control, there is little hope for the afflicted individual in ever recovering by themselves. Unless they accept outside help, the addicted individual will probably continue on until everyone and everything around them is gone and they have no where else to go. When this happens, the individual has two choices: (1) Continue on into prison or death or (2) Accept help and save their own lives.

Despite all the warnings, public awareness and educational programs, stiffer penalties for violations, and efforts by law enforcement agencies across the nation to be more visible and diligent in protecting the highways, people will still get behind the wheel of their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Substance abuse is flirting with disaster. Some consider it a form of Russian roulette. A person never knows when the substance abuse will crossover and turn into a full blown addiction. And by then, hope for the individual to ever be what they once were, "a casual user", will never be again. They have been changed forever. Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic rings true here. The now addicted person will experience countless negative consequences as a direct result of their addicted behaviors until they are willing to accept help and make the change for themselves.

As it has been said, Substance Abuse is the beginning and continuing end of addiction and addictive behaviors. If you or someone you know is abusing a substance of any kind, support them in seeking the help they need. Manor House Recovery Center is equipped with all the resources needed to assist an addicted person in achieving a sober and happy life.

Drug addiction shares many features with other chronic illnesses, including a tendency to run in families (heritability), an onset and course that is influenced by environmental conditions and behavior, and the ability to respond to appropriate treatment, which may include long-term lifestyle modification.

For more information on alcohol and drug addiction, please visit: Alcohol and Drug Rehab. For information on intervention, please visit: Intervention. For testamonials on how rehab worked for them, please visit: Testamonials.

Patrick McLemore has been a recovering alcoholic and drug addict since June 6, 2005. Patrick widely known as an expert in the field of addictions, he has not only studied the topic extensively, but has lived it. Patrick has worked with the Manor House Recovery Center for over two years. During that time he has been instrumental in the recovery and continued sobriety of numerous recovering alcoholic and drug addicts.