SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is a patterned use of a drug in which the user consumes the
substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others, and is a form of substance-
related disorder.

There are two types of classification of substance abuse:

Public health definitions:

Public health practitioners have attempted to look at substance use from a broader perspective than the
individual, emphasizing the role of society, culture, and availability. Some health professionals choose to avoid
the terms alcohol or drug "abuse" in favor of language they consider more objective, such as "substance and
alcohol type problems" or "harmful/problematic use" of drugs.

Medical definitions:
Substance abuse has been adopted by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a blanket term to include 10 separate classes of drugs, including
alcohol; caffeine; cannabis; hallucinogens; inhalants; opioids; sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics; stimulants;
tobacco; and other substances. The ICD uses the term Harmful use to cover physical or psychological harm to
the user from use.

People abuse substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for varied and complicated reasons, but it is
clear that our society pays a significant cost. The toll for this abuse can be seen in our hospitals and emergency
departments both through direct damage to health by substance abuse and its link to physical trauma. Jails and
prisons tally daily the strong connection between crime and drug dependence and abuse.
For most people, the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary. But as they are swept up into the cycle of
addiction, the neural pathways in their brain change so they are less able to control their behavior and resist
their intense impulses. Thats why its so difficult to stop. The brain becomes wired for addiction. Eventually,
ones tolerance may build so much that addictive behavior no longer provides any pleasure, and using drugs
simply becomes a way to avoid withdrawal. They need drugs just to keep feeling normal.

Major causes of substance abuse:

Not everyone who experiments with drugs becomes an addict. Theres no single factor that can predict whether
someone will become addicted, though there are general social, biological, and environmental factors that do
increase the risk.
Biology: Genes, in combination with environmental factors, account for about half of a persons addiction
vulnerability. Being male, African American, or having a mental illness can also increase a persons risk of
progressing to addiction.
Environment: Family, friends, and socioeconomic status have a significant impact on a persons likelihood of
developing an addiction. Physical and sexual abuse, peer pressure, stress, and parental guidance can greatly
affect the occurrence of substance abuse.
Development: Although a person can become an addict at any age, the earlier substance use begins, the more
likely it will escalate to serious addiction.

Effects of Drug Abuse

Injuries

More deaths, illnesses and disabilities stem from substance abuse than from any other preventable health
condition. Today, one in four deaths is attributable to illicit drug use. People who live with substance
dependence have a higher risk of all bad outcomes including unintentional injuries, accidents, risk of
domestic violence, medical problems, and death.

Health Problems

The impact of drug abuse and dependence can be far-reaching, affecting almost every organ in the human
body. Drug use can:

Weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections.

Cause cardiovascular conditions ranging from abnormal heart rate to heart attacks. Injected
drugs can also lead to collapsed veins and infections of the blood vessels and heart valves.
Cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Effects On The Brain

Although initial drug use may be voluntary, drugs have been shown to alter brain chemistry, which
interferes with an individual's ability to make decisions and can lead to compulsive craving, seeking and
use. This then becomes a substance dependency.

All drugs of abuse - nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, and others - effect the brain's "reward"
circuit, which is part of the limbic system.
Drugs hijack this "reward" system, causing unusually large amounts of dopamine to flood
the system.
This flood of dopamine is what causes the "high" or euphoria associated with drug abuse.

Behavioral Problems
Paranoia
Aggressiveness
Hallucinations
Addiction
 Impaired Judgment
Impulsiveness
Loss of Self-Control

Birth Defects

Nearly 4 percent of pregnant women in the United States use illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine,
Ecstasy and other amphetamines, and heroin1. These and other illicit drugs may pose various risks for
pregnant women and their babies. Some of these drugs can cause a baby to be born too small or too soon,
or to have withdrawal symptoms, birth defects or learning and behavioral problems. Additionally, illicit
drugs may be prepared with impurities that may be harmful to a pregnancy.

Finally, pregnant women who use illicit drugs may engage in other unhealthy behaviors that place their
pregnancy at risk, such as having extremely poor nutrition or developing sexually transmitted infections.

REFERENCES:

http://recovergateway.org/substance-abuse-resources/drug-addiction-effects

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_abuse