21 Oct Substance Use: Overview, Definition, Types, and Risks
People who are recovering from an addiction will be at risk for relapse for years and possibly for their whole lives. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medicines with behavioral therapy ensures the best chance of success for most patients. Treatment approaches tailored to each patient’s drug use patterns and any co-occurring medical, mental, and social problems can lead to continued recovery. A variety of treatment (or recovery) programs for substance use disorder are available on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol. Some commonly inhaled substances include glue, paint thinners, correction fluid, felt tip marker fluid, gasoline, cleaning fluids and household aerosol products. Due to the toxic nature of these substances, users may develop brain damage or sudden death. Stimulants include amphetamines, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ meth (methamphetamine), cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis). They’re often used and misused in search of a “high,” or to boost energy, to improve performance at work or school, or to lose weight or control appetite. As your drug use increases, you may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go without the drug.
Drug misuseEdit
It is considered stigmatizing, so it is now preferred to use language such as “substance misuse” or “substance use disorder.” Family history, peer pressure, and recreational drug use are all risk factors for substance use. Being aware of these risks can help you take steps to avoid using substances in the first place. Seeking treatment for mental health conditions can also play a role in prevention.
The question of what type of substance use can be considered normal or acceptable remains controversial. Substance use disorder is caused by multiple factors, including genetic vulnerability, environmental stressors, social pressures, individual personality characteristics, and psychiatric problems. But which of these factors has the biggest influence in any one person cannot be determined in all cases. In most areas of the medical history, patients try to be truthful, since it is obviously in the best interest of their health that they do so. With substance abuse, however, there are strong pressures from social stigma and possible legal consequences that may lead to concealment. Many patients hesitate to admit anything for which they expect to be criticized.
Changes in the brain
One of the brain areas still maturing during adolescence is the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that allows people to assess situations, make sound decisions, and keep emotions and desires under control. The fact that this critical part of a teen’s brain is still a work in progress puts them at increased risk for trying drugs or continuing to take them. Introducing drugs during this period of development may cause brain changes that have profound and long-lasting consequences. If you are concerned about your substance use, Dr. Linde suggests it can be helpful to ask yourself questions about the negative medical, psychosocial, legal, and financial consequences of drinking and using drugs. Drinking five or more drinks for men (four for women) in any one sitting is considered binge drinking, which can be harmful to your physical and mental health in many different ways.
Some believe that any use of illegal substances is dangerous and, therefore, abusive. Philip Jenkins suggests that there are two issues with the term “drug abuse”. For instance, GHB, a naturally occurring substance in the central nervous system is considered a drug, and is illegal in many countries, while nicotine is not officially considered a drug in most countries.
Medical Professionals
Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help substance abuse in older adults people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives. These drugs were declared illegal in the first place because they are potentially addictive or can cause severe negative health effects.