Essay Drug Abuse and Mental Health

As the second decade of the 21st century progresses, the population approaches seven billion. With so many people, how are people supposed to stand out in job applications, or catch the administrators’ eye as he or she reads applications to highly prestigious colleges and universities? More and more people are asking this question, and more and more people are finding help in a small pill. Originally diagnosed for Alzheimer’s disease and ADHD, these drugs are increasingly used off label in universities and workplaces. In society, people call this form of off label use of neuroenhancing drugs chiefly two different things: smart drugs informally, and nootropics formally. The word nootropic originated from a Romanian Dr. Corneliu E.

Difficulty meeting academic responsibilities is one of the most common consequences of drug use and abuse. The relationship between drug use/abuse and the academic performance of college students rises every year that causes a critical issue on Colleges and Universities campus. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Task Force on College Drug reports that about 25 percent of college students report academic problems caused by drug use, such as earning lower grades, doing poorly on exams or papers, missing class dramatically, and falling behind. However, the history of drug abuse has been rooted in the early stages of life. Drug use/abuse has been classified as a major problem of students as early as in the fourth grade. Consequently, it

Drug addiction and mental illness are two topics that are becoming more popular for discussion in American households. As stated from DrugAbuse.com, “mental illness is common amongst a population suffering from substance abuse and addiction. The relationship is so strong that many people believe the drugs play a causative role in the development of the mental illness. In most instances, this is not the case. In the United States, approximately 8.9 million people have both a mental health and a substance abuse issue”. This overwhelming amount of the United States population is often give as a dual diagnosis making persons suffering

There are many variables when it comes to talking about substance abuse and addiction. According to (L. Lagoni, 2010), links are present between mental illness and self-medication referred to as the self-medication hypotheses. The research in this peer reviewed article was comprehensive and viewed psychiatric disorders from many different angles. They looked at illicit drug and alcohol users and found that many mental health disorders such as Thought, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD, ADHD, and APD are connected to many societal issues which include homelessness, health issues, unemployment crime, and early deaths.

The National Institute on Drug Addiction reveals substance abuse has been linked to mental health problems, illness and occupational problems. It affects their social life and their ability to function as a healthy individual (The Truth about Drugs pg.21, 22, 35). The complexity of the assistance required from the human service professional depends on the severity of the problem and the state of the client.

The resulting behaviors weaken the person’s ability to control impulses, disregarding the negative consequences (National Institute on Drug Abuse 2). It happens quite frequently that one with a drug addiction has a co-occurring mental illness because often times, one will lead to the other. Many people who are addicted to drugs are also diagnosed with a mental disorder or vice versa. For example, compared with the general population, people with severe mental illnesses were approximately “four times more likely to be heavy alcohol users, 3.5 times more likely to use marijuana regularly and 4.6 times more likely to use other drugs at least ten different times in their lifetime” (National Institutes of Health 7). In addition, people who have a drug addiction are about two times as likely to suffer from a mood or an anxiety disorder (National Institute on Drug Abuse 3). It is clear that drug abuse may show symptoms of mental illnesses. In reverse, mental disorders can lead to drug abuse, commonly as a means of “self-medication.” Drug abuse is a mental illness in itself, and many times it is a sign of additional underlying mental

Substance abuse disorder, or what is referred to now as substance use disorder, is a condition where reliance to various substances, may it be licit or illicit, continues to permeate the lives of the sufferer, even to the point that this reliance is detrimental to the person’s life. This definition is merely an oversimplification of the said disorder. In reality, the criteria for substance use disorder has been “defined and redefined over the past several decades and these definitions have now achieved international acceptance” (Oxford, 2012). As an evidence, the recently published DSM-5 has made major revisions to the definition of substance use disorder; the revisions are the removal of the relation of substance-use with the law, the addition of craving as one of the criterion, and the elimination of the dependence symptoms (Fitzgerald, 2012, p. 609). Nonetheless, despite these efforts to improve the diagnosis for substance use disorder, several critics argued that the aforementioned syndrome is inappropriate to be classified as a mental health disorder. From this criticism, it is then necessary to define what a mental disorder is and what the criteria are to be classified as such. Upon defining the meaning of mental health disorder, it is now then possible to conclude whether substance abuse is a mental disorder or not.

“In 2014, nearly two million Americans either abused or were dependent on prescription opioid pain relievers (“Injury Prevention and Control: Opioid Overdose,” 2016.)” The CDC is now saying that the United States is in an epidemic. The purpose of this paper is to explore the increasing drug use in the United States over the last decade. The primary focus is on the administration of opioid analgesics and the addicting mechanisms of these medications, and what they are used for. It will talk about the deaths related to these medications and the health effects, and the other types of drugs these medications can lead to, such as heroin. This paper will also talk about the costs related to opioid analgesics in the hospitals and in the community, and what we as health care providers can be doing to help stop this epidemic.

Drug treatment centers are far more abundant now than they have been in terms of effectiveness as research and studies have been conducted. In particular THE CAMP Recovery Center is a “Nationally-accredited program run by an expert staff with extensive training” and has had numerous success and recovery stories from struggling addicts that just wanted a way out, including one from a family member of mine. THE CAMP is located in Santa Cruz mountain with an offering a variety of outdoor focused activities to supplement group therapy and other recovery-related programming. The clinic offers a variety of different detoxification options depending on the addiction a person has. The Center offers detox/treatment programs for the following additions:

It is well known that there is a growing comorbidity between psychiatric and physical disorders and substance abuse or addiction. The aim of this research article is to explore issues related to substance abuse disorders in individuals with physical disabilities and/or mental disabilities, and the relationship between substance abuse disorders and co-existing disabilities. There are several different terms used to describe the combination of, and connection between, substance abuse or addiction and physical or mental illnesses. The terms most commonly used to reflect the coexistence of substance abuse and psychological or physical disabilities are ‘dual diagnosis’ and ‘comorbidity’. Dual diagnosis literally means being diagnosed with both substance

Substance abuse (alcoholism and addiction) and depression are other common factors that lead veterans to become homeless today (Goldstein, Luther, Haas, Appelt, & Gordon, 2010). Many who are dealing with depression or PTSD will turn to alcohol or to another substance drug to try to get relief or an escape from the mental illness they are facing. Veterans that are exposed to high combat while serving are at higher risks in using alcohol or other substances. Veterans have admitted to miss using alcohol from suffering from PTSD or depression or from both disorders (Helternes, Clouser, MacGreogor, Normari, & Galarneau, 2014). Veterans that are dependent on alcohol, who have higher triggers with PTSD, also have a higher desire

Psychological illness, disorder and controlled substance abuse include our mental and emotional health with this the behavior therapy care is the treatment choice (Bissell & Royce, 1994). This cognitive treatment helps client to search inside themselves and help them focus, transforming unhealthy inadequate attitudes, opinions or irrational ideas (My Unique Student Experience. 2017). Clients must understand that an individual thought process typically governs their actions. Clearly explain to the client that their belief system affects his or her performance. Undesirable habit can be temporary, and not repeated. If the client will make the efforts to alter previous negative lifestyles.

Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. 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 people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives.

Drugs have killed 2,000,000 people every year for the last decade from overdoses based off the NIDA’s information and graphs.Drugs like Methamphetamine , cocaine,heroin ,tobacco and alcohol,As said from the NIDA “drug abuse kill 500 people every day” .Most people start taking drugs in moments of stress or hard times.People have started to get addicted to the drug thinking that they help release their stress.so people try to pass on their bad choices to others to help them release their stress.side effects in the drugs may cause illnesses,body pains and sometimes death.Many people die because of these drugs without having a care in the world ,all they know is that the drugs help them feel good about themselves.”Tobacco is just as bad it

Drugs are heavily used throughout the entire world. However, it is important to understand and not undermine the variability in which drugs are used. It is clear some are for distinct medical treatment and others are for recreational use. In the United States, marijuana has been and continues to be a very controversial drug. Some states have allowed marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes, while others have completely outlawed the drug. Those who are against the legalization and regulation of marijuana suggest the economical and health risk associated with consumption of the drug are too high. Although there is risk involved with the legalization of the marijuana, our country has already been risking too much banning the drug.