Addiction is a complex and progressive disease that can affect anyone at any time in their lives. No matter your race, sex, and cultural background, substance abuse can be a destroyer of lives. While drug and alcohol abuse presents many challenges for any demographic group, the LGBT community has experienced substance abuse rates that are higher than any other group. It is important to look at the extent of addiction in the LGBT community. It is also important that we look at how those within the LGBT community can find the treatment and supports they need to become clean and sober.
Substance abuse refers to any continued pathological use of a medication, non-medically indicated drug. Substance abuse is likely to be diagnosed among people who have just started taking drugs and is often seen as an early symptom of substance dependence. However, substance dependence can show without substance abuse, and substance abuse can last for long periods of time without a turning into substance dependence. Substances that are abused are, but not limited to, alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for varied reasons. Due to the substance abuse our society pays a significant cost. The result from this abuse is seen in hospitals through direct damage to health and its link to physical trauma. Jails also see the cost of substance abuse with a daily tally that has a strong connection between crime and drug dependence and abuse. Substance abuse also can cause social consequences, which are
The definitions have progressed from tolerance or withdrawal symptoms from a specific drug to chronic intoxication, continued use with increased dosage, dependence, and damaging effects to user (Reinarman 2005). Both of these definitions proved to be too restrictive because all drugs do not have the same effects on every user. The current definition used by physicians and the criminal justice system is based on seven criteria (Reinarman 2005). The constant evolution of how the professional world views drug dependence mirrors society’s change in the understanding of addiction. Historically, “the drink” was viewed as the devil and drugs were often thought to be the cause of many criminal acts (Schneider 2003). After the medicalization of addiction and dawn of decriminalization of drug abuse, public opinion of deviant alcohol and drug use has changed. For the family unit, it is much simpler to accept and approach treatment for addiction if it is classified as a medical disease. In society, drug users can be framed as patients instead of criminals based on current standards. By looking at addiction as a treatable set of signs and symptoms instead of holding the individual accountable for actions they committed while intoxicated, the disease concept releases a lot of the stigma that goes along with
Substance abuse, or substance use disorder (SUD), is recognized by the medical community as continual overindulgence of an addictive substance such as drugs and alcohol. The extent of a person’s involvement in the disorder is measured by the amounts normally consumed and the length of time between periods of consumption. Substance abuse does
Addiction is a disease that is complex and progressive, which can affect anyone at any time in their lives. No matter your race, sex, and cultural background, substance addiction can destroy lives. While drug and alcohol abuse presents challenges for any demographic group, the LGBT community has experienced substance addiction rates that are higher than any other group of people. It is important to look at the extent of addiction in the LGBT community. It is also important that we look at how those within the LGBT community can find the treatment and supports they need to become clean and sober. The problem is there are very few treatment’s that support the LGBT community.
Substance abuse involving drugs, alcohol, or both is linked with a variety of negative social conditions, including family disturbances, monetary problems, lost output, and failure in school, domestic violence, child abuse, and crime. Furthermore, both social attitudes and legal answers to the use of alcohol and illicit drugs make substance abuse one of the most multifaceted public health issues. "Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States, including lost productivity and health- and crime-related costs, exceed $600 billion annually" (Substance Abuse, 2012).
A search of the Campbell Collaboration and Cochrane Collaboration (systematic reviews) yield no information on the topic of the LGBT community and substance abuse/use or chemical dependency. Because the LGBT community is often subject to discrimination within the healthcare system as a whole, it is critical for providers of substance abuse treatment programs to be aware and able to assist those who exist outside the heterosexual norm. LGBT individuals are, in general, less likely to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity for fear of real and perceived discrimination. Being able to provide LGBT affirming and/or specialized services for those in the community seeking assistance through traditional channels seems to be the next logical step forward.
Holland’s case, his wife used to frequently call his job saying that he was too sick
Substance abuse remains a large problem in the United States (US). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), substance abuse continues to take a large toll on individuals, families, and communities nationwide. In 2005, an estimated 22 million people were struggling with drug and alcohol abuse in the US. Substance abuse disrupts families, impacts work and school productivity, causes financial problems, and is related to domestic violence, child abuse, and crime (USDHHS, 2015).
Gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction also. Negative consequences go along with drug abuse and addiction. Estimates for the total costs of substance abuse in the United States, according to Drug Facts revised in November 2011, say that including productivity and health and crime related costs, exceed $600 billion annually. “This includes approximately $193 billion for illicit drugs, $193 billion for tobacco and $235 billion for alcohol. Indeed alcohol has the highest amount of expenditure for abuse. These numbers do not fully describe the amount of destructive public health and safety implications of drug abuse and addiction, such as family disintegration, loss of employment, failure in school, domestic violence, and child abuse.” Drug addiction, along with alcoholism, is a chronic disease. With medication and psychotherapy they can be overcome. Relapse is always a concern and a possibility when considering chronic disease. The actual fact is that they can reoccur and will continue to need the willingness and commitment of the patient to maintain sobriety. Often people think that because a substance may be addictive that it should not be used; however the fact is that there are many benefits to the supervised use of marijuana which are more evident every day now. Chemicals that effect the brain and
Substance abuse disorders is easily defined when an “individual continues to use the substance despite experiencing negative consequences from their use. These negative consequences can include health problems; difficulties in their family, work, and social life; and financial and legal problems. They are said to be dependent on the substance when,” in addition to theses negative consequences, they build tolerance and experience withdrawal if they stop using the drug” (Martin, 2007, p. 265). Substance abuse dates back to the early Americans colonies with beer that was brought over by the pilgrims and more popularly the ratification of the Constitution to prohibit the use of alcohol
Gay men experience higher rates of alcoholism and addiction when compared to their straight counterparts. It is probable that many of them have experienced traumatic events which have precipitated the overuse of substances to cope with life-altering circumstances. Higher instances of HIV/AIDS are prevalent in this population due to inadequate access to services. A thorough understanding of the impact of addition on gay men, at the micro, mezzo and macro levels, will reveal clarity about their bio-psycho-social-spiritual wellbeing. Additionally, comprehending the cultural nuances that define gay men will assist in the design and implementation of effective interventions. Furthermore, special attention to ethical issues surrounding the simultaneous treatment of both addiction and HIV/AIDS in gay men may lead to more holistic, solution-focused treatments for both of these complex and chronic conditions.
This leads to an increase in criminal activity such as neglect of familial duties, robberies to fund their dependency, and violence to defend their habits. The ‘drugee’ becomes a nuisance to society. Some become homeless and exhibit poor health habits such as malnutrition and tooth decay. Other negative effects include the transference of diseases because of needle sharing. Though drug use is a personal choice, the effects on the rest of society are undeniable. The best intentions are formulated on a personal level, but this is overcastted by its negative effects. This argument, however, is a bit one-sided because the reason for using and dependency varies between users.
Substance abuse and addiction have become a social problem that afflicts millions of individuals and disrupts the lives of their families and friends. Just one example reveals the extent of the problem: in the United States each year, more women and men die of smoking related lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined (Kola & Kruszynski, 2010). In addition to the personal impact of so much illness and early death, there are dire social costs: huge expenses for medical and social services; millions of hours lost in the workplace; elevated rates of crime associated with illicit drugs; and scores of children who are damaged by their parents’ substance abuse behavior (Lee, 2010). This paper will look at
Drug and alcohol addiction is a very serious and widespread problem in America, and across the globe. Drug addiction is a constant craving, seeking, and using of a substance, despite the negative consequences it may have on the addict or those around them. When drug use becomes more frequent, it is considered drug abuse. Once an individual’s drug abuse is can no longer be controlled, and they are using the drug to get through everyday life, it beomes an addiction. A person on drugs has an altered way of thinking, behaving, and perceiving. There are treatment facilities all over the world dedicated to help those suffering with drug addictions. All
Many vulnerable citizens and marginalized individuals in the society are seeking solace in drugs and falling easy victims of drug addiction. The victims of drug addiction have either become drug addicts or uncontrollable drug users while many not so fortunate victims have died of drug over dose in the past, or are on the waiting list of the continuing tragedy. Meth is a commonly used drug not just within the gay community in the United States, but across the entire population due to its accessibility and affordability across the different ethnic and social class.
Drug abuse is when people use substances that are considered legal or illegal in an abusive way. Some people use the drug repeatedly for pleasure, alleviating stress or to avoid reality. It has also been abused by those who are on prescribed drugs that are used in ways other than what it is prescribed for or using someone else’s prescription. As a result of persons who can’t control themselves and have over usage, people become addicted even when there are negative consequences (National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d.).