Many different people throughout the world can be placed in the category of a substance abuser. A substance abuser is described as a person who participates in the incorrect use of addictive substances including drugs and alcohol. Individuals partake in the use of addictive substances at the following different levels: socially, regularly, and addictively. People use drugs and alcohol occasionally in the social setting. A woman who does not normally drink alcohol at home, will drink when she goes out on the town with her friends. Substance abuse is connected with peer pressure in that a person who would never partake in some actions alone, will with the encouragement of their friends. The typical high school student will be involved with the consumption of alcohol and/or drugs at some point. This most often happens at a social event like a party or after a …show more content…
Substance abusers could lose their jobs and their relationships if others found out the extent of the use. Regular abusers do not require other people to join along with the use. In fact, they often use alone in order to save face. These individuals are often seen chewing gum and mysteriously sneaking away from the crowd. Eventually, the substances will take a toll on their body; therefore, they must go through more extensive measures to hide their use. The users may become more distant in efforts to conceal their problem. Because of some traumatic event, one may begin using regularly to mask their pain. As an example, after his wife’s passing a man may turn his social drinking into regular use. Regardless of the reason why, substance abuse is not a positive thing. It may make the individual feel better for a few hours, but it always leads to more use. Using addictive substances regularly, ensures a quick path to becoming an
Predominantly, the idea of addiction falls under the sociological concept of deviance. Research has identified drug use predominantly as a problem of young males, whereas prescription drug use is principally a problem of middle-aged and older women (Adrian, 2003). According to the sociological idea of conformity, individuals who are around others who misuse substances or use them illegally will eventually give in and follow the norm their social group has initiated and partake in addictive substance use. Hence, because of sociological research, it is evident that drug use and abuse and addictions are a deviant behavior that individuals have learned through the idea of conformity and following an idea popular in an individual’s culture or
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is a patterned use of a substance (drug) in which the user consumes the
Substance abuse disorders are common in our society. It is a disorder that each one of us will most likely experience through a family member, friend, or our self. I felt very drawn to this topic due to the fact that I have a family that has background of substance abuse and I myself have battle the demon. Not until I struggled with my own addiction did I become more tolerable and understanding to those that have a substance abuse disorder. Substance abuse is not something anyone wants to have; it is a disorder that takes control of a person’s life. It is a beast that tears a person apart; from their being to the lives of their loved ones. This disorder is not biased in anyway; rich or poor, male or female, employed or unemployed, young or
Substance abuse is a tragedy that touches many lives. Abuse begins with a single use event that, with continued use and overindulgence, transforms into a battle. The abuser most always loses that battle. Personal relationships, social ties, and employment suffers. Irresponsible and erratic behavior becomes the norm, and though the abuser is aware on some level of the reckless and thoughtless acts that they commit, they continue to use and abuse their drug of choice. What starts as experimentation often ends in addiction. The best hope for a person in the grips of substance abuse is immediate,
Substance abuse involves the usage of psychoactive substances like drugs and alcohol for various reasons like excessive stress, low self-esteem, loneliness and much more. However,
Drug abuse is on the rise. While the use of drugs like cocaine and heroin is in a state of decline in certain parts of the world, prescription drugs abuse is on the rise (UNODC, 2013). Prescription drugs that were prescribed with the intention to do well are now one of the leading causes of self-harm. Drug abuse has no gender or social class, it can affect people regardless of social status and wealth, and now more than ever we need to understand the reason behind the abuse. What psychological factors could cause an individual to abuse drugs in the first place? In this research essay, I will discuss how each one of the major school of psychology perspectives could attempt to explain a
Substance abuse among college students The use of drugs among college students is becoming prevalent day by day. It is quite common to indulge oneself in the consumption of drugs due to many factors. When students shift themselves from high school to college, they encounter a bunch of problems. There might be some issues linked to financial status, lessen control of parents and peer pressure.
Substance abuse is when a person want their mind to be altered with the use of drugs. Substance
According to WHO, substance abuse is “persistent or sporadic drug use inconsistent with or unrelated to acceptable medical practice”[4]. Substance use refers to the use of any psychoactive
An abuser user: A person who consumes alcohol and feels the effect, yet still continues to consume. A person who makes negative behavioral decisions repeatedly. For example, drinking and driving, forgetting or ignoring obligations, or having many legal issues due to the consumption of the alcohol. These behaviors are life altering decisions.
Casual drug use is part of many subcultures and party scenes, partly because it is so obtainable. Developing an addiction is more than likely when drugs are part of casual lifestyle. What begins as social drug use can quickly turn into a personal affliction. With the health risks addiction poses, it comes as no surprise that so many people die each year due to drug related incidents or ailments. Albeit, addiction is not the only social implication of drugs.
It was mid-summer on a beautiful day, where the birds were singing and kids run about here and there. Playing by the playground with my friends and neighbors, I heard a siren. It was all too normal to hear this song of urgency when you live near the highway, but this one was different. It was closer, it was louder, it was outside the towns entrance. People rushed to the site to see what had occurred so close to home. As my group came closer, a white car stare back at us, but it was a stranger’s car, one we were not familiar with, a sigh of relief. Behind that car, another car lies on its hood, flipped and shattered. I heard my friend cried, she screamed to move forward but was held back. Firemen and police officers rushing to pull out two bodies. They were young, younger than we were, one was little girl lying in the ambulance, my friend’s little sister. Only fourteen, her first year in high school, but she was motionless. Her boyfriend, the driver, disoriented, but he was fine, only a scar on the forehead. I found out later my friend, the driver drove drunk and crossed a red light, the oncoming vehicle smashed into the passenger side and little T left us that day.
Prevention methods for substance abuse are taught to children as early in their kindergarten years and follow throughout their lifetime. Current programs available are school-based programs, parent and family, work programs and community and public media campaigns.
Substance abuse is a leading cause of mortality among adolescents (Sussman, S., Skara, S., & Ames, S. L. ,2008). What can be done to help predict which teenagers are at risk for substance abuse issues? Substance abuse, which can be defined as overindulgence in psychoactive drugs will usually begin during the teenage years. Psychoactive drugs work mainly by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain (Weiten,2015). Although various drugs initially affect various neurotransmitters, many theorists concur that the majority of abused substances affect a neural circuit that is known as the mesolimbic dopamine pathway (Weiten,2015). Operant conditioning may cause users of psychoactive drugs to continue using drugs. By consuming mind altering substances one is altering their consciousness. Additionally, substance abuse can lead to cognitive deficits, brain damage, and sleep problems (Weiten,2015). Three academic journals will be reviewed discussing whether it is possible to predict the likelihood that teenagers will abuse psychoactive substances based on whether the teenager suffers from depression, experienced childhood trauma, or based on the parenting style that the teenager grew up with.
The first meeting I attended was an AA and a NA meeting. At first, I was very nervous attending it because I didn’t know what to expect. I always had the impression that all people who attended these meetings were typical people that you see in bars with long hair, and beards; but I was wrong. They look normal just like you and me. There were young people, and middle-aged people. Some of them I never would have expected that they were alcoholics or drug addicts.