Substance Dependence

Is drug addiction is a disease, not a choice? Or it is a choice and not a disease? Drug Addiction has become a serious issue in society today, with an increase in controversy leading towards the topic of whether drug addiction is a disease or a choice. Addiction and disease are two different things and understanding them is very important when it comes to drugs and how it affects the mind and body. Several people tend to jump the gun and think that drug addiction is a disease, when in fact it is a choice. Some scientists believe that that drug addiction is a disease and to an extent that it makes people powerless to control its prevalence, on the other hand some scientists believe that addiction is a choice and that people have

According to the Diagnostic Statistic Manual 5 (DSM-5) substance use disorder is when the individual has a dependency on alcohol or drug, followed by penetrating craving and antisocial behavior to acquire the substance. The terms substance abuse and substance dependence refer to substance use disorder, which has been separated into three classifications as follows

Substance use disorder is defined as being a pattern of maladaptive behaviors and reactions brought about by repeated use of a substance, sometimes also including tolerance for the substance and withdrawal reactions. (pg. 294). The individual I will be talking about for the project is someone that came to crave a particular substance and rely on it every day. Their choice to devote so much of their time to their substance caused issues between their family and friends. Both family and friends started to drift away from this individual. It was almost like all they literally cared about was making sure that they got their substance. Their choice of substance was alcohol. The individual had built up a tolerance where if there was a longer period of time where they would have to go without they would start to feel anxious and get sweaty, that was their withdrawal reactions exposed. A lot of people that have alcohol use disorder specifically start off by developing their drinking problem in there young college years. It is the prime time to be pressured by your peers to try and drink until you puke your cuts out. For other individuals they are so lucky and it actually can be seen as being disorder that is hereditary. For the specific individual that I am talking about for this paper he developed it because a majority of his dad’s side of the family had alcohol use disorder. This individual new the odds were against him, but still fell into the same steps his father’s side did.

Many people have turned to substance abuse or experience chemical dependency for a variety of reasons. Nurses experience chemical dependency as well. According to Kunyk (2013), “healthcare professionals, including nurses, are also potentially vulnerable to substance use disorders regardless of any special knowledge, skills or insights they might have owing to their education and professional experiences” (p. 54). This paper will define what chemical dependency is, report causes of chemical dependency in nurses, describe behaviors associated with chemical dependency, and explain what needs to be done upon reentry into the work place.

Physical pain can cause debilitation and or life altering restrictions to normal activities of daily living. As we age, our bodies degenerate. Poor lifestyle choices, neglect and or bad luck due to genetics can predispose us to painful ailments. Many elderly people choose to take potentially addictive substances to maintain a quality of life. Due to tolerance, medication doses are increased over time to achieve a similar result. The substance abuse then becomes about negating side effects, replacing the original goal of achieving pain relief and increasing a quality of life.

The substance use issue in America is a commonly heard and discussed topic throughout the nation. Even the smallest and most vulnerable members of our society are also being affected by the drug epidemic. Addicted women who are becoming pregnant are leaving their children with a lasting reminder of how drugs can affect everyone involved in a user’s life. These infants are exposed in utero to substances and once born, the children can have immediate and sometimes long-lasting effects of their mother’s actions. Often women who become pregnant are worried that if they reach out for help, their children will be taken from them after birth. There needs to be a better way to address this issue and work towards a solution for expecting mothers who

Substance abuse is the use of drugs, alcohol, or chemicals. The substance abuse results in physical, psychological, emotional harm to the user or others. People abuse substances such as drugs and alcohol for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that it comes at a significant cost. 0Substance abuse can be recognized through it 's signs and behavior changes, as well as short and long term effects. There are various ways however to treat substance abuse.

Groenewald and Bhana conducted a study on the view and impact of being a mother of a child who has substance abuse problems. It is without question drugs cause diverse issues in the substance users life, however the individuals in the users’ life can have just as many issues as a result. In this article it focuses on mothers who go through this struggle in silence, to not disclose the difficulties they are having. This study included five mothers who have a child with substance abuse issues. They interviewed each mother in detail about their experience in this environment. Some of the interview questions and answers were written in the article and although the mothers answers were similar, they all had their own personal experiences that

From the first essay, my knowledge about addiction/chemical dependence has expanded and grown in many levels and ways. One of the most important aspects of substance abuse that gave me a better understanding is dependence and its cause and effect. Although I knew people like experimenting with drugs for many reasons such as out of curiosity, have a good time, peer pressure, and other “compelling” factors. However, for so long I could not grasp why or how some people even among siblings become addicted to the drug or alcohol and some don’t. While I realize, multiple factors can contribute to certain illnesses, disorders due to genetic vulnerability, environmental stressors, social pressures, individual personality characteristics, and certain psychiatric problems, but which of those factors have the biggest influence. Prior to this class, I have mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower…to some extent, so it was their initial decision to take the drug, however. Now I know, my perception was wrong, though I never judged anyone for such behavior, I rather was saddened.

Substance abuse can simply be defined as a pattern of harmful use of any substance for mood-altering purposes. Medline 's medical encyclopedia defines drug abuse as "the use of illicit drugs or the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are indicated or in a manner or in quantities other than directed."

There are many types of drugs and alcohol. With them there are very mant effects and dangers. Starting with alcohol your will read about what the substance can do to you physically and mentally. Hopefully if you are having trouble with substance abuse this paper will change your mind.

Drugs, withdrawals, poor medical, and psychological health are the most common stereotypes associated with substance dependence, but there is more to this psychological disorder than these mere stereotypes. Unlike substance abuse, substance dependence is a physical and psychological disorder when the user’s body is dependent on a substance or substances.

The progression of substance dependence varies from one person to another; one common way involves a progression through the following stages

Adolescence is the period when children socially grow and develop into adults. It is also during this time, that many children start to experiment with drugs and alcohol. According to Dictionary.com, substance abuse is “long-term, pathological use of alcohol or drugs, characterized by daily intoxication, inability to reduce consumption, and impairment in social or occupational functioning; broadly, alcohol or drug addiction.” While many adolescents may just experiment, addiction and abuse of substances is a very real possibility. Sharma found that most drug and alcohol users began using between the ages of fifteen and eighteen. The most common reasons given to them for initiation were peer influence, curiosity, and sense of growth (2015).

They speed up the action of the brain. They make people feel more alert, more confident and less tired.