Substance Dependency And Substance Abuse

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

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.

mothers suicide he states, “Eating oatmeal for breakfast, skipping lunch, smoking more and more dope, I’m determined to get her in the water before mid-December, the one-year anniversary of my mother’s death” (Flynn 138) These traumatic life events leave Nick wishing for a altered state of consciousness that is one of the many motives for drug use (Hart and Ksir 19). This motive is shown when he uses drugs after seeing his father sleeping on a bench. Flynn states, “I got high not long after seeing him on the Esplanade” (Flynn 176). This event is another example of Flynn using drugs in emotionally stressful times, which is an accurate portrayal of drug use and drug dependence. This need for a altered state of consciousness is extremely emotionally impactful. Due to this avoidance Nick never emotionally deals with traumatic life events, such as his mothers suicide. This emotional backup is shown when he becomes clean, “I went to meetings once or twice a week, feeling absolutely nothing on the wall over, only to leave feeling wretched. And I couldn’t stop crying. I cried every day for a year, and then the flow lessened” (Flynn 234). Nick’s outpouring of emotion after his sobriety is extremely indicative of the impact drugs were having on his mental state. This need for an altered state of consciousness is also shown when he was in high school, to illustrate, Flynn states, “Without hesitation I answered: I drink to get drunk, feel more myself when outside myself” (Flynn 99).

Substance abuse is the harmful or dangerous use of any psychoactive substances including drugs, alcohol and even tobacco. The term ‘Substance Abuse’, as understood today was first used in 1987’s DSM-IIIR, before that social & cultural factors were not considered. Even with that change, many Americans still today consider drug and alcohol abuse to be moral weakness or character defect.

Substance use may be viewed as recreational to some, however to others, it is the beginning of the road to an addiction. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-V (2013), a diagnosis of substance use disorder is based on evidence of impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria. Substance use disorders occur when recurring drug use, including alcohol, causes clinically and functionally significant damage, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. These criteria are nearly identical to that of addiction, which is a reason they are used interchangeably. In the last decade, substance use, particularly illicit drug use, has been increasing ("DrugFacts: Nationwide trends | National Institute on Drug Abuse", 2014). Is this due to the high stress society in which we live, or an individual’s predisposition to addiction? In all likelihood it is a combination of both, as well as emotion regulation, a process which allows for the evaluation, monitoring, and modifying of emotional reactions to accomplish goals. This paper will address the possible role of emotion regulation on substance use disorders and the research behind it.

A person who has a substance abuse and a mental health disorder are identified as having a co-occurring disorder. Patients with substance use and mental health share common ground, because they hold the philosophy that treatment of chronic illness requires a long-term approach in which stabilization, education, and self-management are central (Drake, Mercer-McFadden, Mueser, McHugo, & Bond, 2016, p. 589). A counselor can help give resources (NA meetings being available in their community) as well as skills needed to help one not to relapse. Cognitive behavioral therapy, family counseling, and other therapy approaches can help people recovering from addiction stay clean ("counseling," 2017, para. 2). Psychotherapy can also treat the other

Substance abuse and mental health issues affect millions of adolescents and adults in the United States. An estimated 24.6 million individuals aged 12 or older were current illicit drug users in 2013; including 2.2 million adolescents aged 12 to 17. In 2013, 60.1 million individuals aged 12 or older were past month binge drinkers, including 1.6 million adolescents. In Kansas, the percentage of people over the age of 18 with mental illnesses is about 18.2% which is similar to the national average (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2014).

Infelicitously, for many, pain is numbed by the ephemeral fine-tune of drugs, alcohol, or a process (comportment) addiction. This results in a spiral of numbing, followed by culpability, shame, and even more unpleasant feelings. In many cases, substance use leads to even more traumatic experiences. Often, this eventually leads to substance dependence, and

Substance use is very common among people diagnosed with mental illness. This paper will examine the results of four studies by Shi (2014) and by Ortiz-Gomez et al. (2014), Marmorstien (2010) and Green et al. All of these studies examine substance use among individuals diagnosed with depression.

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.

In the United States there are 23.5 million people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Addiction affects a person spiritually ,emotionally and physically, it also causes chemical changes in the brain. Addiction I’m going to define by using the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV-TR. The DSM defines substance dependence as a “maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress” It defines these as the symptoms of substance dependence “tolerance as defined by A.need for markedly increased amount of the substance to achieve desired effect. B. Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of substance 2.the substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a

When you find out that someone you deeply care about is using drugs or drinking alcohol excessively it can be a scary situation. These substances will not only change their typical behavior but can also cause serious long term damage to their bodies. Not only is it hard drugs that can be an issue; prescribed drugs can cause damage as they are very addictive. It is something that no family wants to have to deal with and can be a daunting task if it is the first time it has happened. Having to step in and take away a substance which is starting to play a larger and larger role in their life can be a very hard thing to do. Sometimes it is tough to know if you should be stepping in as you do not want to make their situation worse, however it’s a catch 22 as doing nothing is clearly not the best option when it comes to substance addiction. These addictions rarely stop on their own so having someone push the user in the right direction is always a necessary step in their recovery. If a family member is scared to inhibit them then they can become an enabler to their habit, some reasons for this may be they do not want to deal with the stresses of the users withdrawal, maybe they have tried before and the user lashes out at them for trying to make them stop, or maybe they are just too scared to say anything.

Above, is an example of when substance use is introduced hands on, but the knowledge of substance use begins at an early at age. Before they start socializing with other peers other than their family, they observe the behavior of smoking a cigarette or drinking a beer after work almost every day. Then an individual becomes more observant when they start socializing with the world around them. Seeing advertisements on any kind of substance use. When I was a child and living in South Central Los Angeles, all my family members drank when there was a party, it was our social norm to see the men drinking a cold beer, but then when I stepped outside to go to the market with my aunt we would notice the people who were using. In elementary school, I saw young children mimic the behaviors

Addiction is commonly associated with drugs and alcohol. Addiction is not only related to drugs or alcohol, but it is also tied to things and activities. Addiction to drugs or alcohol are quite similar, but in some respects, slightly different to addictions to activities and other things. Addiction to drugs and alcohol, over time, leads to a buildup of tolerance. Tolerance causes the user to need more of what they are addicted to in order to experience an equal or increased effect than previously needed to obtain the same effect. They use drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. Addicts put people close to them at risk and jeopardize their social life for just a little more of the addicted substance or activity. Addiction to an activity can be just as detrimental to someone as an addiction to a drug. Addicts will put their addiction to whatever activity before the rest of their normal lives. When an addict is not doing such activities, they are thinking about it, and letting their addiction consume their mind.

Substance abuse is one of the most detrimental social problems found in all societies. It has been the leading cause for generational breakdowns of families and communities, and is probably the most controversial social problem when developing corrective solutions. Substance abuse can be defined as the chemical dependence, or pattern of usage of both legal and illegal substances, that has adverse physical, psychological, and psychomotor effects on the human body. The use of substances does not always have to be a drug, but can also be anything taken into the body that can cause a mood-altering effect, such as inhalants or solvents. Additionally, substance abuse has many different faces and is the one social problem that crosses all