Free Custom «Effects of Substance Abuse» Essay Paper

Substance abuse can be potentially lethal to the body. Abusers can acquire cancer, heart problems, and liver disease. All the three are life-threatening. Substance abuse can also have social effects (Kolander, 45). The abusers are more likely to take their responsibilities for granted. Many alcohol abusers are known to engage in domestic violence. This mostly leads to broken families caused by separation and divorce. Alcoholism and drug abuse put strain on the people close to the drug abusers. They abuse the people closest to them by their behavior. Families and friends of the substance abuser feel the need to cover for him/her. One partner may be forced to work extra hard to ensure that the family’s needs are catered for even though another one is not providing. They will lie and even clean up the mess for the sake of saving the reputation the family has with the society. This can cause heavy emotional turmoil on the family. Close family members often even blame themselves for the condition the abuser is in. They will try all methods and ways to help the abuser stop the bad habit. This involves paying money for the abuser to take therapy or be admitted in a rehabilitation centre. Substance abuse also leads to unemployment. The abusers neglected their work responsibilities, which leads to them to being fired.

 

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Poverty has also been on the rise with the substance abusers. When they get unemployed they suffer financially. Some have been seen to sell their household goods. This leads them to living in poverty. Rehabilitating substance abusers in an institution is costly. Family expenses are thus increased and this can ultimately lead to poverty.

Treatment

Effective treatment can be difficult for substance abusers. Research has made progress on understanding the behavior of substance abusers. Prevention is considered the best way to follow when it comes to substance abuse. Children and teenagers should be educated and given awareness on the effects of substance abuse.

Substance abuse intoxicates a person, affects judgment and perception. Withdraw can cause anxiety and seizures. Drug overdose can also lead to death. Substance abusers, who want to stop using the drugs, will want to do it by themselves. This has, however, proven not to be easy. Checking into a rehabilitation centre for three months can promise significant improvement on the part of the abuser. At the centre, they start with recovery, which is helpful in preventing relapse. Behavioral treatment involves a counselor, who becomes the friend of the abuser during the time at the centre. Alcoholics can join an alcoholic anonymous that guides them on best way to kick out the bad habit. According to Abadinsky (300), this works well as there are other people, who are also suffering the same. There are medications like the methadone and nicotine patches that can be prescribed to the abuser.

Conclusion

People abuse drugs for varied reasons. The people around them like close families and friends should play a vital role in the recovery of the abuser. Showing support and not neglecting them can be helpful. According to Rice (72), the final decision for recovery should be left to the substance abuser to decide. Forcing a person can be have negative effects and may make it worse for the abuser. Strict laws and policies should be reinforced so that the people involved in peddling the drugs can be arrested. If the drugs are not available, the numbers of the substance abusers will decline.