Substance Abuse Free Essays

Impact of Psychiatric Disorders on Treatment Outcomes for Patients with Substance Abuse Daniel Painter Raritan Valley Community College Table of Contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. page 3 Abstract 1†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. We will write a custom essay sample on Substance Abuse or any similar topic only for you Order Now page 4-5 Critique 1†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. page 5 Abstract 2†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦page 6 Critique 2†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. page 6-7 Abstract 3†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦page 8 Critique 3†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. page 8 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. page 9 Introduction For this research I selected the articles that concentrated on treatment outcomes for clients with addictions who also had a mental illness diagnoses (depression, anxiety, antisocial personality disorder, phobias). The first two research studies were conducted at different times but by the same researcher, Drar Charney, MD, and concentrate on outcomes of addiction treatment in patients with co-occurring disorders of anxiety and depression, or both at the same time. The last article by Wilson Compton, MD, focuses on drug dependence treatment outcomes in patient with a variety of mental llnesses. All three studies show similar results in predicting outcomes. Study #1 Abstract The first study that I selected, â€Å"Association Between Concurrent Depression And Anxiety And Six Month Outcome Of Addiction Treatment† conducted by Dara Charney, MD, et al, focuses the common problem of depressive or anxiety symptoms appearing together with drug abuse. The study was conducted for 6 mont hs, used a sample of 326 patients that were assessed through semi structured interviews, ASI, BDI, and Symptom Checklist 90 and then reassessed after 6 months. The objectives of the study were to assess rates of depression and anxiety in patients seeking addiction treatment and examine how the existence of concurrent psychiatric symptoms will influence treatment outcomes. The sample included 326 patients which was mixed population of adults with substance abuse disorder, who were predominantly white (93%) and male (64%) with a mean age of 41 years old. The sample included patients who were recruited upon entering treatment at the MUHC addictions unit. All patients were eligible for study – there were no exclusion criteria. 63% of patients had significant psychiatric symptoms at intake: 15% had depressive symptoms, 16% had anxiety symptoms and 32% presented with combined depressive and anxiety symptoms. During the six-month follow-up study, participants were offered standard treatment: outpatient detoxification, one or two 90-minute group therapy sessions per week, at least four 50-minute individual therapy sessions and random urine drug screens throughout treatment. Follow up included even those participants who dropped out of the treatment (154 patients dropped out of treatment before 6 months mark) and all participants were asked about the outcome of treatment (abstinence status and duration of continuous abstinence), psychological distress and depressive symptoms. Results of the study revealed that those patients who were presented with few psychiatric symptoms on intake or presented with either depressive or anxiety symptoms on intake fared better than those who presented with depressive and anxiety symptoms together: 73% were still abstinent at 6 months. Critique of study #1 The study supported studied done earlier on the same subject and came up with similar results: patients with co-occurring depressive, anxiety symptoms and addictions fare worse at the end of the addiction treatment than those who do not present with co-occurring symptoms. There are several drawbacks in the means this study employed. The sample was not representative of the community at large, because the majority of the participants were white males. It was not a random sample as well, because patients were recruited at the same facility. Half of the patients dropped out of treatment before the 6 month period, and were still evaluated at the end of the study regarding its objectives, which is not representative of treatment outcomes since they did not receive treatment. However, on the positive side, the study did include a large sample of patients and the outcomes were consistent with the outcomes of the similar studies. Study #2 Abstract The second study that I selected, â€Å"The impact of depression on the outcome of addictions treatment† conducted also by Dara Charney, MD, Antonios Paraherakis, BSc, et al, focused on prevalence of depression among men and women who entered the outpatient program for substance use disorder treatment. The objectives of the study were to find out whether it was primary depression or substance-induced depression, presentation of specific features of depression and the impact of depression on treatment out comes. The research sample included 75 patients of the MGH addictions unit. 97% of the sample population was Caucasian, 61. 3% were male and 38. % were female, all of mean age of 40. 5 years old. Subjects were consecutively recruited upon entering treatment and no exclusion criteria were applied. At intake 22. 4% of patients exhibited primary depressive disorder, 8. 4% had substance-induced depressions. At 3 months follow up 93. 3% of patients were reinterviewed. Participants who dropped out of the outpatient treatment were also invited to participate in the interview (35% of the sample). The study concluded that patients, who in the beginning of the study presented with primary depressive disorder, had longer duration of abstinence and greater decreases in symptomatology. Patients with substance-induced depression almost completely stopped using their primary substance. Critique of study #2 One of the drawbacks of this study is a small sample size: only 75 patients participated. Sample population was not diverse either: the majority of participants were white males. The duration of the study makes the validity of the outcomes questionable, based on the recurring nature of depressive disorder. However, the results were consistent with the results of similar studies. Study #3 Abstract The third study I selected, â€Å"The role of psychiatric disorders in predicting drug dependence treatment outcomes† conducted by Wilson Compton, MD, et al, examined what role co morbid psychiatric disorders played in the outcomes of treatment of drug-dependent subjects. The researchers used a sample of 401 subjects from a variety of facilities in the St. Louis area: public outpatient methadone clinics, two drug-free outpatient programs, two drug-free inpatient programs, an outpatient program for drug-abusing prostitutes, and a residential recovery shelter for women. The sample was diverse in that 61% were African Americans and 66% were men. The majority had graduated from high school, were unemployed and had never married. Alcohol dependence was the most common co-occurring psychiatric disorder with a prevalence of 63%. The subjects were interviewed upon admission into the study and then re-interviewed at follow-up 12 months later to determine their drug abuse status. The results of the study showed that several psychiatric disorders predicted worse outcomes at the follow-up. For instance, subjects with major depressive disorder showed using a larger number of substances and having more drug dependence diagnoses and symptoms. Subjects with alcohol dependence showed more dependent diagnoses. Outcomes predicted better abstinence results for women then for men. Critique of study #3 This is a thorough study conducted over a fairly long period of time (12 months at follow-up) that involved a large population sample (401 subjects) and was diverse in the facilities involved and demographically. It shows solid outcomes consistent with other research that focused on similar topics. Overall, the study is well designed and its outcomes have a high probability of being accurate. Conclusion In conclusion, I would like to say that all three research studies focused on drug abuse treatment outcomes for patients who have co-occurring mental disorder. The first two were done by the same researcher and consistently did not have a varied population sample (the majority of patients were male and white in study #1 and study #2) and were done over a period of time that was not long enough in the duration to accept the findings as truly valid, although, the results of these two studies were consistent with the results of similar studies. The last research study, however, employed a large enough and diverse enough population sample as well as long enough duration to validate the results that were achieved. Overall, study #3 was designed best out of the three and the validity of its findings can be accepted as accurate with a good amount of confidence. Works Cited Charney, Dora, MD; Palacios-Biox, Jorge, MD, et al (2005). Association Between Concurrent Depression And Anxiety And Six-Month Outcome Of Addiction Treatment. Psychiatric Services, 56, 8. Charney, Dora, MD; Paraherakis, Antonios, BSc, et al (1998). The Impact Of Depression On the Outcome Of Addictions Treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 15, 2, 123-130. Compton, Wilson, M; Cottler, Linda, Ph. D. et al (2003). The Role Of Psychiatric Disorders In Predicting Drug Dependence Treatment Outcomes. The Amercian Journal of Psychiatry, 160, 5. How to cite Substance Abuse, Papers Substance Abuse Free Essays This issue troubles me every time, even when I try not to think about it, and turn my mind away from it. Addiction is not what Just happened, it takes time, creep in slowly without you knowing you getting addicted to it. Most times people don’t know they getting addicted to something, I believe everybody is addicted to something, I sometimes call love addiction because when you love somebody you will always want to be with that person. We will write a custom essay sample on Substance Abuse or any similar topic only for you Order Now My immediate elder brother started smoking cigarette at age 17, and start smoking marijuana at age 19, and still smoke till this day. People always say â€Å"am not addicted to smoking or drinking†, and usually follow this sentence, I only take a glass of wine before going to bed, or I only smoke to relax myself. My community is drowning from substance abuse, drugs and alcohol. â€Å"People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. The toll for this abuse can be seen in our hospitals and emergency departments through direct damage to health by substance abuse and its link to physical trauma. Jails and prisons tally daily the throng connection between crime and drug dependence and abuse. Although use of some drugs such as cocaine has declined, use of other drugs such as heroin and â€Å"club drugs† has increased†(Reilly, 1989). Drugs has become a big part of our society, I was a auto-technician for a big car company that work with Bentley and Aerosols. I have to go into customers car to fix or diagnose the problem, 60% of the time I find or smell marijuana in the car. That is the rate this country is going, 1 out of 2 people smoke, at least cigarette. Many marijuana users believes smoking pot has no negative effects, scientific research indicates that marijuana use can cause many different health problems. This always contribute to our society negatively, it make kids act up, make parents not function as parents, and eventually make the society slowdown. All this are happening without the drug being legalize, marijuana is always the focus point because it is the gate way drug to other substance. 2 Drugs are one of, and most epidemics in my community. Too months ago in my building, Just got home from school on a snowing, and cold day, I saw a lot of people adhered in from of the elevator, and was wondering why, I decided to ask somebody what’s happening, she said mike was shot (14 year old boy on my floor) by somebody who he sold drugs for. This is the same boy the brother served 4 years in Jail, and just got home 4 months ago for possession of drugs. I see them every time, him and his friends. Age range from 12 to 16, smoking and drinking, and some of them don’t go home for days, they skip school. Their parents don’t talk to them thinking they can direct their own life. I see these things in my neighborhood every time, and wish I can urn it around in a day. They said Rome wasn’t built in a day, and that’s true. I plan to write an anonymous letter to some of the parents and the building manager concerning drugs, and how it affects the community, kids growing up around them, and the building it safe. After doing drugs they get wild and break things, my building has so many holes on the walls from their craziness. This is not fair to people in the building paying more expensive rent than them, they deserve clean and noise free environment. My hallway is packed with people all day for no reason, hey lay on the floor most times, and you have to walk across them. The elevator and stairways is full of graffiti, and gang sign on the wall, police is always in the building which is not good or fair to the tenants. I know is not going to be easy, everybody react to the same thing differently. I plan on being polite, positive. This are good kids, they Just need somebody to care about them, it don’t really bother me because I grow up in a neighborhood like this, am only concern about other tenants who are not used to it. I grow up in a big family, in a rough neighborhood. Almost 20 boys in and out of my house every day, most of them thugs, and they are all gang member. 3 They should be a program in poor neighborhood for kids and adult to tell them about them about their neighborhood, and the values. People won’t respect or care for what they don’t know, parent should learn to see their kids and as their kids and not their friends or buddies. Gang members claim neighborhoods saying is for the red or for blue side, because they don’t know the real value of the neighborhood and nobody tell them. Illegal drugs have been around â€Å"since the 19th century when Americans iris discovered new wonder drugs like morphine, heroin, and cocaine, our society has confronted the problem of drug abuse and addiction. When the 20th century began, the United States–grappling with its first drug epidemic–gradually instituted effective restrictions: at home through domestic law enforcement and overseas by spearheading a world movement to limit opium and coca crops. By World War II, American drug use had become so rare; it was seen as a marginal social problem. The first epidemic was forgotten. During the sass, drugs eke marijuana, amphetamines, and psychedelics came on the scene, and a new generation embraced drugs. With the drug culture exploding, our government developed new laws and agencies to address the problem. In 1973, the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration was created to enforce federal drug laws. In the sass, cocaine reappeared. Then, a decade later, crack appeared, spreading addiction and violence at epidemic levels. Today, the Idea’s biggest challenge is the dramatic change in organized crime. While American criminals once controlled drug trafficking on U. S. Soil, today sophisticated ND powerful criminal groups headquartered in foreign countries control the drug trade in the United States†. DEAD, 13) This is the American society we life in now, the earlier we do something the better it will be for everybody. You don’t want your teenage kid sneaking out to go drink, smoke or do drugs, and thinking it’s cool Just because she see her friends 4 or even her parent doing it. Some people say smoking or drinking is not bad but how you do it, or what you do it f or. Drinking more than two times in a week is Just as bad a smoking, that’s what I think, because for twice a week you will want to hang-out ore with boys/girls and get some more drink. How to cite Substance Abuse, Papers Substance Abuse Free Essays This could cause things to be more dangerous for other people. I know that there are many reasons why are youth are want to try these things. They do it because they might be bored. We will write a custom essay sample on Substance Abuse or any similar topic only for you Order Now Others think it makes them seem older. Some are just silly enough to think that their reputation is at stake. They are all silly reasons in my opinion, but I suppose people believe what they want. Eve in Lee County. I haven’t really had any experiences with people who abuse themselves. However, I have to admit that I’ve seen and know people who do. I see it in my neighborhood all the time. Even when went to high school knew people who did drugs. I try to tell them that its bad, but they act like they just don’t care. Young people think its k to do drugs and alcohol because there isn’t much for them to do anymore. Like I said before they are bored and abusing substances is something new for them to do. You see them being more violent and they cause a lot more disruption. Young adults, as I mentioned before think they want to seem older. They don’t want to be made fun of or be called a little kid by not trying anything. So you see them start drugs because they think it’s cool. Youths also try to abuse alcohol. People see adults drink all the time, and they sometimes act dumb. When our young people see this they think its k because they adults they might look up to do it. I don’t think adults realize how much they influence the young people today. I honestly cannot believe how easy it is for our youth to get aloud of drugs and alcohol. An come on; you can honestly see adults just giving these things to them. If young people can easily get aloud Of something, obviously they are going to try it. If we made these things harder for them to get aloud of, they wouldn’t want to try it. Maybe some wouldn’t want to risk getting into trouble if they are caught. Then you might have some that don’t want anything to do with it at all. People today are so worried about having whatever reputation they think they have ruined. They never want to be left out of anything that people say is cool. When they are with people who are busing substances, they automatically think they should try. They don’t want to seem like a goody-goody in front of their so called friends. They get it in their heads to abuse themselves to be a part of something. They will even do it even if some small part of them says don’t do it. Our youth shouldn’t worry about what people think of them. They are better off being around people who accept them. They shouldn’t do bad things just because they are told it’s cool. Everyone should get up and teach them this. If someone teaches them they might see how these things could ruin their lives. We want them to be safe. Most of us that care don’t want to see any more deaths from substance abuse. The number of young people who have either drunk alcohol or tried drugs is honestly terrifying to me. All the time you see our youth getting involved in these things. Within the last month alone, you see thirty nine percent report that they have drank some alcohol, twenty three percent used marijuana, and sixteen percent say they have smoked. (has. Gob). Substance abuse is horrible for your health. People don’t understand that these things could kill them. I don’t understand why they want to abuse their bodies. They are honestly throwing their lives away and they don’t care. Even if you suggest that they stop, it is ultimately their decision to decide what to do. Substance abuse puts your life in danger. It could cause vehicle crashes, cancer, other diseases, and even death. The stress you have in your life might possibly be the cause. If someone watches what young people do, it can help a lot. Its not hard to resist substances if you have good support. Drugs and alcohol shouldn’t be available to anyone regardless of their age. I know we must ecocide for ourselves what to do, but we need to make the right choice. In 2009 there was a national survey on drug use and health taken, also known as (ENSUED). It states that illegal drug use in the United States of America is at the highest level it has been in a while. The rates of illegal drug use with youth at the age twelve or older, was at 8. 7 percent. That is a rise of . 7 percent from 2008. Some say they even got the drugs from a doctor. (as. Samara. Gob). Around the world, just in 2009 alone there were over 4. 6 million drug related emergency room visits(drugless. V). Believe it or not thirty two percent, that’s well over six hundred thousand cases of all substance abuse, went to the emergency room just in 2009 alone(drugless. Gob). It’s our turn to help stop all this abuse. It should be a responsibility of people to help someone. When we see someone risking their life we need to act. Believe it or not, it only takes one person to make a diffe rence. We should be the person our youth could tell anything to. We could be the one to say it’s not worth your life to abuse yourself. We need to always be there to help our friends. A good ay to avoid substance abuse is to possibly join a support group. That group should have the same thoughts about how wrong these things are. It’s always been good to have someone to support you. Help spreading this support around would help a lot of people. Would like to make a point by a quote made by a famous musician. â€Å"Drugs are a waste of time. They destroy your memory and yourself respect and everything that goes along with your self- esteem. They’re no good at all†-Kurt Cabin (Brainy Quotes). Hopefully if people heard this they might make a change. Even if you don’t want to stand p to people, you have to sometimes to do what’s right. It would be easier for people if they knew they didn’t have to fight alone. Even if you start by helping one person, you would be amazed by how many people it would help. When you have any problems with substance abuse, quitting the abuse may seem hard for you. Even if everything seems hopeless, help is always around you. Any addiction can be cured if you have the right help and you admitted have a problem. Even if you fail, never give up. Recovery has many setbacks (helped. Org). How to cite Substance Abuse, Papers Substance Abuse Free Essays Substance abuse is a growing problem that not only affects the person who is abusing alcohol or drugs but affects the lives of those who are close to the abuser. Substance abuse is the abuse of any substance. A drug is a substance that modifies one or more of the body’s functions when it is consumed. We will write a custom essay sample on Substance Abuse or any similar topic only for you Order Now Everything from over-the-counter pain medication, to opiates, prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and even coffee can be abused in one way or another. The two main substances being abused in our nation are nicotine and alcohol.According to the Michigan Institute for Social research, â€Å"Substance abuse is a major public health problem. † Substance abuse is responsible for half a million preventable deaths each year. These two things create major addictions and cost our taxpayers millions of dollars every year. The use and abuse of drugs has been around for many centuries and is not something new. According to, American Society of Anesthesiologist, â€Å"The oldest â€Å"prescriptions† in recorded history seem to be contained in Babylonian clay tablets and ancient Egyptian papyrus.These prescriptions utilized hundreds of different botanicals and foods. From the earliest recorded times, then, plants and herbals have been an important part of traditional healing practices. Many cultures have a long history of herbal medicine use: the Chinese; Ayurveda, a holistic system that originated in the Vedic civilization of India; Curanderismo, a Mexican-American healing tradition; and western herbalism. Many botanical compounds were the basis of medical pharmacotherapeutics in the United States as recently as the 1930s.The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80 percent of the world’s population still depends on herbal medicines. † The complexities and causes of addiction are many. Some of the causes can include: peer pressure, a disturbed childhood, and lack of confidence when it comes to confronting the reality. Some additional factors are: easy access drugs, irresponsible parents and broken family situations. A person dealing with substance abuse may also be dealing with a genetic predisposition, depression and loneliness.Drug abuse can also be sparked by person’s environment if drugs are readily available a person could be influenced by their environment a start using and abusing drugs and alcohol. There is not one type of person that is affected by substance abuse. The fact is that people of all races, ages, and background can abuse drugs and alcohol. According to, http://www. drugpolicy. org/communities/race, â€Å"Despite the fact that drug use is more or less consistent across racial lines, many punitive drug laws are based on beliefs that certain communities of color commonly abuse certain substances. Due to the racial injustices caused by the drug war, supporting drug policy reform can help end racial inequality. Drug Policy Alliance is drawing attention to these disproportionate impacts of the drug war and working to end the war on people of color. Although African Americans comprise only 12. 2 percent of the population and 13 percent of drug users, they make up 38 percent of those arrested for drug offenses and 59 percent of those convicted of drug offenses causing critics to call the war on drugs the â€Å"New Jim Crow. The higher arrest rates for African Americans and Latinos do not reflect a higher abuse rate in these communities but rather a law enforcement emphasis on inner city areas where drug use and sales are more likely to take place in open-air drug markets where treatment resources are scarce. † Teenagers are another group that is affected by drug and alcohol abuse. According to, http://www. teen-drug-abuse. org, â€Å"There is a high likelihood that your teen will be exposed to drugs and alcohol, and according to drug statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse there is a good chance that your teen will try drugs.Teens as young as 13 have often already tried drugs as powerful as cocaine. Teens might tell themselves they will only try a drug once, but many teens find themselves under continual peer pressure to continue to experiment with drugs and â€Å"join the party. †Most teens don’t start using drugs expecting to develop a substance abuse problem, and while most teens probably see their drug use as a casual way to have fun, there are negative effects that are a result of this use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The biggest consequence to casual drug use can be that it develops into a true addiction.Very few addicts recognize when they have crossed the line from casual use to addiction. Most teens don’t think that they will become addicted, and simply use drugs or alcohol to have a good time and be more like their friends. When teens become addicted they lose friends, develop health problems, start to fail in school, experience memory loss lose motivation, and alienate their family and friends with their negative behaviors and often unpredictable emotional swings. † Noticing changes in family members, friends and co-workers is the first step in identifying drug abuse. According to, http://helpguide. rg, â€Å"You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e. g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of your drug use; You’re using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex;Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or steal ing to support a drug habit ; Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends. Some addition signs of drug addiction are: You’ve built up a drug tolerance. You need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects you used to with smaller amounts; you take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety; you’ve lost control over your drug use. You often do drugs or use more than you planned, even though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel powerless; your life revolves around drug use.You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get them, and recovering from the drug’s effects; you’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of your drug use. And you continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you. It’s causing major problems in your life—blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia—but you use anyway. † According to, http://www. who. int/substance_abuse, â€Å"76. 3 million persons with alcohol use disorders worldwide, At least 15. million persons who have drug use disorders, Injecting drug use reported in 136 countries, of which 93 report HIV infection among this population, For every dollar invested in drug treatment, Seven dollars are saved in health and social costs. † Now that we know a few statistics, what can be done to prevent the abuse of legal and illegal drugs? No matter where you live substance abuse treatment centers are everywhere and can range from Christian based treatment centers, holistic treatment centers, government funded treatment centers to people just trying to kick their habits on their own. No matter what type of treatment center it is they all have the same goals in mind to help the person who is abusing drugs stop and find out the causes of why it started in the first place. In order for a treatment center to be successful a person must want to get help for their problem no matter what the problem is. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. One treatment center called Michael’s House deals with alcohol and drug abuse treatment and recovery. According to Michaels House, â€Å"Drug Rehabilitation is an important part of the process of recovering from addiction to drugs, alcohol and co-occurring disorders.In addition to discontinuing drug use and stabilize mental disorders, treatment helps individuals establish a foundation of recovery and begin to function effectively in their families, workplaces and communities. While in treatment, individuals learn about addiction recovery, and the dangers of relapse while simultaneously confronting misunderstandings about self, others and their environment. A drug rehabilitation center like Michael’s House helps individuals make important lifestyle changes, manage feelings, develop tools for coping, and learn skills instrumental in successful abstinence.The Michael’s House drug rehab center also teaches individuals make important lifestyle changes, manage feelings, develop tools for coping, and learn skills instrumental in successful abstinence. The Michael’s House drug rehab center teaches individuals to identify the warning signs of for drug and alcohol relapse and design effective strategies for preventing a relapse. Statistics show that without a solid plan to avoid or handle addiction triggers, patients, often relapse into the behavior that brought them to a drug rehab facility. The values that Michaels House are the values all treatment center. Michaels House offers a safe, trusting environment for people to come to deal with their addiction, the issues that led up to the abuse and long-term recovery. Drug ab use is a disease like that needs to be treated as such. There are many resources out there for people to get help once a problem is identified. According to Addiction Treatments, â€Å"Drug addiction is very complex disease in whole world. The lots of people are suffering from addiction problem.The rate of drug addiction in USA is increasing at faster rate. There are many drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers available in country that provides highest standard of quality services to needed people. They offer wide variety of approaches to recover addicts from their problems. But this is very difficult task for one to choose the best and effective drug treatment centers so addiction-treatments. com is a site that provides the valuable and detailed information about various addictions and addiction recovery treatment centers. No matter whom you are and where you come from being addicted to any substance is a disease and a battle all at the same time. Drug abuse has no boundaries of race, color, religion, or age. Anyone can become addicted. What is important to know is that no matter what there are options and a person can seek help when they are ready to. Alcohol and substance abuse is a battle that we all need to fight before it continues to destroy the lives of the person who is addicted, the families and friends that are close to the abuse and society.References American Society of Anesthesiologist, (n d) Herbal Medicines: What Do We Need to Know? Retrieved September 10, 2010 from http://www. asahq. org http://www. drugpolicy. org/communities/race/ http://helpguide. org http://www. michaelshouse. com Michigan Institute for Social Research (n d) Substance Abuse. Retrieved September 10, 2010, from http://www. ssw. umich. edu/public/currentProjects/icwtp/substanceAbuse http://www. teen-drug-abuse. org How to cite Substance Abuse, Papers