Substance abuse occurs when a person consumes alcohol and/or drugs to the point that they have a significant negative impact on their life. According to HelpGuide.org, substance abuse begins with use through experimentation and once a person knows they enjoy a certain drug their use will likely continue and can develop into abuse.
Financial Difficulties
A person who abuses a substance may find herself spending all or most of the money she earns to obtain her desired substance, notes the MayoClinic.com. The desire for a substance may be so strong that a person willingly forgoes paying necessary bills or buying every day items. This may cause her to develop legal problems and lose things that are important to her such as her house or car.
Academic or Work Performance
One of the primary indicators of substance abuse is the neglect of responsibilities at school, work or home, notes HelpGuide.org. Substance abuse will impact how much a person cares about completing his responsibilities. Substance abuse can lead to increases in absences, failing grades, getting fired from his job or missing out on a promotion.
Accidents
According to the MayoClinic.com, abusing a substance can make users more likely to get into accidents because the chances of engaging in dangerous activities while under the influence of a substance increases. Intoxication can reduce a person’s inhibitions and cause her to make poor judgment calls that lead to accidents.
Health
Abusing a substance can lead to any number of physical health problems, notes the MayoClinic.com. Every substance can cause a variety of short and long-term health problems and some may be particular to a certain drug. Possible health problems include cancer, liver problems, poor diet, decreased immune function and decreased lifespan.
Communicable Disease
The MayoClinic reports that a person who abuses a substance increases the chances that he will develop an infectious disease such as HIV, either through the sharing of needles or engaging in unprotected sexual acts.
Relationship Problems
The changes in a person’s behavior caused by substance abuse can lead to problems within a relationship, reports the MayoClinic.com. Substance abuse can cause a person to push away or reject family and friends that he was previously close with. The abuser may become harsh, mean or aggressive, which will cause other people to end the relationship.
Death and Suicide
Not only can drugs and alcohol decrease your lifespan they can also contribute to the risk of suicide. Kid’sHeatlh.org reports that some drugs and alcohol have depressive effects on a human brain in ways that induce the symptoms of depression or perpetuates and intensifies the effects of depression. One of the risks associated with depression is suicide. A person who abuses a substance may be more likely to attempt or successfully take her own life due to the depression.
