Substance abuse can occur when you take too much of illegal or legal drugs, including over-the-counter medications and substances such as tobacco or alcohol. Nutritional deficiencies can occur for a number of different reasons ...
A child who has suffered physical abuse--which can include neglect or sexual abuse--is more likely to develop problems with substance abuse in adulthood. Other effects of child abuse include an increase in the likelihood of sui...
While substance abuse seems to be an epidemic in America today, it has been a problem since humans found a way to alter their consciousness, no matter where on the Earth they lived. Substance abuse has a deleterious effect on d...
Substance abuse involves the misuse of mind- and mood-altering drugs to achieve a change in consciousness or "high." Despite its legality and widespread use, tobacco is a drug with the ability to cause addiction and disease. ...
Many substance abuse treatment programs and facilities incorporate exercise into their interventions. Exercise releases the feel-good brain chemicals--neurotransmitters and endorphins. Research suggests that exercise may be a b...
The fourth edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," or "DSM-IV," states that a person who suffers from a substances abuse disorder shows at least one of the classic manifestations associated with ...
When an infant is exposed to substance abuse through his parents or caregivers, he is at risk for physical, mental and developmental delays. It is important to take into consideration that an infant can face the effects of subs...
Substance abuse programs that offer support for drug treatment and recovery are subject to regulatory laws in the country--and more specifically, the state or province--in which they are located. Intermediary governing or accre...
If your family is impacted by a member with a substance abuse issue, you need to know what parenting services and related resources are available to you. Substance abuse--whether of alcohol or drugs--impacts the entire family u...
Educating youth about drugs and alcohol is a critical aspect of substance abuse prevention, according to the American Council for Drug Education. Parents and school personnel can play key roles in educating young people about d...
Substance-abuse treatment includes a component that brings together all family members, according to "Treating Substance Abuse" by Frederick Rotgers, Jonathan Morgenstern and Scott T. Walters. Family therapy is designed not onl...
At the same time, they get their first taste of freedom and adult pleasures. Along the way, many adolescents dabble in illegal substances to relieve stress or in response to peer pressure.
e 2006 Office of Applied Studies, or OAS report, notes that "In the United States in 2006, one third of adolescents aged 12 to 17 drank alcohol in the past year, one fifth used an illicit drug, and one sixth smoked cigarettes...
Substance abuse is the misuse of mind-altering substances like illegal or prescription drugs. Substance abuse is especially dangerous to children and teens because of the effects of drugs and alcohol on their underdeveloped ner...
People abuse a variety of different substances--including alcohol, household chemicals, prescription drugs and illicit drugs. According to the website KidsHealth, people can easily gain access to drugs, whether they reside in a...
Talking to your child about substance abuse could create a potentially awkward or caustic environment in your home. Your child could feel awkward about the conversation, and annoyed that you're broaching the subject. That's why...
Substance abuse problems often occur at higher rates among people with other mental health disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Substance abuse occurs when the person continues using the substan...
The parents are the head of the family. They should be steady and dependable in their advice and manner in which they carry out their actions. They do not abuse any substance and the children feel safe and secure. The children ...
Substance abuse--loosely speaking, the introduction of mood-altering chemicals into the body to produce a desired psychological effect taken to extremes--exerts its effects on the brain by stimulating its pleasure centers via n...
There is much compelling evidence that shows a distinct correlation between a dysfunctional family and substance abuse. Substance abuse can be defined as using either alcohol or drugs to the extent that it disrupts a normal fam...
Substance abuse imposes a severe burden on the individual, his friends, family and society as a whole. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, "estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United St...
Substance abuse problems occur when a person has little control over her consumption of the substance and continues to use the substance despite the negative consequences its use has on relationships, finances, job performance ...
Teenagers are constantly pushing boundaries in an effort to break away from the adults in their lives and establish their own identities. In an effort to do this, a teen may begin using drugs or alcohol. Because a teen feels in...
Substance abuse is term used to describe the abuse of any kind of drug or substance. The Ohio University Medical Center states that these substances can be legal or illegal, but usually will lead to significant problems because...
Those who abuse substances such as drugs and alcohol may need a family intervention. The addicted person might be in denial, and not see anything wrong with his behavior. A family intervention is a way to express the concern an...
Abuse of substances ranging from alcohol and marijuana to meth and heroin is a problem not only for adults, but also for children as young as 12 years old, and in rare cases even younger. To keep your children safe, it's import...
Keeping an eye open for childhood drug consumption might help a parent stop their child from traveling down a dangerous path. Educate yourself on the signs of drug use. Snooping in your child's bedroom might seem dishonest, but...
Addiction to alcohol or drugs is a disease, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Addiction affects everyone in the family, not just the substance abuser. Effects may vary depending on fami...
Alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine and crack, marijuana and even cold medicines have a strong allure and a greater potential for addiction if used by juveniles. In some social groups, substance abuse is the norm and resisting emph...
Substance abuse is a diagnosable mental health disorder. When a youth has a substance abuse problem, she will continue to seek out and use the substance despite the problems it is causing in her relationships and at school. Sub...
If you have a parent that abuses drugs or alcohol, you know how difficult it can be to confront them directly about their problem. The Addiction Info website reports that substance abuse can have devastating effects on a child ...
Substance abuse hinders a person's ability to make decisions, and a parent who has these issues may need to seek help while someone else cares for her child. Some parents may lose custody of their child completely, resulting in...
Developing a substance abuse problem or a psychological disorder will depend on a variety of factors being present. While neither substance abuse nor psychological disorders are effective ways of managing troubling elements in ...
Numerous diseases can be caused by substance abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA---a division of the National Institutes of Health---although substance abuse is often voluntary at first, over time ...
Substance abuse is characterized by a pattern of use that causes significant impairment or distress, in addition to any one of these additional diagnostic criteria: using substances in situations where it endangers the user; a ...
The MayoClinic.com notes that both long-term and short-term health problems can result from different types of substance abuse.
Abandonment and substance abuse are complex issues when considered separately but when both problems exist simultaneously, the impact is devastating to emotional health. Abandonment is a contributing factor in many instances of...
Substance abuse occurs when a person uses drugs or alcohol despite continued negative effects such as job loss, trouble with the law, relationship problems and financial problems. When a person is abusing a substance, he may st...
Substance abuse is the continuous and excessive use of illegal drugs or alcohol. For many people, substance abuse is not a choice, but a serious recurring illness that cannot be treated without help. Substance abuse not only da...
The consequences that result from teenage substance abuse can be severe
People can abuse any number of substances ranging from alcohol and cigarettes to cocaine and heroin. According to FamilyDoctor.org, substance abuse can be identified when a person continues to consume the substance despite the ...
People abuse substances to get high or intoxicated. It is the high that causes the person to continue or increase their use, often to the point of sacrificing other areas of their life in favor of the substance. Substance abuse...
According to the Mayo Clinic, a diagnosis of alcoholism or substance abuse must be made by a qualified medical professional. A doctor or psychologist will typically use a questionnaire or checklist that outlines many of the cr...
Substance abuse is a term used to describe dependency on an addictive chemical substance such as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Narconon suggests that these chemicals become the focus of addictive behaviors due to their im...
Substance abuse causes emotional turmoil in a family environment. Depending on the dynamics and the position of the substance abuser in the family structure, its effects will vary. Drug use by the caregivers can have lasting ef...
Substance abuse damages family structure by causing a breakdown of values and lowering inhibitions of the members. Family members of substance abusers are more likely to become victims of family violence than members of a non-a...
Substance abuse can rip families apart, leaving individuals lonely and depressed. Many people who suffer from addiction feel alone even when they're surrounded by loved ones. Support groups and group treatment options can help ...
Addiction and substance abuse can have lasting effects on the family unit and can even break families apart. Families marked by substance abuse often have a pattern of unpredictability and a lack of communication, making growin...
People who struggle with a mental health disorder such as depression and abuse substances such as alcohol are categorized as dual diagnosis patients. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 50 percent of peo...
Substance abuse is the misuse of alcohol and other mind-altering drugs. Many factors influence a person's risk for becoming a substance abuser, including genetics, environmental factors and the person's developmental stage when...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that three million individuals receive substance abuse treatment annually in the United States and that between 13 and 16 million additional people could benefit from serv...
Although substance abuse is always a serious matter, teenage substance abuse is especially dangerous. Because a teenager's brain is not fully developed, a teen might be more susceptible to addiction and the hazards of substance...
The criteria for a substance abuse disorder as set forth by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) includes the repeated use of ...
Substance abuse not only affects the drug user, it can have far-reaching effects for the entire family. Immediate family members, such as parents, children and siblings, experience the effects of drug use more than the extended...
The abuse or dependence on alcohol or drugs is a serious mental illness that negatively affects a person's life. Substance abuse can destroy relationships, make it impossible for someone to have a steady job and cause people to...
Substance abuse relapse is a common occurrence once the recovery process has started. Several factors can contribute to a relapse, with difficulty adjusting to sobriety a primary factor. The most frequent relapses occur within ...
Some of these teens will go on to a life of addiction, abusing increasingly dangerous substances. Some teens will have more short-lived experience, as abusing a drug or other substance even one time can be fatal. Parents and in...
Characteristics of substance abuse can be very vague or blatantly obvious. Not every person who uses a drug or substance will become addicted to it. It depends on the person. Knowing that person, watching his habits and observi...
Substance abuse occurs in many forms, ranging from alcohol addiction and dependence to the use of street drugs or even prescription drugs. Substance abuse has a catastrophic effect on families, society and individuals. When loo...
Substance abuse is a common problem in all elements of society, even infiltrating the lives of children. A sad fact is that many teenagers (and even some younger individuals) try drugs or alcohol at some point during their high...
People who are diagnosed with mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders have a dual diagnosis. For example, someone with a diagnosis of major depression and alcohol abuse has a dual diagnosis.
To properly treat a substance abuse problem--a dangerous dependence on drugs or alcohol--it's important to first admit that you have a problem and agree to get help. When a substance abuse problem begins to interfere with daily...
Substance abuse counseling is performed by a trained person in the field of chemical dependency who understands the dynamics of substance abuse. Substance abuse counselors assist the person who is suffering under the strai...
Alcohol and substance abuse can have a powerful effect on the life of the abuser and those he comes in contact with. When someone abuses any of these substances he may find himself losing relationships, jobs and friends. His qu...
Dual diagnosis occurs when both a mental illness and a behavioral factor, usually substance abuse, are ongoing difficulties for a patient. Both sides of the difficulty must be addressed for the patient to improve. Due to the in...
Substance abuse can take its toll on the organs and the entire body. The liver and kidneys have to work hard to process toxins and filter the blood, which can lead to breakdown and disease. The brain can continually be impaired...
The condition is manifested through compulsive behavior in the form of substance abuse. Untreated drug addition creates an enormous burden on individuals, their families and society. In addition to a number of health problems a...
Substance abuse can refer to alcoholism, illegal drug use, overuse of prescription drugs and addiction to nicotine. The causes can be behavioral, genetic, psychological and biochemical. The more complex the mix of causes for th...
There are many dangers associated with substance abuse that run the gamut from work and relationship issues to physical, legal, emotional and financial dangers. Although drugs often are used to escape from troubles, more often ...
People who combine drugs dramatically multiply the chances of having a bad reaction.
Did You Know?
--Marijuana smoke does more damage to your body than cigarette smoke. It has more tar than tobacco and can influence your hor...
One of the main reasons that explain this phenomenon is the incidence of denial, which is part of addiction. Another aspect of addiction that keeps people from seeking treatment is avoidance. Denial and avoidance, may keep peop...
There are many substance abuse programs out there. Some are faith based and have a strong tie into the Christian community, like Alcoholics Victorious, while others, like AA, are more of a general 12 step program. Choose a pro...
While pregnant, any substance you ingest will cross the placenta and reach the fetus. This is true for oxygen, food, drugs and alcohol. Drug use can cause the fetus to struggle for sufficient nutrients and oxygen, leading to p...
According to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information, employers spend twice the money on medical and worker compensation claims from employees who abuse substances than they do on claims from drug-free employe...
Using impairs the way you view yourself and can negatively affect self-perception, because when you treat yourself with disrespect and disregard, you will hurt. Addictive behaviors occur on a continuum and the lines between use...
