Substance Abuse

In today’s society many people suffer from different types of substance abuse and addictions. “Addictions are mainly described as a chronic disorder that will occur due to a number of different factors including genetic heritage, biological behaviors, pharmacological behaviors, and social environments” (Gatins & White 2006, p.517). When discussing the many different types of addiction they can be classified by the repetitive use of substances and behaviors despite the main evidence of the individual but to those surrounding the individual as well, subsequent of the substance abuse or behavior. The difference between substance abuse and addiction is very slight. People can get addicted to all sorts of substances. People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for many different and complicated reasons, but is very noticeable that our society pay a significant cost. There are three main categories of substance abuse: the use of the substance, abusing the substance, and the dependence of the substance.

When using a substance in an inappropriate way; it eventually becomes an addiction. The substance that is usually abused is alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. When we think of addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs. People become addicted to medications and cigarettes. The most significant portion of the population is affected by alcoholism. Alcoholism can have many effects on health, including serious liver with depression. We all know that excessive drinking can lead to alcoholism, which is an illness that tends to run in families and is often associated with depression. Withdrawal from alcohol can cause anxiety, irregular heartbeat, tremor seizures and hallucinations. Withdrawal can lead to a life threatening condition called delirium tremens (Kouimtsidis & Padhi, 2007). Alcohol is the most common cause of liver failure in the United States.

Treating alcoholism detoxification is only the beginning of treatment and must...