Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse Paper

Melissa Bostic

HCA/250

November 17, 2012

Pauline King

Many, people do not understand how a person can become addicted to drugs. They often

think a person can just stop using just by will power, or if they really want to stop then they

should just be able to stop. Drug addiction is a very serious disease and it takes more then will

power, or just wanting to stop in order for a person to quit using. “In fact, because drugs change

the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who are

ready to do so” www.drugabuse.gov (2011).

Some psychological factors that influence some individuals to start using drugs are mood

disorders like depression, bi-polar disorder, or anxiety. Thought disorders like schizophrenia, and

personality disorders like antisocial personality disorder. “Social risk factors for drug abuse and

addiction include male gender, being between 18 and 44 years of age, Native-American heritage,

unmarried marital status, and lower socioeconomic status. According to statistics by state,

people residing in the West tend to be at higher risk for chemical abuse or dependency. While

men are more at risk for developing a chemical dependency like alcoholism, women seem to be

more vulnerable to becoming addicted to alcohol at much lower amounts of alcohol

consumption” www.medicinenet.com (2012)

I am a recovering addict and I have been clean now for three years. I became addicted to

heroin at the age of 33 years old. I had a great childhood, but when I turned 16 years old, I meet

a man who I fell in love with and my life changed from there. I ran away from home to be with...