...How likely is someone going to get addicted to a substance? Around the world there are those who consume addictive substances because of peer pressure, enjoyment, or relaxation. Whatever the reason, there is a call for concern when harmless recreation becomes dangerous abuse. There are many causes for substance abuse disorders but what is crucial to determine is what the root cause is. What is the initiating cause of a casual chain of events that leads to a certain outcome? In other words, what is the very first thing that inhibits the substance abuse to develop? Substance abuse can be defined as the condition in which one or more substances leads to a clinically significant impairment or distress. However, who’s to say that that kind of distress...
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...The Social Problem of Substance Abuse Donna S. West WGU GLT1 Task 2 The Social Problem of Substance Abuse Substance abuse and addiction issues impact individuals, families, and communities in many ways and can be directly connected to costly social, physical, mental, and public health problems. In addition, substance abuse related issues have an overwhelming impact on the criminal justice system. Describe the social problem of Substance Abuse The way substance abuse is defined or understood can be interpreted in many ways, depending on the person or situation it may be related to. In simple terms, abuse is determined when there is a level of dysfunction related to the person's use of drugs or alcohol. One standard definition, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [HHS/SAMHSA], 1994, describes abuse as "the use of a psychoactive drug to such an extent that its effects seriously interfere with health or occupational and social functioning." The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) is standard in the medical and mental health fields for diagnosing both substance abuse and behavioral health disorders. According to the DSM-IV, substance abuse is "a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by" a variety of possible symptoms of impairment (American Psychiatric Association...
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...Abuse vs Substance Use Disorder In discussing the difference between abuse and substance use disorder one must first look at the definitions of both. Abuse is considered the overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or drugs. However, substance abuse disorder is a condition in which the use of one or more substances leads to a clinically significant impairment or distress to an individual. One can abuse alcohol or drugs and not become addicted, however SUD’s are generally seen in addiction of drugs or alcohol. (Doweiko, 2015) While this essay mainly hits on drugs and alcohol, there are so many more types of abuse/addiction such as pornography, over eating, gambling, etc. These also can lead to major problems in a abusers life. (Clinton & Scalise, 2013) News Coverage In the news this past week has been numerous articles on drug busts, alcohol related accidents, and police storming a house making meth. The articles on drug busts stated that many of those arrested had multiple previous arrests for drug use, distribution, or making meth. The article went further to state the statistics and costs of the war against drugs that is going on today. There is the ongoing discussion/debate of parent-hosted parties for their teenager and his/her friends at their home, is it okay or not. This, in my opinion, is not even up for debate; anyone under the age of 21 should not be drinking with or without parental consent. Personal Biblical Worldview ...
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...Does methadone maintenance help clients or simply prolong their addiction. Research Methods I Kaplan University Helen Farel The disease of addiction may never be fully understood, but further studies in methadone maintenance with opioid dependence will prove that methadone maintenance prevents cravings and withdrawal symptoms and helps an addict to maintain their sobriety while trying to overcome their addiction. In this paper the author will discuss the scientific method and several studies that have been conducted on the use of methadone in the treatment of substance abuse. The scientific method is a set of principles and procedures that researchers use to develop questions, collect data and reach conclusions. (Cherry, 2013). In Psychology the goals of the scientific method is to seek and describe behaviors and explain why the behaviors occur. (Cherry, 2013). Researchers also strive to create research that can be used to predict and change human behavior. (Cherry, 2013). The four steps of the scientific method are, (1) forming a testable hypothesis, (2) devising a study and collecting data, (3) examining the data and reaching conclusions and (4) reporting the findings of the study. (Cherry, 2013). All the research articles discussed in this...
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...Appropriate Choice For me, an appropriate career choice is that of a substance abuse counselor (SAC). Teaching people with substance abuse and dependence issues to help themselves would give me significant job satisfaction. I have always been interested in the behavior of intoxicated people, the biological mechanisms that result in lowered inhibitions, diminished reasoning, and a tendency toward violence. I seek to understand the biopsychosocial variables that combine to facilitate the consumption of mood altering substances (Wallace, 2012). Additionally, I would like to develop insight into the process of addiction and the evidence based methods of treatment. My observations of impaired individuals tend to convince me of biopsychosocial reasons for substance abuse and associated behaviors. Therefore, my dream is to gain the knowledge to address the underlying motivation for substance abuse and addiction. (Walters & Rotgers, 2012). Employment Outlook As Miller, Scarborough, Clark, Leonard, and Keziah (2010) reported, the credentialing requirements for SACs vary significantly between the states. They asserted that the quality of substance abuse treatment is problematic at best, and they recommend unified SAC credentialing requirements within the US. Currently, educational standards are rising across the country (e.g., high school diploma vs. master’s degree), as SAC case loads increase. Additionally, Miller...
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...Abstract Addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease that has significant impact on your brain and your behavior. People make choices throughout their daily lives and have a choice to start using drugs. The problem at hand is, once someone makes the choice to start using drugs, the pleasure sensation keeps you wanting more. There are a variety of reasons behind why people use substances such as alcohol and other drugs. Many people use substances because they like the way it makes them feel. The substance hijacking their brain’s pleasure system, leaves them wanting to do it again. The use of the substance in such way, influencing the brain to crave the substance, lose control over the use, and continue use despite the consequences. Substance Abuse vs. Substance Use Disorder Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is very prevalent in many countries. A drug is any substance that modifies the body’s normal functioning. As stated in our book, Substance Abuse “is the term that is used when an individual uses a compound when there is no legitimate medical need to do so, or, when that compound is used in excess of the social standards” (Doweiko, 2014, p.13). Substance abuse also indicates that the dependence for the chemical or chemicals being abused is nonexistent at this time. One thing to keep in mind is that excessive substance abuse can lead to developing a substance dependency. Addiction affects all aspects of a person’s life. Substance use disorder refers...
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...Addiction in Adolescence When it comes to abuse and addiction in adolescents the relationship between the two goes hand in hand. “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014, p.1). Addiction can be several things, two well-known addictions are drinking and doing drug. When addiction starts to change the brain it leads to long terms affects which is usually abuse. Adolescents can and will go a little further with abuse by adding things like pill popping and smoking. “Many adolescents who abuse drugs have a history of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse or other trauma” (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014, p.2). Abuse begins when adolescents start to do things like steal and lie to friends and family members to get what it is they want. How does abuse or addiction affect the developing brain of an adolescent? Drug abuse can cause serious progressive problems within the adolescent brain.”Memory loss, ability to concentrate, motor skills and coping skills are all affected by drug and alcohol abuse. Adolescents tend to make decisions that are irrational when under influence of drugs and alcohol, they may think they are making the right decisions but they are actually they are doing more harm to themselves then they realized. For adolescents, this can be even more significant as the brain is still developing and changing and...
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...Addiction can be defined as an uncontrollable need for or use of a habit-forming substance (“Merriam-Webster”). Addiction is impacted by one’s tolerance and the physiological symptoms that follow when suffering from withdrawal of a substance (“Merriam-Webster”). In our society today, we spend more than $740 billion in relation to crime, lost work productivity, and health care for those who use substances harmfully (“National Institute”). As addiction continues to be a serious problem for many individuals in the US, there continues to be a question: is addiction a disease or a choice made by the own individual (Russell, Davies, & Hunter, 2011)? Disease vs. Choice Addiction as a disease or choice are the most commonly known perspectives to...
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...Models/Theories of Addiction Moral Model of Addiction: It is one of the oldest theories of addiction. Under this theory, addiction is the result of an individual's poor choices made from having a lack of will power or moral strength. It does not recognize biological or genetic factors to addiction, ignores all the scientific evidence including genetics, neurobiology/pharmacology and twin studies and offers no sympathy for addicts. It believes that addiction can be cured by simply choosing not to use alcohol or drugs. Although not commonly used anymore, there are still many who feel addiction is still the result of moral failure. Addictive Disease Model of Addiction: Defines addiction to alcohol or other drugs as being an incurable and irreversible progressive disease. There is no cure for the addiction but it can be controlled by lifelong abstinence and group support. It believes addicts cannot control their need for alcohol or other drugs and will ignore negative outcomes to use. This dependency is a result of pre-existing genetic chemical alterations in the brain which are activated by the substance abuse. Progression of the disease is measured by the amount, frequency, and the circumstances of an individual's substance use. Treatment starts with the individual acknowledging and admitting their problem, followed by addiction recovery treatment, and then maintaining sobriety with lifelong recovery through abstinence and support groups like AA or NA. Behavioral/Environmental...
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...TEEN DRUG USE, ABUSE AND ADDICTION In 2008, among persons with substance dependence or abuse, the proportion with dependence on or abuse of illicit drugs also was associated with age: 60.6 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 were dependent on or abused drugs compared with 37.4 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 and 24.3 percent of adults aged 26 or older. Ages of Teens Vs Types of Drugs Used: Among youths aged 12 to 17, the types of drugs used in the past month varied by age group. Among 12 or 13 year olds, 1.5 percent used prescription-type drugs (xanax, Percocet, oxycontin, etc) nonmedically, 1.2 percent used inhalants (huffing aerosols), and 1.0 percent used marijuana. Among 14 or 15 year olds, marijuana was the most commonly used drug (5.7 percent), followed by prescription-type drugs used nonmedically (3.0 percent), inhalants (1.3 percent), and hallucinogens (1.0 percent). Marijuana also was the most commonly used drug among 16 or 17 year olds (12.7 percent); it was followed by prescription-type drugs used nonmedically (4.0 percent), hallucinogens (1.6 percent), cocaine (0.7 percent), and inhalants (0.7 percent). Persons 12 and older, classified with substance dependence, addiction, or abuse in 2008: In 2008, an estimated 22.2 million persons aged 12 or older were classified with substance dependence or abuse in the past year (8.9 percent of the population aged 12 or older). Of these, 3.1 million were classified with dependence on or abuse of both alcohol...
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...Substance Abuse – Pre-midterm Notes Week 2 (First lecture) – 9/10 * Substance use vs. abuse * Use * The legal enjoyment of your property within socially acceptable norms * i.e. you don’t drive under the influence – that’s not socially acceptable * Consumption of any psychoactive substance * More neutral * Includes * Social drinking * 1-2 drinks on any one social occasion * Abuse * Any use of illegal drugs * Ex. Any use of crack cocaine – never legal * Used both objectively and pejoratively with the intention to vilify consumption of illicit drugs * Use that is harmful and puts the user at risk * Have been used interchangeably by the media * Alcohol use in that context * Social drinking * 1-2 drinks in a day, in any one social occasion * Problem drinking * 3-4 drinks a day * Alcohol abuse * 6-24 drinks a day * What is a drug?: Defining the term * 3 categories: Illegality, Medical utility, Psychoactivity * Medical utility * Used to treat or heal the mind or body * Medicalization: prescription of currently illegal substances for medical purposes * Marijuana in 14 states * Heroin in some countries * Not all substances have medical utility * Categorization by government ...
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...treatment of drug. The first article is “Do drug treatment variables predict cognitive performance in multidrug-treated opioid-dependent patients? A regression analysis study” by Pekka Rapeli, Carola Fabritius, Hely Kalska and Hannu Alho. This article was taken from an open access article under Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2012, at http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/7/1/45. The second article entitled “Treating Drug Abuse and Addiction in the Criminal Justice System: Improving Public Health and Safety” by Redonna K. Chandler, Bennett W. Fletcher and Nora D. Volkow. It was taken from a public access journal under National Institute of Health: JAMA. 2009 January 14; 301(2): 183–190. doi:10.1001/jama.2008.976. The purpose of the first article was to examine the predictive power of drug treatment variables on specific cognitive performance measures in multidrug-treated opioid dependent patients. Also, the researchers interested in finding out which of the possible significant associations turn out as hypothesized. On the other hand, the purpose of the second article was to summarize relevant neuroscientific findings and evidence-based principles of addiction treatment that, if implemented in the criminal justice system, could help improve public health and reduce criminal behaviour. For methodologies, the first research involved 104 Opioid-Dependent Patients who were treated either with buprenorphine (52 patients) or methadone (52 patients) were...
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...an offence of their own, possibly using substance as a way to cope, or make any number of poor choices as a means of dealing with the abuse. What the sad thing is about it all is that many of the offenders begin as children who are powerless to defend themselves to someone who is usually in their Family. It is only through later acknowledging the trauma that someone can begin to understand the outcome of what happened to them from that incident. There are a number of outcomes that will be dicussed as well as the addiction itself and the healing process in this paper. The focus throughout being what the responses are to sexual trauma. What is Sexual Abuse? Sexual abuse is not the only abuse that can occur in a home that can have lifelong affects on a child. There are many abuses at which many different homes are guilty of. For most homes there is much dysfunction and this dysfunction can lead to or open a door for abuse. Because of the home being the primary place for sexual abuse and other abuses it is important to see what types of abuse can come from the home. According to Laaser; there are four types of abuses specific to the home and they are physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual (2004). All of these are serious and can lead to problems for a child later in life what is interesting is that sexual abuse leads to shame and the human response to that shame can be devastating. Invasive sexual abuse is “having the genital area touched or...
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...General Psychology Final Report 2/3/2009 Drug and Alcohol Addiction Many people in the world suffer from drug and alcohol addiction. There are many different causes and effects of addiction. Understanding the causes and effects of addiction can lead to treatment and or cures for them. Some people believe that nature; which refers to heredity, or the influence of inherited characteristics causes addiction. (Ciccarelli and Meyer, 2006). My theory is that nurture; which refers to the influence of the environment, plays a part in it as well. Often times it’s difficult to spot an addict. Some of the signs of being an addict are; mood, body language, and appearance. The mood of an addict can go from mean and angry, if they need a drink or drugs to calm their nerves, or they can be upbeat and very happy, if they are high on drugs or alcohol. Sometimes depending on the type of personality of the addict, they can become very depressed, even when they are high. The body language of someone that is high on drugs or alcohol is often apparent in their eyes, they are often vacant and void of the presence. Often times the eyes communicate an emptiness, loneliness or despair, such as in someone that is depressed. Sometime the pupils of the eyes are dilated, and the person can’t stay focused. (Answers.Yahoo.Com) The appearance of an addict can be an indication that they are using. They will often let their hair grow long and not comb it, or they are just unkempt looking...
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...Nature vs. Nurture Homosexuality, Addictions and Intelligence There have always been disputes on whether the decision to be homosexual or heterosexual was based on biological or environmental factors. These disputes are known as the Nature vs. Nurture argument. The two sides argue over how gender is chosen within a person. Based on reproductive organs, sex is easily determined at birth: male or female. Gender, however; is the sexual identity an individual takes on. It is possible for sex and gender to be different. For an example of nurture children who were both born with an injured or damaged reproductive organ, males usually can be raised successfully as females. In order to understand which factor is the deciding factor of a person’s gender, both sides of the case must be fully evaluated. DNA studies which appear to prove that gender is a genetic trait. Researchers have analyzed the makeup of the human brain of homosexuals and heterosexuals seeking a connection between gender and the brains physiology. They found when studying the part of the brain directly related to a persons’ sexual drive, that homosexuals had an enlarged hypothalamus, whereas heterosexuals had a normal one indicating a direct correlation between the brain and gender selections (AllPsych). In researching DNA’s role in gender identity, some scientist have identified the gene that determines a person’s sexual preference. Although there are mounting evidence of the existence of a “gay...
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