Types of Substance Abuse

There is no clear line between abuse and addiction for most people. The most common signals that somebody is in trouble with their use, would include a general loss of control, unnatural behavior (compared to when not under the influence), blackouts, social problems with people and/or family and jobs issues.

The most significant differentiation between abuse and addiction is that abuse tends to be occasional, with harmful consequences, followed by reduced use. Addiction tends to be harmful consequences as a result of use. With addiction, there is no decrease in the pattern of use and an increase in the harmful consequences, in addition to many other behavioral changes.

Substance abuse refers to mood-altering chemicals. There's a distinction between drugs such as antidepressants, which moderate your mood. They're not in the same category as drugs of abuse, such as alcohol, marijuana, pain pills, or anti-anxiety drugs. Tobacco is certainly addictive, but it does not fall into the category of a mood-altering chemical (except when someone's trying to quit).

Alcohol is still the No. 1 drug of choice. It's the most widely accepted and easily obtained, and occasionally seen as an "OK" drug. The other most significant trends are abuse of pain medication, ecstasy, amphetamines, marijuana, and acid. Not necessarily in that order. In addition, many kids today are abusing and reselling some of their ADHD medications that are prescribed for that particular condition.

It's highly improbable that cocaine can be used on a recreational basis only. The term recreational means the use is approved and accepted socially. Just by the nature of the chemical, it doesn't lend itself to being recreational. Crossing the line to abuse and addiction is very quick.

Hydrocodone has a difficult withdrawal process. If taken by mouth the withdrawal process is less intense and you should be detoxed medically in a drug and alcohol detoxification facility only. If snorted, the detoxification is much more intense, and again, needs to be done only at a drug and alcohol detoxification facility. Withdrawal from this medication is not something you can do "cold turkey" you need help from a detox facility.

There is currently no research that is clearly making the link between early onset addiction and kids that are on ADHD medication, which are called psycho-stimulants. Our society, in general, is a pill-taking, fix-me society. Parents want their anxieties, pain, and moods changed at a moment's notice and their kids' behavior, moods, and feelings changed as easily as possible. Of the kids that are in treatment, 65% of them come in diagnosed with some other type of co-morbid concern and on some type of medication for such.

Addiction to tobacco is an issue that is mostly avoided at many treatment centers. Most of the current research shows that the belief that you can't stop everything at the same time is false. In fact, it's highly recommended that it is easier to stop all substances, including tobacco, during the treatment process. There is also additional research that shows continued tobacco use, for some, hinders recovery. There are a lot of links between addiction and tobacco addiction and depression. Many treatment centers today are attempting to integrate methods and processes for people to also give up tobacco while they're in drug and alcohol treatment.

 

Substance Abuse Treatment

There has been ample research done to prove that there is a genetic link between alcoholism and substance abuse. Even if an addict is no longer part of the family, it will not diminish their impact on members of the family, specifically children. Anybody who lives in an alcoholic household for any period of time, while there was an active or inactive abuser, has the potential to abuse in the future. Concerned parents need be aware. Watch out for personality changes, school behavior, and social relationships. A major change in any of these could be a signal that someone is using. If someone is �using� and it bother or interferes relationships around them, then it's a problem, not necessarily an addiction, but certainly a problem that needs to be dealt with.

If a family member is suspected of abusing a substance, the first step is to contact somebody who is familiar with addiction or substance abuse and who has a significant amount of information about addiction. It could be a counseling agency, school personnel, a psychologist, or could even be a family physician. After contacting them the first step is to get an evaluation done to determine the scope of the abuse or addiction. The most important people to help when the family is affected by addiction are the family members. Often the alcoholic or addicted person will not get help until the family does. Hiding substances, making excuses for their behavior, calling in sick for them, only serves to enable their addiction process to continue. It's important to learn skills that you can receive through attendance at Al-Anon to help you stop some of these enabling behaviors. Again, you can't fix it or stop it, nor are you responsible.