Substance Abuse and Addiction
Introduction
Substance abuse is the harmful use of psychoactive substances. The substances commonly abused include alcohol, illegal drugs, cocaine, caffeine, heroin, nicotine, and other volatile substances. The substances are said to be abused when they are used for wrong reasons or in harmful quantities leading to addiction. Addiction is the point when one cannot resist the urge to use the drug and becomes dependent on the drug for survival. Drug and substance abuse is harmful, and it does not only affect the individual user but the family, community, and healthcare system due to the cost of managing illness related to substance abuse. There has been an increase in substance use among youths of age between 18 and 26. Report by WHO (2011) reveals that among 35.6 million youths in the United States, a third of that population has at one time engaged in substance abuse and a large number of the youths are already addicted where they cannot survive without drugs. Substance abuse among youths in the United States has been at the center of analysis where lack of proper control and intervention measures contribute largely to substance abuse, and the ultimate result is an addiction and increased dependence on those substances.
Causes of Substance Abuse
Lack of proper control
Weak intervention measures
Peer pressure
Lack of a strong support structure
Genetic predisposition to abuse and addiction
Effects of Substance Abuse
Addiction
Increased health care cost
Damage to social network
Development of mental illness
Damage to organs including the liver, brain, and heart
Unemployment due to reduced productivity
Available interventions
Screening and brief intervention
Outreach and education
Treatment of addicted youths
Conclusion
Substance abuse has increased the rate of addiction where the majority of youths depend on drugs for daily activities. The addiction has led to reduced productivity and unemployment among many youths. Also, substance abuse has increased the cost of health care due to the cost of treatment of diseases associated with substance abuse thus; proper interventions should be implemented to curb the addiction.