What Is Substance Abuse?
Substance abuse refers to the recreational or habitual consumption of legal and illegal drugs that have addictive properties. The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines any illicit use of a substance as drug abuse; this includes the non-medical use of prescription drugs. Substance abuse often leads to addiction or dependence. Drug abuse includes such symptoms as failure to fulfill major role obligations, legal problems, use in situations that are physically hazardous, and continued use despite persistent social or interpersonal problems.
Drug abuse and dependence has unhealthy affects on health, relationships and economic status, and often leads to violence and criminal behavior. The NIDA reports that substance abuse in the U.S. costs society an estimated $484 billion annually, compared to $171 billion for cancer.
Drug abuse is common in late adolescence and early adulthood, when it is all too easy to get addicted. This is also a problem because drugs and substances are too easily available to teens and young adults. The dependence on drugs is treated like a mental illness. Like other kinds of illnesses, substance abuse runs in families, becomes difficult to resolve because of its affects on behavior and environment, and has the potential to improve with proper treatment.
While doctors and treatment centers can help patients with addiction recovery, prevention is the best way to deal with substance abuse.
Commonly Abused Substances
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Prescription Medication
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Stimulants (Amphetamine, MethAmphetamine, Cocaine)
- Steroids
- Marijuana, hash
- Inhalants
- Hallucinogens
- Club Drugs (Ecstacy, roofies, speed)
- Opiods (Heroin, opium)
Substance Abuse Concerns
Long term exposure to drugs disrupts the way critical brain structures interact to control and inhibit behaviors related to drug abuse. Just as continued abuse may lead to tolerance or the need for higher drug dosages to produce an effect, it may also lead to addiction, which can drive an abuser to seek out and take drugs compulsively. Drug addiction erodes a person’s self-control and ability to make sound decisions, which leads to destructive behavior, crime, neglect and mental illness.
Eight out of 10 felony inmates have substance abuse problems, committed their crime when high, stole money to buy drugs or violated alcohol and drug laws that led to crime.
Help & Prevention Resources
The Governor’s Institute on Substance Abuse reports for every dollar spent on substance abuse in North Carolina, 91 cents went toward criminal justice, health and public programs. Eight cents supported regulation and compliance. Yet only 1 cent was used for prevention and treatment. The main support for drug abuse prevention and education comes from community-based organizations, state funded agencies and corporate sponsors. Below are a few resources that have events, programs and educational information for substance and drug abuse prevention.