Community and Culture Play a Role in Determining the Risk for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Essay

totality ab pulmonary tuberculosis and addiction atomic number 18 major problems in society today. Every segment of society, regardless of race, gender, or age is affected. whatsoever of the aggregates that are utilize grow naturally, whereas others are manufactured illicitly or even legitimately in laboratories. They whitethorn be smoked, inhaled, ingested, or injected and go ford for social, religious, or self-medicating purposes. The substances that are ab accustomd take on caffeine, nicotine, inebriant, steroids, stimulants, depressants, heroin, cocaine and the list goes on. Substance abuse ranks high among serious health problems.Since 1979 illicit do medicates use and alcoholic beverage consumption has declined, but the widespread use of and dependence on these substances continues. Nicotine, now classified by the Food and Drug Administration as an addictive substance, is linked to more(prenominal)(prenominal) deaths annually than AIDS, providecer, and other substa nces combined. alcoholic drink is in like manner a major social problem today. Use and abuse of alcohol are a factor in contributing to injuries and death. The cost of substance abuse is increasing in our society. Lives are lost, and overtaking of work productivity costs millions of dollars each year.Alcohol is a factor in 40% of all motor vehicle accidents, and alcohol and other drugs are a lot implicated in boating or athletic accidents. Costs include not only lives lost but also medical care, semipermanent services to the disabled, and increased insurance rates. Health care cost for clients that use alcohol, drugs, and nicotine are estimated to be great than $160 billion annually. It has been confirmed that at that place is link between violence and alcohol and other drugs. Alcohol and drugs are a factor in vandalism on college campuses, date rape, familiar assault, and domestic violence.Under the influence of alcohol and drugs, young adults are more likely to engage in unsafe sexual practices, and parents are more likely to abuse their children. Certain factors place some individuals at greater risk than others for the development of abuse and dependence. Biological, psychological, or environmental conditions may predispose a person to the development of a drug or alcohol problem. Risk factors may include some of the adjacent heavy use of alcohol and other drugs or the presence of abuse or colony by family members, presence of psychological conflicts, which a person may start out to resolve through drug use.Other factors that predict that there may be a risk for alcohol and drug abuse include some of the following Failure in school Rebelliousness and alienation Need for immediate gratification Lack of empathy Frequent lying insensitivity to punishment The family which is the most powerful unit of socialization transmits cultural beliefs, myths, and determine about alcohol and drug use. Also peers, and media personalities deliver messages abou t drug use, drug-using lifestyles, and the use of wines and spirits are subject of cultural traditions of families.Some groups accommodate used wine strictly for celebratory purposes, others for religious rituals, and some for sustenance. some cultural groups do not consider alcohol a drug. The outgrowth is that among many groups a double standard exists for alcohol and other drugs. unlawful drugs are considered dangerous and unhealthy, but alcohol is accepted and not considered glum to the individual family, or society. However alcohol and drugs can be profound to the individual, family, and our society. Substance abuse is cognize to affect ones behavior and personality.Abusers are known to be manipulative and often are in denial. One of the great consequences of alcohol abuse is the physiological damage that can be done. Alcohol is absorbed directly from the stomach and exerts system depression and physiological personal effects throughout the body almost immediately. In l ow doses, alcohol produces relaxation, loss of inhibition, loss of concentration, drowsiness, slurred speech, and sleep apnea. When alcohol or any drug of abuse is terminated abruptly by a person who is physiologically dependent they may begin to experience withdrawals.Onset of symptoms of withdrawals begins within 6-12 hours following the cessation or reduction of the drug or alcohol. Withdrawal moldiness be treated, if not withdrawal may progress to withdrawal derangement untreated delirium may result in death. Treatment can be approached on several different bases. Inpatient hospitalization is unremarkably a 2 to 4 week hospitalization in a unit of a general hospital, residential treatment center or psychiatric hospital therapy provides corrective emotional experiences. This atmosphere provides safety, restricts access to the drug, and monitors self-destructive behavior.Detoxification Is a supervised medical regimen to withdraw the client from drugs that agree induced psycholo gical and physiological dependence. Rehabilitation is usually at a long-term hospital that addresses all phases of treatment. In many areas halfway houses respond as a rehabilitation facility that provides a sheltered and emotionally and financially documentationive environment with peers. Counseling is a useful and strong means it can be administered on an individual basis or in family counseling. Support groups would be another effective means to support a person with substance-related disorders and their families.There are many groups modeled on the Twelve-Step approach of intoxicatings Anonymous (AA). Other groups include Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Al-Anon (ANA), Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA), Sex and love addicts Anonymous (SLAA) and Ala-Teen (ALAT). These are a few of the self-help groups that can be contacted in our communities to help those who are abusing or suck friends or family members who are abusers. Most of these groups are free of charge and are conducted b y people who have abused and are now recovering.