Substance Abuse: A Social Dilemma

Individuals from all walks of life are victims of substance abuse in our increasingly becoming complex society. Whatever instigated the substance abuser to use drugs illicitly is likewise the instigator of many a social dilemma. Whether it be due to personal issues, peer pressure or just to get that party hype, substance abuse has grave consequences being linked to crimes such as attacks and murder as well as child abuse. It is no wonder that prisons have become constant or even lifetime abodes to substance abusers. The same can be said of mental institutions as although substance abuse may not kill you instantly, you will literally be robbed of life because substance abuse can strip you of your sanity.

Those who constantly abuse drugs or alcohol are likewise frequent patients in hospitals or emergency rooms or perhaps drug or alcohol abuse increasingly provide emergency rooms and hospitals with patients as drug abusers and alcoholics when out of their senses are capable of hurting others. When drug or alcohol abuse gets out of hand and the victim is trapped in an endless cycle of drug and alcohol addiction, they may take the ultimate recourse of death by killing themselves. In whichever way it is perceived, there is no benefit to be gained out of substance abuse. Those fleeting up’s or down’s may not be worth the misery of a poor quality of life brought about by substance addiction.

Party people or teenagers may neglect the idea that substance abuse is the gateway to addiction. Cocaine abuse may have declined but heroin and acid abuse remain to be a constantly nagging social predicament reaching a critical point. Drug and alcohol abuse clearly interferes with a person’s functionality as the mere task of driving can become a risky effort. Job productivity and daily activities may be disrupted because of substance abuse. Even the trivial endeavor of getting up in the morning can be a tedious enterprise once substance abuse gets in the picture. Substance abuse can induce tremors and shaking, intoxication, stumbling and difficulty in concentrating to say the least.

Nevertheless, a person’s normal processes and functioning are hampered by substance abuse thus a person trying to make a living or a student trying to carry out school responsibilities may fail in their ventures. Substance abuse likewise affects relationships as the abuser tends to have mood swings, becomes easily angered and even violent. As substance abuse becomes constant and habitual, the abuser usually develops high tolerance for the drug. The worsening substance abuse may induce the abuser to take in more drugs into their system to perpetually achieve the desired “high”. The consequences by then is not surprising- drug overdose.

More than half a million of deaths that occur in the United States can be attributed to drug overdose and the number alarmingly increases every year. The number of car accidents due to alcohol intoxication among teenagers is also on the rise. Substance abuse is technically considered as a disease and a disorder, not merely an addiction and treatment and help are offered by detox units such as hospitals and drug rehabilitation centers. Overcoming drug addiction can be a long term if not a lifelong process as the addict may have relapses even after being discharged from the rehab center.

Getting involved in substance abuse is like investing in a death sentence. It may be worth pondering over if those momentary, transient euphoria are worth it.