We tend to get a few things confused when it comes to the differences between substance abuse and substance use. Substance abuse is a continuous need that your body has due to your dependency of whatever substance you are using. Substance use is usually controlled.When someone say “substance abuse” the first thing that comes to your mind is either drugs or alcohol. There are many different types of substance abuses, A substance is anything of matter. Which in turn means that, if possible you can make just about anything into a habit of some kind.
Lets talk about a few of the different types of substance abuse that can become more than just usage and the damages that they can cause.
Alcohol is considered to be both a substance use as well as a substance abuse type of substance. It starts out as just being a use but after a long period of using it can turn into a substance abuse,If not used in moderation. Every year more money is spent to promote alcohol use than any other product.Alcohol even in low doses can impair judgment to the point where operating a vehicle can become unsafe.Alcohol abuse can also impair the judgment to the point of you displaying violent behavior.
The side affects of drinking too much alcohol can vary from dizziness, nausea and vomiting as well as hang overs. The long term affects are more costly than the short term effects. Your vital organs, such as your liver, and kidneys can be effected to the point of damage. Several different types of cancers can develop along with gastrointestinal irritations such as diarrhea and ulcers. Nutritional deficiencies also come along with alcohol abuse which usually turns into malnutrition.
Another substance that can easily become addictive but should be considered a substance use at all times are prescription drugs. 20% of Americans have once used a prescription drug for a non medical purpose. If being used with no need of use you are more than likely to fall victim it becoming dependent on it. The most common prescription drugs that are known to be abused are sedatives and tranquilizers;narcotic painkillers and stimulants.
Over the counter medicines are actually another common substance abuse. It’s more common because it’s easily obtainable.
Inhalants are known to become very addictive as well even by accident. Most people think that the problem inhalants come from marijuana and or anything that you can sniff up your nose but you can easily forget about the cleaning solutions that are located around your home. Such as glues, nail polish remover, lighter fluid and hair sprays. This substance abuse is more popular with younger kids in search of a quick lift. But using these substances can cause serious health problems. Such as depression, depletion of oxygen in the blood , fatigue, loss of hearing and vision, damage to the brain, bone marrow, liver and kidney disease. What to expect when sniffing inhalants is like many other drugs that you may find yourself using.
Drowsiness, hotheadedness, slurred speech,loss coordination, hallucinations or delusions and agitation or irritability are some of the few.
Inhalants contain Acetone, Butane, chlorinated hydrocarbons,fluorocarbons,propane and toluene.
Coffee is part of most American’s morning addiction. Coffee may be considered something that you can get addicted to but it isn’t as harming as the other substances we talked about, or is it?Caffeine is a drug easily acceptable, readily affordable, and of course perfectly legal.Drinking coffee plays on your body. You get an extensive high and once you come down from the huge amount of energy you had, you crash. So then you go back to your coffee which gives you another artificial high. The only reason it is not considered a drug is because it’s something almost half of the population enjoy. If you drink just because it has become routine or out of habit then you might have an addiction to coffee.
Now we all know that cigarette smoking is an addiction, hands down. You body becomes dependent on nicotine.The number one way to die from smoking is through lung cancer. But you can also get chronic bronchitis, emphysema, heart attacks and strokes.Cigarettes consist of nicotine, which we stated earlier; tar and carbon monoxide. All which are horrible for your lungs. Nicotine is a drug equivalent to cocaine and heroin. It alters the brain and a person’s mood. Tar a substance that damages the lungs. Carbon monoxide is a gas which is poisonous and is found in car exhaust fumes.
Listing the most important abuses in this article, I wanted to examine the break down of what each substance had to offer your body. After all , every wants to know what they are consuming, right?
