Substance Abuse: Annotated Bibliography

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often results in some sort of relapse. Addiction is characterized by inability to control drug use which results in problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. This disease causes compulsive behaviors such as the need to use drugs despite the many harmful consequences that affect the addicted individual and those around him or her. Although for most people, the initial decision to use drugs is a one time lapse in judgement, the brain is easily affected by these drugs if the person decides to use these drugs multiple times. The changes that occur to the brain over time will cause the addicted person’s ability to resist the intense impulses of drugs to be altered causing the addict to often give into the temptation of these drugs. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug addiction is an issue that many people deal with whether they are the addict or the addict is their loved one; but with a good source of support anyone can over come the challenges and consequences of addiction.

Most people do not completely know the definition of drug use and addiction, or the treatments that can be provided to stop it. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as “addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). This definition gives an accurate representation of what addiction is, and how it can be such a serious problem. As given by the definition, addiction is a chronic disease, and when you have an addiction it is extremely difficult to quit. “Drug addiction is a complex disease”. It later goes on to state that “brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a “relapsing” disease.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). This shows why people

There are many assessment processes that are used to identify substance abuse as well as many other disorders that are addictive. These processes include the SBIRT, AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), NIDAMED, CAGE AID (which is used frequently within the counseling foundation), AUDIT-C, and also the DAST-10 which is an assessment process used to evaluate drug abuse within the patients. These are many different processes that are currently used to identify these addictions in clients. The activity of identifying these processes can be over a period of time or can be evaluated in that same day or after the evaluation is completed.

The consumption of cigarettes negatively impact the health of smokers and nonsmokers exposed. In this section we will focus in the negative heath effects of consumption in smokers. The consequences of tobacco consumption to the health appeared in the early twentieth century. there are published thousands of articles and reviews of this theme and show us that smoking is related with alterations in all organs and systems.

Addiction to drugs and alcohol has taken epidemic scale in the recent decades, the number of people affected by this disease has been increasing steadily and the age of drug and alcohol use initiation has sadly been decreasing, children as young as 12 years old are reported as addicts. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that 22.5 million Americans aged 12 and older self-reported needing treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use in 2014. Drug abuse and mental health disorders are commonly seen as coexisting conditions. They are among the top conditions that cause disability and carry a high burden in society.

Although it remains a large portion of the U.S’ economy, tobacco smoking can lead to a variety of diseases and disorders that affect the user. The effects of smoking tobacco not only affect the user but surrounding people as well: permanently destroying their lungs and children, increasing the chances of diseases and of cancer.

It states useful information I will be using during the process of my paper because the author has constructed and put together a book that has credible information that he has collected over the years during his career in Rehabilitation Services and Administration. It will help me by adding key information about substance abuse treatments and enhance the credibility within my paper. The purpose of this book is to inform students, parents and especially teens on the effects of

Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs are common in America today. The continued use of these substances leads to abuse and addiction. Addiction is the use of harmful yet hazardous substances that lead to dependence and create behavioral and cognitive disturbances with repeated use. When addiction finally sets in, it takes over the person to where they have a persistent strong desire to use and difficulty controlling their intake regardless of the consequences that have or have already occurred. In this paper, I will discuss the different considerations of how Lisa became addicted to drugs, theory model used to assess and create a treatment plan for her addiction.

Substance abuse remains a large problem in the United States (US). According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), substance abuse continues to take a large toll on individuals, families, and communities nationwide. In 2005, an estimated 22 million people were struggling with drug and alcohol abuse in the US. Substance abuse disrupts families, impacts work and school productivity, causes financial problems, and is related to domestic violence, child abuse, and crime (USDHHS, 2015).

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse 2014, the disease model addiction is considered a brain disease that can affect multiple circuits in the brain, which involve motivation, learning, memory and inhibitory control over one’s behavior. Because drug addiction and abuse have so many dimensions and disrupts aspects of one’s life, treatment is just not that simple. Addiction treatment must be able to stop an individual from using drugs and continuously maintain a drug free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in working, family and society. Because a person’s addiction is typically considered a chronic disease, those who have the disease cannot simply stop using drugs in a few days and totally be cured. Some require long-term and repeated episodes of care to be able to achieve one’s ultimate goal of sustaining abstinence and recovery of their lives. A report conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the

It is very easy to become addicted to tobacco because it contains nicotine, which is extremely addictive. Nicotine is also very harmful to the body. Cigarettes have multiple components that are unnatural and not good for the body, like methanol, stearic acid, and methane. Tobacco also has many short-term and long-term side effects. Some of the short-term side effects are increased respiration and heart rate, bad breath, yellowing teeth, and changes in brain chemistry. Some of the long-term effects are lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and a weakened immune system. An easy way to avoid unnatural chemicals, risk of disease, and risk of addiction, is to never start consuming tobacco at

When chewing tobacco for a long period of time, it could cause some serious health problems. It can cause chronic lung disease, heart disease, a stroke and it can cause lung cancer along with other types of cancers caused by the use of tobacco products. Researchers have discovered over forty different chemicals found in tobacco smoke that caused humans and animals to get cancer. Women who use tobacco products are likely to have birth defects such as low birth weight,

There are many effects in smoking tobacco of any kind. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has stated, “There is no such thing as a safe cigarette” (HHS, 2016). There are many factors in the affects of tobacco use. Take me for example, I use to smoke and I quit so many times I lost count. But I came to the realization that if I did not quit, I would be sick for the rest of my life. I made the final decision to quit because I had so many problems with sinus infections, allergies, bronchitis and the beginning stages of asthma caused by smoking.

Addiction is a “chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most individuals, but frequent drug use can lead to brain alterations that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain alterations can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease. People in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased threat for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug. It's common for an individual to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be constant and should be adjusted based on how the patient answers. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing desires.

Drug and alcohol addiction is a very serious and widespread problem in America, and across the globe. Drug addiction is a constant craving, seeking, and using of a substance, despite the negative consequences it may have on the addict or those around them. When drug use becomes more frequent, it is considered drug abuse. Once an individual’s drug abuse is can no longer be controlled, and they are using the drug to get through everyday life, it beomes an addiction. A person on drugs has an altered way of thinking, behaving, and perceiving. There are treatment facilities all over the world dedicated to help those suffering with drug addictions. All