| Substance abuse in modern society is not | | | | criminal behavior. The use of these |
| simply defined by the abuse of illegal | | | | drugs can also lead to severe physical |
| drugs. Substance abuse is characterized | | | | and mental health problems often to the |
| by a habitual pattern of abuse including | | | | point of death. Drug and alcohol |
| that of drugs, alcohol and prescription | | | | treatment comes in many forms and |
| pills. The epidemic is wide spread and | | | | rehabilitation is a life long endeavor. |
| crosses all the borders of age, sex, | | | | The consumption of alcohol at every |
| race and class. The use of drugs and | | | | level in society makes it one of the |
| alcohol in this way is usually for the | | | | most dangerous and hard to treat |
| purposes of altering state of mind; | | | | addictions in the world. Social |
| however, this is not necessarily the | | | | drinking is not only accepted but is |
| case with all substance abuse. | | | | embraced by society. Alcoholism can be |
| There is a visible and definable drug | | | | an everyday addiction or a |
| culture in our society that portrays | | | | binge-drinking problem. So, when does a |
| illegal drug use in recreational sense. | | | | social drink become an addiction and how |
| Many drugs are used recreationally and | | | | do we as a society combats the effects? |
| may not lead to an addiction or abuse of | | | | For alcoholics, treatment can be |
| the drug. However, they are all illegal | | | | conducted in several ways. Alcohol |
| because of their destructive and | | | | treatment will often try to deal with |
| addictive qualities that not only affect | | | | the reasons behind the addiction as well |
| the user but also have a great impact on | | | | as the physical and psychological need. |
| wider society. Many argue that any use | | | | Treatment can be based within an alcohol |
| of illegal substances is abuse. It is | | | | treatment center where professionals |
| hard to distinguish where the use of | | | | assist the rehabilitation process. The |
| drugs becomes excessive and therefore | | | | most common form of treatment comes in |
| abusive. | | | | the form of a support network. These |
| Commonly used drugs include: | | | | begin with group meetings and cover the |
| · Caffeine · Alcohol · Nicotine · | | | | whole spectrum of the problem through |
| Marijuana · Ecstasy · Cocaine · | | | | focused discussion and by putting in |
| Heroin · LSD · Ketamine · | | | | place plans and programs for recovery. |
| Methamphetamines | | | | Drug rehab is firstly about dealing with |
| For serious substance abusers and their | | | | the physical addiction. This process |
| families, the effects of these drugs can | | | | may require medical assistance, as the |
| be devastating and often fatal. The | | | | physical effects of detoxification are |
| nature of addiction is such that users | | | | extremely hard on the body. Withdrawals |
| become extremely determined and | | | | are common in drug rehab and range from |
| desperate when it comes to procuring | | | | cold sweats, cramping, vomiting, |
| drugs or alcohol. The need to use can | | | | hallucinations and mood swings as well |
| lead to lying, stealing, violence and | | | | as extreme physical pain. |