About Substance Abuse

Substance abuse or substance use disorder is any frequent pathological use of a medication that is not prescribed where the user consumes the drug in large amounts and in a harmful manner, use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Psychoactive substance use can lead to dependence syndrome.

Treatment of substance abusers depends upon the severity and nature of the addiction, motivation, and the availability of services. Substance abuse may increase vulnerability to mental illness; Relapses to drug abuse can occur during or after successful treatment episodes, Participation in self-help support programs during and following treatment can be helpful in sustaining long-term recovery.

Many substances, such as alcohol, tranquilizers, opiates, and stimulants, over time also can produce a phenomenon known as tolerance, where you must use a larger amount of the drug to produce the same level of intoxication, This result in acute pharmacological disturbances like flushing, unsteady gait, euphoria, increased activity, slurred speech and impaired judgment that is caused by a chemical substance.

Substance abuse also plays a role in many major social problems, such as drugged driving, violence, stress. Drug abuse can lead to homelessness, crime, and missed work or problems with keeping a job, some people uses recreational or prescription drugs without ever experiencing addiction and its negative consequences.