Alcohol and Drug Problems Overview

Substance abuse conditions such as alcoholism or the misuse/abuse of alcohol are unfortunately common in modern American society. These conditions are potentially devastating disorders than can wreak considerable havoc on the lives of afflicted individuals, their family members, and others who care about or depend upon them.
Though no ethnic or demographic group is immune from the effects of alcohol addictions, members of certain populations have been determined to be at particularly high risk for problems associated with the abuse of alcohol or other drugs:

• Teens and Young Adults
• Almost 50 percent of high school seniors in the United States have admitted to using alcohol or some other illicit substance at least once.
• Several studies have revealed that members of this age group who abuse alcohol or other drugs are more likely to become involved in crime, participated in risky sexual behavior, and injure themselves and others.
• School performance is decidedly lower – and the dropout rate is much higher – among substance-abusing teens.
• Women
• Women who abuse alcohol and other drugs face considerable risk for developing a wide range of health problems, including osteoporosis, depression, cognitive impairments, and certain types of cancers
• The suicide rate among women who are abusing alcohol or other drugs is 400 percent higher than it is for women who abstain from these substances.
• Because more than 60 percent of tranquilizer prescriptions are written for women, they face a higher risk of becoming dependent upon drugs such as sedatives and pain medication.
• Senior Citizens
• Because of health problems associated with aging, adults over the age of 65 face a variety of issues related to substance abuse – many of which are the result of taking multiple medications or being treated by several different doctors.
• Another risk factor facing older adults is that some symptoms of substance abuse (such as cognitive impairment, memory loss, or slurred speech) are often attributed to aging, and thus do not receive the attention they deserve.
• Finally, the loneliness, chronic pain, sleep problems, and depression that are often associated with aging may prompt older adults to “self-medicate” by misusing alcohol or other illicit, prescription, or over-the-counter drugs.
• Disadvantaged Individuals
• Access to quality medical care is often beyond the reach of people who live in poverty – and, as a result, these individuals may be forced to self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs.
• Also, individuals who lack access to mental health services or other community support programs are less likely to receive treatment for mental, social, and behavioral disorders that are associated with – or exacerbated by – substance abuse.

The Impact of Alcoholism

According to information that was provided by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, in the United States alone more than 100,000 deaths each year are attributable to alcohol abuse. The following statistics also indicate the destructive impact of alcoholism in America:

• Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug by youth between the ages of 12 and 17.
• Alcohol-dependent individuals are at increased risk for engaging in high-risk sexual behavior and using illegal drugs.
• Motor vehicle accidents related to drinking and driving are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens.
• Employees and students who regularly use alcohol are more likely to receive lower grades and worse job performance evaluations than are individuals who do not drink alcohol.

Symptoms & Effects of Alcohol Abuse

Alcoholism is usually defined as a physical addiction to, or psychological dependence upon, alcohol. But an individual doesn’t have to be professionally diagnosed – or even exhibit classic signs of alcoholism – to have a problem. If drinking interferes with a person’s health, relationships, academic progress, or ability to work, then that person  needs to get help.
Failing to escape the clutches of alcohol abuse can have severe effects:

• Long-term heavy drinking has been associated with liver damage, impaired functioning of the nervous system, and problems with both the heart and brain.
• Alcohol abuse has been linked to hypertension (high blood pressure), disorders of the stomach, and the development of some types of cancers.
• The misuse of alcohol can also lead to violence, accidents, isolation, depression, anxiety, and the failure of personal and professional relationships.

The following symptoms are signs that a person’s relationship with alcohol is a dangerous one:

• Heightened tolerance – having to drink more and more to achieve the same “high.”
• Memory loss or periods of “blackouts”
• Drinking alone, in secret, or at inappropriate times (such as first thing in the morning or throughout the work day)
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, such as “the shakes,” profuse sweating, hallucinations, or delusions, after a period without alcohol.
• Legal, personal, school, or work-related problems that result from or are otherwise associated with drinking alcohol.

For individuals who have become dependent upon alcohol, quitting may require participation in a 12-step support group, outpatient treatment, or a stay in a residential recovery facility.

Drug problems

Drug abuse can include involvement with a wide range of substances, including the following:

• Using illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or Ecstasy
• The misuse of legal prescription drugs (for example, taking more than directed, continuing use after being directed to stop, or taking medications that have been prescribed for someone else).
• Abuse of over-the-counter drugs (as with prescription drug abuse, this involves using legal substances for illicit, nonmedical, or recreational purposes).

As is the case with alcohol, using drugs (both legal and illegal) can lead to both physical addiction and psychological dependency – and returning sobriety may require the assistance of experienced and qualified medical personnel.