Sober Resources

General Substance Abuse and Its Effects on Society

Substance abuse is one of the most prevalent issues that the current generation is forced to face. It has been around for centuries and has afflicted millions of people around the world. It is mainly a health concern but over the past decades, it has escalated into one of the worst social ills.

Drug and alcohol addiction does not only affect the individual himself but everyone around him. Ultimately, the society is largely affected by his predisposition for substance use even when he’s just one person. It is a social ill because practically every country in the world is compelled to come up with legislation, policies and other ideas geared at addressing the problem.

Most experts agree that addiction has a ripple effect. It brings discord not only into the home but to the society as well.

Effects on the family

Parents who abuse drugs or alcohol tend to neglect their children leaving them to their own devices. Because they are preoccupied with their addictions, they fail to provide the proper guidance that children need especially during their growing years. Teenagers who grow up in homes where a respected adult or parent uses alcohol or drugs have a higher tendency for developing the addiction later on mainly because the household is more lenient in terms of substance use.

The community

According to statistics, drunk driving results to an injury every minute and one death every 32 minutes. In the United States, about 40% of traffic-related casualties are linked to alcohol use.  Crime rates go up because of addiction related incidents. In 1992, over 25% of violent crimes and property crimes were attributed to drug and alcohol abuse. Three to four percent of social welfare cases in the country were caused by substance abuse. Income maintenance, cash assistance, foster care and other social welfare programs had to spend a lot on households affected by substance abuse.

Substance abuse impairs the individual’s productivity. It can affect his ability to maintain a full-time job. In cases where addicts are even able to maintain employment, the people around them are placed at risk.

Economics

Substance abuse causes the government to spend a lot of money that could otherwise be spent on education or other channels. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in the US, the total economic cost of substance abuse has reached to a whopping $245 billion. This was spent on treatment and prevention costs, healthcare, losses on job productivity and crime and social welfare.

Health issues

Substance abuse can lead to the prevalence of more health issues. Crimes are just one thing but the spread of certain types of illnesses is another one of the many impacts of addiction. People who are addicted are apt to behave irresponsibly. This essentially translates to undertaking dangerous sexual activities and making wrong decisions that are otherwise prevented by sobriety. Irresponsible sexual activities can lead to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and AIDS.

Substance abuse, therefore, is a problem that has to be fully addressed. Its impact on the society is so massive that legislation is constantly being updated to ensure that this social ill finds sustainable resolution.

There are a number of problems that an alcoholic will face in their lifetime if they continue to drink and refuse to seek help. Alcoholism is a progressive disease and amount of alcohol consumed by a person will eventually cause mental and physical problems. The alcoholic will face problems in their social, professional, and family life if the issues are not dealt with. Because alcoholics often do not realize that they need help, it is important for their loved ones to recognize the symptoms of alcoholism and be the ones to seek help if it is needed.

Regularly consuming excess alcohol can lead to a number of long term health problems. The person who drinks too much will have both physical and mental problems because of how alcohol affects their mind and bodies. Because of this, alcoholics show physical symptoms that serve as warning signs.

The first problem that might be noted is a liver inflammation. This will cause yellowing of the eyes, skin and an abnormal yellowing of the urine. The person with liver inflammation will also suffer from a constant fever. Furthermore, the excessive alcohol consumed by alcoholics will eventually destroy the liver’s ability to create and regenerate new cells.

Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition that a number of alcoholics face as their drinking progresses. The symptoms of cirrhosis include tiredness, weight loss, nausea, and loss of sexual drive. Other symptoms can be quite painful and debilitating.

Malnutrition is also another health risk that most alcoholics suffer from. When this occurs, the alcoholic will observe that their immune system has become weaker therefore becoming unable to fight off diseases. Tiredness and weight loss can also be caused by malnutrition.

An alcoholic may also suffer from high blood pressure. This rise in blood pressure can leave the alcoholic likely to suffer from a heart attack. The symptoms of high blood pressure include dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, and nausea.

The pancreas can also be affected by alcoholism. The pancreas in an alcoholic can become inflamed. This inflammation is called pancreatitis. The pancreas plays a significant role in digesting food within the body. When the pancreas is damaged, there will be pain in the abdominal area as well as weight loss.

Insomnia is also a common problem among alcoholics. There are even times when alcoholics suffer from the inability to sleep for weeks at a time.

Alcoholic men also tend to suffer from erectile dysfunction. When a man drinks too much, it will negatively impact his ability to enjoy a satisfying sex life. Women who are addicted to alcohol, on the other hand, are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer from their addiction.

There are a number of other symptoms of alcoholism that can be observed over a long period of time. There can be damage caused to the brain and nerves. Depression and stress are also a symptom of alcoholism.

It is imperative that alcoholics seek help to control their drinking problem. There are many programs and institutions that can help the alcoholic stop their destructive behavior and begin enjoying a healthy and happy life once again.