10 Essential Facts About Substance Abuse

Substance abuse directly affects millions of people in our society each year: statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported 8 percent of Americans admitted to using illegal drugs and 6.9 percent were problem drinkers. Family members and friends are affected, as well, by the substance abuse issues of their loved ones. It's essential we educate ourselves about substance abuse.

Age

• Substance abuse affects people of all ages, but young people in particular are at risk. The younger a person is when she starts to abuse a substance, the greater the likelihood she will get addicted. This is a special danger, because the structure of an adolescent's brain is not well-developed in the areas that control decision-making and judgment, leaving her more vulnerable to substance abuse.

Brain Chemistry

• Once ingested, many drugs alter brain chemistry in a way that makes it more likely a person will become dependent or addicted. These changes lead to greater tolerance of the drug, a greater need for the drug (because the ability to feel pleasure without it is inhibited), and a greater likelihood to abuse drugs when triggered by people, places and things associated with the drug.

Biological Predisposition

• Some people are more prone to drug abuse than others. A biological predisposition toward substance abuse, along with environment, is responsible for 50 percent of an individual's vulnerablity to addiction. In other words, if parents are addicts, it is essential to create an environment that supports freedom from substance abuse if children are to have any chance at a substance-free life.

Influence

• Peers have a tremendous effect when it comes to a person's vulnerability to substance abuse, but parents have even more. According to a survey by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, teens cite their parents as a greater influence than their friends in the decision of whether or not they will use drugs.

Alcohol

• Alcohol is the most dangerous substance abused in America, killing 100,000 people annually and causing injury to thousands more due to alcohol-related car crashes. Alcohol abuse is especially insidious, because while it causes the most damage, it is also the most socially accepted of all substances.

Treatment

• Treatment for substance abuse is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Many people benefit from 12-step programs, while others find help through less spirituall-oriented programs like Rational Recovery. Some people need in-patient treatment, while others do just as well with a combination of medication and therapy.

Rate of Success

• As with most health issues, substance abuse may not respond to the first attempt at treatment. Even if the person is very well-motivated, it may take several attempts before she is able to effectively deal with the substance abuse issue.

Prescription Drugs

• Increasingly, prescription drugs are being abused: either ingested in greater quantities than they are meant to be taken, or used by someone other than the individual for whom they were prescribed. Commonly abused prescription medications include pain pills, medication for attention deficit disorder, and muscle relaxers.

The Elderly

• According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in one year, approximately 568,000 persons aged 55 or older had used illicit drugs in the past month and over 5 million were "binge" alcohol users, including more than 1 million who were heavy alcohol users. There are certain times when older adults are more vulnerable to substance abuse, such as after the loss of their spouse and at retirement.

Prevention

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports prevention efforts that involve families, communities, schools and the media are effective in preventing substance abuse. When people perceive substance abuse as harmful, they reduce their drug-taking, so education is vital.