wk 10
Running head: substance use disorder and addictions 1
substance use disorder and addictions 4
Substance Use Disorder and Addictions
Paula King
Walden University
Capstone
Dr. Jane Lyons
June 8, 2019
Substance Use Disorder and Addictions
Substance use disorder and addictions is a recurring disease that affects an individual’s brain and behaviors. A person may choose to try drugs, but there can also be a genetic and environmental factor that may influence that decision. People sometimes use drugs as an escape from the problems in their lives, recreational use, or experimenting with acquaintances. The addiction starts when the brain seeks the stimulation of pleasure that comes from ingesting drugs or alcohol. Therefore, a person may use drugs whether legal or illegal and continue to use them irrespective of any risk involved. Drug use can affect an individual’s mental and physical health. Substance use disorder is the most common problem that affects youth and young adults as the main or primary population. According to Roy, Arruda, Bruneau and Jutras-Aswad (2016), youths suffer from substance use disorders due to the inability to follow the required steps that prevent him/her from facing the aftermath of excessive use of drugs and most of them end up denaturing their brain. Most youths end up falling into substance abuse; thus, they alter their mental capability and causing them pain due to problems with addiction.
Some people who struggle with substance use disorder may seek a help from a drug treatment program and some may try to overcome their addiction without treatment by going “cold turkey” and stop abusing drugs on their own. There are several treatment programs offered to those who want therapy. Some types of programs available are inpatient treatments, residential programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization or day treatment, and methadone clinics. When an individual enters treatment, a counselor will set up a treatment plan as a guide to treatment that includes personal goals, and activities to obtain those personal goals. Within the programs they offer relapse prevention training, family education and counseling services, treatment for mental disorders, and follow-up care.
Another issue with substance abuse and addiction after treatment is relapse. Approximately 60 to 40 percent will relapse. Addiction is like any other chronic disease it can reoccur, but it does not mean treatment has failed it could be considered part of the process and there are new treatments designed for relapse prevention. Relapse can occur because of a certain people, places, and things from the past can bring up memories of substance use which can trigger the urge that may lead to relapse.
I chose this topic because of the current battle with opioids that society has been battling for the last two to three years, and to enhance the knowledge of substance use disorder and addictions and those individuals’ who seek to indulge themselves in substance abuse. Also, to bring awareness to how effective substance abuse treatment programs are and whether the substance abuser can sustain the program and stay drug free or will they become a statistic and relapse back into addiction.
Reference
https://adf.org.au/alcohol-drug-use/supporting-a-loved-one/what-is-relapse
https://store.samhsa.gov/product/What-Is-Substance-Abuse-Treatment-A-Booklet-for-Families/SMA144126
https://www.drugrehab.com/recovery/relapse/why-do-people-relaps