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Substance Abuse
Substance abuse
is very common in today’s culture. There are
many different substances that are abused. The
most common abused substances are illegal street
drugs and alcohol followed by prescription pills
and medications. Technically speaking, most
anything can be abused if it is taken
excessively and without caution or consideration
to the suggested directions. Even over the
counter medications can be abused. It usually
when unseen potential for dependence or abusive
behaviors arise out of the general population
that the authorities step in and begin to
restrict its use.
A good example
of this is Vicks inhalers. When the inhalers
first hit the market they quickly became a
popular item among addicts. Not just for the
mild rush they would get from one use but the
ability to extract certain amphetamine chemicals
from them. Since then, Vicks has redistributed a
similar inhaler that no longer contains these
chemicals. But the use of Vicks inhalers alone
does not usually lead to the extreme behaviors
associated with other abused substances.
Substance Abuse
can take two different forms: (a) the
recreational, not yet addicted individual who
continues until they either stop or become (b)
the addict who is using and abusing substances
to maintain a false level well being.
In the
beginning of substance abuse, a common thought
is, “I can stop whenever I want to.” When in
reality they can’t. These people usually
continue on until they have passed the point of
no return and find themselves in the middle of a
full blown addiction. By this time, it is too
late for them to ever recover control, though
brief periods of control may temporarily arise.
They will sway back and forth between control
and no control, ultimately bingeing for days,
weeks, and in extreme cases months or years.
Substance abuse
is where addiction takes root and is cultivated
and grown. Once the addiction has control, there
is little hope for the afflicted individual in
ever recovering by themselves. Unless they
accept outside help, the addicted individual
will probably continue on until everyone and
everything around them is gone and they have no
where else to go. When this happens, the
individual has two choices: (1) Continue on into
prison or death or (2) Accept help and save
their own lives.
Substance abuse is flirting with disaster. Some
consider it a form of Russian roulette. A person
never knows when the substance abuse will
crossover and turn into a full blown addiction.
And by then, hope for the individual to ever be
what they once were, “a casual user”, will never
be again. They have been changed forever. Once
an alcoholic always an alcoholic rings true
here. The now addicted person will experience
countless negative consequences as a direct
result of their addicted behaviors until they
are willing to accept help and make the change
for themselves.
As
it has been said, Substance Abuse is the
beginning and continuing end of addiction and
addictive behaviors. If you or someone you know
is abusing a substance of any kind, support them
in seeking the help they need. Manor House is
equipped with all the resources needed to assist
an addicted person in achieving a sober and
happy life.
By: Patrick McLemore
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