Mental disorders can cause immense personal suffering from lack of support and damaged social relationships. Substance abuse refers to the use of psychoactive substances like alcohol and recreational drugs.

Psychoactive substances and addiction

There is high risk to development of dependence with psychoactive substances. Dependence is characterized by impairment to normal behavioral, functional and physiological abilities. There can be a strong desire for the ingestion of drugs despite negative consequences.

The development of tolerance and withdrawal conditions from physical dependence occurs with indiscriminate use. Drug addiction interferes with general health and familiar obligations. Efficient mental health is essential for the effective functioning of an individual in society.

Psychoactive substance abuse can be effectively addressed through development and regular evaluation of treatment services. Alcohol associated disorders are reported in about 77 million individuals around the world.

Recreational drug use affects about 16 million initiating mental disorders. There is a high rate of HIV infection with intravenous drug users.

Comprehensive drug treatment plans can reduce the medical and social burden of abuse. Government and policy makers must increase the percentage of annual medical expenditure allocated for mental health.

What are the side effects of chronic alcohol intake?

Moderate alcohol intake might not cause significant harm. Alcoholism arises from dependence characterized by a strong craving for drinking. There is loss of voluntary control over drinking habits.

Physical withdrawal symptoms like sweating, nausea, weakness and muscle tremor indicate dependence. Tolerance initiates regular intake of higher quantities of alcohol.

Can alcoholism increase mortality risk?

Primary organs like the heart, liver and brain undergo irreversible damage with alcohol toxicity in the blood. There is high risk to oral cancer and gastrointestinal malignancy. Mental health can be affected by the presence of chronic systemic conditions.

There is higher incidence of birth defects with children of alcoholic parents. There is greater risk to suicide, accidental injury and homicide with alcoholics.

Alcoholism is closely related to the patho-physiology of about sixty different types of health disorders. Death with motor vehicle accident occurs in about twenty to thirty percent of alcoholics. Detoxification procedures performed under medical supervision can lower severity of withdrawal symptoms in alcoholics.

Chronic alcohol intake can cause Neuro psychiatric conditions. Disability impedes quality of life in about forty percent of alcoholics. Mental health of recovering alcoholics can be enhanced through mutual help groups.

How do recreational drugs act on the body?

Recreational drugs initiate relaxation and elevate mood bringing about the experience of euphoria. The short term side effects of using psychoactive substances include dry mouth, tachycardia, anxiety and neuromuscular impairment.

There is temporary loss of cognitive ability, memory and motor skills.  Lack of judgment, respiratory arrest, lung infections and low fertility is reported in chronic drug addicts.

Emotions of aggression, anxiety and insomnia are experienced by addicts trying to recover. Behavioral therapy sessions and support groups can highly benefit recovering addicts. Mental health policies and legislations must work to serve the individuals with severe behavioral impairment.

Do substance abuse disorders affect general health?

Substance abuse can be classified as a mental disorder and disease of the brain. Recreational drugs with regular use alter neural circuits and gene expression affecting normal human behavior.

Drug seeking behavior and physical dependence arises from the above changes in brain function. Malignancy, stroke and hepatitis pathophysiology can be influenced by drug abuse.

Substance abuse is the causative factor for a large number of preventable health conditions. The intake of alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs increases the risk to suicide in adults. Substance use disorders are closely related to incidence of psychiatric conditions in the average population.

The restoration of mental health in addicts can be worked at through specific medical policies. Public health problems that arise with alcoholism and substance abuse require intervention at micro health care levels. Mental health departments must work to reduce the social stigma associated with mental and substance abuse disorders.

Information on Alcohol & Substance Abuse is a post from: Mental Health