When people think about addiction, they sometimes form an idea in their head about the type of person who might have a substance abuse disorder. There’s a lot of shame surrounding this problem as well, as it’s often viewed as a moral weakness more than a health problem.
But, while it might not be talked about as much as some other illnesses, addiction and substance abuse disorders are very common. According to the 2023 United States National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 16.7% of Americans over the age of 11 battled a substance abuse disorder in the preceding year. This is nearly 50 million people, which means that millions more have been impacted by addiction and substance abuse disorders.
Addiction doesn’t just affect the person with the problem. It also affects the people closest to them. So, whether you have a substance abuse disorder or one of your loved ones has a problem, it’s important to get it treated as soon as possible.
Why People Develop Substance Abuse Disorders
Sometimes, understanding the root cause of a substance abuse disorder can help people get through it. Unfortunately, there isn’t necessarily a simple explanation for an addiction.
Some people have a genetic predisposition towards addiction or a family history, which means they’re more likely to become addicted themselves. But addiction could also be related to trauma, which could naturally stem from a childhood steeped in addiction.
Substance abuse disorders and mental health problems are often linked, with many people developing an addiction because of their mental health issues, sometimes in an attempt to treat the symptoms. Conversely, addiction can worsen existing mental health problems or even lead to them.
In some cases, the cause can be linked to a physical problem like chronic pain. Part of the reason that there’s an opioid epidemic in the USA is that people were prescribed addictive painkillers. If managed poorly, this can lead to an addiction to that substance as they develop a tolerance and a dependency.
So, while it is helpful to understand why someone might have become addicted to a substance, it’s more important to focus on the consequences and recovery.
The Social Consequences of Addiction
Substance abuse disorders carry a massive weight of social consequences. When someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, that becomes the most important thing in their life. This is even true of other types of addiction, like gambling. This means that someone who has an addiction will spend money they don’t have and potentially even risk their well-being or the well-being of their loved ones in order to satisfy their addiction.
Not every substance abuse disorder is identical. For every person who has lost their job, family, and even home, there is someone else who is seemingly holding it together and functioning with an addiction. Just like many other illnesses, there are different degrees of severity with addiction.
However, any addiction puts a social strain on a person and on a family. Addictions can also change your behaviour, both when you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol and when you’re not.
The social consequences of addiction can tear families apart and make otherwise loving, responsible people act completely differently. Someone with an addiction might put their own addiction above the needs of their parents, spouse, and even children. In extreme cases, they might become abusive or steal from loved ones.
Addiction and Health
While the social consequences of addiction are serious, they aren’t the only reason why it’s so important to seek recovery. The physical and mental health of the person dealing with the addiction can also be severely impacted by whatever substance they’re taking.
Too much of anything is bad for you. People can even die from drinking too much water. But most addictive substances are literally poisons.
Alcohol addiction, for example, is extremely common. Alcohol consumption, in moderation, can be a normal part of a healthy lifestyle. But alcohol is a toxin. In small amounts, our bodies can process it without any problems. But if alcohol is abused, it can do devastating damage to our organs. Liver damage is the most well-known issue caused by excessive drinking, but it can affect other organs, and often impacts the brain.
Alcohol addiction is very difficult to get over, partly because the body develops a physical dependency on it. Going cold turkey doesn’t just lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms; it can be life-threatening.
This is just how one substance can affect your health, but prescription drugs and illicit drugs can also cause health problems, both physically and mentally.
Finding Help to Recover From Addiction
Some people think that they can just get over an addiction. And, in some cases, it is possible to break a substance addiction without outside help. Many people quit smoking, for example, and don’t necessarily need to go to rehab.
However, in a lot of cases, a substance abuse rehab center is the best option if you want to ensure recovery. This is because you have professionals on your side who can help you detox safely, as well as provide counseling and therapy to deal with some of the other issues of addiction.
As well as breaking the addiction itself, the idea of rehabilitation is to rebuild your life. So, you improve your physical health, your mental health, and your social health.
Long-Term Recovery
One of the biggest challenges after rehab is the constant threat of a relapse. While you can recover from a substance abuse problem, you might not be cured. The addiction is still there.
When it comes to long-term recovery, the most important thing is the ability to forgive yourself and try again. Relapses aren’t guaranteed to happen by any means, but a relapse doesn’t have to mean that you can’t ever recover.
Another issue is that other people might not find forgiveness so easily, especially if they’ve been hurt or stolen from because of an addiction. It’s important to allow recovery to take the time it needs.
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