Substance abuse greatly impacts many, if not all, aspects of an individual's life and is typically linked to behavioral, economic, educational, legal, medical, psychological, public health, and social problems. In the past 10-15 years, attention has been increasingly focused on the correlation between psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. Numerous researchers have discovered a strong contemporaneous relationship between psychiatric disorders and substance abuse in both clinical and general population samples of adolescents (Boyle and Offord, 1991; Brook and Brook, 1990; Kessler et al., 1996) and adults (Breslau et al., 1993; Helzer and Pryzbeck, 1998; Kessler et al., 1996). For example, Kessler et al. (1996) found that psychiatric disorders generally preceded the development of addictive disorders in individuals with both co-occurring psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. Other researchers have found a correlation between the diagnosis of behavior or psychiatric disorder and the frequency of alcohol and tobacco use (Boyle and Offord, 1991).
This paper analyzes and examines substance abuse and substance dependence. In Part II, the general causes and effects of substance abuse and substance dependence are addressed. Part III examines the psychiatric aspects of substance abuse. In Part IV, the relationship between substance abuse and crime is outlined. Finally, this paper concludes with a way to improve the awareness and treatment of psychiatric disorders and substance abuse.
II. GENERAL CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Substance abuse is a pattern of use that displays many adverse results from continual use of a substance. (Carson-DeWitt). Characteristics of substance abuse include a failure to satisfactorily meet family, school, or work obligations; continual use under situations that present a hazard (i.e., driving an automobile); financial difficulties resulting from increased money spent to fuel the addiction; and legal problems such as arrests. (Carson-DeWitt). Use of the drug persists despite personal problems caused by the effects of the substance on an individual and/or others.
Substance dependence is a group of behavioral and physiological symptoms that indicate the continual, compulsive use of a substance in self-administered doses despite the problems related to its use. (Carson-DeWitt). Increased amounts are needed to achieve the desired effect or level of intoxication so an individual's tolerance for the drug or substance rises. Withdrawal is a...
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