801). According to Green (2006), "Research on how gender influences substance use and substance-abuse-related problems has established clear differences between women and men in several important areas. Women typically consume less alcohol than men when they drink, drink alcohol less frequently, and are less likely to develop alcohol-related problems than men. Similarly, women are less likely than men to use illicit drugs and to develop drug-related problems" (p. 55).
Relationship between alcohol/substance abuse and physical/mental health issues. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Guide to Drug Abuse Epidemiology (2000), "Psychoactive substances cause problems that result from complex interactions between: (a) substances with diverse, toxic, psychotropic and addictive properties; (b) individuals with varied vulnerabilities and resiliency; and (c) complex sociocultural environments" (p. 117). For young adults with an alcohol or other substance abuse disorder, the likelihood of suffering from the other addictive disorder was seven times higher than in the general population; among individuals who had an alcohol disorder, 37% had a corresponding comorbid mental disorder (Regier et al., 1990). The most significant mental-addictive disorder comorbidity rate was identified among those who suffered from drug disorders besides alcohol disorders; more than half (53%) of this population has been shown to suffer from a mental disorder (Regier et al., 1990). In addition, those who have been treated for their disorders in specialty mental health and addictive disorder clinical settings have been shown to be at much higher risk of having comorbid disorders, with those being incarcerated suffering the highest levels of mental disorders (Regier et al., 1990).
CLINICAL EVALUATION BY NURSE PRACTITIONER
General considerations. The disease model that typifies most current treatment approaches to substance abuse can help address many of the common misconceptions that persist and pave the way for meaningful change. For instance, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2010), "One very common belief is that drug abusers should be able to just stop taking drugs if they are only willing to change their behavior. What people often underestimate is the complexity of drug addiction -- that it...
Substance abuse is a common affliction among the elderly population. Several factors may contribute to the prevalence of alcoholism and drug abuse among older adults, including loneliness, poor health, and depression. The most rapidly growing segment of the American population is the elderly, and whether or not alcohol can be considered beneficial or detrimental in this population depends on the doses being consumed (Ferreira and Weems, 2008). However, the population
For some, there will be a denial and minimization of the substance habit as being inconsequential, purely recreational or extremely intermittent. This response is akin to the young adult asserting that there is no problem. For other homeless youths, their drug or alcohol habit maybe viewed as a form of survival: these drugs help these teenagers bear life on the street. In that sense the substance is attributed as
However, in understanding the factors that exist in most substance abuse cases, preemptive solutions to the problem such as education and awareness, as well as early interventions in recently-onset cases can help to curb the issue significantly. Proposed Solutions The key to preventing substance abuse, as proposed by researchers and laymen alike, is awareness and education regarding substance abuse. Beginning in schools, religious organizations, and at home, individuals are better adept
Research that the authors report in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy -- a peer-reviewed journal -- shows that adolescents abusing substances cause "stress-related symptoms" in parents (Yuen, et al., 2011, p. 250). The stress parents experience includes: depression, anxiety, fear of danger, guilt, anger, despair as well as grief associated with failure in the parental role" (Yuen, 250). And so prior to bringing parents into
Substance Abuse Group Psychotherapy Proposal for a Diverse Homeless Population We find several problems associated with substance abuse people in our environment. Researches show that men are more likely to develop a substance abuse personality. As a result they lose jobs and homes. Uncountable homeless families depend on substance abuse men. A variety of group treatments are employed to meet the needs of such people during the recovery process. This essay
' If a person does not disclose their drinking behavior if they seek outside help, they may be misdiagnosed as having an anxiety disorder. Mixing alcohol and medications for anxiety disorders can have lethal consequences, as well as prolonging a process of addiction." (Losinno, p. 1) This denotes that especially in the face of trauma, those who are predisposed to dissonant responses and unhealthy coping mechanisms will struggle at a higher
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