For those persons who have never had to deal with substance abuse up close, there is some difficulty understanding it. The often asked question is how someone could get hooked on drugs after knowing the dangers. But, sadly substance abuse isn’t as simple as that.
Substance abuse doesn’t happen overnight. It is a pattern of use of an addictive substance over time until the need for it becomes all encompassing. Also, it is not just illegal drugs that people abuse, although that frequently comes to mind when substance abuse is mentioned. Many news stories have looked at celebs abusing prescription drugs. Kids have also abused over-the-counter drugs to get a high. Alcohol is also not illegal, but it too can be abused and often is.
The reasons why people turn to drugs and alcohol varies greatly among individuals. An understanding of substance abuse calls for some knowledge of why they do it. For many it’s the felling of euphoria that results that does the trick of pulling them in. That is basically what drugs and alcohol do; trick the brain into feeling a sense of heightened wellbeing. Over time, the substance becomes the single most important thing to the affected person.
Interestingly, not everyone who uses an addictive substance becomes addicted. This is where it can be hard to differentiate between a substance abuser and a user. Granted, many users will eventually cross the line into the substance abuser territory.
Understanding is crucial to the treatment of substance abuse problems. Without understanding what and how substance abuse occurs, the needed support will not be there. Any program for dealing with substance abuse starts with a clear understanding of the problem, its causes, effects and ultimately the treatment.