Alcohol and Substance Abuse in Vulnerable Populations

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HCA 430

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This critical thought exercise will focus on people in society that are addicted to drugs, alcohol, and other habit-forming substances. In this paper we will specifically focus on the consumption of alcohol and other addictive substances like tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, and others. This exercise will describe the various demographics in which these people comprise in relation to the non-addicted population.

Alcohol abuse is among the most recognized types of addictive personalities. Due to its accessibility, inexpensive cost and casual use among the general populous, its reach can be vast. Despite its prohibition of sale to minors (most states prohibit sales to anyone under the age of 21) alcohol has been consumed by many teens and college students. This is noticeable in other products such as caffeine, nicotine, and sugars. Even though there are no legal ramifications for consuming caffeine and sugar, they are highly addictive and capable of inflicting long-term damage to the human body. Excessive intake of sugars relates to the presence of diabetes and childhood obesity. Artificial flavors and additives are also highly addictive and harmful to the liver and other organs. (Newsweek, 2001).

The American population had never before consumed so many substances with such frequency and potency as it is done today, even taking into consideration the population differences throughout time.. The group of alcohol and substance abusers grows faster than the general population does, meaning that we have a society that has gradually become more desensitized to alcohol and drug abuse. Alcohol and marijuana use start regularly in high school, later in life other drugs turn more attractive. Opiates like heroin are very popular among individuals in their 30’s (Newsweek, 2001). Amphetamines consumption is a recent trend that specially reaches the lower classes that have no access to more expensive substances. There are general demographics for each substance type; most addictions coincide with the subject’s age. It is not surprising that many people become addicted when they are beginning to make fully independent decisions. This can happen simply as a result of a person being surrounded by an entirely different group of peers, say, when they go off to live at college. Through its initial exposure to its acceptance, the level of dependency can impact a person for their entire life. From this point and through high school and college, it will be decided if they become heavy or moderate users. As an individual becomes addicted to one substance, it would be logical to assume that secondary forms of dependency could follow. For example, tobacco users also partake in a high consumption of caffeine. Marijuana, the least damaging addictive substance with great popularity among young adults is associated with the intake of alcohol, but not in abusive proportions. As people age, and their body craves more potent forms of addiction, they resort to harder hitting substances. Although drug dependence can affect people regardless of wealth, education, or economic status, there is a more likely chance that its effects are more prevalent in those people with poorer educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.

There are substance abuse groups that present a very well defined socioeconomic category, like the users of cocaine, a very expensive drug that is hardly affordable by the mid class. Its potential of abuse is particularly high and as a highly addictive substance its treatment is expensive and sometimes disabling. This reminds us of one peculiar characteristic of this vulnerable population: their loss of functionality and productivity. Those affected will show higher absenteeism rates for work and school, up to 30% of addicts can’t hold a job for more than 6 months, a 13% will need assistance with every day activities and a 3% will lose their property and social status by ruining their personal finances (Newsweek, 2001).

Substances like amphetamines, crack cocaine and heroin are associated with the higher risk of developing severe health conditions within the first 3 years of heavy use (Verdichevski et. al., 2011). Many of this type of patients will never recover and will need difficult lifelong therapies that incorporate heavy drugs, like methadone. With regards to race and gender, substance abuse is statistically higher in men than in women. In addition, it is more often pronounced through ethnic demographics, as there are more African American males in the prison system due to drug and alcohol related crimes than any other race/gender combination. . Another factor would be an educational demographic, as many people who suffer from drug abuse have failed to complete even a basic high school education. Returning to the demographic distribution of the substance abuse epidemic, several differences can be found inside each category, for example, while women are less prone to abuse substances when compared with men, they result to be more affected by the consequences of the substance use (Peltan et. al., 2011). On the other hand, men exhibit a greater user of drugs but with smaller consequences in their personal life, like sustained income and family cohesion.

Causes for the abuse of alcohol and substances are a very well-studied subject and there is abundant research that shows the dimension of the problem and the dynamics of consumption. In school, peer pressure and desire to experience a more unrestrained state of mind are typical reasons for the introduction of mind-altering substances.. The physiological effects in young adults, the use of cocaine and other stimulants is associated with stress and pressure at work and a strong drive to succeed and compete. These qualities can be enhanced by the consumption of this substance. Finally, alcohol is the preferred drug of the mid class and adults (Morgan et. al., 2011), using the substance to relax and for his inhibition. Alcohol is a powerfully produced substance, its consumption with other drugs or medications can result in accident, intoxication, liver failure, cancer, or death. This epidemic of substance abuse seems to be inherent to developed societies; it is one of the great social illnesses in modern history.

References

Aday, L.A. (2003). At risk in America: The health and health care needs of vulnerable populations in the United States. (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 9780787949860

MAPPING ADDICTION. (2001). Newsweek, 137(7), 43.

Morgan, M. L., Brosi, W. A., & Brosi, M. W. (2011). Restorying Older Adults’ Narratives About Self and Substance Abuse. American Journal Of Family Therapy, 39(5), 444-455.

Peltan, J. R., & Cellucci, T. (2011). Childhood sexual abuse and substance abuse treatment utilization among substance-dependent incarcerated women. Journal Of Substance Abuse Treatment, 41(3), 215-224.

Verdichevski, M., Burns, R., Cunningham, J. K., Tavares, J., & Callaghan, R. C. (2011). Trends in Primary Methamphetamine-Related Admissions to Youth Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities in Canada, 2005-2006 and 2009-2010. Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry, 56(11), 696-700.