Perhaps the most pervasive malady that always threatens to imperil the members of each society in every corner of the world is drug and alcohol addiction. This dependence on unhealthy and destructive substances endangers the lives of those who are addicted to them, as well as the people who are attached to such substance abusers. A lot of social problems can actually be traced to drug and alcohol abuse. Domestic violence, an increase in crime rates, accidents, and work negligence are just some of the well documented ill effects of drug and alcohol addiction.

The drug and alcohol dependent tends to suffer the brunt of these harmful consequences, however, as his psychological and physical wellbeing is compromised. Truly, there is a need to treat this misguided reliance on substances that are injurious by themselves or when taken excessively.


What Is Drug And/Or Alcohol Addiction?

Drug and alcohol addiction are defined as the repetitive and needful intake of drugs or alcohol for non-medical purposes despite the many social, physical and psychological dangers they pose to the person. The most telling sign of drug and alcohol dependence is persistence in taking these materials despite being aware of their detrimental effects to the mind, body and loved ones of the people who suffering such addiction.

Drug addiction involves the dependence on anabolic steroids that are often used to enhance physical abilities, and psychotropic drugs that manipulate a person’s cognitive state by playing with feelings, moods and perception. Alcohol addiction involves the more than moderate intake of alcoholic beverages to the damage of the perceptual functions as well as vital organs of the body.


How Grave Is The Drug And Alcohol Addiction Problem In Our World Today?

In the US alone, around 5.4 million people are suffering from Alcoholism, and among them, around 4.5 million are males and 900,000 are females.

In the same light, it is believed that one out of eight people in the US are currently suffering from drug dependence, and one out of five people have suffered from the same at one point in their lives.

These are very alarming statistics that point to the prevalence of drug and alcohol addiction in the world today, if the number of US cases will be used as a barometer. Clearly, sound policies should be implemented to curtail the growth of these abnormal reliance on prohibited or dangerous substances.


Symptoms Of A Drug And Alcohol Dependent

A drug and alcohol addict can easily be distinguished, if we are to invest some time in studying the subject. Here are some outward signs of harmful dependence:

* Exercise of poor judgment on simple matters on a rather consistent basis, when such behavior was not observed before.

* Easy irritability or impatience displayed on things that generally can be tolerated.

* Inexplicable mood shifts of a destructive nature that threatens to ruin relationships and good will.

* For alcohol abusers, an increasing tolerance against intoxication.

* Inability to cease the habit despite being made aware of the ill effects of their continued intake of the said substances.

* An incessant need for the said substances, most especially when things don’t go their way.

* Decrease in performance level, either in school or at work, when such dip cannot be attributed to any other social, psychological or physical reasons.


Treatments For Drug And Alcohol Dependents

Medical treatments can be resorted to, the most popular of which are aversive agents in the form of counter-drugs. These induce uncomfortable and sometimes painful psychosomatic effects once the substances are mixed with the prescribed medicines.

Often, however, behavioral treatment is resorted to. This includes one-on-one or group therapy, which can either be through various sessions where the dependent is allowed to go home, or within a period of confinement in a rehabilitation center, where the patient can constantly be monitored and treated. The choice of treatment method, of course, depends on the gravity of the addiction on case-to-case basis.

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