Substance Abuse and Health: Impacts on Physical and Mental Health

This reflective report explores the impacts of substance abuse on physical and mental health. It discusses the ethical and social issues associated with drug and substance abuse, reasons that may trigger drug and substance abuse, and the effects of stimulants on the human body.

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HEALTH
Student's Name
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Introduction
This is a reflective report based on what I learnt from my research on various impacts of
substance abuse to the health of the subjects. I came to learn that people tend to abuse drugs so as
to gain some ‘good feeling’ within their system. Alteration of the mind by use of alcohol, herbs
and drugs becomes addictive in the long-run such that one in incapable of controlling the amount
that his/her system desires to consume so as to operate as accustomed to (Abuse 2011). I realised
that the more one persists in substance abuse, the more he/she becomes vulnerable to all sought
of illness due to a decline in his/her body immunity. I was quite surprised to find out that people
may become so much addicted to a point that they fail to turn up for jobs, or school in the case of
students. A suicidal feeling may also develop as a result of persistent substance abuse which is
key to emotional breakdown. Moreover, family problems, legal problems and social issues were
discovered to be rampant among individuals who are addicted to drug and substance abuse.
In-depth Analysis
Through a serious study of other scholars’ ideas, I was able to establish that there exist
various ethical and social issues associated with drug and substance abuse. The society view the
act of drug and substance abuse to be evil in the sense that the side effects are detrimental to the
health of the individual and the entire society. When one turns to theft as a mode of acquiring
finances to cater for his/her drugs’ costs, the society is injured (Galanter, Kleber and Brady
2014). Earning from where you haven’t sown is a dangerous offense which is punishable.
It dawned on me that there are different reasons that may trigger drug and substance
abuse. Peer pressure is the most common characteristic where one is driven by fellow addicted
friends into the act. At first, one may resist the act. However, continued persuasion drives an

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innocent teenager into drug and substance abuse as he/she targets to fit in the peer group. On the
other hand, rejection may lead to an emotional fallout whereby one feels unwanted. Low self-
esteem can drive a person to seeking the comfort of drug and substance abuse. I discovered that
traumatizing situations may also act as a determinant in the event that one struggles to erase the
tormenting memories (Cotto et al. 2010, p.409). The death of a spouse, a rape case as well as job
discontinuation are good examples of traumatizing situations.
I realised that if I were to be an addict, my health would be compromised due to
developed cravings and intoxication. Gradual integration of my body into working under drugs
would result to addiction to an extent that I won’t be able to operate in their absence.
By critically analysing the health conditions associated with substance abuse, I realised
that a person’s brain chemistry can be altered by drug and alcohol leading to mood swings,
irritability, delusions and hallucinations. Opioids, alcohol, marijuana, benzodiazepines and
sedative-hypnotics are responsible for reduction of neuron firing and chemical transfer thus are
depressants to the central nervous system (Volkow 2014). On the other hand, stimulants like
meth, cocaine, designer drugs and ecstasy are known to increase neural firing thus a resultant
greater attention, physical energy and high emotions. In the event that these drugs begin to leave
the body, negative side effects are experienced due to the inability of the brain to restore balance
to its neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. In the long-run, parts of the
brain adopt a new shape or size leading to personality change, mental health complications and
physical problems.
I gained a deeper insight into the effects of stimulants on the human heart. Stimulants are
known to increase its rate while on the contrary, CNS depressants will slow it down. Consistent

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low and high blood pressure is detrimental to the circulatory system such that blood clots and
circulation complications are more likely to occur (McCorkindale, Sheedy, Kril and Sutherland
2016, p.37). It came to my knowledge that stimulants like methamphetamines and cocaine are
triggers to heart attack due to their ability to escalate the stress response of the body.
I was able to deduce that orally ingested drugs are triggers to gastrointestinal issues.
Benzodiazepines, alcohol and LSD are harmful to a person’s digestive system. Benzodiazepines
can result to constipation while alcohol is known to cause nausea, stomach upset and even
vomiting. I learnt that chronic indigestion caused by other drugs can damage the oesophagus thus
making the consumption of certain foods quite painful (Siegel, Miller and Jemal 2016, p.20).
I discovered further that drugs which are usually smoked can injure the lungs hence
vulnerability of upper respiratory system to infections (Carter et al. 2015, p.633). This
vulnerability increases the risk of lung cancer. Moreover, I established that some CNS
depressants like opioids can result to breathing complications. An overdose of these type of CNS
depressants can lead to death. On the other hand, persistent depressed or reduced breathing
pattern deprives the body of its oxygen thus damage to other organs.
It also came to my realisation that kidneys are purposed to filter toxins from the
bloodstream. It follows that large amounts of toxins in the blood could cause kidney damage in
the event that there is a failure in filtration process. I recognised that many drugs lead to a
condition known as rhabdomyolysis whereby muscle tissues responsible for flooding toxic
chemicals into the bloodstream breakdown. Opioids and heroin can cause kidney failure as they
are key to depriving the body of oxygen (Stanhope 2018).

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My Learning Process
In my learning process, I encountered individuals who have been addicted to drug and
substance abuse. Their messed-up life sounded a warning to my future endeavours whereby I
would be required to be cautious. Attending a seminar on how to deal with drug and substance
abuse made me realize the concern of the society to the prevailing problem. On the other hand,
an interaction with doctors and specialists gave me a deeper understanding on health effects
associated with drug and substance abuse. They really provided me with relevant information.
Future Benefits of the Study
By taking the research, I was able to understand the relevance of soberness. People will
be looking up to me at work thus the relevance of abhorring drug and substance abuse. Respect
and honour is given to professionals who operate soberly. Moreover, the pessimism associated
with drug and substance abuse would be detrimental to my social relations as well as my health;
both physical and mental. In my pursuit for a managerial post in future, I purpose to hold drug
and substance abuse awareness in my organization to ensure smooth flow in all operations.
Conclusion
The study acquainted me with the knowledge of drug and substance abuse. The negativity
related to the practice offered a need to analyse the decisions I choose to mould my life. In order
to have a fulfilling career, I have to refrain from drug and substance abuse at all cost. Indulging
in the culture would create a social awkwardness as well as inability to deliver viable results at
my place of work. Moreover, becoming insane would only make me irrelevant to my family and
the society as I would be more of a burden for them to bear. I might even develop suicidal
motives!

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References
Abuse, S., 2011. Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2010 National Survey
on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-41, HHS Publication
No.(SMA) 11-4658. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, 201.
Carter, B.D., Abnet, C.C., Feskanich, D., Freedman, N.D., Hartge, P., Lewis, C.E., Ockene, J.K.,
Prentice, R.L., Speizer, F.E., Thun, M.J. and Jacobs, E.J., 2015. Smoking and mortality—beyond
established causes. New England journal of medicine, 372(7), pp.631-640.
Cotto, J.H., Davis, E., Dowling, G.J., Elcano, J.C., Staton, A.B. and Weiss, S.R., 2010. Gender
effects on drug use, abuse, and dependence: a special analysis of results from the National
Survey on Drug Use and Health. Gender medicine, 7(5), pp.402-413.
Galanter, M., Kleber, H.D. and Brady, K. eds., 2014. The American Psychiatric Publishing
textbook of substance abuse treatment. American Psychiatric Pub.
McCorkindale, A.N., Sheedy, D., Kril, J.J. and Sutherland, G.T., 2016. The effects of chronic
smoking on the pathology of alcohol-related brain damage. Alcohol, 53, pp.35-44.
Siegel, R.L., Miller, K.D. and Jemal, A., 2016. Cancer statistics, 2016. CA: a cancer journal for
clinicians, 66(1), pp.7-30.
Stanhope, K.B., 2018. Substitution Effects and Opioid Abuse: An Empirical Analysis of
Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (Doctoral dissertation, California State University,
Fullerton).

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Volkow, N.D., 2014. America’s addiction to opioids: heroin and prescription drug abuse. Senate
Caucus on International Narcotics Control, 14.