Substance Abuse and Health: Impacts on Physical and Mental Health

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HEALTH 1
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HEALTH
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HEALTH 2
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

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HEALTH 3
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