Substance Addiction: Causes, Impacts & Solutions

This assignment provides a comprehensive analysis of substance addiction, examining its underlying causes, detrimental impacts on individuals and families, and various approaches to treatment and prevention. It highlights the importance of clinical rehabilitation, medicinal treatments, awareness campaigns, and family support in addressing this growing societal concern. Additionally, the document emphasizes the need for stricter legal measures and responsible prescribing practices to curb substance availability.

0Running head: ADDICTION IN DOMESTIC LIFE
Addiction in Domestic Life
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1ADDICTION IN DOMESTIC LIFE
Executive summary:
The aim of this report is to reflect upon the process of addiction and how it impacts the
domestic life. Substance or material addiction is a form of neurological as well as a
psychological compulsive habit of one’s brain to engage the body to a reward based stimuli even
at a cost of discomfort. The word addiction is used in several different ways, one of which is
described as a physical addiction. The substance or material takes total control over the person’s
mind as well as body. Many observations are cited where family members including children and
adolescents are affected by the harmful effects of addiction.

2ADDICTION IN DOMESTIC LIFE
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Discussion:.......................................................................................................................................3
Background:.................................................................................................................................3
Effects of Addiction:....................................................................................................................3
Effect of Addiction in Domestic Life:.....................................................................................4
Treatment:........................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................6
References:......................................................................................................................................7

3ADDICTION IN DOMESTIC LIFE
Introduction:
It is a form of neuropsychological compulsive habit of one’s brain to engage the body to
a reward based stimuli even at a cost of discomfort. The word addiction is used in several
different ways. Any form of stimuli which the body may be exposed to over a prolonged period
of time can have a negative impact on the body’s biology (Heyman 2013). Addictive stimuli can
alter transcription factors and epigenetic influences that may lead to health risk. Addiction is
both a neurological as well as biological disorder at the same time, effecting and interfering with
neurological pathways that ultimately give rise to a compulsive cognition habit that the body is
forced to repeat even if it means risking the health of oneself.
Discussion:
Background:
Addiction is not a new phenomenon affecting the population today as we know it. The
history of addiction dates back to more 3000 years when a frozen man was discovered in the
Alps carrying a pharmaceutical pouch. Man’s exposure to nature has lead to the discovery of
medicinal and recreational substances that may have health improving value. Addiction can be
substantive like drugs, alcohol and marijuana or materialistic, like video games, internet
addiction, social media addiction. The causal reasons behind addiction can be depression,
accidental exposure, availability, peer pressure, self-medication and experimentation (Wise and
Koob 2013).

4ADDICTION IN DOMESTIC LIFE
Effects of Addiction:
Drug addiction can have adverse effects in one’s health which can be of long or short
duration. The immediate effects are a resultant of short duration. Physical weakness, inability or
alteration in eating habits, altered cardiac rate, sleeplessness, constant state of trance, detachment
from present, psychotic episodes are some the short duration effects of addiction. Although,
short duration side effects can oftentimes lead to a fatal end. The long duration effects include
chronic heart diseases, susceptibility to diseases due to lowered immunity, alimentary system
alteration, chronic neurological effects, organ damage, mental disorders (Drugabuse.gov 2018).
Effect of Addiction in Domestic Life:
Substance addiction alters the behavioral pattern of a normal human being. Biologically,
prevention of an addictive stimulus can have both psychological as well as health repercussions.
According to a published book authored by N. Levy has showed that many abusers have been
reported to succumb to violence, harming their family or even themselves at severe situations
(Levy 2014). Addiction can also hamper family relationship, with the addict and the other
members of the family. Many researchers have investigated the bad effects of internet
accessibility and their finding show a relationship between overuse of internet for recreational
purposes with addiction. Internet, video-game or social media addiction can also create
differences between family members due to the addict’s lack of attention, preventing family
bonding (Yan, Li and Sui 2013). Studies have shown that approximately 12% of European young
adult population is addicted to internet use which causes them deprivation from social as well as
familial bonding. Health deteriorations of addicts among poor families and their inability to
afford rehabilitation, treatment, hospitalization can give rise to financial crisis. Gambling
addiction has also been found to create financial crisis among families by various researchers

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(Gainsbury, Hing and Suhonen 2013). Domestic life is also affected by addiction issues when
children start being affected by the addicted family member. Children and adolescents being
mistreated or sometimes sexually abused is a dire problem that affects the domestic life (Lander,
Howsare and Byrne 2013). Many government as well as other organizations are looking into this
problem and implementing law enforcements to prevent it.
Treatment:
There are many approaches in treating drug addiction, like behavior altering therapy,
motivational counseling therapy, group therapy et cetera (Weaver 2017). Many organizations
help building rehabilitation institutes where addicted patients are treated clinically to overcome
their addiction. Medicinal treatments of many addicts have shown successful results to cure
alcoholism, opoid addiction. Many drugs and various antagonists are being implemented to help
addicted patients improve metabolic, biological as well as physical problems and survive. Many
campaigns are also being organized so that awareness can be created among various
communities about combating substance addiction. Family members are also advised by the
patient’s healthcare providers to be caring and emotionally supportive towards the addicted
person, as positive reinforcement might solve the cognitive stimuli of the drug.
Treatment for Family members: Family members are oftentimes the receiver of
emotional turmoil when a person in their family succumbs to substance abuse. Children should
maintain a fair distance from abusive addicts, and if they are violated, then they should be
provided with medical as well as psychological counseling. Adult violation should also be
treated with utmost emergency and nearest medical centre should be immediately contacted.
Family members should be advised to adapt a healthier and more active lifestyle which will help

6ADDICTION IN DOMESTIC LIFE
them implement a form of self-care and even overcome physical hindrances. Family therapy
sessions can help the members overcome their mental turmoil and give them confidence to
withstand the troubled situation.
Conclusion:
Substance as well as materialistic addiction has been a growing matter of concern and
immediately needs to be addressed. Legal and judicial systems need to be more strict and
conduct surveillance to control of substance availability. Professionals who deal with prescribing
drugs should be more vigilant about the people or patients they are implementing drugs on.
Family members need to be supportive and restrictive about any member of their family known
to abuse substance or material. Children are best to be kept away from potential violent addicted
patients as they can bring harm to them. Emotional support as well as proper rehabilitation care
can prevent many addicted people recover and return to normal life. Parents of children as well
adolescents should be watchful, so as to protect them from the addiction of the internet and
implement parental lock on internet servers. Prevention of addiction is a possible but tedious
goal to achieve.

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References:
Drugabuse.gov. 2018. Health Consequences of Drug Misuse. [online] Available at:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/health-consequences-drug-misuse [Accessed 2 Feb.
2018].
Gainsbury, S., Hing, N. and Suhonen, N. 2013. Professional Help-Seeking for Gambling
Problems: Awareness, Barriers and Motivators for Treatment. Journal of Gambling Studies,
30(2), pp.503-519.
Heyman, G. 2013. Addiction and Choice: Theory and New Data. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 4.
Lander, L., Howsare, J. and Byrne, M. 2013. The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on
Families and Children: From Theory to Practice. Social Work in Public Health, 28(3-4), pp.194-
205.
Levy, N. 2014. Addiction and self-control. Perspectives from philosophy, psychology, and
neuroscience. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Weaver, M. 2017. Addiction treatment. Newburyport, MA: Carlat Pub.
Wise, R. and Koob, G. 2013. The Development and Maintenance of Drug
Addiction. Neuropsychopharmacology, 39(2), pp.254-262.
Yan, W., Li, Y. and Sui, N. 2013. The Relationship between Recent Stressful Life Events,
Personality Traits, Perceived Family Functioning and Internet Addiction among College
Students. Stress and Health, 30(1), pp.3-11.