Substance abuse/substance abuse disorder

 Substance abuse differs from substance use disorder in that the former is the use of both legal and illegal substances in inappropriate situations for recreation. These substances include alcohol, tobacco, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, depressants, hallucinogens, and others (MCLELLAN, 2017). These substances are widely used and cause health and social problems.  On the other hand, substance use disorder occurs when the users abuse the substances at high frequencies. They not only suffer from asymptomatic conditions but they also suffer from a diagnosable illness that requires special treatment (MCLELLAN, 2017). The severe and chronic condition that requires treatment is substance use disorder.

 An example to illustrate a substance use disorder

  Substance use disorder is associated with tolerance and withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, lack of behavioral control, use of a large amount of substance, irritability, depression, low self-esteem, fatigue, frequency use despite worse psychological problems, and lack of commitment to important activities (MCLELLAN, 2017). It is important to understand that an individual may be using drugs but not addicted to them. However, when one meets these criteria (mental and behavioral symptoms) he or she suffers from substance abuse disorder.  It is so easy to detect if someone has substance abuse disorder through evaluating factors  like negative feelings, increased tolerance,  loss of motivation, behavioral changes, suicidal thoughts and more (MCLELLAN, 2017).

 

Article summary and personal reaction

 In his article, Carpenter (2001) says that drug abuse affects cognitive functions. The reason as to why drug abusers find it hard to stop abusing drugs is because the drugs affect the brain's frontal cortex- a part that helps individual regulate cognitive behaviors and activities such as problem-solving and decision-making (Carpenter, 2001). Drugs also affect the brain's dopamine system which has motivational components. In general, individuals who are drug addicts have decision-making impairments because the frontal cortex has been damaged. Thus, interventions should be based on examining the drug abusers' brain using imaging techniques to help the users quit (Carpenter, 2001).

 According to my personal opinion, drug abusers do not always take the drug for pleasure. The reason` as to why they are unable to quit is due to frontal cortex damage that controls the cognitive activities and lack of dopamine functions that enables to regulate emotions (Carpenter, 2001). To ensure treatment effectiveness, I think it would be important if an examination of the frontal cortex activation is done and also measure the brain responses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Carpenter Siri. (2001). Cognition is central to drug addiction.  America Psychological

Association.

 

MCLELLAN, A. T. (2017). Substance Misuse and Substance use Disorders: Why do they Matter

in Healthcare?. Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological

Association, 128, 112.