Substance abuse refers to the consumption of a drug or a substance of abuse in a way or in an amount that is harmful to the user. Substance abuse can lead to addiction and dependence. Chemical dependence refers to a situation in which the user cannot function normally without the drug. Some sociocultural factors contribute to the risk of an individual developing a substance abuse disorder. Specific sociocultural factors that carry the greatest risk include low socioeconomic status, a family dysfunction, social exclusion, crime, and the perception that some drugs are less harmful.
Low socioeconomic status increases an individual’s vulnerability to substance abuse (Galea, Nandi & Vlahov, 2004). Low socioeconomic status leads to low educational achievements. Individuals from low-income families are not likely to complete their education. Low level of education in turn lowers an individual’s chances of securing good employment. In addition, individuals with low academic achievements are likely to engage in high risk behavior during their adolescents. Poor income and inability to secure employment have been shown to increase ones chances of engaging in risky behavior like drug abuse. Poverty is associated with many social vices. People whose socioeconomic status is low are likely to be excluded from societal social activities thus worsening their situation. Low socioeconomic status may also give rise to a situation in which parents work long hours to meet family needs. Children of such parents may be left unsupervised thus increasing their risk for substance abuse. Social conditions linked to poverty have been found to predict future risky behavior.
The family is an important unit of society. It is tasked with the responsibility of imparting societal norms and values on its members. A dysfunctional family is not able to discharge this responsibility satisfactorily. Children from such families are likely to engage in risky behavior as an attention seeking strategy.
Some societies may tolerate some drugs like alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco. Some of these drugs categorized as less harmful by society (Galea, Nandi & Vlahov, 2004). However, use of these drugs may mark the beginning of a more serious problem. Some individuals may progress to stronger drugs. In addition, the perception that some drugs are less harmful is not accurate. All substances of abuse have serious consequences on the user. For example, alcohol has been linked to mental illness in some individuals. This cultural tolerance for some drugs may encourage teenagers and young adults to try them.
Substance abuse leading to addiction is associated with certain negative outcomes. Negative effects of substance abuse include crime, economic loss, psychological trauma, and physical trauma. Substance abusers encounter financial difficulties due to a number of reasons. First, substance abusers spend a substantial amount of their income on drugs. Secondly, when they become addicted, their ability to secure and keep a job declines. Addicts may eventually spend a lot of time looking for money to purchase the drugs. Indirect costs of drug addiction are equally high. For instance, rehabilitation of substance abusers is very costly for both the government and the relatives of the addict.
Drugs have a variety of negative effects on health. Addiction and dependence are associated with negative health outcomes. Drug dependence leads to nutritional problems. Loss of appetite and preference of drugs to food lead to problems like weight loss. Poor nutrition is closely correlated with low immune status. This increases the chance of an individual contracting disease. Injectable drugs are also associated with transmission of HIV. Moreover, drug addicts often suffer social exclusion leading to psychological trauma.
Substance abuse is associated with crimes like suicide, homicide, and theft (Harrell & Peterson, 1992). Economic difficulties resulting from substance abuse may compel an individual to steal in order to finance the habit. Drug addicts may commit serious crimes like homicide and suicide owing to their inability to think rationally. This is because drugs cloud judgment (Sellman, 2010). Drugs may also trigger mental illness. Some mental illnesses are associated with paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. All of which increase an individual’s chance of committing crime if intervention is delayed.
Substance abuse may lead to addiction and dependence. Addiction or dependence is considered an illness. However, addicts may not be willing to view it as a problem. Addicts often go through a process involving formation of defense mechanisms to help them adapt. Some defense mechanisms are denial, projection, rationalization, reaction formation, and regression.
Denial is refusal to accept the presence of a problem or an anxiety producing situation. In some cases an individual refuses to acknowledge the consequences of a situation. For example, refusal to accept that one is an addict. It may also manifest through refusal to accept the negative effects of the substances.
Projection is characterized by the transfer of blame to others. In this case, an individual attributes his predicament to others. For example, one may blame others for their addiction. Such individuals may say that they use drugs because they do not have peace at home.
Rationalization refers to finding an excuse or a logical reason to explain ones current situation. On the other hand, regression refers may be defined as reverting to an earlier stage of development in order to avoid the consequences of a problem. Reaction formation refers to expression of the opposite feelings.
References
Galea, S., Nandi, A., & Vlahov, D. (2004). The social epidemiology of substance use. Epidemiologic Reviews, 26, 36–52.
Harrell, A., Peterson, G.E. (1992). Drugs, Crime and Social Isolation: Barriers to Urban Opportunity. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press.
Sellman, D. (2010). The 10 most important things known about addiction. Addiction, 105(1), 6–13. Web.