Introduction
Substance abuse is one of the issues in the population that affect not only the people who conduct the abuse but those around them as well. Addressing this problem can often be difficult, as many individuals who are addicted to substances do not tend to seek help. Instead, usually, their close ones try to push them towards getting rid of the addiction and often struggle themselves because their family members or friends have such issues. There are various ways to address such issues in the population, which are primarily based on helping addicts to get treatment and their close ones to live a normal life.
Substance Abuse
Substance use disorders, which include alcoholism, drug dependence, and addiction, are complicated issues. People with these diseases were previously regarded to have a character flaw or moral deficiency, and some people still believe this wrongly. Most scientists and health professionals today see alcohol or drug addiction as a long-term condition similar to hypertension, asthma, or diabetes. The majority of individuals who consume alcohol do so in moderation, and many people may easily quit using narcotics. However, some people acquire a substance use problem, which is defined as the obsessive or harmful use of alcohol or drugs.
Substance use disorder may impact everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, gender, employment status, age, race, or ethnicity. Nobody knows for sure what causes it, although genetics – biological qualities handed down through families – play a role in the development of drug use disorders. The surroundings, psychological qualities, and stress level of a person all have a part in whether or not they use alcohol or drugs. Researchers discovered that long-term drug use alters the brain in significant and long-lasting ways (SAMHSA, 2014). Every person’s moment of shift is different, but when it occurs, the person passes an invisible boundary and becomes reliant on the substance. People who begin using alcohol or drugs early in life are more likely to cross this boundary and become addicted. These brain alterations last long after a person has stopped taking drugs or drinking alcohol.
One of the primary issues about substance abuse is that most of the people who have it do not tend to make any changes in their habits. This is related to the addictions changing the personality of an individual, which leads to the absence of motivation to live a productive life and care for the people around the person. This is one of the factors that amplify impulsive behaviors that can be harmful to the people around the dependent person.
The addiction in population is a severe issue, as people who are addicted negatively impact not only their own but the lives of their close ones as well. Children of parents who abuse substances suffer the most from this. Not only can they become victims of addicts’ impulsive and poorly judged behavior, but they are more susceptible to developing substance-related habits in adulthood than others. To address these problems, governments and support organizations provide different help both to the addicts and their families.
Such help includes treatment for the addicts, which includes therapy and rehabilitation, and provides psychological help to their families who are affected by the behavior of their members. Another important work done for the population to be less affected by substance abuse is spreading information about substance-related issues and how one can deal with them or help their relatives. Different agencies spread booklets and articles on the web and even start advertisement campaigns against drugs and alcohol, suggesting to call hotlines or seek help in certain organizations. Such methods are popular all over the world in addressing substance abuse in society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, substance abuse is a significant problem in the population, as it affects many people both directly and indirectly. The point where a person switches from use to abuse can happen at different moments depending on individual characteristics of a person, and therefore many people who use substances are at risk. The primary way to help these people and their families is to provide help in treatment, psychological support, and counseling regarding what can be done to address the problem.
The first thing that can be observed in the image is that the woman is injecting something with a needle. Whereas there is a spoon on the table, it is safe to suggest that the substance she is injecting is heroin. Therefore, the image is a picture of a heroin addict injecting a dose. There is powder on the table as well, which supports that assumption. Another thing that is present in the picture is that the woman is holding a cigarette in her hand, and there is an ashtray on the table as well. This can be evidence of her habits related to substances, as she is likely to be addicted to nicotine. There is a trace of her tear mixed with cosmetics on her cheek, which means that she cried before the moment presented in the image, and she looks devastated and apathetic, which can be noticed in her sight.
Reference
SAMHSA (2014). What Is Substance Abuse Treatment? A Booklet for Families.