Substance Abuse: Types, Symptoms & Treatment

The concerns regarding substance abuse and addiction have increased rapidly. One should not take such an issue lightly, as it has the potential to threaten human life. Addiction and abuse of drugs and illegal substances might start as a mental health issue, but it has many physical health symptoms and issues.

Are you experiencing substance abuse? Do not neglect it. Read till the end of this article to find out all about it.

Substance abuse means incorrect or overusing illegal substances like drugs and alcohol. It is a significant disorder which causes a person's brain and behaviour to change gradually. This causes their inability to stop or control the urge to consume and abuse substances. As a result, individuals start getting addicted to the substance.

Substance abuse disorder is, therefore, a pattern of harmful usage of any illegal substance. It usually starts with an experimental consumption of a recreational substance in a social situation. Then, however, one might get addicted to experiencing the intoxication or high that the drugs create in their bodies. Regular and unhealthy consumption of these substances can cause various physical health issues.

While knowing about substance abuse, it is essential to know about its types. Unfortunately, the wide variety of substances makes it difficult to identify the proper treatment. Here are the main types of substance abuse.

1. Alcohol

It is probably one of the most common types of substance. However, even though it is legal, it can have a harmful impact because of overconsumption. For example, heavy drinking can cause significant liver problems and lead to heart disease. Apart from that, alcohol addiction for a long time can also result in brain damage and other conditions like hypertension and high blood pressure.

2. Prescription & Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicine

Even though these are legal and doctor prescribed, their overconsumption can be just as dangerous and harmful as illegal drugs. Moreover, these can be highly addictive. Medicines like pain relievers, sleeping pills, anxiety and hyperactivity medication, etc., are some of the most dangerous OTC drugs.

3. Opioids

These are a class of depressants and pain relievers, currently one the most common OTC drugs that cause addiction among users. While most of it is available in a legal form as opiate pharmaceuticals, you can also find it in an illicit form like heroin. Some common drugs include morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone.

4. Tobacco

People often make the mistake of not counting tobacco under drugs. Tobacco-based products like cigarettes come with a chemical called nicotine. It offers a rush of energy and pleasure. Unfortunately, this feeling can make it addictive, as individuals crave more after smoking. The danger is evident as a study shows that over 480,000 people die from tobacco consumption annually.

5. Heroin

It is an illegal drug, which is a natural version of prescription opioid narcotics. Consuming this drug provides a rush of good feelings and slowly settles once the effect starts dying down. However, it is highly addictive since users like extreme excitement and pleasure. As a result, you might feel nauseous and get chills afterwards.

6. Cocaine

It is another illegal stimulant. Consuming this drug can speed up your body, causing you to talk, move and think rapidly. It also gives you a rush of pleasure and energy. However, in some cases, this energy might convert to anger, causing violent and aggressive behaviour. In addition, it causes a significant craving for similar feelings once you stop using it.

7. Marijuana

It is still an illegal drug in most countries, even though some have legalised it. Smoking marijuana gives you a good high, making you feel good and happy. People often smile and laugh for no reason under its influence. However, it is a highly addictive drug and more dangerous since it is cheaper and easily available.

8. Hallucinogens

This is another class of illegal substances, including drugs like MDMA, PCP, LSD, DMT, and others. Its consumption has the potential to alter the perception of reality, distorting the sensibility of the user. Moreover, these are also found in a few species of mushrooms, cacti, and trees. With its consumption, you might experience dissociative episodes with unpredictable behaviour.

9. Inhalants

In some cases, inhalants can cause addiction among individuals. Common inhalants include paint thinners, glue, gasoline, felt tip marker fluid, cleaning fluids and household aerosol products. These products might seem harmless, but constantly inhaling these can be dangerous. Their toxic ingredients enter your body through the nose and can cause brain damage or even lead to sudden death.

Now that you know the different types of substance abuse, you might wonder about the right time to start the treatment. You can immediately get help if you notice the symptoms of substance abuse. These are as follows.

• Lack of interest in most activities
• Eating more or less than usual
• Change in friends circle and peer groups
• Interest in spending more alone time
• Reduced social life
• Damaged relationships
• Unhealthy sleeping hours
• Rapid mood swings
• Deteriorated professional or academic performances
• Craving for substance consumption
• Red and bloodshot eyes
• Slurred speech
• Poor hygiene
• Tremors and loss of muscle control

No single cause for substance abuse exists since every individual has his/her reasons for trying such drugs. In most cases, trying substances starts as experimentation out of curiosity, but its repeated consumption ends up in addiction and abuse. Nevertheless, here are some of the common causes of substance abuse.

• Unhealthy environment: Growing up in an unhealthy environment makes children and teenagers more vulnerable to substance abuse and addiction. For example, observing people using substances can encourage them to abuse drugs. Moreover, peer pressure can also lead them to similar conditions.
• History of addiction in the family: If any of your family members were addicted to substance abuse, you might be at risk of addiction. This is more common when the addicted person is a blood relative, as you might inherit the condition.
• Financial crisis: When individuals go through a financial crisis, they are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, fear and other mental health issues. If this keeps escalating, they might resort to drinking or substance abuse.
• Divorce or loss of a loved one: The death of a loved one or separation from them causes deep pain and sadness, which can eventually lead to depression. In addition, it can again cause someone to get addicted to illegal substance consumption to simply forget about the pain.
• Relationship problems: Having fights with family members or partners can also cause tension and mental pressure. Individuals might turn to drink, smoking or consuming drugs to divert their minds from such thoughts and feelings.
• Peer pressure: Friends and peers often influence teenagers to try and experiment with drugs and alcohol. They might start consuming these as mere recreation with friends, but it turns into an addiction.
• Chronic pain: Chronic physical health issues can lead to substance abuse, especially pain. Getting high or intoxicated allows individuals to divert their minds from the pain and other physical problems.
• Sleep deficiency: Sleep disorders like insomnia or excessive work pressure preventing a proper sleep routine can lead to substance abuse. If you stay awake till late at night, you might feel like taking a smoke. Some people also feel that drinking alcohol helps them to get good sleep.
• Mental health issues: People suffering from common mental health issues like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more vulnerable to substance abuse. These conditions usually cause depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Patients often find it challenging to cope with these issues without consuming alcohol and other substances.

These are some common causes based on the cases discussed so far. However, the causes behind substance addiction cannot be restricted to these. The situations and problems of individuals might be responsible for their addiction.

If you notice the symptoms mentioned above in yourself or anyone in your surroundings, consider visiting your physician immediately. They are more likely to refer you to a psychologist for a comprehensive psychoanalysis and a thorough evaluation. In addition, they are likely to ask detailed questions regarding your addiction, physical and mental symptoms and your family history of addiction.

Physical tests are also used here. In addition, blood, urine or other lab tests help to identify if a person is currently under the influence of drugs or other substances. Moreover, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria is also commonly used in most healthcare centres to diagnose someone abusing substances.

Long-term substance abuse and addiction can cause significant physical and mental complications. Some of these are listed below.

• Common complications include seizures, psychotic behaviour, or death from overdose. In addition, drugs like opiates, methamphetamine, and cocaine are highly addictive and can affect parts of your brain that usually control breathing and similar essential functions.
• You might experience complications like confusion, sedation, and memory loss from abusing drugs like GHB and flunitrazepam, also known as club drugs. These are often used in harmful activities like sexual assault. Additionally, these drugs can potentially impair an individual’s ability to resist unwanted contact and remember an incident. These can also cause seizures and death.
• Drugs like MDMA can cause significant fluctuations in body temperature. This leads to severe conditions like a failure of the liver, kidney or heart, causing death. You can also experience severe dehydration, seizures and brain damage from its long-term consumption.
• Another complication can be developing infectious diseases like HIV from overuse and sharing needles for taking drugs.
• You are more likely to experience driving accidents and suicidal thoughts from long-term substance addiction.

The treatment for substance abuse might differ on the individual level based on the intensity of the addiction and other mental and physical health conditions. However, some of the standard treatment methods are used in most healthcare settings. 

• Behaviour Therapy: Most therapists use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as a psychotherapy to treat substance addiction and abuse. Using this, psychologists talk to the patient, asking detailed questions about their current health conditions, jobs, academic performances and relationship statuses. It helps identify the triggers and patterns of behaviour, thereby suggesting coping skills. Another behavioural therapy can be Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). It helps the therapists to identify some negative thoughts of the patients, helping them to combat feelings of self-defeat. In addition, it helps to develop rational and logical thinking, helping patients to stop abusing substances by realising their harmful effects. 

• 12-Step Facilitation: This type of therapy is often used for treating substance abuse and addiction. It is a form of group therapy that recognises the negative impact of substance abuse on an individual's physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health. The group attendees accept each other, share motivational stories and try to recover from the addiction together. 

• Withdrawal Therapy: Detoxification or withdrawal therapy aims to help substance abusers to stop taking drugs. It builds a safe environment and helps your body to get rid of the toxins from substance consumption. However, in most cases, detox therapy can have multiple side effects, both mental and physical. Thus, you might need to be admitted to a hospital or remain under professional supervision while going through this process. 

• Medication: Medicines are essential when you are trying to quit substance addiction and abuse. Several medicines work wonders on addicts to reduce their cravings, control their addiction and improve their rapid mood swings. For example, Lofexidine is an FDA-approved medicine to suppress cravings and addictive behaviour, which also helps to control withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, Acamprosate can be effective in reducing your addiction to alcohol.

If you feel unable to control your addictive tendencies, you must visit the doctor. Moreover, you must get professional help if you feel that your substance abuse is affecting your work, studies or relationships. You must see a doctor if you are

• Unable to control your addiction
• Losing money on drugs
• Continuing drug consumption even after mental and physical health issues
• Not caring about hygiene or well-being

While substance abuse might occur without a choice, you can try to prevent it with the following tips.

• Know About Substance Abuse: It is always helpful to have a general understanding of substance abuse. But unfortunately, in most cases, children and teenagers get addicted since they have limited knowledge of such a disorder and its harmful effects. For instance, if you are already aware of the common addictive drugs, you can avoid consuming them even for experimentation.
• Avoid Peer Pressure: Peer pressure is probably one of the biggest reasons for substance abuse and addiction. Friends often influence teenagers to experiment with substance consumption. Therefore, it is essential to avoid such a company that might lead you to try illegal substances or stay away from their influence regarding substance abuse.
• Maintain a Balanced Life: Most people turn to substance abuse when they are sad, disappointed or angry. If you have a well-balanced life, there will be a lower possibility of disappointment, encouraging you to turn to substance abuse. Try to stay positive and appreciate the beauty of life to avoid this possibility.
• Seek Help: Mental health issues are often responsible for leading to substance abuse. Therefore, it will be beneficial to seek help from a family member or a professional psychologist regarding such issues. In addition, try to avoid escalating any mental health issue by seeking medical assistance and treating it immediately.

Therefore, substance abuse is a severe condition that can affect physical and mental well-being. While it might start with a harmless recreational attempt, it can become a severe addiction. This article pointed out that addiction and abuse can escalate quickly, causing major health issues. Try the tips mentioned here to cope with such tendencies.