Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is a growing problem that not only affects the person who is abusing alcohol or drugs but affects the lives of those who are close to the abuser. Substance abuse is the abuse of any substance. A drug is a substance that modifies one or more of the body’s functions when it is consumed. Everything from over-the-counter pain medication, to opiates, prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and even coffee can be abused in one way or another. The two main substances being abused in our nation are nicotine and alcohol. According to the Michigan Institute for Social research, “Substance abuse is a major public health problem.” Substance abuse is responsible for half a million preventable deaths each year. These two things create major addictions and cost our taxpayers millions of dollars every year.
The use and abuse of drugs has been around for many centuries and is not something new. According to, American Society of Anesthesiologist, “The oldest "prescriptions" in recorded history seem to be contained in Babylonian clay tablets and ancient Egyptian papyrus. These prescriptions utilized hundreds of different botanicals and foods. From the earliest recorded times, then, plants and herbals have been an important part of traditional healing practices. Many cultures have a long history of herbal medicine use: the Chinese; Ayurveda, a holistic system that originated in the Vedic civilization of India; Curanderismo, a Mexican-American healing tradition; and western herbalism. Many botanical compounds were the basis of medical pharmacotherapeutics in the United States as recently as the 1930s. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80 percent of the world's population still depends on herbal medicines.”
The complexities and causes of addiction are many. Some of the causes can include: peer pressure, a disturbed childhood, and lack of confidence when it comes to confronting the reality. Some additional factors are:
The use and abuse of drugs has been around for many centuries and is not something new. According to, American Society of Anesthesiologist, “The oldest "prescriptions" in recorded history seem to be contained in Babylonian clay tablets and ancient Egyptian papyrus. These prescriptions utilized hundreds of different botanicals and foods. From the earliest recorded times, then, plants and herbals have been an important part of traditional healing practices. Many cultures have a long history of herbal medicine use: the Chinese; Ayurveda, a holistic system that originated in the Vedic civilization of India; Curanderismo, a Mexican-American healing tradition; and western herbalism. Many botanical compounds were the basis of medical pharmacotherapeutics in the United States as recently as the 1930s. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 80 percent of the world's population still depends on herbal medicines.”
The complexities and causes of addiction are many. Some of the causes can include: peer pressure, a disturbed childhood, and lack of confidence when it comes to confronting the reality. Some additional factors are:
References: American Society of Anesthesiologist, (n d) Herbal Medicines: What Do We Need to Know? Retrieved September 10, 2010 from http://www.asahq.org http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/race/ http://helpguide.org http://www.michaelshouse.com Michigan Institute for Social Research (n d) Substance Abuse. Retrieved September 10, 2010, from http://www.ssw.umich.edu/public/currentProjects/icwtp/substanceAbuse http://www.teen-drug-abuse.org