Substance abuse simply means that the proper way of taking the substance is being changed for the purpose of altering your mood.
Medical books such as Medline define drug abuse as the use of prohibited drugs, abuse of prescription or over the counter drugs for other purpose than the indicated manner or quantities directed. However, the definition of substance abuse in today’s community is not that simple.
Inhalants and solvents are among the most common abused substance because of its mood altering effects. There are also some drugs that are being abused even if they have any mood altering effect such as anabolic steroids.
Substance abuse are drugs that can be purchased anywhere only, and people are using them in excess to create mood altering effect.
Most of the time, when people are discussing about substance abuse, they are referring to illegal drugs. But many professionals differentiate it from substance abuse:
Illegal drugs are not substance abuse since they are already prohibited because of its potentially addictive properties or can cause severe health problems; while substance abuseare drugs that can be purchased anywhere only, and people are using them in excess to create mood altering effect.
These abused substances have medical benefits to others when used as indicated. Debates over some products are increasing, like the issue in marijuana. This drug has many negative side effects and is a prohibited drug; but many argue that this is not addictive as compared to other hard drugs.
Research done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that marijuana has harmful mental, physical and psychomotor effects; additionally, users become psychological dependent and eventually becomes addicted.
There are substances that are hard to identify whether it is being abuse or not. Is drinking two cups of coffee in the morning abusive or not? Is taking a couple of drinks every day abusive or not? It is only you who can determine whether you are abusing the substance or not.
* Illegal substances have very harmful effect on your body and attitude.
If you further abuse it, it will lead to lost of productivity, spread of diseases, homelessness, crime and death. If you want to learn more about the substances that are being abused most, their uses, their common name and their intoxicating and health effects you can search for it online. Learning more about substance abuse can help you out in identifying if yourself or your loved ones are addicted or not.
* You may have tried it, but is it enough to consider you are addicted?
Author: National Addiction Resources
America's Best Treatment Directory
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