Note: This Paper Was Very Good on Everything but Adequacy of Research (Good)

Note: This paper was Very Good on everything but Adequacy of Research (Good)

Very Good in Writing and Overall

Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Cleveland State University

Drug and alcohol abuse is a significant problem in today’s communities and societies. There are two basic ways society looks at people who have drug and alcohol abuse problems. One of the ways being that the abuse is an individual’s personal problem, therefore being an unnecessary burden on society. The other way society views an abuse problem is that the drug and alcohol use is a disease that an individual has. Even with the two different views on substance abuse, the solutions and steps to recovery are very similar, along with the role of the social worker in these steps.

Substance Use Disorders, or SUD, are separated into two different groups, substance abuse and substance dependence (Straussner & Isralowitz, 2008).

Substance abuse is when “a maladaptive pattern of substance leads to clinically significant impairment or distress in one or more of the following in a twelve month time frame:” continued use of a substance after having social, psychological, physical or occupational problems, not being able to accomplish things at work, school or home, multiple uses of a drug in a situation that can result in physical harm or frequent legal problems because of the drug use. Substance dependence is when an individual experiences at least three of the following; tolerance, withdrawal, taking a drug in a bigger amount or for longer than intended, failed attempts to control use, spending most time using or recuperating from the drug use, giving up important everyday activities because of the substance use, and continuing use of the substance while knowing it can cause physical or psychological damage (Straussner & Isralowitz, 2008).

One way society views a substance abuse problem is as a personal trouble.

Viewed this way, a substance abuse problem is seen as a burden on society that can easily be fixed if the individual with the personal trouble has the willpower to control their substance abuse. A variety of different environmental factors play into this view of substance abuse. If a woman is a substance abuser, an influence of a significant other’s use her sexual history, a background of violent behavior towards her, and her level of depression can all factor into her abuse or dependency on drugs. Some of these factors also pertain to men who are substance abusers, such as depression level and the influence of a significant other’s use. Factors such as growing up seeing illicit drug use, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety and stress affect the decision of substance use for both men and women (Wasilow-Mueller; 2001). Treatment for these substance abusers would most likely start with detoxification. Short and long-term rehabilitation programs, drug-free communities and ongoing counseling would also be used. Then twelve step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics

Anonymous could be followed to become sober (Straussner & Isralowitz, 2008).

A different way that society views a substance abuse problem is that it is a genetic or a biological problem rather than a personal trouble. The National Institute of

Drug Abuse has tried making it more known in society that substance abuse can be a

“brain disease,” instead of a “moral weakness or lack of willpower.” The NIDA has begun research comparing the brains of people who have become addicted to drugs with the brains of people who are not addicted to drugs, (Brain Chemicals Trump Willpower in Addicts, 2006). One of the most powerful risk factors of the development of a drug problem is a family history of substance abuse. Research on alcoholism

“suggests that the tendency to become alcoholic is inherited via presumed genetic mutations,” (Wasilow-Mueller, 2001). For these substance abusers, detoxification is also normally the first step in recovery. Ongoing counseling, short-term or long-term rehabilitation and twelve step programs would also be used. In these cases, medications such as methadone (for opiates and narcotics) or Acamprosate (for alcohol) could also be used. These help for a better prognosis of rehabilitation

(Straussner & Isralowitz, 2008).

Social workers play a leading role in helping with the recovery for substance use disorders. One of the most important things a social worker will do is decide what kinds of treatment will be used to help the client with recovery. The social worker also takes a part in the program development, the supervision of the recovery steps, and helping the families of the substance abuser. In general, many social workers take part in research on substance abuse, the education and prevention of substance use and abuse and help develop federal and state policies (Straussner & Isralowitz, 2008).

In conclusion, while there are different views on substance abuse, personal trouble or disease, the solutions and steps to recovery, and a social worker’s role are basically the same. It is still not certain what the exact etiology of an individual’s substance abuse is. It can also be looked at as a combination of different aspects.

Many factors play into the etiology and every individual’s causes are different. Works Cited

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R e t r i e v e d f r o m

h t t p : / / w w w. j o i n t o g e t h e r. o r g / n e w s / h e a d l i n e s / i n t h e n e w s / 2 0 0 6

/ b r a i n - c h e m i c a l s - t r u m p . h t m l

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P r o b l e m s . E n c y c l o p e d i a o f s o c i a l w o r k . R e t r i e v e d O c t o b e r

2 7 , 2 0 1 0 , f r o m h t t p : / / p r o x y. u l i b . c s u o h i o . e d u : 3 6 8 6 / e n t r y ?

e n t r y = t 2 0 3 . e 1 7 - s 1 & a u t h s t a t u s c o d e = 2 0 2

W a s i l o w - M u e l l e r, S . ( 2 0 0 1 ) . D r u g a b u s e a n d d e p e n d e n c y : e t i o l o g y o f d r u g d e p e n d e n c y. R e t r i e v e d f r o m h t t p : / / w w w. m e d s c a p e . c o m / v i e w a r t i c l e / 4 0 6 7 1 3 _ 4