Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is a serious epidemic in the United States. For example, more than twenty-six million people in this country are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. And, more people abuse prescription drugs than the number of people who use cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined.

ALCOHOL

Alcohol is the most commonly used drug in the world.
Alcohol affects people differently. For example, some people may feel “tipsy” after one drink. Others can drink a six-pack of beer and still appear sober. In general, alcoholics can tolerate large amounts of alcohol before they seem “drunk”.
Most alcoholics feel better physically while they are drinking than when they stop. This is because their bodies have learned to depend on alcohol. When they stop drinking, they go into withdrawal—and suffer a number of unpleasant effects.

DRUGS

The most commonly abused illegal drugs are:

Marijuana
Cocaine & Crack
Inhalants
LSD
Heroin

The most commonly abused prescription drugs are:

Stimulants
Pain killers
Tranquilizers
Sedatives

HELPING CLIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Addiction may begin because of poor choices that people make about drugs or alcohol. But, once an addiction takes hold, it becomes a chronic medical illness that needs medical treatment—much like diabetes or hypertension. Part of your job as a health care worker is to help your clients without judging them. This is especially important when you work with addicted clients.
Remember that combining drugs and alcohol may be fatal. If you see your client mixing the two, notify your supervisor right away.
A few weeks of treatment is never the “cure” for a drug or alcohol addiction. Recovery is a lifelong process. Many people find that joining a support group helps them stay clean.
Realize that your clients are dealing with their addiction, but so are their loved ones. Show support for your clients’ friends and family, too.
Learn all you can about addiction and recovery. The more you know, the easier it will be for you to understand a substance abuser.