hi cherubs! today we are going to be discussing another common mental illness, substance abuse.
***TW: substance abuse mentioned. we will be discussing topics in and related to the use of substance (drugs, alcohol, prescriptions, etc.)...please, if you think this post will negatively affect you, move along! but, if you think it will help you, please stick around or share it with someone how may need it.***
I'm going to be brave here for a second (and I know I may get some backlash from it), but ADDICTION IS NOT A CHOICE. addiction is a disease, and you cannot stop even if you acknowledge you are doing harm to yourself. once you become dependent on a substance it is EXTREMELY hard to come off of it. people caught in addiction can feel as if there is no help for them and that their life is over. these people need help and need recovery options readily available to them.
while substance abuse isn't necessarily addition, it is the "lesser" equivalent to addiction. substance abuse can lead to addiction.
substance abuse is a mental illness just as much as anxiety and depression are. those struggling with substance abuse need therapy and rehab just as much as other mental disorders.
****these people are not out to hurt you or steal from you. sometimes they become homeless and feel as if their only option of survival is to steal. this is why we need to offer them resources and means to get help***
Turning around the stigma is the most important part of educating about substance abuse. Those struggling with substance abuse are human beings. here, we help and educate every one of them, no matter what they may be dealing with.
*end of rant, back to scheduled posting*
just like all of the other topics we've been talking about this month, substance abuse is a broad name. the term encompasses excessive use of drugs, alcohol, and prescription medications.
by definition, substance abuse is "overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance."
substances that can be abused:
alcohol
prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicine
heroin
cocaine
marijuana
cigarettes and other forms of tobacco
signs that someone may be forming substance abuse:
lack interest in normal activities
switch friend groups
stop taking care of yourself
spending more time alone
eating more/less
mood swings
sleep irregularities
have work and family problems
crave substance
bullet points summarized from WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/substance-abuse#2)
treatment and other options for substance abuse:
detox, while many people think it is treatment, only offers help to symptoms of withdrawal. further help can be found through many different types of rehabilitation, such as:
outpatient
patients attend no more than 9 hours of care while continuing to live at home
intensive outpatient program
patients attend 10-20 hours of treatment while continuing to live at home
partial hospitalization program
patients spend 4-8 hours a day in a hospital setting to receive treatment, while continuing to live at home
residential (rehab)
patients live in a residential setting while going through a step-by-step program to achieve treatment
inpatient
patient lives in hospital setting, in a specific part or floor to receive treatment and/or rehabilitation
medications for addiction treatment (MAT)
medications given to those with a severe dependency to a substance, along with counseling and other treatment services
(treatment bullet points found from: https://drugfree.org/article/what-are-the-treatment-options/)
I hope that this segment helped us learn and become aware of some of the issues that people are going through.
if you have any questions, please don't be hesitated to ask! if I don't know the answer, I will try to find it for you.
if you or someone you know is dealing with substance abuse, please seek help! medical professionals are the best and most knowledgeable about these sorts of things.
again, I am not a doctor, just trying to make the general population more informed and aware!
thanks for tuning in!
see you next time, Loryn
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