Substance Misuse

 
General description
 
This is a very broad area, substance abuse covers many things from glue sniffing to heroin. Because of this it is difficult to give a time of life when it emerges, but many such addictions start in late teens or early twenties. Often substance abuse starts with experimentation, leading onto binge use and dependence. Men tend to be more at risk than women although this varies from substance to substance.
 
Like alcohol, there is a physical and mental dependence on the substance which is often extremely hard to break. There is often a genetic predisposition, which heightens the dependence. More usual is that the body becomes used to operating with the substance and is then unable to cope without it until such time as it readjusts.
 
Common symptoms
 

• High level of substance consumption
• Memory impairment
• Loss of motor functions
• Secondary biological and neurological damage
• Overly aggressive or introverted behaviour
• Dependence on substance
• Loss of self control
• Sweating
• Loss of appetite

Common treatments
 

• CBT
• Anti-depressants
• Psychotherapy
• Talking Treatments

General Advice
 
Even if you realise there is a problem, it can be very hard to stop. DO keep trying.