Sample Essay: Substance Related Disorders

Effects on the Nervous System and on Behavior

Marijuana produces sensitive effects on the brain and this includes both chemical and electrophysiological changes. Its clearly known acute effects are on behavior and mental functions. When abused over a long period of time, the drug impairs motor coordination, compromises on ones ability to remember.

It also affects the perceptual functions significant for secure driving and use of other machines; it also damages short-term recollection and heavily slows learning. Other sensitive effects are feelings of ecstasy and other changes in mood. There are also disturbing mental phenomena, such as short interludes of confusion, anxiety, or psychosis. Heavy use of marijuana is correlated to behavioral problems and mental disarray in human beings.

Effects on the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

There is evidence that shows that smoking marijuana usually lead heightened changes in the heart and circulation which are all stress attributes. Marijuana increases the work of the heart normally by raising heart rate and, in some cases by raising blood pressure. This rise normally poses a threat to patients with cerebrovascular disease, coronary atherosclerosis and hypertension. Prolonged smoking of marijuana often leads to cancer of the respiratory tract and may impair the functions of the lungs.

Differential Psychotherapy for Cocaine Dependence

There are restricted empirical data to guide doctors and researchers when deciding among the many treatments for substance-related disorders.

Substance related disorder

Research carried out by clinicians and doctors has confirmed that continuous use of drugs leads to many substance related disorders. In this research, it has been proven that little is known about the relationship between Antisocial Personality Disorder, which is a situation where a person is described by persistent violation of other people’s rights which begins early in adolescence. This disorder relates with Alcohol addiction and marijuana addiction. This can clearly be seen in those people who are dependant on alcohol and marijuana.

Most alcohol and marijuana addicts fail to obey the rule of law; they are always reckless by disregarding their own safety and the safety of others. They are consistently irresponsible and lack remorse. Their aggressiveness is evident I repeated fights they engage in. the above actions are characterized by people who suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder.

Marijuana dependence (MD)

Marijuana is a mentally and emotionally addictive disorder. Ones a person becomes dependant on this drug he develops a sense of self belonging; he starts to avoid friends who don’t use the substance and tend to socialize with those who use the drug. Many addicts believe that this drug is the remedy to their problems.

Addiction to marijuana is very dangerous because many terminal diseases are caused by its addiction. Some of the ailments include lung cancer and heart disorders. This dependence can be cured through counseling.

Alcohol Dependence (AD)

Alcohol dependence can be defined as the bodily dependence on alcohol. Over 12% of adults in America are addicted to this drug as established by the American Medical Association. Many people become addicted to alcohol because they believe it reduces stress. One is seen as an addict if he/she increases her urge to drink alcohol over basic needs and responsibilities.

When one is addicted to alcohol he/she may be engaged in physically dangerous activities like operating machines while intoxicated or drunken driving which is very dangerous to ones life. It is very sad to note that only 55% of individuals addicted to alcohol experience severe complications of withdrawal. However alcohol addiction can be treated depending on an individual. Most people are treated through counseling and ones involvement in self help group support.

In summary the above work evaluates the evidence that substance abuse may cause Psychosis in non psychotic persons. Modern findings has established that a big portion of people who are addicted to substance experience psychosis. Continuous use of bhang, alcohol and cocaine is mostly associated with greater risk for psychosis.

Preface biological studies show that continuous abuse of cannabis is a major cause in the progress of schizophrenia which is a severe brain disorder that has been identified throughout the history of man kind. This illness usually strikes during adolescence and early adulthood.

Conclusion

There is enough evidence that substance use disorders are common, generic factors explain a considerable degree of the domestic aggregation. To perform controlled family study several different predominant drugs of abuse which include marijuana and alcohol were used as stated above.

Drug dependence is the main cause of many substance related disorders. Continuous abuse of these drugs causes major damages to the central nervous system. These damages affect people’s sensations and perceptions. The addict will also experience withdrawal symptoms whenever he/she is not under the influence of drugs. Other users usually experience legal problems like being unable to fulfill social responsibilities such as negligence of ones family. It’s high time for us to discourage other members of the public from drug abuse because it will have a negative impact on us as a nation.

References

Mickey Rourke (1982). Special to the New York Times: Effects on the Nervous System and on Behavior. New York. New York Times

Ross HE (1988). . Arch Gen Psychiatry: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in patients with alcohol and other drug problems. New York:    Touchstone

Merikangas KR, Gelernter CS (1990). Co-morbidity for alcoholism and depression. Westport, CT: Greenwood.