Signs_and_symptoms Substance_abuse

depending on actual compound, drug abuse including alcohol may lead health problems, social problems, morbidity, injuries, unprotected sex, violence, deaths, motor vehicle accidents, homicides, suicides, physical dependence or psychological addiction.

there high rate of suicide in alcoholics , other drug abusers. reasons believed cause increased risk of suicide include long-term abuse of alcohol , other drugs causing physiological distortion of brain chemistry social isolation. factor acute intoxicating effects of drugs may make suicide more occur. suicide common in adolescent alcohol abusers, 1 in 4 suicides in adolescents being related alcohol abuse. in usa approximately 30% of suicides related alcohol abuse. alcohol abuse associated increased risks of committing criminal offences including child abuse, domestic violence, rapes, burglaries , assaults.

drug abuse, including alcohol , prescription drugs, can induce symptomatology resembles mental illness. can occur both in intoxicated state , during withdrawal state. in cases these substance induced psychiatric disorders can persist long after detoxification, such prolonged psychosis or depression after amphetamine or cocaine abuse. protracted withdrawal syndrome can occur symptoms persisting months after cessation of use. benzodiazepines notable drug inducing prolonged withdrawal effects symptoms persisting years after cessation of use. abuse of hallucinogens can trigger delusional , other psychotic phenomena long after cessation of use.

cannabis may trigger panic attacks during intoxication , continued use, may cause state similar dysthymia. researchers have found daily cannabis use , use of high-potency cannabis independently associated higher chance of developing schizophrenia , other psychotic disorders.

severe anxiety , depression commonly induced sustained alcohol abuse, in cases abates prolonged abstinence. sustained moderate alcohol use may increase anxiety , depression levels in individuals. in cases these drug induced psychiatric disorders fade away prolonged abstinence.

impulsivity

impulsivity characterized actions based on sudden desires, whims, or inclinations rather careful thought. individuals substance abuse have higher levels of impulsivity, , individuals use multiple drugs tend more impulsive. number of studies using iowa gambling task measure impulsive behavior found drug using populations made more risky choices compared healthy controls. there hypothesis loss of impulse control may due impaired inhibitory control resulting drug induced changes take place in frontal cortex. neurodevelopmental , hormonal changes happen during adolescence may modulate impulse control possibly lead experimentation drugs , may lead road of addiction. impulsivity thought facet trait in neuroticism personality domain (overindulgence/negative urgency) prospectively associated development of substance abuse.

screening , assessment

there several different screening tools have been validated use adolescents such crafft screening test , in adults cage questionnaire.

some recommendations screening tools substance misuse in pregnancy include take less 10 minutes, should used routinely, include educational component. tools suitable pregnant women include i.a. 4ps, t-ace, tweak, tqdh (ten-question drinking history), , audit.