Re: Week 5 | Discussion – Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STDs) & Substance Abuse
The addictive substance I’ve chosen to speak about is Alcohol. Alcohol substance has been abused for years and is usually a drug of choice for a lot of addicts. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in America. (Alcohol: The Most Commonly Used And Abused Substance ) Most people might not consider alcohol to be a drug, but it can easily become an addictive habit if consumed daily. Millions of people are developing alcoholism and are more high-risk to becoming addicted. Even though Alcohol is a legal substance, alcohol can produce different types of effects that can cause someone to become addicted.
Alcohol can be consumed by different types of consumption such as beer, wine and liquor and most times it can be mixed with other beverages. The physical effects of alcohol use include lowered anxiety; feelings of warmth or numbness; impaired judgment; loss of coordination; slowed reaction; dizziness; nausea and vomiting; distorted vision and perception; headaches; memory loss; blackouts; alcohol poisoning and in extreme cases, death. ( Bradbury,2020). People that are abusing alcohol usually have a history of emotional problems or physical abuse and Most times, Alcoholism has terrible impacts on someone’s life and alcoholism can affect all areas of someone’s life. 
Emotional effects may include negative thinking and feelings while under the influence of the substance. alcohol increases the flow of serotonin and endorphins which are responsible for regulating emotions and our sense of happiness. (Alcohol Fueled Emotions ) 
Physical Treatment for alcoholism includes detox which is a process that the body rids itself from toxic chemicals that alcohol may contain. When a person begins detoxing from alcohol they may experience withdrawals from the substance and it may cause extreme changes to their bodies.
Cognitive-behavioral treatment can be effective in helping with alcoholism and include teaching the patient to recognize what is the steam of their addiction and how to avoid these circumstances and showing Coping mechanisms for a person’s substance abuse.
Spiritually, understanding that the steam of addiction may come from unresolved issues may help someone in the rehabilitation process. Spiritually understanding that there is someone of a higher power that understands them and their addiction might help in their process of healing and can help with their addiction.
References:
Alcohol: The Most Commonly Used And Abused Substance – Rehab Spot. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rehabspot.com/alcohol/
bradbury, A. (2020, February 4). Find Help: ATOD. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/atod
How Are Emotional Effects of Alcohol Explained? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.alcohol.org/guides/alcohol-fueled-emotions/