In-depth Analysis
Discuss about the Substance Abuse and Health for Gender Medicine.
This is a reflective report based on what I learnt from my research on various impacts of substance abuse to the health of the subjects. I came to learn that people tend to abuse drugs so as to gain some ‘good feeling’ within their system. Alteration of the mind by use of alcohol, herbs and drugs becomes addictive in the long-run such that one in incapable of controlling the amount that his/her system desires to consume so as to operate as accustomed to (Abuse 2011). I realised that the more one persists in substance abuse, the more he/she becomes vulnerable to all sought of illness due to a decline in his/her body immunity. I was quite surprised to find out that people may become so much addicted to a point that they fail to turn up for jobs, or school in the case of students. A suicidal feeling may also develop as a result of persistent substance abuse which is key to emotional breakdown. Moreover, family problems, legal problems and social issues were discovered to be rampant among individuals who are addicted to drug and substance abuse.
Through a serious study of other scholars’ ideas, I was able to establish that there exist various ethical and social issues associated with drug and substance abuse. The society view the act of drug and substance abuse to be evil in the sense that the side effects are detrimental to the health of the individual and the entire society. When one turns to theft as a mode of acquiring finances to cater for his/her drugs’ costs, the society is injured (Galanter, Kleber and Brady 2014). Earning from where you haven’t sown is a dangerous offense which is punishable.
It dawned on me that there are different reasons that may trigger drug and substance abuse. Peer pressure is the most common characteristic where one is driven by fellow addicted friends into the act. At first, one may resist the act. However, continued persuasion drives an innocent teenager into drug and substance abuse as he/she targets to fit in the peer group. On the other hand, rejection may lead to an emotional fallout whereby one feels unwanted. Low self-esteem can drive a person to seeking the comfort of drug and substance abuse. I discovered that traumatizing situations may also act as a determinant in the event that one struggles to erase the tormenting memories (Cotto et al. 2010, p.409). The death of a spouse, a rape case as well as job discontinuation are good examples of traumatizing situations.
My Learning Process
I realised that if I were to be an addict, my health would be compromised due to developed cravings and intoxication. Gradual integration of my body into working under drugs would result to addiction to an extent that I won’t be able to operate in their absence.
By critically analysing the health conditions associated with substance abuse, I realised that a person’s brain chemistry can be altered by drug and alcohol leading to mood swings, irritability, delusions and hallucinations. Opioids, alcohol, marijuana, benzodiazepines and sedative-hypnotics are responsible for reduction of neuron firing and chemical transfer thus are depressants to the central nervous system (Volkow 2014). On the other hand, stimulants like meth, cocaine, designer drugs and ecstasy are known to increase neural firing thus a resultant greater attention, physical energy and high emotions. In the event that these drugs begin to leave the body, negative side effects are experienced due to the inability of the brain to restore balance to its neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. In the long-run, parts of the brain adopt a new shape or size leading to personality change, mental health complications and physical problems.
I gained a deeper insight into the effects of stimulants on the human heart. Stimulants are known to increase its rate while on the contrary, CNS depressants will slow it down. Consistent low and high blood pressure is detrimental to the circulatory system such that blood clots and circulation complications are more likely to occur (McCorkindale, Sheedy, Kril and Sutherland 2016, p.37). It came to my knowledge that stimulants like methamphetamines and cocaine are triggers to heart attack due to their ability to escalate the stress response of the body.
I was able to deduce that orally ingested drugs are triggers to gastrointestinal issues. Benzodiazepines, alcohol and LSD are harmful to a person’s digestive system. Benzodiazepines can result to constipation while alcohol is known to cause nausea, stomach upset and even vomiting. I learnt that chronic indigestion caused by other drugs can damage the oesophagus thus making the consumption of certain foods quite painful (Siegel, Miller and Jemal 2016, p.20).
I discovered further that drugs which are usually smoked can injure the lungs hence vulnerability of upper respiratory system to infections (Carter et al. 2015, p.633). This vulnerability increases the risk of lung cancer. Moreover, I established that some CNS depressants like opioids can result to breathing complications. An overdose of these type of CNS depressants can lead to death. On the other hand, persistent depressed or reduced breathing pattern deprives the body of its oxygen thus damage to other organs.
Future Benefits of the Study
It also came to my realisation that kidneys are purposed to filter toxins from the bloodstream. It follows that large amounts of toxins in the blood could cause kidney damage in the event that there is a failure in filtration process. I recognised that many drugs lead to a condition known as rhabdomyolysis whereby muscle tissues responsible for flooding toxic chemicals into the bloodstream breakdown. Opioids and heroin can cause kidney failure as they are key to depriving the body of oxygen (Stanhope 2018).
In my learning process, I encountered individuals who have been addicted to drug and substance abuse. Their messed-up life sounded a warning to my future endeavours whereby I would be required to be cautious. Attending a seminar on how to deal with drug and substance abuse made me realize the concern of the society to the prevailing problem. On the other hand, an interaction with doctors and specialists gave me a deeper understanding on health effects associated with drug and substance abuse. They really provided me with relevant information.
By taking the research, I was able to understand the relevance of soberness. People will be looking up to me at work thus the relevance of abhorring drug and substance abuse. Respect and honour is given to professionals who operate soberly. Moreover, the pessimism associated with drug and substance abuse would be detrimental to my social relations as well as my health; both physical and mental. In my pursuit for a managerial post in future, I purpose to hold drug and substance abuse awareness in my organization to ensure smooth flow in all operations.
Conclusion
The study acquainted me with the knowledge of drug and substance abuse. The negativity related to the practice offered a need to analyse the decisions I choose to mould my life. In order to have a fulfilling career, I have to refrain from drug and substance abuse at all cost. Indulging in the culture would create a social awkwardness as well as inability to deliver viable results at my place of work. Moreover, becoming insane would only make me irrelevant to my family and the society as I would be more of a burden for them to bear. I might even develop suicidal motives!
References
Abuse, S., 2011. Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings, NSDUH Series H-41, HHS Publication No.(SMA) 11-4658. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 201.
Carter, B.D., Abnet, C.C., Feskanich, D., Freedman, N.D., Hartge, P., Lewis, C.E., Ockene, J.K., Prentice, R.L., Speizer, F.E., Thun, M.J. and Jacobs, E.J., 2015. Smoking and mortality—beyond established causes. New England journal of medicine, 372(7), pp.631-640.
Cotto, J.H., Davis, E., Dowling, G.J., Elcano, J.C., Staton, A.B. and Weiss, S.R., 2010. Gender effects on drug use, abuse, and dependence: a special analysis of results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Gender medicine, 7(5), pp.402-413.
Galanter, M., Kleber, H.D. and Brady, K. eds., 2014. The American Psychiatric Publishing textbook of substance abuse treatment. American Psychiatric Pub.
McCorkindale, A.N., Sheedy, D., Kril, J.J. and Sutherland, G.T., 2016. The effects of chronic smoking on the pathology of alcohol-related brain damage. Alcohol, 53, pp.35-44.
Siegel, R.L., Miller, K.D. and Jemal, A., 2016. Cancer statistics, 2016. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 66(1), pp.7-30.
Stanhope, K.B., 2018. Substitution Effects and Opioid Abuse: An Empirical Analysis of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Fullerton).
Volkow, N.D., 2014. America’s addiction to opioids: heroin and prescription drug abuse. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, 14.
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