Alcohol Abuse, Essay Example

The impact and current statistics on Substance Misuse is a difficult phenomenon to assess as statistics and research on this field comprise of those individuals who approach various treatment center and facilities within the country or those individuals who attempt to contact various criminal justice system centers and come clean with their drug and substance misuse. According to the Welsh Government (2007), the following statistics were true for the year 2006 to 2007:

• There were 27,724 referrals that were directed to several treatment centers that specialize in substance misuse in Wales and about two-thirds of these were males
• The referrals for individuals with alcohol abuse reached 145, as compared to other types of drug and substance abuse which reached 100.
• Those in the older adult bracket aged 50 years and above comprise 3% of those with drug problems while 18% comprise those with problems with alcohol.

Alcohol abuse not only affects the individual concerned, but also involves the individual’s family as well as the community at large. The cost of drug and alcohol abuse is estimated to around 20 billion pounds annually within the United Kingdom. This is due to the expenses that are associated with social and health care, the individual’s absence from his work, activities that are criminal in nature and illegal, as well as the costs to the current criminal justice system. Meanwhile, the cost of substance and alcohol abuse in a social context cannot be measured. The exact number of individuals who are involved in any form of substance and alcohol abuse cannot be given, as well as its prevalence within the country as it is illicit in nature (Welsh Assembly Government 2007).

For the past several years, the use of illegal and illicit substances has been steadily on the rise accompanied by the increase in problems that are typically associated with alcohol abuse. The abuse and misuse of alcohol still continues to be one of the foremost problems in the country as individuals who die due to alcohol and its effects are increasing. In addition, people dying from alcohol and its effects are significantly higher compared to the use of illicit substances, even when combined. (Home Office Statistical Bulletin October 2007).

Individuals usually develop problems with their health, both in the physical and psychological context when becoming involved with alcohol abuse. Increased dependence on these substances may result to an uncontrollable desire for alcohol and the development of alcohol tolerance. Due to the various effects of alcohol abuse, family ties may be broken down and an increase in rates of crime may result (Hough et al 2003).

Some point to a low self-esteem as a direct link to a predisposition toward alcohol abuse although a great majority is more inclined to believe that any link between self-esteem and alcohol abuse is a result of the convergence and confluence of other variables influencing. But regardless of the underlying factors that cause such behavior, it may help all stakeholders to better understand first the personality of the individual in order that they can be properly and effectively coaxed into assimilation.

Family background is also a most potent influence on juvenile development. It is from the family that children learn its values, develop behavior and adopt norms and culture and basically form the foundation of their personality and attitudes. It is also from the family that children learn how to interact socially among their peers. An unhealthy home environment, will thus lead to personality dysfunctions in most cases.

Children who are exposed to the addiction of parents usually experience significantly greater risk for acquiring psychological problems such as mental illness or emotional problem like depression and anxiety; physical health problems; and learning problems, including difficulty in maintaining and enhancing their cognitive and verbal skills, conceptual reasoning and abstract thinking. Furthermore, parents who abuse drugs or alcohol may pass on the behavior to their children. There is strong scientific evidence that also suggests that addiction tends to run in families and that children of alcoholics are four times more likely than non-COAs to develop alcoholism or other drug problems (Tatara 1997).

Along with family and socio-economic factors, educational experiences are, in many ways, a coequal influence on development. School environments do shape many youths’ sense of opportunity and self-worth. It would be observed that school dropouts and poor academic performers exhibit a higher incidence of delinquency, substance abuse and crime than graduates and academic achievers. In most academic institutions, peer pressure is another growing problem. At a stage when adolescents and young adults seek out acceptance from peers, individuals may be influenced to adopt behaviors that would facilitate acceptance within the group such as smoking and drinking alcohol.

The home serves as the primary site for the intervention. Treatment staff may provide services that provide assistance to parents on dealing with household tasks and child care. More conventional interventions that the staff may provide include individual and family counseling, parent education, and advocacy and referrals for assistance with needed health care, substance abuse treatment, and community services.

References

Home Office Statistical Bulletin (2007) Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2006/07 British Crime Survey.

Hough, M., Clancy, A., McSweeney, T. and Turnbull, P.J. (2003) The impact of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders on offending: two-year reconviction results. Home Office Research Findings No. 184. London: Home Office

Tatara, T. (1997). American Public Welfare Association. Research Notes.

Welsh Assembly Government (2007). Tackling Substance Misuse in Wales Performance Management Framework: The Welsh National Database for Substance Misuse – Second Annual Report 2006-07.