Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse
January 17, 2016

Substance Abuse
Many individuals suffer from substance abuse but are either scared to admit it, or simply in denial. Individuals can abuse anything from prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or alcohol but have the mentality of them just doing what they do on a daily basis (sort of a routine) rather than saying they abuse. As defined by World Health Organization, “substance abuse refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs (World Health Organization 2016). Any abuse is more than a psychological abuse, but because it is used with such frequency, the body becomes dependent on it and needs it to function.
Alcohol misuse can result in a number of adverse health and social consequences (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2013). Alcohol treatment is provided to over 700,000 Americans every day and over 79,000 of Americans die due to alcohol abuse. Many substances, both illegal and legal, have the potential for misuse. The most common are ecstasy, heroin, inhalants, marijuana, methamphetamine, PCP/Phencyclidine, and prescription narcotics (Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2013). Such high number of abuse ultimately affects employers and this is where they need to get involved and put some plans in place to not only bring this number down but to also truly provide their employees the care that they desperately need and deserve.
The most common abuse problem that is discussed with my current employer is alcohol abuse. Of course, they offer assistance to any employee that suffers from substance abuse in general but there is more of a demand when it comes to alcohol abuse programs. Working in an organization that focuses on the medical field, the benefits and programs that are offered are of top quality and they provide the best care free of charge. When an employee seeks this help, the employer first provides the employee with a full assessment to diagnose the...