Mental Health And Substance Abuse Essay

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS
Substance abuse, otherwise called drug abuse, is a designed utilization of a medication in which the client takes the substance in amounts or with methods which are unsafe to themselves or others, and is a type of substance-related disorder. Drugs most often associated with this term include: alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, opioids and substituted amphetamines.
According to Wikipedia, A mental illness, also called a mental disorder or psychiatric disorder, is a diagnosis by a mental health professional of a behavioral or mental pattern that may cause suffering or a poor ability to function in life. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitting, or occur as a single episode.

To make the situation worse, the co-occurring disorders, which is a substance abuse problem and a mental illness, can be difficult to diagnose and treat. When a mental health problem is not treated, the substance abuse problem usually gets worse as well. And when alcohol or drug abuse increases, mental health problems usually increase too.
This problem merits public attention and resources. The public should be made aware of this in the sense that the death rates and psychiatric disorders, as a result of substance abuse is high all around the world. The rich are involved as well as the poor. No one is exempted. In some countries, the phrase “smokers are liable to die young” is written boldly on the pack of cigarettes but that doesn’t deter smokers, it’s like they don’t even see it. There should be a health awareness program for the public on the misuse of substances. Substance abuse can be reduced if we adopt strategies that work. The public should be sensitized on the effect of substance abuse, rehabilitation centers should also be made available for those who have already fallen victims, and treatment should be made available and be focused on abusers and addicts rather than all drug