Do you know the long-term effects of substance abuse? Alcohol and drug use can have a detrimental impact on your physical and mental health. Regular substance use can lead to chronic diseases, organ damage, and an increased risk of mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression. The fact that people in their best working years, between the ages of 20 and 40, are out of work has long-term consequences for the state and families. Demarco Moore, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, is an expert on drug addiction treatment and recovery.
He works to help save lives at treatment provider Landmark Recovery. People who suffer from substance use disorders will prioritize the substance of addiction above all else and despite negative consequences. The mission of the State Working Group on Epidemiological Outcomes (SEOW) is to use data to inform decisions about substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. This substance abuse screening and referral to treatment initiative focuses on the patient and provides early intervention to identify and address substance abuse.
In recent years, many members of the scientific community have begun to refer to addiction as substance use disorder (SUD). Tennessee Recovery Navigators are people in long-term recovery who meet with patients who have recently overdosed in the emergency department and connect them to the substance abuse treatment and recovery services they need. The Division of Clinical Leadership of the TDMHSA, in collaboration with the Division of Substance Abuse Services, has developed its first guide to tools for best practice in substance use. Excessive substance use can impede mental development, which can lead to serious problems in adulthood, such as difficulty keeping a job or being a parent.
Although alcohol withdrawal symptoms usually go away after a week, it can take months for a person who abuses drugs to mentally overcome their SUD and up to a year to stop having cravings. Medically administered inpatient detoxification treatment is available on a limited basis for those who need to be in a hospital to detoxify for substance abuse. Dr. Stern wants to create a program for new doctors to train in addiction medicine and wanted to contextualize the cost of his proposal with what abuse costs the state.
Women's bodies process medications differently than men's and they experience a higher incidence of depression and anxiety, which can lead to substance abuse. The Lifeline Peer project was established to reduce stigma related to the disease of addiction and increase access to recovery for substance abuse, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Treatment is available for adolescents ages 13 to 18 who have a primary or secondary diagnosis of abuse or dependence on alcohol or other drugs or of concurrent substance use and a psychiatric diagnosis. Adolescent services are available through residential, outpatient, and day treatment for young people who need substance abuse treatment.
The long-term effects of substance abuse can be devastating for individuals, families, communities, and states alike. It is essential that we understand the consequences of alcohol and drug use so that we can take steps towards prevention, treatment, and recovery programs that will help those affected by this disease.
