Substances such as alcohol, narcotics, nicotine products, and painkillers can all be misused. Unfortunately, misusing these substances can result in many problems for the person doing it as well as those around them.
The good news is you can read about the issues associated with substance abuse and what you can do about them below.
Addiction
One of the most common issues with substance use is addiction. This is where the user forms a physical or psychological need for the substance, which interferes with the way they live their life. For example, those who cannot get access to nicotine products will feel angry and emotional; they can even struggle to get to sleep and eat more in an attempt to calm their body and mind. More drastically, those who use heroin but cannot get a fix can experience challenging withdrawal symptoms such as extreme sweating, shaking, nausea and stomach cramps as well as emotional issues like depression, and restlessness.
The problem with addiction is that withdrawal from the substance can be so uncomfortable that it can make giving it up seem impossible, even if it’s something that the individual wants to do. However, there are ways to mitigate these issues, so it is more likely that an individual can quit. These include methadone, which is a medication addicted treatment that can help reduce the side effects of heroin withdrawal making it easier, although still challenging to go through.
Legal issues
Another common issue that those misusing substances experience is problems with the law. This is because many substances like narcotics are illegal, or, like pain killers, illegal to use if you do not have a proper prescription.
The issue here is that a person can not only get in trouble for possession of these substances, but if they have enough, for intent to supply as well. Unfortunately, this is an incredibly serious charge that can land the individual in a great deal of hot water. That is why if you find yourself in such a position, you must work with the best criminal solicitors you can find. Indeed, experienced criminal lawyers will be able to offer you 24/7 legal support, as well as access to top barristers who can fight your case in court, maximizing the chance of a positive outcome.
Money problems
Both legal and illegal substances can cost a significant amount of money to purchase, and when an individual is addicted, this cost can soar as they will need more and more to meet their tolerance.
In fact, because substances can be so addictive, it’s easy to prioritize buying those over anything else, which can cause major financial issues such as going into debt or turning to less-than-legal ways of finding money. Substance use can even lead to bankruptcy in many cases, especially when it also impacts the individual’s ability to work.
Those using substances can often get into difficulties with personal relationships in terms of money as well. This is because they will ask for money from their loved ones time and time again, without having the ability to pay it back.
