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Substance Abuse - Wikipedia

Substance abuse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Substance abuse refers to the use of any legal or illegal substance when that use is causing damage to the user's physical and/or mental health and causes the person legal, social, financial or other problems including endangering their lives or the lives of others. The phrase "problematic substance use" is a newer term for "substance abuse" that is gaining acceptance.

When science began to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, substance abusers were thought to be morally flawed and lacking in willpower. Those views shaped society's responses to substance abuse, treating it as a moral failing rather than a health problem, which led to an emphasis on punitive rather than preventative and therapeutic actions.[1]

According to the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, abuse and addiction to alcohol, nicotine, and illegal substances cost Americans upwards of half a trillion dollars a year, considering their combined medical, economic, criminal, and social impact. Every year, abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol contributes to the death of more than 100,000 Americans, while tobacco is linked to an estimated 440,000 deaths per year.[1]

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Drug abuse

Drug abuse has a huge range of definitions related to taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. All of these definitions imply a negative judgement of the drug use in question (compare with the term responsible drug use for alternative views).

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Alcohol Addiction Portal (Link)

This is a comprehensive addiction portal focusing on topics of alcohol and drug abuse. http://www.alcoholaddiction.org

Staying Focus

I work with fledging faith-based nonprofits. One of the biggest problems that I encounter is ministries wanting to take on too many issues. They run from ministry to the next. It is frustrating because they work on one project and before I know it they are off to something else. One day they are working in an afterschool program and then its drug abuse prevention. However, they never solve or alleviate any issues. All of the projects are worthy of attention. On the other hand, not all of the projects can be solved by one ministry.

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National Families in Action

 
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National Families in Action

 

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Summary:

 

National Families in Action was formed in 1977 and is committed to helping parents prevent their children from abusing drugs. National Families in Action won a competitive grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to establish Parent Corps programs in several states aimed at using Parent Leaders to educate other parents about drug abuse, its risks and prevention techniques. This site provides guides on drug prevention, the drug-legalization movement, drug-related ballot initiatives, parenting resources, and National Families in Action publications.

 

 

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

 

This site contains a variety of resources for parents and others interested in prevention, including information on Club Hero, an after-school prevention program developed by National Families in Action emphasizing parental involvement, academic achievement, and community/school bonding.  In addition, the site provides a link to Parenting IS Prevention, another Web site produced by National Families in Action that provides parenting advice, information, and resources to help parents raise healthy, drug-free children.




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Self-Evaluation Workbook for Alcohol and Drug Abuse

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Self-Evaluation Workbook for Alcohol and Drug Abuse

 

by Ken C. Winters (Hazelden Foundation, 1995)

 

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Summary:

 

This workbook is an extended questionnaire that pastors, counselors, and health-care workers can give individuals wanting to explore their relationship with alcohol and drugs to determine if they need to seek further evaluation or professional help.  The back cover contains the actual “Screening for Alcohol and Drug Abuse” (SADA) self-assessment, along with a scoring chart and suggested actions.

 

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

 

This workbook is a highly regarded tool for first-time practitioners that want to assist someone in doing a thorough self-assessment.  It would be a good resource for congregations, counselors, and medical professionals to make available in order to encourage people to seek help.




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National Institute on Drug Abuse

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National Institute on Drug Abuse

 

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Summary:

 

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a part of the National Institutes of Health, believes that scientific knowledge about drug abuse and addiction is essential to improving the health of our nation.  As a result, NIDA supports over 85 percent of the scientific research worldwide on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction.  Its goal is to ensure that the nation’s drug abuse reduction efforts are based upon a solid scientific foundation.  This site includes information for students, parents and teachers and researchers and health professionals.

 

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

 

This site includes many free resources, including curriculum for drug prevention programs for students of all ages.  Some of the resources may be downloaded directly from the site and others may be ordered online or by telephone.  There is an extensive selection of scientifically based publications on a variety of subjects related to drug abuse and addiction, many of which are available in Spanish.   In addition, inexpensive videos dealing with prevention and treatment are available and often are accompanied by a viewer’s guide.




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Free-n-one

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Free-n-one

 

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Summary:

Free-n-one believes that a unified church can be victorious over the problem of alcohol and drug abuse.  As a result, Free-n-one offers provides training to churches of all denominations that are interested in ministering to alcoholics, drug addicts, and their families.  A 6-day seminar providing training in the areas of addiction, recovery, relapse, the church?s response, and how to conduct a successful meeting is available for churches who would like to host a Free-n-One meeting.  Training in how to conduct a ?Tough Love? meeting for the family members of alcoholics and drug addicts also is available.  All Free-n-One meetings have the same format and are based upon the 12 Spiritual Ways to Recovery and the Bible.

Why does FASTEN recommend this resource?

Free-n-One offers practical help to churches that desire to reach out to suffering alcoholics and drug addicts and their family members.  In addition to offering training to individual churches, Free-n-One also conducts training events across the country.

 

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Volunteer Opportunities: drug abuse

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