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IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

Impact of Addictions
LeeAnne Valentine
Coun 5108
October 30, 2016
Dr. Charlie Walker

IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

2
Impact of Addictions

Many people have had assumptions that those with mental illness are too weak or illequipped to be addicted to drugs or alcohol. The truth is that those with mental illness are more
likely to abuse alcohol and drugs in their life time, and this is prevalent everywhere in the world.
Those with mental illness seek out many ways to cope with difficulties and having access to
drugs that is not prescribed by medical professionals can be the easy way out for them. In this
paper, it will delve into the impact of addiction in which explains how cocaine impacts those
with mental illness, including community, families, and the individual as well as understanding
the ethical and cultural impact of using cocaine with mental illness.
Cocaine is a powerful addictive stimulant that can affect the brain function, and causes
long-term problems for the user. Interestingly enough, cocaine was the main stimulant drug
used in elixirs and others developed to treat various illnesses back in the 1900s
(Psychology.com, 2016). However, there were concerns that cocaine was the cause of psychotic
behavior, convulsion, addiction, and death in which the Harrison Act of 1914 outlawed the use of
cocaine in many products, and it was only available by prescription. It rebounded back in 1960s
and became the choice of drugs for middle and upper-class Americans in 1970s. As years went
by, there was an increase in physiological and psychological problems among those who used
cocaine illegally. Cocaine is now a Schedule II drug; however, it can be used for legal medical
uses.
Cocaine is used in two ways powdered or freebase. According to PsychologyToday
(2016), powdered form is hydrochloride salt that dissolves in water, while freebase is a
compound that has not been neutralized by acid to make hydrochloride salt. Freebase cocaine is
known as crack. Since cocaine is a very strong central nervous system stimulant that disrupts

IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

the reabsorption of dopamine. The higher the dopamine level is, the more the brain needs to be
rewarded by consuming more levels of cocaine. Anyone who uses cocaine will begin to feel
energetic, talkative, euphoric, mentally alert, and temporarily decrease the need for sleep and
food. In some cases, users may feel that they are capable of performing physical and mental acts.
There is a myriad of physiological effects of cocaine that include bizarre, violent and erratic
behaviors. Users may experience muscle twitches, paranoia, restlessness, anxiety, and irritability.
Cocaine-related death can occur due to seizures or cardiac arrest.
The rationale behind this choice of addiction is because often violent behaviors among
individuals with mental illness are being studied in tandem with substance abuse. Swartz,
Swanson, and et al., (1998) explained other drug abuse problems combined with poor adherence
to medication may signal a higher risk of violent behavior among persons with severe mental
illness. Reduction of such risk may require carefully targeted community interventions, including
integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment (p.226-231). This is worrisome if users
have mental illness, and they are abusing cocaine, it would mean that their behaviors would
become out of control. Often court systems would consider prison for those who abused cocaine,
but in most correctional facilities, a psychiatrist can only work with so many at a time. Those
with mental illness are often ignored or forgotten. According to NAMI (2016), a study by the
U.S, Department of Justices Bureau of Justice Statistics showed that 64 percent of local inmates,
56 percent of state prisoners, and 45 percent of federal prisoners have symptoms of serious
mental illness, in which is a reflection of the U.S. mental healthcare system in prisons. The
numbers are continuing to rise. Most of the prisoners have served past sentences, engaged in
substance abuse or have committed violent offenses.

IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

As aforementioned that cocaine is a powerful stimulant affecting the brain, however, it


does affect the individuals behavior. There are patterns that indicate the impact cocaine has onto
the user. According to the American Psychiatric Association DSM-5 (2013), patterns of
stimulant administration include episodic or daily use and binges that involve continuous highdose over hours or days are often associated with physical dependence. Binges usually
terminates only when stimulant supplies are depleted or exhaustion ensues (p. 565). Cocaine
users will have shown tolerance as defined by a) a need for markedly increased amounts of the
stimulant to achieve intoxication or desired effect, and b) a markedly diminished effect with
continued use of the same amount of the stimulant (APA, 2013, p.565). With that in mind,
comorbid drug use in tandem with mental disorders is prevalent. Research has shown that
anyone who is diagnosed with anxiety or mood disorders are twice as likely to suffer from drug
use disorder, and the same is for those who are diagnosed with antisocial syndrome and vice
versa a person with drug disorder are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety and mood disorders
(Biederman, Monuteaux, Spencer, Wilens, & Macpherson, 2008). Any diagnosis of a mental
disorder may not have been discovered until symptoms have progressed to a level (according to
DSM-5). There are three different scenarios that may connect mental illness and cocaine (drug)
abuse; 1) drugs of abuse can cause abusers to experience one or more symptoms of another
mental illness; 2) mental illness can lead to drug abuse. Individuals with overt, mild, or even
subclinical mental disorders may abuse drugs as form of self-medication; and 3) both drug use
disorders and other mental illness are caused by overlapping factors such as underlying brain
deficits, genetic vulnerabilities, and/or early exposure to stress and trauma (Biederman,
Monuteaux, Spencer, Wilens, & Macpherson, 2008).

IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

The role of cultural impact stemming from stimulant use will affect all races/ethnic, age,
gender and socioeconomic groups. Cocaine use in persons with mental ill may differ due to the
comorbidities but the way cocaine works performs equally across all groups. Cocaine is known
to promote violence if used excessively leading to severe social consequences. For example, if a
woman who is a mother of 3 children is found snorting cocaine, the severe consequences is she
would be jailed, and her children taken away from her. There are factors that one must consider
with the mother such as:
1. What type of cultural background does the mother have?
2. What economic bracket is the mother in?
3. Why was the mother using cocaine?
Gender may play a role with substance abuse. Studies have shown that women have
lower serotonin levels than men, and process chemicals at lower rate, in which means that it is
possible that biological differences can be the key to development of mental health issues,
leading to higher use of cocaine use in women than men. Secondly, women are influenced by
sociocultural impacts. For example, historically, women have always been seen as the weaker
group then men making them the primary caregivers. Over time, there has been a shift in our
culture where women are taking on roles that were never given to women before. The shift in
role comes with a price for women a huge amount of stress is put on the women leading to
panic attacks and depressions. In addition to the shifting role in power for women, sexualization
of women continues to be a problem through magazines, relationships, or movies. According to
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2016), the constant negative
sexualization fosters problems of unhealthy development of self-esteem leading to depression,
shame, and anxiety. Therefore, women are two times more likely than men to develop certain

IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

mental health conditions like depression. Women are also two to three times more likely to
attempt suicide (World Health Organization, 2016). Hence the rise of cocaine abuse among
women to fit into a society where women are still sexualized objectively and demeaned by
others.
The behaviors of a mentally ill person abusing has dire impact toward to intimate and
family relationships. Family members will try to help the addict by helping them out with food,
money, and bills. This is problematic because the addict will see it as an advantage to spend more
on buying cocaine. An addicts problem will begin to drain the family finances heavily. The
stress levels within the family will rise dramatically to the point where trust is eroded between
the addict and the family members. It becomes harder if an addict has mental illness, in which
poses challenges for the familys safety and the well-being of family members.
As for intimate relationships, the cocaine abuse allows for a partner to take time away from
the relationship, by creating an emotional distance (AAMFT, 2016). Couples will fight and
argue more, and in some cases can become violent (domestic violence). When a partner fights,
the cocaine abuse increases as a way to escape from the problem or to reduce stress. A partner in
a couple would have a difficult time getting out of a quickly descending spiral, in which would
lead to a conflict between the partners.
In conclusion, mental disorders and cocaine abuse can go hand in hand depending on the
person and situation that he or she is in. Mental disorders are often challenging and it becomes
more challenging if one is abusing drugs. There are treatments to help one overcome drug abuse,
and it will not be an easy road for many. Supporting families, friends, or peers are the
cornerstone of a persons success to a healthy life.

IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

References
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. (2016). Substance Abuse and Intimate
Relationships. Retrieved from
http://www.aamft.org/iMIS15/AAMFT/Content/Consumer_Updates/Substance_Abuse_a
nd_Intimate_Relationships.aspx
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders: Text revision (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Biederman, J., Monuteaux, M. C., Spencer, T., Wilens, T. E., MacPherson, H. A., &
Faraone, S. V. (2008). Stimulant Therapy and Risk for Subsequent Substance Use
Disorders in Male Adults With ADHD: A Naturalistic Controlled 10-Year Follow-Up
Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(5), 597-603.
doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07091486
Lewis, T. F. (2014). Terms, Models, and Ethical Issues in Substance Abuse and Addiction. In
Substance abuse and addiction treatment: Practical application of counseling theory
[Virtualsource Bookshelf] (pp. 16-33).
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2006, September 2). NAMI: National Alliance on Mental
Illness | Department of Justice Study: Mental Illness of Prison Inmates Worse Than Past
Estimates. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/PressReleases/2006/Department-of-Justice-Study-Mental-Illness-of-Pris
Psychology Today. (2016). Cocaine | Psychology Today. Retrieved October 29, 2016, from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/cocaine

IMPACT OF ADDICTIONS

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminstration. (2010). How many americans
experienced mental illness in the past year? SAMHSA News, 18(6). Retrieved from
http://archive.samhsa.gov/samhsaNewsletter/Volume_18_Number_6/MentalHealthRepor
t.aspx
Swartz, M. S., Swanson, J. W., Hiday, V. A., Borum, R., Wagner, H. R., & Burns, B. J. (1998).
Violence and severe mental illness: The effects of substance abuse and nonadherence to
medication. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(2), 226-231. Retrieved from
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/ajp.155.2.226
World Health Organization. (2016). WHO | gender and women's mental health. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/

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