Abuse And Dependence Consumption Of Psychoactive Substances

Abuse and dependence consumption of psychoactive substances

To begin to identify the most relevant aspects around the phenomenon of the consumption of psychoactive substances, it is convenient to refer to the definition of the terminology on which it will be treated next.

The World Health Organization includes that the use of psychoactive substances promotes addictive processes in consumer individuals. Due to the abusive consumption of these, what we know as addiction or dependence on a substance arises. Dependency syndrome refers to the State in which the individual decreases (or loses) control over their own consumption, since it is not consumed by the beneficial effects of the substance itself, but its use is usual and the need forconsume escapes control over your own behavior. (WHO, 2005 cited in Cabrera and López, 2014)

The authors Vélez, Rojas, Borrero and Restrepo (2004) consider that the fact that the individual is dependent on the substance depends on the interrelation given between the substance consumed, the consumer and the context in which it develops, so they haveIf the factors of the economic cost, the purity and the power of the substance, the form of consumption, the rapidity of the beginning and end of the effects it produce, and the reinforcing effects of the consumption of this. (cited in Cabrera and López, 2014)

In this sense, it is convenient to highlight the clinical criteria provided by the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders or DSM – IV (2014) around the classifications on the types of consumption.

The dependent behavior is understood as a pattern of consumption of the substance that entails a clinically significant deterioration or discomfort, where three or more of the following symptoms arise in a continuous period of twelve months.

First, tolerance refers to the need for an increasing amount to achieve the desired effect, the greater the consumption is the effect of the substance decreases, so it tends to consume in greater quantities due to continued consumption. Second, withdrawal syndrome arises as the adverse effect accordingly to the cessation of consumption or decrease in this, and the physiological symptoms that arise due to abstinence, depend on the substance consumed.

Therefore, the substance is consumed in greater quantities or during a greater period than that was intended at the beginning of it, referring to the difficulty in the ability to control the use of the substance. In turn, spinning with the criteria mentioned above, there is a persistent desire to control or interrupt the consumption and poor use of use is characteristic of dependence.

On the other hand, it is convenient to write down the criteria that relates to the carelessness of other activities, when the dependency arises, the functions related to the social, labor or recreational dimension according to dependent consumption are totally or partially abandoned. In turn, the time dedicated to activities related to the obtaining or consumption of the substance is increasing.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the continued use of the substance despite the problems it causes;That is, it is related to the prolonged use of this, even though they are aware of the problems caused, both at a psychological and physical level, which arise from the substance consumption itself.

The previously described criteria may be framed in two dimensions, on the one hand, the factors referring to the individual dimension are taken into account, in addition to contemplating those related to the social dimension and the impact of behaviors dependent on consumption in this.