Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is a patterned use of drugs in which the user consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others, and is a form of substance-related disorder. It is one of the main causes of drug addiction, physical disability, and individual financial crisis

1. A Brief History of Drugs & Substance Abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is a patterneduse of drugs in which the user
consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselvesor others,
and is a formof substance-relateddisorder. It is one of the main causes of drug addiction,
physicaldisability, and individual financial crisis.
Since the beginning of human history, people have sought ways to alter levelsof consciousnessas
well as the perceptionsof our sensate bodies by taking substancessuch as herbs, alcohol, and
other drugs.
For all the positivesthat mind and body altering substanceshave brought us, one fact is clear—
there have always been people who are unable to restrict their use of drugs or alcoholto
culturally prescribedlimits, and who have fallen into the trap we know today as drug addiction.
As the patterns of substance use and abuse quickly diversifiedalongthe processesof immigration
and urbanization, a wider variety of substancesand a more diverse assortment of users became
targeted for an even richer array of therapeutic experimentsof the society.
In the 5000 BC - The Sumerians used opium, suggested by the fact that they have an ideogram
for it which has been translated as HUL, meaning “joy” or “rejoicing.”
Here is a list of substances that have been used for alteredmental states and for their
hallucinogenic properties.
• Cocaine: Used for over 4000 years;Native to Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru.
• Ephedrine: Usedfrom around 3000 BC: Native to China, Greece.
• Marijuana: Used fromprehistoric times; India, China, and many parts of the world.
• Khat: Used from ancient Egyptian times; Native to Africaand ArabianPeninsula.
• Psilocybinmushrooms: Usedfrom 7000 BC; Found in severalpartsof the world.
Thoughthe short term and long term effectsof drug and alcoholabuse may vary frompersonto
person, clearly many people currently suffer fromthe effectsof abusing drugs and alcoholevery
day. Factors affectingthe exact symptomsthat are experiencedmay depend on a person’s age,
gender, individual physiology, genetic makeup, and mental health condition.
And while some side effectsare relatively mild, many abused substances lend themselvesto
severe and life threatening outcomes, particularly as a person’s pattern of use progresses.
The ill effectsof substance abuse on human organs are very dangerous. Here are a few
conditions, certain drugs would lead to:
Alcohol :
If someone consumes alcoholon an empty stomach, he or she will feelthe effectsfar quicker than
someone drinking after a large meal. Some common effectsof alcoholinclude:
• Moodswings.
• Impaired judgment.
• Coordinationissues.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Memory problems.
• Slurredspeech.
• Uncontrolled eye movements.
• Coma.

2. Hallucinogens:
Hallucinogen intoxicationis commonly referredto as a “trip,” and a negative experience is called
a “bad trip.” Trippingon a hallucinogen may increase the risk of suicide, although it is rare. The
effectsare:
• Hallucinations.
• Synaesthesiaor mixing of senses.
• Intensifiedperceptions.
• Significant anxiety or depression.
• Increasedheart rate.
• Heart palpitations.
• Dilated pupils.
• Blurred vision.
• Excessive sweating.
• Tremors.
• Paranoia.
Opiates :
Using opiatessuch as heroin or prescriptionpainkillers like Vicodin, Percocet, andOxyContin
can be particularly dangerousbecause it oftenleads to respiratory depression. Heroin is usually
injected or snorted (and sometimes smoked), while opiate painkillers are most often taken orally,
yet may also be crushedand snorted, or mixed with liquid solution and injected. Some side
effectstypicalof opiatesinclude:
• Euphoria followedby apathy.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Pinpoint pupils.
• Itching skin.
• Inattention to the environment.
• Slowed thinking and movements.
• Attentionproblems.
• Memory impairments.
• Drowsiness.
• Slurredspeech.
• Coma.
Almost all these substances can lead to serious addictionsand can create havoc in the addict’s
life. It takes a lot of effort fromthe part of the addict and his/her family to come out of the
addiction. Hope Trust is an organization that is dedicatedto treat addiction holistically. We
provide family counselling and the best drug addiction treatment with unique and tested
approaches.
Source :
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18481514-a-brief-history-of-drugs-substance-abuse