Alcohol and drug abuse requires intervention in many situations — not just addiction. Intervention is needed when someone has had too much to drink and grabs their keys to drive. Intervention is needed towards any illegal drug use. Negative consequences are occurring from drug and alcohol abuse — and many of us are letting them happen.
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse is sometimes referred to by the less specific term "alcoholism." However, many definitions of alcoholism exist, and only some are compatible with alcohol abuse. Binge drinking is another form of alcohol abuse. Frequent binge drinking or getting severely drunk more than twice is classed as alcohol misuse.
Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one's health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Certain manifestations of alcohol abuse include suicide; failure to fulfill responsibilities at work, school or home; drinking in dangerous situations, such as while driving; legal problems associated with alcohol use; and continued drinking despite problems that are caused or worsened by drinking. Alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol dependence.
Alcohol abuse has both short-term and long-term risks. If a person has driven while drunk or regularly binge drinks (more than 5 standard drinks in one drinking session), they are considered to have been involved in alcohol abuse. Short-term abuses of alcohol include, but are not limited to, violence, injuries, unprotected sexual activities, as well as social and financial problems.
In the USA, binge drinking is defined as consuming more than 5 units in men and 4 units in women. It increases chances for vandalism, fights, injuries, drunk driving, trouble with police, and negative health, social, economic, or legal consequences to occur. Binge drinking is also associated with neurocognitive deficits of frontal lobe processing and impaired working memory as well as delayed auditory and verbal memory deficits.
Substance (Drug) Abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance (drug) that is not considered dependent. Substance abuse/drug abuse is not limited to mood-altering or psycho-active drugs. Activity is also considered substance abuse when inappropriately used (as in the case of propofol and Michael Jackson's death, or steroids for performance enhancement in sports). Therefore, mood-altering and psychoactive substances are not the only drugs of abuse. Substance abuse often includes problems with impulse control and impulsivity.
The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in non-medical contexts. The terms have a huge range of definitions related to taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a nont-herapeutic or nonm-edical effect.
Some of the drugs most often associated with this term include alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines (particularly temazepam, nimetazepam, and flunitrazepam), cocaine, methaqualone, and opioids. Use of these drugs may lead to criminal penalty in addition to possible physical, social, and psychological harm, both strongly depending on local jurisdiction.
Bystander Behavior
We all have a role to play in supporting our friends, family members, co-workers and even complete strangers, at times, when it comes to alcohol abuse, including binge drinking, and substance/drug abuse. Whether the scenario is a prolonged use of a drug or an in-the-moment situation (drinking then driving), we have opportunities to intervene. And, to be a hero — for them and for others who may be impacted by the abuse.
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