We hear about it, see it, and feel its consequences every day, in the media, in school, in the workplace, in our homes. It costs this country untold amounts in property damage and loss, treatment of illness and injury, and even death. Substance use, such as the morning cup of coffee, the social drink, or the prescribed or recommended medication, is frequently accepted as normal behavior. Abuse occurs when the use of these substances begins to affect relationships, school or work performance, or personal finances, or cause other negative behaviors. Just about everyone has or will be faced with making decisions about substance use or abuse, however it touches our lives.
Education is the first and most critical step toward making the right decision.
Who is at Risk. Accessibility, peer pressure and the appeal of the physical effects draw people from all walks of life into substance abuse. Many times abuse starts as experimentation. People want to satisfy their curiosity about the drugs, and they are usually in control of their situation. As they continue using the substances to the point of excess, their control slips away and they develop an addiction, eventually leaving them powerless to stop.