How people progress from casual, social use to alcohol and drug abuse to full scale addiction is complex. We know that Tuolumne County residents tend to begin their substance use during adolescence. Most adolescents either start by drinking alcohol (beer) or smoking marijuana or cigarettes. They oftentimes begin their drug and alcohol use as a kind of experiment, very much like a rite of passage that is motivated primarily by curiosity. There are four reasons why adolescents continue to drink and use drugs after that initial experiment; relaxation (cope with stress), intoxication (they like the way it makes them feel), to feel grown up and to fit in with their peers.
Most people grow out of this experimental phase within a few years but others do not and that is when the problem really begins.
You can speak with a counselor today about treatment options.
Addiction and alcoholism at their core are childhood illness because they commonly begin as a teenager or preteen. The roots of drug and alcohol dependency are therefore childhood matters but not at all childish matters. We know that adolescents who have the greatest risk of developing drug and alcohol dependency come from families with a history of substance abuse, suffer from depression or don’t feel like they are in the mainstream.
Tuolumne County adolescents reported two major consequences related to alcohol abuse; fighting and unwanted/unprotected sex. Approximately one third of all Tuolumne County teenagers reported driving an automobile after drinking or using drugs - or being in a car with a driver who recently drank alcohol or used drugs. We also know that teenager drug and alcohol abuse commonly develop into long-term lifestyle choices that often lead to lower incomes, underdeveloped social skills, strained relationships, mental health problems and shortened life spans.
We know that females who drink or use drugs have a markedly greater likelihood of being raped while under the influence. We also know that females who abuse drugs and alcohol have greater side-effects per unit (ounce, gram, cigarette) compared to their male counterpart. This is due, primarily to the fact that females on average have lower body weight and lower water density. The intensity of side-effects may account for the lower number of females who develop dependency problems. However, recent studies have shown a significant rise in the percentage and number of females who use and abuse drugs and alcohol each day. In fact, recent data shows that significantly more young females (12-17 year olds) than young males reported non-medical use of psychotherapeutics; tranquilizers, painkillers, sedatives and stimulants. Another revealing statistic is that approximately 30% of females compared to 35% of males who needed drug treatment received it in the last year.
We know that many more men than women will ultimately succumb to the effects of drugs and alcohol. We also know that the long-term effects of drugs and alcohol on men tend to be much more serious. Many Tuolumne County men will shorten their life spans by as much as 25% due primarily to alcohol and drug abuse. Male alcoholics and drug addicts also run a much higher risk of developing rare diseases such as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, Hepatitis C, HIV, Beri Beri and others.
Alcohol and drug abuse has a broad and significant impact on the overall health and well being of all Tuolumne County residents. Addictive behaviors drive up Tuolumne County health care costs, crime prevention costs, judicial costs, education costs, etc...
Drug and alcohol abuse plays a significant role in just about every other problem facing Tuolumne County such as violent crime, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), child abuse, child neglect, suicide, teen pregnancy, accidents, injuries, domestic violence, homelessness and mental health disorders.
Tuolumne County addiction treatment programs promote individual and familial health for all age groups. Many county and public organizations are designing creative and effective solutions to help Tuolumne County residents recover from alcoholism, prescription medication addiction, heroin addiction and drug addiction.
The goal of drug addiction and alcoholism prevention is to free alcoholics and drug addicts from their dependency to alcohol and drugs; improve their physical and mental health and develop warning signs to head off relapse.
Alcohol, prescription medication and drug detoxification centers that effectively detoxify their clients in an inpatient drug and alcohol rehab facility tend to show greater results than outpatient alternatives.
Find a drug rehab center or alcohol treatment facility by calling our Addiction Hotline.
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