According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, around 22 million Americans had abused recreational drugs, or had used anti psychotics for recreational purposes. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has also estimated that around 28% of women binge drink, as do 43% of men. With such a high proportion of society choosing to abuse drugs and alcohol, a rising number of people are beginning to require outpatient drug and alcohol treatment.
Definition of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
In strict technical terms, drug abuse can be defined as taking any recreational drug that is not permitted legally, or using a prescribed drug for recreational purposes. However, not every individual who does this will have a drug addiction. In order for an addiction to be diagnosed, the person abusing drugs must be unable to cope with them on a daily basis. They will most likely require drugs to meet their everyday needs such as social interactions, staying awake, or having fun.
Alcoholism has a similar definition; it is a word used to describe alcohol dependence. This means an alcoholic cannot function without alcohol, and it can be as serious as needing to drink first thing in the morning. An alcohol problem may also be suspected if the individual is drinking alone on a regular basis, must drink to stop shakes, or they spend a lot of their time in places where it is socially acceptable to drink alcohol. Treatments of Drug and Alcohol are available in Florida and other US states.
