Recognize Indications of Substance Misuse

ASM 1: Recognise indications of substance misuse and refer to specialists 1.1 – Substance abuse covers misuse of a range of mind altering substances. It can have a severe impact on your functioning as well as your physical health. Substance abuse or misuse is defined as the continued misuse of any mind-altering substance that severely affects person’s physical and mental health, social situation and responsibilities. Alcohol dependence is the most common form of substance misuse, but any drug, including heroin, cocaine, crack and cannabis, comes into this category, as does the misuse of glue and aerosols. Substance abuse may also include smoking cigarettes or drinking excessive amounts of coffee. Although not strictly a form of substance abuse, the eating disorder bulimia nervosa does involve the misuse of food. Most forms of substance abuse may give you a temporary feeling of well-being or of being in control, but all of them can ultimately damage your health. Caffeine
Coffee, tea and chocolate all contain caffeine. It is also added to some soft drinks and energy drinks as well an ingredient in some painkillers and cold remedies. The average cup of coffee contains around 40mg of caffeine per cup, a can of cola around 23mg, and some energy drinks have four times that amount. Plain chocolate has 40mg caffeine per 100g – nearly three times as much as milk chocolate Drugs
Medicinal drugs, such as tranquillisers and sleeping tablets, may have been prescribed for very good reasons, but they can also cause health problems if used for long periods. Tranquillisers are thought only to really help anxiety for about a month and sleeping tablets are only effective for a couple of weeks. After that time people will need a higher dose to get the same effect. Street drugs, such as cannabis or ecstasy, are usually taken for recreational purposes. How they affect you will depend on the type of drug, your own physiology, the amount you use, your mood and your