alcohol abuse

most people have had too much to drink atleast once in their lives.? unfortunately, people don't always recognize the dangerof drinking alcohol... or using drugs. — they start out thinking that they arein complete control... only to find themselves ruled bythe substances that they use.? the term "substance abuse" can mean: — the overuse of alcohol.— misuse of over-the-counter medications andprescription drugs. — use of illegal drugs.— "huffing" chemicals that produce noxious

vapors,such as solvents, lighter fluid and glue. — eating "magic mushrooms" and other toxicplants. ? substances that produce a "high" affecthow the central nervous system functions.— depressants, such as alcohol, marijuana andtranquilizers, slow down brain activity. — stimulants, including cocaine, crack andmethamphetamine, speed it up. — narcotic analgesics, such as heroin, morphineand oxycontin numb the senses.— hallucinogens like lsd alter the way that the brainprocesses information.

when people think of substance abuse, they oftenpicture an addict living on the street.— but the fact is that most abusers have jobs.— they are frequently able to conceal their problemfrom their employers, coworkers and even their families. 3? alcohol is by far the most commonly abused of all drugs.— in the united states alone there are over 50 millionbinge drinkers. — nearly half of all serious workplace accidentsare caused by people drinking on the job.— and 25,000 people die each year in alcohol-related

vehicle crashes!? impairment starts with the first drink! — and after only a few drinks it's extremelyunsafe to operate vehicles or machinery of any type.? a person who is drunk may act irrationally, haveemotional outbursts... even become violent. — although no one should be allowed behindthe wheel while they are intoxicated, it may not besafe for you to try and get their keys.— notify your supervisor if a coworker who appears tobe under the influence is attempting to drive (call thepolice if you are not on the job).

? marijuana is the most commonly used illegaldrug, and is second only to alcohol in its frequency ofabuse. ? like alcohol, marijuana is a depressant.this makes it unsafe for a user to be working because marijuana:— impairs short-term memory. — reduces the ability to concentrate.— affects coordination. — slows reaction time.? as with most illegal drugs, marijuana has a cumulativeeffect. over time, heavy users: — develop a noticeable reduction in theirability to function safely.— tend to lose ambition.

— often suffer from paranoia.— develop negative personality traits that can hurt theirchances for career advancement.4 ? people who smoke marijuana often drink alcoholto increase the "high."— when a person is "doubly impaired" they are muchmore likely to be involved in an accident. ? combining drugs can also lead to an overdose.— for instance, consuming alcohol with strong depressants, such as barbiturates and tranquilizers,can be fatal. ? in the workplace, the most commonly overlookeddepressants are the chemicals that you may use everyday.

— breathing in fumes from aerosol cans,glue or gasoline can cause immediate, irreversibledamage to your brain, lungs and respiratory tract.— you have to be especially careful when workingaround these substances, because it can be easy to"get hooked" on the vapors and not even know it.