ALCOHOL ABUSE |
|
Alcoholism is the compulsive consumption of alcohol. Some believe it to be a biological disease. The etiology and nature of alcoholism are both currently being debated within the medical and scientific communities and the very definition of alcoholism is a part of that debate. Alcoholism is often a controversial subject and the disease hypothesis represents a focus of the debate.
|
DRUG ABUSE |
|
Drug abuse has a wide range of definitions, all of them relating to the use, misuse or overuse of a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. Some of the most commonly abused drugs include alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, methaqualone, nicotine, opium alkaloids, and minor tranquilizers. Use of these drugs may lead to criminal penalty in addition to physical, social, and psychological harm.[1] Other definitions of drug abuse fall into four main categories: Public health definitions, Mass communication and vernacular usage, Medical definitions, and Political and criminal justice definitions.
|
PSYCHIATRY |
|
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that studies, diagnoses, and treats mental illness and behavioral disorders. While all physicians will encounter patients with mental illnesses and any of them may treat it, psychiatrists specialize in these areas. They are more extensively trained in the differential diagnosis (the distinguishing of various forms) and treatment of mental illness. Given the advantage of the preliminary medical training as well as further specialist training, psychiatry when practised properly offers a truly holistic approach to patient care. Many other professionals also provide mental health care, such as psychologists, nurse practitioners, counselors, physician assistants, and social workers. In general only doctors, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants may prescribe mental health medication in the United States[1]. In some countries, mental health medication may only be prescribed by medical doctors.
|
|
