Assignment:
Substance Abuse
There has been a number of studies done to understand why individuals turn to substance abuse but there has not any success in the studies. There are some studies that say that it is a personality issue that leads to substance abuse which has not been proven. Personality research continues to be a factor in the study of alcoholics and drug abusers. There has been suggestion that it is more common ground among adolescents who have shown with signs of one or more of the following: rebelliousness, other adjustment problems, depression, and sensation seeking (Kandel& Yamaguchi, 1985; Stein et al., 1987; Shelder & Block, 1990). None of these factors have been proven to account for the abuse of drugs and alcohol. Studies have had the evidence to show that pre-drinking personality traits are in those that have had a drinking problem since an early age. There is evidence that suggest that people who have a genetically determined brain disorder involving the prefrontal lobes (Tarter et al., 1988). These occurrences lead to deficit disorders, pre-alcoholic essential tremor, emotional instability, and aggressiveness not excluding others.
When dealing with substance abuse in the workplace individuals do not leave these problems at home. Of the 17.2 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2005, 12.9 million (74.8 percent) were employed either full or part time (OSHA). Many who have had accidents in the workplace and have ended up dying, because they have been known to test positive from some kind of substance. Some effects of substance abuse in the workplace are mistakes that are not normally usual. There have been workplace injuries because of substance abuse. There are many substance abuse incidents that has affected the workplace and the individuals involved do not realize the affects that it has on not only the company's but other employees.