Saed News: Sometimes a movie can open our eyes more than a thousand counseling sessions. This film tells a story of downfall and redemption; the story of people who reached the brink of destruction but came back.
Saed News Family Magazine Service Report:
Among addicted individuals who suffer from social harms caused by addiction, behaviors such as frequent late-night outings, repeated and unexplained leaving of the house, secrecy at home and workplace, absenteeism from work, academic decline and dropping out of school, neglect of personal hygiene, and irregularity in appearance and clothing are often observed.
These individuals usually face financial problems and, to obtain drugs or borrow money from others, may resort to begging, stealing from home or others’ belongings, or selling drugs.
Each of the social harms caused by addiction and inappropriate behaviors of addicted individuals, such as repeated arrests, violence, long imprisonments, orphaned families, and divorce, will result.
Co-occurring Diseases with Addiction
The second main factor leading to inappropriate behaviors in addicted individuals is co-occurring diseases. Physical and mental illnesses caused by substance use exacerbate the inappropriate social behaviors of addicts.
Addiction-induced depression intensifies symptoms such as social withdrawal, reduced communication with family, sexual dysfunction, lack of motivation to work, and inability to express affection toward spouse and children.
Psychotic Patients
Psychotic patients resulting from addiction, with their paranoid thoughts toward their spouse, not only destroy the family foundation but sometimes their dangerous behaviors toward their spouse lead to irreparable crimes.
Psychotic addicts, due to feelings of being threatened, pursued, and controlled by enemies and law enforcement, become increasingly isolated from society or escalate to violence and criminal acts.
Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and mood instability in addicts are other illnesses that lead to abnormal social behaviors among substance users.
The Impact of Addiction on Antisocial Behaviors of Addicts
One of the social harms of addiction is its effect on the social behaviors of addicted individuals, to the extent that an addict may develop antisocial personality disorder.
Antisocial personality disorder means that the individual shows signs of ineffective thoughts, behaviors, and perceptions toward others. In some cases, a loved one behaves violently or destructively. Substance abuse or alcohol worsens the condition and complicates addiction treatment.
What Are Antisocial Behaviors?
Antisocial behaviors in addicts do not always indicate personality disorder. Antisocial behaviors refer to any hostile and aggressive actions that disrupt relationships with others. Generally, antisocial behaviors may start in childhood or develop due to substance abuse.
Common behaviors seen in antisocial personality disorder and social harms among addicts include:
Lying
Stealing
Bullying others
Vandalism
Impulsive behaviors
Aggression
Getting into fights
Lack of remorse after harming others
Lack of empathy toward others
Recklessness and disregard for personal or others’ safety
Individuals with antisocial personality disorder or any level of antisocial behavior often act impulsively. They lack empathy and engage in reckless or dangerous behaviors. Sometimes a loved one abuses drugs or alcohol as part of the impulsive and reckless behaviors related to antisocial disorders.
Substance Abuse, Behaviors, and Social Harms of Addicts
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, antisocial behaviors in childhood and adolescence, as well as social harms of addiction, increase the risk of alcohol and other substance abuse. Due to the complexity of behaviors and situations, the exact cause of substance abuse depends on context.
In many cases, addiction results from impulsive behaviors. However, some individuals abuse drugs or alcohol due to overlapping environmental or genetic factors that increase addiction and substance abuse risks.
Substance abuse affects antisocial behaviors by preventing individuals from engaging in social norms, causing social harms and continuing aggressive behaviors. When a person with signs of antisocial behaviors or personality disorder abuses drugs or alcohol, they continue criminal activities or refuse to stop inappropriate social behaviors.
Reducing the Risks of Social Harms from Addiction
Since antisocial behaviors and social harms in addicts lead to lack of empathy and criminal behaviors, substance abuse damages the individual's ability to conform to social norms.
Essentially, social harms of addiction worsen the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder, leading to more severe criminal activities, violent behaviors, or disregard for others’ rights.
For someone affected by both, simultaneous treatment of substance abuse and antisocial behaviors allows learning valuable life skills and adopting healthier behaviors. It also reduces the risk of criminal acts or reckless actions, improving the health and wellbeing of the individual and their loved ones.
Social harms of addiction cause individuals not to cease criminal activities as they worsen antisocial behaviors in addicts. With professional treatment for addiction and antisocial behaviors, a person learns healthier ways to manage symptoms of the disorder and begins improving their behaviors.
