Alcohol and Drug Abuse

This topic examines the psychological and clinical dimensions of alcohol and drug abuse, with an emphasis on denial, dependency, codependency, and manipulation in abusive relationships. It details the pathophysiology, symptoms, and management of alcohol-related disorders such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome, pharmacological interventions like Antabuse therapy, and the classification of drugs as stimulants (“uppers”) or depressants (“downers”) with associated overdose and withdrawal presentations. Special attention is given to neonatal drug exposure, distinguishing intoxication from withdrawal, and differentiating between alcohol withdrawal and delirium tremens to guide timely, evidence-based, and safety-focused interventions.