Cocaine Case Study Response Cocaine is a serious drug. This case shows quite a number of indications of chronic cocaine use. According to the DSM-5, Diagnostic, and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, when two or more of the diagnostic criteria are present, with regard to cocaine or similar substance, one is characterized with stimulant use disorder. The stimulant use disorder encompasses compounds such as amphetamine, cocaine, or other unspecified stimulants. The law student began using cocaine recreationally, which is common. He deduced that the much could be accomplished while using the drug. Subsequently, he needed to increase the amounts being dosed and its delivery method. He quickly realized that cocaine was literally better
Only two in the list of diagnosis criteria are necessary to form this conclusion. Evidenced in his actions, the criteria present are, 1) the substance is being consumed in larger amounts; 2) the drug forced him to add to the dosage or decrease the time between injections to achieve the desired high. Next, 3) the time spent to purchase, use, and recover from the effects was increased and the fact that he was financially comfortable aided in this endeavor. Fourth, 4) he regularly used in hazardous situations. The list kept hitting its target with him, 5) the use, even with likelihood of personal hazard, was continued and 6) the tolerance level is increased. These are the basis for the diagnosis from his actions. He did not give up any social activities for the drugs but he did create activities around the drug use. Only two criteria were needed but he displayed at least six of the 11
Cranston (2016) suggests that cocaine does not require a medical detox but more a mental one. Cocaine tends to work differently because of this type of addiction. Cocaine abuse also can have physical ramifications to the body such as, sleep deprivation can become chronic sleep disorders. These disorders have a greater opportunity for immune system illnesses. Since cocaine is a stimulant, the heart is at an increased risk of damage. For instance, the chemical use has compromised his relationships, especially with women. As is typical with cocaine users, less than optimum nutrition is common (Cranston, 2016). With this in mind, detoxification will be more successful in a structured detox program facility (NASAIC). Especially since finances were not hindering his use, a structured facility will help remove the drug from his system and hopefully his mind.
A strong support system is crucial to any treatment program. This is where the meetings, sponsor, and of course a detailed treatment plan become important aspects of continued recovery. It is customary to refrain from serious relationships during treatment. He will need to rethink his ability to study or perform in his law career without the added rush of cocaine. I am confident that the cravings or triggers will be great. A list or schedule of sorts may be necessary to put these in perspective. Naturally, his friends will have to be changed or kept
The Cocaine Kids are about kids of New York, cocaine, and the way these kids do illegal business within their impoverished towns. There were drastic changes in the cocaine trade; from the preferred method of use, the value, to the ways it was prepared and distributed to the clients. The cocaine industry went from trying the cocaine before purchasing it, to it being prepackaged to make it simple and avoid arguments. The kids set up a crew of individuals who thought they would consider as trustful individuals. The
“Just Say No!” A statement that takes us deep into yet another decade in the history of the United States which was excited by controversies, social issues, and drug abuse. The topic of this statement is fueled by the growing abuse of cocaine in the mid 1980s. I shall discuss the effects of the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid 1980s from a cultural and social stand point because on that decade this country moved to the rhythms and the pace of this uncanny drug. Cocaine took its told on American society by in the 1980s; it ravaged with every social group, race, class, etc. It reigned over the United States without any prejudices. Crack cocaine was the way into urban society, because of its affordability in contrast to the powdered form. In society the minorities were the ones most affected by the growing excess of crime and drug abuse, especially African Americans; so the question was “Why was nearly everybody convicted in California federal court of crack cocaine trafficking black?” (Webb: Day 3). The growing hysteria brought forth many questions which might seem to have concrete answers, but the fact of the matter is they are all but conspiracy in the end, even though it does not take away the ambiguity and doubt. I will take on only a few topics from the vast array of events and effects this period in time had tended to. Where and who this epidemic seemed to affect more notably, and perhaps how the drugs came about such territories and people. What actions this countries authority took to restore moral sanity, and how it affected people gender wise.
When most people think of cocaine they mainly think of this drug being very powerful and addicted, and “cocaine is found in all parts of the coca plant, comprising approximately 1% of the weight of the leaves” (Warner, 1993, p.226). Over some years cocaine has become the most abused drug across the nation especially in the 1900s. It was a popular drug at the time almost everyone was using it and with just one time self-administering the drug people were experiencing addiction-like symptoms to this drug.
There are three different stages to addiction, the first being the adaptive stage. In this stage, the user is on top of his/her game. They feel as if they can function better while on the drug and are able to handle larger amounts. This is the person that can smoke crack before they go to work and will probably be more productive then most. “Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty predicting or controlling the extent to which he or she will continu...
Clayton, R. R. (1996). Cocaine use in the United States: In a blizzard or just being snowed. Cocaine Use in America: Epidemiologic and Clinical Perspectives. National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Monograph, 61, 8-34.
drug primarily is considered a highly addictive drug of choice. The other drug that John tes...
Drugs and Behavior, Rebecca Schilit and Edith Lisansky Gomberg, Page 62, SAGE Publications, Inc.- 1991
The current “War on Drugs” involves skirmishes in an arena with two fronts: The consumer and the manufacturer. The successes and failures of the battle are not clearly identified without first looking at how the battle can be ultimately won. When it comes to cocaine, the problem of punishing the whole instead of the individual is hard to define. Many countries use the raw ingredient, the coca plant, as part of a social and cultural structure. The only way to win the “War on Drugs” is to focus war efforts on fighting the manufacturer of the finished cocaine product.
The use of cocaine in the United States has declined over the last twenty years while the use of crack has increased. Many people avoided the use of crack because of the harmful chemicals used in creating the drug. One of the reasons why crack became popular is because of not needing to inject the drug hence less risks of being infected by the AIDS virus. Carroll (2000) states cocaine is the most powerful stimulant of natural origin. Most users snort or inject the drug to enable a quicker “high.” Cocaine use brings on many health problems. Fatal complications occur from regular use, for example, liver damage, seizures, elevated blood pressure causing stroke, heart failure, or heart attack.
The repeated use of drugs often causes both physical and psychological dependence, as mentioned in an article by the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (“Drug Dependence”). In order for an individual to truly be set free from their addiction, seeking treatment is necessary. Rehab centers are a great place with scientifically proven methods to cure those addicted to drugs. It is important to try to end drug use in our country, rather than allowing it to continue longer than it already has. While funding for rehabilitation facilities could become an issue, drug users may continue their addiction without proper treatment, and therefore those arrested for drug use should be sent to a rehabilitation center instead of prison.
Drug use as well as drug abuse is on a constant rise. There is a wide spread misunderstanding about drugs. Many believe a drug is something that the government has said is illegal to use or consume. However this is not entirely true. A drug is any chemical you take that affects the way your body works. Alcohol, caffeine, aspirin and nicotine are all drugs. A drug must be able to pass from your body into your brain. Once inside your brain, drugs can change the messages your brain cells are sending to each other, and to the rest of your body. They do this by interfering with your brain's own chemical signals, I will discuss this further later on in the paper.
Abuse can cause countless medical problems to the body. A person who is addicted will continue to stimulate themselves regardless if they are aware of the negative chain reactions. Once addicted, it becomes difficult to stop due to how the body has become dependent. Health will be harmed the more a stimulant is used. Health effects include: cardiovascular disease, strokes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, lung disease, mental disease, birth defects. Mental health is what keeps a person in the right mind to make better decisions and have better control in life. Drugs have the ability to change mood and behavior. If drugs have affected the brain already, the desire increases which changes mental health. Some may not realize that they have been affected their health negatively. “A person who abuses drugs may not realize they have a problem until pronounced effects of drug abuse are seen, often physically. While drug abuse effects on the body vary depending on the drug used, all drug abuse negatively impacts one 's health (Addictions Community). Since drugs create many health issues, treatment is not a simple task. Treatments are hard to obtain and addictions often go
People are trapped in drug addiction due to various reasons. Some will try to take drugs because of curiosity. Some have many people and friends take drugs, and some want to have the experience. Athletes take drugs with the aim of improving their performance as well as to reduce certain problems. i.e. depression, stress, or anxiety. The use of drugs does not lead to drug addiction automatically. It is not possible to measure the level at which the use of drugs may be regarded as casual or even problematic. It depends on the individual. Drug addiction is not determined by the amount of drugs consumed or the many times they are consumed, but the consequences brought about by the drug addiction. This means that irrespective of the small amount one consumes, as long as the use of drugs leads to problems in life, there is a high chance of drug addiction (Sinha 351). Although many unfortunate factors cause one to fall into drug addiction, many treatments exist to save an individual from the horrible consequences. This paper discusses some of them, for instance, family history of addiction, social environment, heredity, mental addiction, peer pressure, and escapism. The paper will also highlight the symptoms, physical addiction, and withdrawal. Finally, the paper aims at highlighting methods used to ensure an individual is able to recover from drug addiction. The family history of the drug or alcohol addict is likely to place an individual in a high risk position of becoming addicted to drugs. Genetics, however, do no guarantee that an individual with a family history of drug addiction will become an addict. This is because there is no single gene, which has been identified to be responsible for passing the addictive trai...
There are many addictions in the world, and drug addiction is the biggest. People may experiment with the drug for many reasons. “If your drug use is causing problems in your life, then you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem”.(Lawrence Robinson pg.1) Many people start out using drugs by peer pressure or out of their own curiosity. Stress, anxiety, lows self-esteem and depression could be another factor to start using drugs. The drug takes over your body and gives you a good feeling that many people tend to enjoy. The urge to use the drug can keep increasing rapidly after the first use. The urge can become so severe that your mind can find many other ways to deny the factor of addiction. Very few drug addicts can feel and realize when they have crossed the line with drugs. A drug addicts mind can build up a very large tolerance for the drug that they start to abandon the activities they used to do on a daily basis like showering, hobbies, socializing and even being associated with family members. The person with the addiction will continue to use the drug knowing that it is harming there body, but they don’t have any remorse. A drug addict will often try to hide their problem, so they can continue to use without anyone’s input. Family and friends may try to use preaching methods or tell the user that they need to stop using the drug. This method is not ...
The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.