Abuse of Legal and Illegal Drugs

2368 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: marijuana effects

Drug abuse is “a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.114-115). The difference between using drugs and abusing drugs depends on three things, what the drug is for, how much of the drug is used, and the effect that the drug has on the person. Drug abuse typically relates to one using drugs in an excessive manner, whether the drug is legal or illegal. For example, marijuana is illegal in some states, but in other states, it is not. It is legal if you are using the drug for a specific reason under written consent of a doctor. You can use the drug, such as marijuana, in an excessive manner, which can result in the person abusing the drug. Just like alcohol, it is legal, but if you drink a lot of it, you can become impaired, increasing the risk of trouble with you and the law. Therefore, there is a thin line between “use” and “abuse”. Abuse has a lot to do with the “law and other social norms” (Macionis, 2010, p. 211). In order to understand what drug abuse is, we would have to understand what a drug exactly is.

What is a drug? Moreover, what types of drugs are there?

A drug is “any chemical substance other than food or water that affects the mind or body” (Goldstein, 2004; Macionis, 2010, p. 208). Six different types of drugs that are legal and illegal in the world that are popular are stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, cannabis, steroids, and prescription drugs. Stimulants affect the person’s mood when using this drug. It also provides alertness and increases your energy (Macionis, 2010). Examples of stimulants are Caffeine, Nicotine, Cocaine and Crack. Caffeine is one of the most popular drugs used in the United...

... middle of paper ...

...hat is prescribed by a medical doctor or what is directed for over the counter drugs. Drug abuse is the process of an individual overdosing, or using the drug in an improper manner that is against the law.

An individual can commit drug abuse to their own prescribed medications by taking more than what is recommended or by taking other drugs along with that drug, they were originally intended to take. There have been advertisements around inner cities that advocate for prescription drug abuse and posting on city subways information on how to discard expired medications so that it does not fall into the wrong hands. This topic was something important to the author of this paper. The author of this paper can relate to the topic on drugs and how it affects the individual because the author of this paper has had experience with the use of drugs and drug abuse.

Show More
Related

  • 1970s Drugs And Their Effect On Culture Essay

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    A drug is a medicine or other substance that has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. Many people use drugs without realizing how addictive they can become. During the 1960s and 1970s drugs had a huge impact on the people and as years went on they became more and more dangerous to the point where marijuana, and LSDs were becoming popular and the group most affected were teenagers.

    Read More

  • Amy Winehouse Drug Abuse Research Paper

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    Typically, almost everyone in the world has taken drugs at some point in their life. Whether it be over the counter medication or prescription drugs. People get sick, they have illness, allegories, sexually transmitted diseases or other aches and pains. As you may already know, there is medication for each aforementioned problem. This is called drug use, which is using drugs for its intended purpose. However, the real dilemma happens when people began to misuse and abuse drugs.

    Read More

  • Functionalist and Interactionalist Perspective on Illegal Drugs

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although drugs are used in an illegal aspect for the most part, there are accounts of medical research to prove the positive effects on some patients with long-term diseas...

    Read More

  • Drugs In Canada Essay

    1671 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to the oxford dictionary the term drug is defined as “A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body” .Broadly speaking drugs can be classified into two group’s pharmacological drugs and recreational drugs. Pharmacological drugs are usually prescribed by doctors or pharmacist and recreational drugs are usually legal or illegal drugs. Pharmacological drugs are chemical substance used to cure or prevent diseases or to enhance the physical and mental well-being of a person. Recreational drugs are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system which are generally used to have a good time or for enjoyment purposes because these help in forgetting unhappy memories for a time being and create pleasure. Unfortunately both the pharmacological and recreational drugs have created problems in the Canadian society. A UN report said, "The global drug trade generated an estimated US $321.6 billion in 2003”, and Canadians are among the top participants on illegal drug.

    Read More

  • Barbara Ehrenreich 's Nickel And Dimed

    1158 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...able to use them, without even wondering if they are being properly or overly used. The Journal of Drug Issues “found that access to prescription drugs often came from friends and peers, as well as family and doctors”(CITATION). When drug uses is so close to home, it is hard to call it abuse when it goes too far. Often, Family members or friends who are trying to help a loved one in pain suggest medications that only cause more trouble. With their encouragement, it is easy to go too far.

    Read More

  • Psychoactive Drugs and Their Effect on Consciousness

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    Psychoactive drugs are defined as chemical substances that affect the brain’s functioning, causing changes in behavior, mood and consciousness. There are several different types of psychoactive drugs;, some of these include: stimulants, depressants, and most importantly hallucinogens or psychedelics. Humans have used these different types of drugs since before recorded history. These drugs are used for a variety of reasons such as medical purposes, religious practices, spiritual growth, and even recreation. Worldwide, about 200 million people use some type of illicit drug, most commonly cannabis or better known as marijuana. The use of illicit drugs is more most frequent among males and younger people (WHO).

    Read More

  • Essay On Substance Abuse Recovery

    622 Words  | 2 Pages

    Drug abuse: any substances ingested and cause the human body to experience an alteration of structure and function (Palmisano 2001). There are many persons and communities at large that are affected by drug abuse. According to one source drug abuse is not confined to an individual alone it is also a social problem (Palmisano 2001). The problem of drug abuse is obviously a plague on the public health system the fact is supported by the National Institute on drug abuse they presented the fact that drug abuse

    Read More

  • The Economics of Illicit Drugs

    1305 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the United States there are two types of drugs legal and illegal. The legal drugs have two subcategories, prescription and over the counter. Prescription drugs are placed into different categories called schedules. The ones that have a highest chance for abuse or addiction have a higher place in the schedule. Schedule I drugs are the drugs that have no safe or accepted medical use in the United States. Examples are heroin, marijuana, LSD, PCP, and crack cocaine. As you go down the schedule the drugs become less addictive and have a small potential for abuse, but are still controlled by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Schedule V are the lowest controlled drugs. Examples are codeine, valium and xanax Non prescription drugs are those that are sold over the counter and you do not need a prescription to purchase.

    Read More

  • Drug Abuse In Dante's Inferno

    927 Words  | 2 Pages

    Drug abuse encompasses anything from habitual intakes to a lethal consumption of drugs. These substances cause a lot of damage to the body, both physically and mentally. Usually, drugs are used as a way to relieve oneself

    Read More

  • Is Addiction A Choice Or A Disease Essay

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    People use substances, such as drugs, for a variety of reasons. It becomes drug abuse when they use illegal drugs or use legal drugs inappropriately. This means if someone repeats the use of drugs to produce pleasure, reduce stress, or avoid reality. Also, it includes using prescription drugs

    Read More

  • Past and Current Trends of Drug Abuse in the United States

    700 Words  | 2 Pages

    Drug abuse has changed over the years due to the trends that Americans face from the encouragement of different cultures. The abuse of substances creates many health problems. The following will discuss the past and current trends of drug use and the effects these drugs have on the health of the individuals who abuse the drugs.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Drug Abuse

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    Users who abuse drugs by prescription improperly use them by taking somebody else 's prescription, taking medication to get high, or taking medication in other ways than applied

    Read More

  • Consequences: The Cause and Effect of Drug Use

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Drug Effects On Family: Effects Of Drug Abuse On The Family

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    Drug abuse is defined as the excessive use of medication or substances which are either legal or illegal without the prescription of a physician. While some drugs are legal, overdosing is considered as drug abuse as the medicine is only healthy and helpful when taken in the required amount with the permission of a doctor. Other forms of drug abuse entail the use of substance that is either discouraged by healthcare association or illegalized by authorities. The users may use the drugs in order to feel a rush of energy or appear calm than normal. Drug abuse is a problem that affects the users, their close relatives and the society they live in (Barnard, 2007). There are different types of drugs that are abused ranging from extremely

    Read More

  • Drugs in Our Society

    1265 Words  | 3 Pages

    With the use of drugs being such a controversial issue in today’s society we felt as a group it was important to further explore this issue. As we possess a high interest in how drugs affect a number of social groups. These groups of course range from young teens to high-class older individuals who will have different reasons and different acceptable standards of behaviour.

    Read More

More about Abuse of Legal and Illegal Drugs

Open Document