Drug abuse dates as far back as the Biblical era, so it is not a new phenomenon. “The emotional and social damage and the devastation linked to drugs and their use is immeasurable.” The ripple of subversive and detrimental consequences from alcoholism, drug addictions, and addictive behavior is appalling. Among the long list of effects is lost productivity, anxiety, depression, increased crime rate, probable incarceration, frequent illness, and premature death. The limitless consequences include the destruction to personal development, relationships, and families (Henderson 1-2). “Understandably, Americans consider drug abuse to be one of the most serious problems” in the fabric of society. And although “addiction is the result of voluntary drug use, addiction is no longer voluntary behavior, it’s uncontrollable behavior,” says Alan Leshner, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Torr 12-13).
Addiction is a progressive, chronic, and ultimately a fatal disease. It is progressive in the sense that if it is left untreated it will get worse. Chronic means long term. Once one becomes dependent, it is like diabetes, in that diabetes is an incurable disease that can only be controlled. Long-term addictions have the high potential to lead to death through overdose, AIDs, suicide, or an accident (Aronson 17). The cycle of addiction tends to follow a pattern.
People first take drugs for many different reasons. Early on, drug experimentation can stem from curiosity, peer pressure and influence, or because of the environment people live in (Nagle 17). For example, in the East Side of downtown it is apparent that drug dealing and drug usage is prevalent. The police recently arrested 54 individuals from the East Side. Unfortunately it was just one block out of approximately 50 more on that side of town.
Next comes the social use stage. This is the stage where most individuals tend to stop or control their usage. People will try it and occasionally use drugs to “cut loose”, party, and have a good time, generally if, and only if, everyone else around them is doing it. Otherwise they could either take it or leave it and don’t necessarily seek out illegal drugs.
However, as a tolerance to the substances begins to build and the social group changes from friends in the same peer group to primarily drug users and abusers, that is when the drug...
... middle of paper ...
...er says, that “eventually, the drugs decrease the person’s ability to experience pleasure without a drug” (Torr 13).
Enfin, one of the most browbeating and frustrating things in the world is the disease of addiction. It is a progressive, chronic, and often fatal disease that takes control of life away from people. However, “drugs are here to stay, and...we have no choice but to learn how to live with them so that they cause the least possible harm” (Torr 116). Unfortunately, ten percent of all eighth graders and twenty percent of all tenth graders are using marijuana at least once a month (Torr 38).
Works Cited
Aronson, Virginia. "Junior Drug Awareness." Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2011.
“Dopamine System May Be the Key to Addiction.” News Briefs. Nature Magazine. May-June 2012. National Drug Strategy Network. Web. 20 Apr. 2015
http://www.ndsn.org/newbriefs.html
Henderson, Elizabeth Connell. Understanding Addiction. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2013.
Nagle, Jeanne. Everything You Need to Know About Drug Addiction. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2012.
Torr, James D. Drug Abuse: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that drug abuse dates back to the biblical era, so it is not a new phenomenon. the ripple of subversive and detrimental consequences from alcoholism, drug addictions, and addictive behavior is appalling.
- Explains addiction is a progressive, chronic, and ultimately fatal disease. long-term addictions can lead to death through overdose, aids, suicide, or an accident.
- Explains that drug experimentation can stem from curiosity, peer pressure and influence, or because of the environment people live in. the police recently arrested 54 individuals from the east side.
- Explains the social use stage, where most individuals tend to stop or control their use. people will occasionally use drugs to "cut loose", party, and have a good time.
- Opines that drug abuse starts as a tolerance to substances builds and the social group changes from friends to primarily drug users and abusers.
- Explains that addiction is the result of drugs changing your brain in fundamental ways.
- Explains that when a person believes that they need drugs to survive, they are psychologically addicted, or dependent. they only feel right when they're high on drugs.
- Explains that physical addiction is a result of the psychological. people who are addicted will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they become abstinent from the drug.
- Explains that our bodies have a system of checks and balances that keep us from being too happy, toosad, or stressed out--too anything.
- Explains that genetically driven individuals' dopamine systems are not up to par. they are more susceptible to addiction because it is in their genetic makeup. repeated use of drugs causes the shutdown of some of these receptors.
- Explains that addiction is a progressive, chronic, and often fatal disease that takes control of life away from people. ten percent of eighth graders use marijuana at least once per month.
- Cites annon, virginia, "junior drug awareness." nature magazine, may-june 2012. national drug strategy network.
Related
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- argumentative
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- Explains that the shift in view of addiction is influenced by the current medicalization framework in which problems and behaviors have become described and treated as medical problems.
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- Explains that addiction is a disease because of the changes it causes on the normal functioning of an addict's brain.
- Explains that addiction is a disease because of complex physiological procedures involved in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors.
- Argues that gerber's fundamental issue is not whether addiction is a disease but on why this question is still asked.
- Explains that excessive drug use and abuse leads to addiction, which disrupts normal functions of nerve cells in two ways. one is by imitating the ordinary chemical messengers of the brain, while the other involves over stimulating the reward circuit.
- Explains that biological studies on addition have focused on the involvement of dopamine in the drug addiction process.
- Explains that the increase in dopamine results in a brain saturated in the chemical or neurotransmitters, particularly in sections that control feelings of joy, movement, motivation, and emotion. this in turn produces euphoric impacts in reaction to psychoactive drugs.
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- Explains that the decision to use drugs is influenced mainly in childhood. most high-risk children are effected by personal and family circumstances. academic problems and rebellious, anti-social behavior in elementary school are also linked to drug problems.
- Explains that the united states is a 'drinking society' and that prolonged or excessive alcohol use can lead to alcoholism. the production, distribution, and marketing of alcoholic beverages are employers of many people.
- Argues that despite the fast-paced growth and apparent success of alcoholics anonymous over the past 50 years, american society has collectively neglected alcolhol-related problems.
- Explains that the american medical association declared alcholism a disease in 1956, and the hughes bill of 1970 established the national institute of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
- Explains that the medical profession finally defined the different stages of drinking. social drinking is the recreational drinking of alcholic beverages at meals, parties, and special occasions.
- Explains that drug abuse has been the major concern of american society since the lavish outburst of drug use in the 60s and 70s. congress has passed many bills which establish medical institutions to research solely on drugs and their effects.
- Concludes that drug and alcohol abuse and misuse is a major part of american society.
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- Analyzes how the epidemic of drug abuse affects the nation's health, economic planning, national security, human capacity, educational developments, social harmony, and family well-being. the fda is taking small steps towards a big goal—restore the safe use of pain medicines.
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1696 wordsRead More - Reducing Drug Abuse in the United Statesopinionated essayDrug addiction is a disease of the brain. The initial decision to use drugs is voluntary, however once that decision is made, the decision to become an addict in involuntary. “Addiction affects the brain circuits involved in reward, motivation, memory and inhibitory control. When these circuits are disrupted, so is a person’s capacity to freely choose not to use drugs.” (Addiction Science: From Molecules to Managed Care) Drug addiction and/or abuse is a huge problem in our country today. In order to effectively combat this issue it is important to understand drug addiction; what it is, how it effects people and what our federal government says about it.
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- Explains that there are five different schedules that drugs can be classified by. they all have different levels of dangerousness, medical use and abuse potential.
- Explains that no accepted medical use, most dangerous, high potential for abuse, severe psychological and physical dependence, heroin, lsd, marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and vicodin.
- Explains that 22.6 million americans over the age of 12 were current or formerillicit drugs users and has used within the past month of when this survey has been taken. marijuana was the most popular substance used.
- Explains that reducing drug addiction is made possible by knowing who is at risk for becoming a substance user. low-income adolescents are more prone to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as violence.
- Analyzes how aaron kipnis' "angry young men" describes his journey through adolescence, through addiction and through recovery.
- Opines that the federal government should provide grants to schools for after-school activities so that no one is left out because of a lack of money. counselors at school should meet with kids, regardless of situations, and talk with them.
- Explains the president's "national drug control strategy," which focuses on public health and safety. the obama administration recognizes that addiction is preventable and treatable, and has committed over 10 billion dollars on drug educating programs.
- Points out that the obama administration says that drug use has decreased substantially, but the survey that i quoted earlier said different.
- Opines that medicare will only help pay for treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse in both inpatient and outpatient settings if the patient is hospitalized for substance abuse, but not longer than 190 days.
- Opines that the new affordable care act that is to take effect on january 1, 2014, health plans have to include essential health benefits and mental health and substance use disorders.
- Explains that incarcerated users are offered nonresidential treatment for short sentences, those who don't meet the criteria for residential drug abuse programs, and those transitioning to the community.
- Opines that it would be beneficial to implement programs for incarcerated individuals with substance abuse problems in an effort to reduce the amount of recidivism. aftercare plays a huge role in individuals being able to maintain drug free life.
- Explains that federal law also has mandatory minimum sentences.
- Describes the amounts of marijuana, crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
- Opines that a lot of money could be saved by mandating certain counseling or treatments to individuals facing drug related charges.
- Opines that counseling is a huge part in reducing drug addiction and promoting lifelong recovery. however, cbt therapy doesn't work for everyone.
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- Opines that obamacare is a step in the right direction, because most people can't afford these treatments. by ensuring everyone is entitled to drug abuse therapy, our country can be sure that everyone who needs treatment is getting it.
- Explains that the netherlands only drug law is known as the opium act, which criminalizes possession, cultivation, trafficking, important and exporting of drugs.
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- Opines that the united states has not done everything possible to decrease the drug abuse rates in our country.
- Explains that addiction science: from molecules to managed care covers the basics on drug addiction.
- Explains that this article covers the drug enforcement laws in the netherlands.
- Explains that they found the chart of the percentages of different illicit drug use.
- Explains the federal mandatory minimum drug sentences for drug related offenses. hanes, t. facts on stimulants and depressants.
- Explains that the book is based on s journey through substance abuse and recovery. medicare coverage of treatment of alcoholism and drug abuse.
- Compares drug use in the netherlands and the united states, and incarceration and crime rates.
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- Explains that drug abuse is a situation where one takes unprescribed drugs due to depression, illness or fear of the unknown, which could lead to stigmatization, ashamed or isolated.
- Explains that the combination of medical treatments and behavioral therapy can reduce the emergence of drug addiction or abuse. these treatments are specific to each patient and deal with their social and psychiatric problems until full recovery is achieved.
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- Explains that drug abuse isn't a last resort and through constant effort one can reduce this habit until it's finally lost. social support promotes the well-being and helps bring the victim to normal state.
- Cites etkin l. nina, jason a. leonard, davis i. margret, olson d. bradley, and ferrari r. joseph.
- Cites mccabe, boyd, murray, prom, ramirez, sandi, obando, karenkeris, and kliewer.
668 wordsRead More - Substance Abuse: A Nationwide Epidemicexplanatory essayThe consequences that follow the use of any drug are unfavorable. Although many individuals may see drug addiction as a mere lifestyle choice, it is a problem that many individuals suffer from and inevitably a growing issue that leaves major social and economic impacts.
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- Explains rx pattern analysis tracking robberies and other losses.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that addiction is cumulative, building over time, and varies in strength from individual to individual based on their own abilities to exercise willpower over themselves.
- Explains that the usage and addiction rate of most illegal drugs has not increased recently, and in many cases has declined. marijuana is the only illegal drug that has seen an increase in usage over the years.
- Opines that drug and alcohol addiction as brain disease is a trend that could be seen as canary in the mineshaft for the trends and movements of the scientific world.
- Argues that the scientific community at large is walking down a slippery slope if allowed to concretize into ever more rigid forms.
- Explains the u.s. department of health and human services' national survey on drug use and health: summary of national findings.
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829 wordsRead More - Substance Abuse and Addictionexplanatory essaySubstance abuse and addiction have become a social problem that afflicts millions of individuals and disrupts the lives of their families and friends. Just one example reveals the extent of the problem: in the United States each year, more women and men die of smoking related lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined (Kola & Kruszynski, 2010). In addition to the personal impact of so much illness and early death, there are dire social costs: huge expenses for medical and social services; millions of hours lost in the workplace; elevated rates of crime associated with illicit drugs; and scores of children who are damaged by their parents’ substance abuse behavior (Lee, 2010). This paper will look at the different theories used in understanding drug abuse and addiction as well as how it can be prevented and treated.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that substance abuse and addiction are a social problem that afflicts millions of individuals and disrupts the lives of their families and friends.
- Explains that not all individuals who use an addictive drug become addicted. biological factors, such as sex, and genetic predisposition, are responsible for this differential susceptibility.
- Opines that the development of effective treatment programs is a pressing concern given the health and social costs of substance abuse and addiction.
- Describes tian, mao, wang, li, zhou, q, cao j, & xu l.
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In this essay, the author
- Opines that culturally sensitive research perspectives and treatment options are the key to closing the gap of substance abuse disparities in the black community.
- Introduces alice b. britt, a clinical specialist in psychiatry/mental health, who is part-time clinical faculty member at the catholic university of america.
- Explains that addiction is a difficult disease that involves biological, psychological, and sociological aspects.
- States that social/economic and cultural factors are a potent force in the development of alcohol and drug misuse, the ability to get and receive help, and the availability of supports.
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1014 wordsRead More - Treatment of Substance Use Disorders in Americaopinionated essayThe world of addiction is a highly misunderstood realm. The word “addiction” itself is extremely stigmatizing. Many people first think of personal failure and weakness, which is a result of the moral model commonly associated with addictions. However, substance dependence is not a personal weakness. It is a chronic disease suffered by many people across the world. Classifying drug and alcohol addiction as a disease is an exceedingly controversial topic (Murphy, Lynch, Oslin, McKay, & TenHave, 2007). If society is to believe and agree with this classification, they must admit that substance dependence is an illness, a disease, and not a human failing or weakness. Those with substance use disorders in particular need more understanding from the public and more advocates to speak on their behalf without judgment.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that substance dependence is not a personal weakness, and that society must accept that it is an illness and not human failing or weakness.
- Explains that 1.83% of men in the united states suffer from drug use disorders and 5.48% from alcohol abuse disorders. drug and alcohol addiction affects the user's family, friends, and community.
- Explains that president obama's affordable care act is beginning to deliver one of the most significant extensions to coverage for mental health and substance use disorders.
- Argues that making treatment and services for substance use disorders more affordable and available is an important first step in dealing with this major social problem. educational programs must be developed and implemented in order to create understanding and provide a means of social support for those suffering from such disorders.
- Opines that social workers must be passionate about helping those with substance use disorders, possess extraordinary amounts of patience, and be willing to advocate for their clients.
- Opines that drug and alcohol addiction is an unfortunate reality in our society that is often rebuked and disregarded as an important social issue.
- Cites jarecki, e. (producer & director). the house i live in (motion picture).
862 wordsRead More