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.
During the 60’s and 70’s, drug use became a social phenomenon. It has been called the age of experimentation. People were trying drugs at a rate never before seen. Part of this was the ease of distribution due to the interstate systems. However, also many adopted an attitude that it was just an “experiment.” One issue was the lack of understanding on the addictive quality of these drugs. Another problem was that if it was prescribed medication, people held the belief that it could not be a dangerous or harmful thing to take. Combined, these attitudes began to have large-scale, adverse effects in
Drugs seem to cause surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers. However, the brain quickly adapts and these circuits desensitize, which allows for withdrawal symptoms to occur (3). Drug addiction works on some of the same neurobiological mechanisms that aid in learning and memories (3). "This new view of dopamine as an aid to learning rather than a pleasure mediator may help explain why many addictive drugs, which unleash massive surges of the neurotransmitter in the brain, can drive continued use without producing pleasure-as when cocaine addicts continue to take hits long after the euphoric effects of the drug have worn off or when smokers smoke after cigarettes become distasteful." (4)
Hart, Carl L., and Charles Ksir. "Drug Use as a Social Problem." Drugs, Society And Human Behavior. 14th ed. New York City: William R. Glass, n.d. 39-40. Print.
Drug use seems to be a much more common every day. It seems like the number of people who are using and becoming addicted to drugs just keeps increasing. Perhaps if more people had more knowledge of drugs, their history and effects it would not be as bad. However, it does not always work that way. Many do know side effects of certain things and still choose to use. The use of drugs could very well be like a form of observational learning. Many people will pick something up once they have observed other people actively doing it. This idea works well with groups of individuals who are using a drug or substance around someone who has never used. That one individual may learn that behavior of using the substance, and how to use it by watching the
...ost common drugs used in America. Why do people try and continue using drugs? There are a lot of answers to this question, but the most common is "sometimes we need to get away from the place we belong". I used to smoke marijuana with my friends when I was bored and had nothing else to do. I stopped doing marijuana because I felt that it's not right for me, and I'm better off without it. If you're an occasional drug user, the very important thing is not to try drugs that can cause physical addiction. It is always a good idea to do some research about the drugs that you have tried or going to try, so you know what physical or mental complications it can lead to. I would not recommend trying any drugs, because if you do not know what it is like to be on drugs you will never want it again, on the other hand if you try it and you like it you might simply ruin your life.
The effects of drug usage in this society as a whole cannot be overestimated. It has become a canker worm eating deep into the foundation of society. Many theories and solutions have been propounded to tackle drug usage. Drugs come in various forms. You have your gateway substances such as marijuana and alcohol, which are common among the majority, are considered “harmless” then you have your “harmful” frowned upon substances like cocaine and “meth” that are notoriously known for damages on the brain functionality. Two of those such theories that attempt to describe drug dependency and usage are the allostasis and incentive sensitization theory.
The current situation of drug control in the United States is imperfect and inadequate. Millions of men and women, both young and old, are affected by illicit drug use. It costs the United States about $6,123 every second because of drug use and its consequences (Office). Moreover, 90 percent of all adults with a substance use disorder started using under the age of 18 and half under the age of 15. Children who first smoke marijuana under the age of 14 are five times more likely to abuse drugs as adults than those who first use marijuana at age 18. Finally, the children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop problems with alcohol (Prevent). Current legislation that has to do with the United States’ drug control policy is the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances (Shannon). In 1966, Congress passed the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act also known as the NARA. This legislati...
Unfavorable surroundings also greatly influence individuals to engage in drugs and substance abuse. When an individual lives in a drug prone area, there is a high possibility that he/she will indulge in substance abuse. Peer pressure in students and teenagers also lures them into substance abuse (Office of National Drug Control Policy 2). During this stage of human development, individuals tend to emulate and copy what others are doing and consider defiance as a good attribute. Using drugs, while associating them with achievement, causes young individuals to become addicted without even reali...
drug usage pattern as well. They begin to develop a tolerance for the drug dramatically that
Some participants mentioned their personal confusion regarding drug addiction on a few occasions. The others never openly stated feeling any confusion related to drug addiction, however the whole group illustrated varying views on the causes of drug addiction, which came out during discussion. This indicated a general lack of clarity among the participants.
According to a Gallup Poll, “ninety-four percent of Americans are aware that drug abuse can be dangerous” (Croft 14). However the awareness is not affecting the amount of people who still use. Approximately three million people use cocaine and heroin, fifty million addicted to nicotine, and 18 million are addicted to alcohol (Croft 8). Statistically speaking, there is about twenty-six million people who use drugs at least once a year and one hundred million who try a drug in their lifetime (Salak
The substance use or behaviour which was originally intended for pleasurable recreation has now become compulsive driven and the act has become so deeply ingrained that the person continues to perform it in a repetitive fashion despite great and mounting negative consequences (Frances, 2010:1). Behavioral addictions share characteristics with substance and alcohol abuse and include pathological gambling, kleptomania, pyromania, compulsive buying, compulsive sexual behaviour, internet addiction, and binge eating
Adolescences in particular can be easily influenced to abusing a drug or multiple drugs. I believe this happens because teens often lack education, live in an environment where drugs are readily available, are peer-pressured and the lack of proper growth of the frontal lobe. Many factors contribute to adolescences experimenting with drugs. As side from being a child, the adolescence stage is of great importance. Healthy habits and activities are supposed to be instilled within this stage of life. The adolescence stage can be very perplexing and what is made into a habit then is easily carried on into adulthood. Our genes act together with our environment to contribute to the addictive behaviors we are motivated to develop. If addiction is left untreated it can ultimately lead to de...
Peer pressure is the most well-known reason for teens to partake in substance abuse. Some may argue that teen drug abuse is highly correlated with the behavior of close friends especially when family supervision is weak. This relationship, in fact, is reciprocal: substance abusers seek out friends who engage in similar activities. Associating with drug abusers leads to increased levels of drug abuse.
Illegal drugs are used by people as a way out when feeling down about themselves. As the effects of the drugs may stay the same throughout, causes show that there are a large number of reasons for use. Being lonely, isolated, and frustrated in life help start off the drive to escape. In many cases, using drugs is a coping mechanism, especially in teens. Emotions become numb as people try to escape the pain of reality. This is seen in the youth of today as they deal with everyday pressures.. Drug abuse can make people think they are re-creating their former negative self image. This rebellious action gives the attention that is desired. From trying to fit in to hiding from problems, people will always have a choice. In the end, the reality of drug use is damaging to the user's body, mind and relationships.