Both prescription and recreational made drugs have great effect on the human body, both to help support the body physically as well as provide a sense of emotional stability. Among these medicines are narcotics which are used and abused on a daily basis. Used for medical reasons and abused for recreational use, narcotics can greatly affect the human body in positive and negative aspects during and prior to consumption. ‘Narcotic’ is derived from the Greek word narkotikos which can translate to ‘be-numbing’, ‘deadening’, or ‘numbing’ (“Narcotic Facts”). The definition of the word is a great illusion for the perception portrayed upon narcotics. These drugs are central nervous system depressants that produce insensibility (Walker 58). Being …show more content…
More than ⅓ of Americans will use narcotics in their lifetime and nearly 10% of the American population is addicted to narcotics (“Narcotic Facts”). These drugs can be very addictive, even when they are taken as prescribed. When taken for recreational use, a tolerance develops quickly which will eventually lead to a dependence. Narcotics make up a great number of the most abused drug to cause criminal activity and addiction which requires medical treatment. A majority of people who are addicted to painkillers do not realize they have a problem. Not only that, but little research actually goes into quite a few of the medications prescribed. Drug companies are known to sometimes be less than honest with the FDA to rush drugs into the market before their competitors have the chance to. Many doctors do not know of this. Also, when drug companies to have honest reports, testing of the drug occurs to groups of healthy populated people. People who would suffer adverse reactions to the drug would not be included in the testing of the medication. According to a 2014 Newsweek articles, it is stated that “even systematic reviews, which help set standard medical practices, are subject to the influence of drug companies… The consequences of exclusion or delay of trial data have ranged from frustration to mass fatalities” (Wolford). It was very common for a patient to have their prescription stolen. There have been many incidents of users breaking into homes to raid pill cabinets or even snag a bottle off of a loved ones. As long as opiates are exposed to the outside world, users will be willing to do anything to get their hands on a bottle. This dependence is due to the strength of effects these pills can release on the human body. Because narcotics are such strong painkillers, there is the chance of the natural opioid system in the body will be blocked by the substituted amount of chemicals being
On the typical day, over 90 people will die at the hand of opioid abuse in America alone (National). In fact, as of 2014, nearly 2 million Americans were dependent and abusing opioids. The Opioid Crisis has affected America and its citizens in various ways, including health policy, health care, and the life in populous areas. Due to the mass dependence and mortality, the crisis has become an issue that must be resolved in all aspects.
Prescription and pharmaceutical drug abuse is beginning to expand as a social issue within the United States because of the variety of drugs, their growing availability, and the social acceptance and peer pressure to uses them. Many in the workforce are suffering and failing at getting better due to the desperation driving their addiction.
Almost one hundred years ago, prescription drugs like morphine were available at almost any general store. Women carried bottles of very addictive potent opiate based pain killers in their purse. Many individuals like Edgar Allen Poe died from such addictions. Since that time through various federal, state and local laws, drugs like morphine are now prescription drugs; however, this has not stopped the addiction to opiate based pain killers. Today’s society combats an ever increasing number of very deadly addictive drugs from designer drugs to narcotics to the less potent but equally destructive alcohol and marijuana. With all of these new and old drugs going in and out of vogue with addicts, it appears that the increase of misuse and abuse is founded greater in the prescription opiate based painkillers.
The literary Methamphetamine: The World’s Most Dangerous Drug (2006) briefly demonstrates and elucidates the jeopardizes and current situation about the narcotic methamphetamine. Methamphetamine which is also called meth is a powerful drug that can bring addicts 6-12 hours of excitement;in addition, during the time the addicts will become extremely energetic and strong. However, at the time of people take the advantage from meth, meth will also destroy both humans’ body and brain. The damage from meth is 3 1/2 times more powerful than the cocaine. By the telling the story about the addicts, the literary also demonstrates the metamorphosis of humans’ body after they taken drugs. Metamorphosis is hard to be prohibited by government because the process and cost of producing meth is extremely easy and low; people can manufacture meth in their back yard by a very low cost. This is also the main reason meth is spread so quickly not only in North America but also in word wide; therefore, many tragedies have happened throughout the time. After the first time I watched this lecture, apprehension, anger and sympathy had taken over my mind.
Opioid’s chemical composition consist of many highly addictive substances which cause the human body to become quickly tolerant. Many opioid users become addictive to the substance because the doctors have been over prescribing. “In the United States, there were 14,800 annual prescribed opioid (PO) deaths in 2008” with the US having less restrictions (Fischer, Benedikt, et al 178). The United States have implemented more regulations so that “high levels of PO-related harms been associated with highly potent oxycodone formulas” will decrease (Fischer, Benedikt, et al 178). With the regulations, it does not change the fact that opioids are is destructive. The regulations assistance by lessening the probability of patients becoming addictive to opioid. There are numerous generations that are effected and harmed by the detrimental effects of opioids on opioid-dependent patients.
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.
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...
Drug legalization is an end to government-enforced prohibition of certain substances. It has sparked a great debate in the U.S. over the past couple of years. With two states, Colorado and Washington, already completely eliminating the illegalization of marijuana, should the rest of the country legalize the use of marijuana and other drugs too? There are many advantages and disadvantages of legalizing marijuana, but other drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy, etc., should they be legalized? Are the health issues too much of a risk? The question is; which will outweigh each other? In my own opinion, I think the only drug that should be legalized is marijuana. Although only legalizing it to an extent with boundaries and restrictions. Many people in this world have disorders that can be treated with the use of medicinal marijuana. Would the people using it for recreational purposes overthrow the opportunity for future medicinal marijuana users? Above all, the profit from legalizing it would help solve other problems far more important than arresting drug abusers.
By the year 2000 opioid medicine containing oxycodone etc., are being abused and misused and more than doubled in 10 years’ time.
The rate of death due to prescription drug abuse in the U.S. has escalated 313 percent over the past decade. According to the Congressional Quarterly Transcription’s article "Rep. Joe Pitt Holds a Hearing on Prescription Drug Abuse," opioid prescription drugs were involved in 16,650 overdose-caused deaths in 2010, accounting for more deaths than from overdoses of heroin and cocaine. Prescribed drugs or painkillers sometimes "condemn a patient to lifelong addiction," according to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This problem not only affects the lives of those who overdose but it affects the communities as well due to the convenience of being able to find these items in drug stores and such. Not to mention the fact that the doctors who prescribe these opioids often tend to misuse them as well. Abusing these prescribed drugs can “destroy dreams and abort great destinies," and end the possibility of the abuser to have a positive impact in the community.
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.
The Pros and Cons of Drug Legalization Should drugs be legalized? Drugs are resources that are capable of affecting the American economy in many ways—both positively and negatively. Drugs often have a bad name, even though they help us everyday in medical cases. and the drugs with the worst reputations are not the most abused drugs. One may benefit from the legalization of drugs in many ways, while others would suffer greatly.
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
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.
Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person's body or mind works. Drugs are not good for health as they have many side effects and damage our brain, heart and other important organs. Drug is a depressant that slows down the functions of the central nervous system and makes us less aware of the events around us. I...