The Pleasure of Drugs
The Oxford Dictionary defines pleasure. It is a feeling of satisfaction or joy. It
is enjoyment. It is a source of pleasure or gratification. It is formally a persons will or
desire. Finally they define it as sensual gratification. Now if we put these all together
in one sentence, pleasure is something that brings an overall feeling of satisfaction and
gratification while fulfilling desires. If that doesn’t sound good, what does? We have
already determined that people naturally are drawn to altered states of consciousness.
Its a fact that we are drawn to that which feels altered. It starts at a young age and
hypothetically we realize the world of drugs and their ability to enhance normality by
young adulthood. When we add in the pleasure principle to that already sought out
feeling, you get something that feels so amazing, and is also potentially addictive.
It is important to acknowledge the overpowering seductiveness and appeal of
drugs. Because some drugs directly affect the way that the brain works and operates,
the ecstasy that results can be overwhelming. This is exactly where society comes into
play. If someone can only feel that sort of pleasure from the high of heroin or that
calmness from a cigarette, why would they want to stop? What would their alternative
be? It would be the pain of withdrawal and the numbness that they felt before they
discovered the high. I can only liken my drug theory to a circle, because in reality
there is no one who is really sober. There are things that make us all feel better. It can
range from chocolate to caffeine to crack, but whether it be hard or soft, legal or illicit,
a drug is something that makes us feel something other than “normal”. (Not that there
is even a set normality.) The circle theory is that even if you are a heroin addict and
get sober, the likeliness of you finding something else that makes you feel better than
normal is high. It might not be heroin again, but chances are it will be something. It
all comes back to the inherent human nature to find a plane of reality other than this
one.
We remember what feels good to us. It is something that our brain does for us.
Because sex feels good, there is a natural desire to participate. We remember which
foods we like best and how they make us feel when we eat them. It is a system i...
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...ual. It has more to
do with how our society dictates we should live. Everyone needs to be rich and own a
BMW and marry a model and be happy all the time. For those who cannot live out
that American Dream, there is an easy and more affordable dream: Drugs.
We have to remember that they key to a healthy drug relationship is to use
drugs in moderation, and not for the wrong reasons. It is important to keep in mind
that drugs effect the body and the mind as well. Addiction is prevalent when the user
can’t simple walk away from the drug and not miss it in some way or feel some type of
withdrawal. We have to also understand that it is ok to feel the pleasure that drugs
give to us. I will never condemn the use of drugs for recreational purposes, however
we must each individually take responsibility for our own health and know when it is
time to step away from a drug. Drug use does not always lead to addiction, but
because pleasure is such a powerful drug within itself, it is easy to become dependent
on something synthetic. Rather than relying on drugs for that pleasure high it is
important to seek out other things besides drugs that induce the same types of pleasure.
Many of the problems associated with early sobriety do not stem directly from psychoactive substances. Instead they are associated with physical and psychological changes that occur after the substances have left the body. When a person regularly uses psychoactive drugs, the brain undergoes physical changes to cope with the presence of drugs in the body. When the drugs are removed from the body, the brain craves the drugs that it has become accustomed to and as the brain attempts to rebalance itself without the presence of psychoactive drugs the person often experiences feelings of confusion, pain, and discomfort. The symptoms that are experienced immediately after stopping drug use are called acute withdrawal. But often the symptoms do not stop at acute withdrawal. After the body makes initial adjustments to the absence of drugs, the changes that have occurred in the brain still need time to revert back to their original state. During this period, a variety of symptoms known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) begin to occur. In the book Uppers, Downers, All Arounders, published by CNS Productions, authors Darryl Inaba and William Cohen define PAWS as “a group of emotional and physical symptoms that appear after major withdrawal symptoms have abated” (Inaba & Cohen, 2011).
The most popular argument is that drugs are addictive and users become dependent on its effects to function. If the dependency is not satisfied, it can disrupt the life of the user so that this individual forms a threat to society. Addicted user...
Methylenedioxymethamhetamine, the compound used in the drug Ecstasy, was developed in Germany in 1914 as an intermediary substance to pave the way to alternative therapeutic medicines. Presently, MDMA is used for a subculture in America and all over the world of "ravers" who spend their weekends taking this unique drug because of its seemingly mind- expanding properties. The truth about this drug is that it fools the body's senses by releasing too much serotonin and possibly permanently damaging important nerve cells in the process.
People need to bond, connect and love. Addiction is a symptom of an inner feeling in our lives directing us to turn to something near to us that can lead us to satisfaction. This article is valid. The author based his claims on experimental evidence. Different experiments were done by Professor Alexander on the Rat Park, and Professor Peter Cohen shows the clear evidence of what the author is talking about.
Heroin is consumed usually 3 main ways: cut then snorted, smoked, or injected. When being cut, the heroin is placed in a straight line then snorted up and through the nasal cavity. Smoked, heroin is placed in pipe (like a marijuana pipe), then heated, and inhaled. Lastly heroin can be heated to a liquid form mixed with water and injected into veins and muscles under the skin.
Unfortunately as the drug raises dopamine to unnaturally high levels the addict finds that the only way to achieve a balance is to continue to use the drug. This changes the hierarchy of important survival needs that release dopamine such as food, water, sex, the mid brain is literally telling the addict they need the drug to survive more so than anything else.
Addiction, also known as substance use disorder, is the dependence on any type of drug, legal or illegal; alcohol and nicotine being two examples. Addiction occurs because “Drugs contain chemicals that tap into the brains communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information” (Understanding Drug Abuse). This disruption teaches the brain and person to keep repeating the sensation they get when using drugs, causing the individual to develop addiction problems. The sensation occurs from a rise in dopamine levels in the brain; so when an individual consumes alcohol and drugs, their dopamine levels boost. When the addiction develops, the individual’s brain changes, restricting them from making logical decisions, leading to uncontrollable cravings for whatever drug they are
Drug use is not healthy for the body because it not only affects the user, but that person’s potential spouse and children. Drugs have a long-term affect on the body, causing illnesses that can last a long time. “…because of their intoxicating effect on the brain, damaging impact on the body, adverse impact on behavior, and potential for abuse. Their use threatens the health…of users and nonusers alike” (Hartnett #4). Other such illnesses are cancer and heart disease these illnesses can be fatal and have caused a number of deaths.
For more than two decades, there has been extensive debate and controversies on how to understand the extreme use of consciousness-altering drugs or substances. In some quarters, the excessive use of drugs has been understood as a bad habit, immoral act, sin, and crime. On the other hand, the extreme use of drugs and substances has been regarded as a disease, especially ...
Hallucinogens or psychedelics are mind-altering drugs, which affect the mind’s perceptions, causing bizarre, unpredictable behavior, and severe, sensory disturbances that may place users at risk of serious injuries or death. Hallucinogens powerfully affect the brain, distorting the way our five senses work and changes our impressions of time and space. People who use these drugs a lot may have a hard time concentrating, communicating, or telling the difference between reality and illusion. Hallucinogens cause people to experience - you guessed it - hallucinations, imagined experiences that seem real. The word "hallucinate" comes from Latin words meaning, "to wander in the mind."
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.
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...
Transition: Drugs are just plain bad for any human body. It can harm your sense of judgment and make a living hell for some people.
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 ...