Substance Abuse Disorder

Substance abuse disorders are common in our society. It is a disorder that each one of us will most likely experience through a family member, friend, or our self. I felt very drawn to this topic due to the fact that I have a family that has background of substance abuse and I myself have battle the demon. Not until I struggled with my own addiction did I become more tolerable and understanding to those that have a substance abuse disorder. Substance abuse is not something anyone wants to have; it is a disorder that takes control of a person’s life. It is a beast that tears a person apart; from their being to the lives of their loved ones. This disorder is not biased in anyway; rich or poor, male or female, employed or unemployed, young or old, and any race or ethnicity” (E Not Alone).

Early American alcohol abuse dates back as far as our ancestors settling the 13 colonies. Whiskey was popularly used and early developing towns in those original colonies did start to want to rid their towns of the “town drunk”. Laws would be instilled in those settlements to put the town drunk into jail, saving the town embarrassment of one of its people.

Opium was introduced to America when Chinese immigrants came to California in the 1850’s to work in the gold mines and on the railroads (DEA Museum). It didn’t take long for American’s to become addicted to opium. Opium dens became common in communities and women and young people started to take pleasure in the far off land of euphoria that opium provided. Due to the overgrowing popularity and concern of the affects this drug had taken on the population the government tried to implement taxes. “Initially, opium was taxed, then licensed, then discouraged, and ultimately made illegal for most us...

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Works Cited

""Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction" - Drug Abuse and Addiction." Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

Home | Drugtext. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

"Illegal Drugs in America: A Modern History." DEA Museum & Visitors Center. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

State, By. "Holistic Drug Rehabilitation | Treatment Centers." Addiction Treatment | Drug. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

"Substance Abuse and Mental Health: Overcoming Alcohol and Drug Addiction While Coping with Depression or Anxiety." Helpguide.org: Understand, Prevent and Resolve Life's Challenges. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

"What Is Substance Abuse?" ENotAlone: Relationship, Personal Growth, Health Advice and Articles. Web. 14 Dec. 2010.

"Withdrawal Symptoms for Drug and Alcohol Addiction: Physical, Emotional." Addictions and Recovery.org - Relapse Prevention and Coping Skills. Web. 14 Dec. 2010