Substance Abuse Continues to Be a Growing Problem in Urban America

Substance abuse continues to be a growing problem in urban America; it is an all too common scenario: A person experiments with an addictive drug like cocaine. Perhaps he intends to try it just once, for “the experience” of it. It turns out though, that he enjoys the drug’s euphoric effect so much that in ensuing weeks and months he uses it again – and again. But in due time he decides he really should quit. He knows that despite the incomparable short-term high he gets from using cocaine, the long-term consequences of its use are perilous. So he vows to stop using it.
His brain, however, has a different agenda. It now demands cocaine. While his rational mind knows full well that he shouldn’t use it again, his brain overrides such warnings. Unbeknown to him, repeated use of cocaine has brought about dramatic changes in both the structure and function of his brain. In fact if he’d known the danger signs for which to be on the lookout, he would have realized that the euphoric effect derived from cocaine use is itself a sure sign that the drug is inducting a change in the brain—just as he would have known that as time passes, and the drug is used with increasing regularity, this change becomes more pronounced, and indelible, until finally his brain has become addicted to the drug.
And so despite his heartfelt vow never again to use cocaine, he continues using it. Again and again.
His drug use is now beyond his control.it is compulsive. He is addicted.
While this turn of events is a shock to the drug user, it is no surprise at all to researchers who study the effects of addictive drugs. To them, it is a predictable outcome.
To be sure, no one ever starts out using drugs intending to become a drug addict. All drug users are just trying it once or a few times. Every drug user starts out as an occasional user, and that initial use is a voluntary and controllable decision. But as time passes and drug use continues, a person goes from being a voluntary to a compulsive... [continues]

Read full essay