Substance abuse and dependency persist as a major health and social concern in America. Author Joseph A. Califano, a former secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare notes, “it is hard to find an American family or circle of friends that substance abuse has not touched directly (Califano, J. A., p. 1, 2008).” Califano further explains that although Americans are 4 percent of the world’s population, Americans consume 65 percent of the world’s illegal drugs. Furthermore, one in four Americans will have an alcohol or drug disorder at some point in his or her life. Most of these individuals have parents, children, siblings, friends, community and colleagues who will “undergo psychological and social harm" (Califano, J. A., p. 1, 2008.).” Authors…
All across the nation, there has and will always be a problem with drug abuse. Drug abuse is a very serious and ongoing difficulty that society is faced with daily. However, since drug abuse across the nation is such a broad subject with all the different drugs available, I would like to narrow it down to a more personal topic. In my home state of Montana, methamphetamines is constantly being distributed and abused. My stance is that we must work harder to put an end to this abuse in order to save Montana families and our businesses. Just last week, on one day alone, the Billings Gazette newspaper reported in three articles on women getting penalized for dealing meth. Statistics show that the numbers of crime rates going up are because…
Over the last five decades, drug addiction and alcoholism have been considered two of America's most significant social problems. Over the years, the types of substances being abused have changed, but the damage created by addiction largely remains the same. In recent years, heroin and opiate abuse have been on the rise. In some states like Kentucky, the issue is quickly becoming an epidemic.…
Addiction is a stigmatized problem with no legally regulated treatment standards on the federal level. Commonly, substance abuse is viewed as a personal choice, a lack of will power rather than a disorder (Galon and Liebelt 1997). This misconception plays an important role in how the problem of involuntary treatment is perceived by society. Use of alcohol and drugs has devastating effects on afflicted individuals, their families, and society in general. Crime level, DUI accidents, family violence, budget spending on treatment programs are just some of many social issues closely associated with substance abuse. Addicted individuals often fail to get an education or a job and are marginalized by society. At the same time, most of them face psychological and physiological issues and require medical assistance. However, people with addiction problems may frequently believe that they can…
Substance abuse is a problem that is an epidemic all over the world. America is not the only country suffering from heroin addiction. The misuse and abuse of drugs occurs at all age levels, in almost all social settings and at workplace occurrence in all occupation and industries. It has significant negative impacts that affect every community though out the world. Drugs affect all of us in one way shape or form. The government is making every attempt to extinguish the narcotic culture but it appears to be a losing battle from the beginning. Heroine has become a world epidemic that we see on the news and read about in the morning paper. The usage of heroin has increased over the last three decades and shows little sign of decreasing. This addiction is creating issues for every city and town throughout North America as well as larger populated areas in Europe. The normal method of use of heroin is through an injection, which creates more issues beyond addition such as AIDS and other incurable deceases.…
here has been an ever present threat within the United States that continues to grow at an alarming rate by the day; that threat is substance addiction. Nearly 38,000 deaths were linked to overdoses in 2009; that exceeds the total number of traffic violations for that year (“U.S Heroin Crisis”). Citizens and politicians continue to name it the number one “growing public health crisis” (“U.S Heroin Crisis”), but how do these users get addicted and what is the U.S doing to stop this so called “growing threat”? The U.S has recently deployed the overdose antidote Naloxone into the U.S, which has been a large area of debate between users and nonusers. This drug is a good way to get addicts on the road to recovery and a great way to train the average…
Working in a rural emergency room, this author cares for individuals, on a daily basis, who suffer from drug abuse and addiction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies these individuals as Persons Who Use Drugs under the Specific Populations category (Healthy Living, 2017). Working with persons who use drugs (PWUD) daily is difficult for some in different ways. One may become sad seeing the destructive path that is formed from drug abuse or one may become callous to the individuals that are abusing drugs. It is important as health care providers to understand that PWUD may suffer from addiction.…
If one traveled through the small quiet community of Monroe, MI you would probably never think that this town has a drug problem. From the outside it seems like a nice middle class suburb that might be ideal to raise a family. For those that reside here however, they know that there is a growing problem. There aren’t many families that haven’t been affected by heroin addiction in this small town. The drug has literally swept through this county like an angry mob of rioters bringing crime, death, and destruction with it, leaving many people in the community asking, “Why?”…
Socioeconomic status is also a glaring problem that needs to be addressed. “Most opiate addicts are under age 30, of low socioeconomic status, and poorly educated.” (Zastrow, 267) Education would appear to be a viable solution here, but where does one start? Simply, the addict should be aided with fundamental assistance and training to begin to assimilate, and society at large should be helped to better understand and foster an attitude of understanding and patience based on education that is not fear-based; as has historically been the case. Analogously, this is best summarized by saying, “The public’s general lack of accurate information about drugs has led to irrational fears about drug use and abuse. For example, there is the fear that use of marijuana will always be a stepping stone to use of narcotic drugs.” (Zastrow, 281) While some studies can present declining drug use and attribute it to more rigid drug laws and enforcement, it as difficult to separate the efficacy of other treatment alternatives, such as methadone, as legislation has typically toughened as other options are approached. The correlation is most difficult to divide as a result.…
Teens are exposed to drugs every single day. There’s no escaping the fact that there is a problem. Just follow some of the rules and you can start to get rid of your addiction. Marijuana is a huge deal of teen drug abuse, I know marijuana will never go away but we need to try to get our numbers down for the amount of kids using it. Opioids and painkiller are mostly in everyone's household, we need to teach kids that they are not supposed to be taken unless the doctor tells you or if you in pain. This lesson can also tie into human geography because if all the teens are using drugs there won’t be enough people to work those jobs and our economy would crash…
Educating students of the negative health effects of drinking and substance abuse can help them make educated decisions regarding their alcohol and drug consumption. By understanding what drugs and alcohol can do to their bodies, college students may choose to limit how much they drink. Families and counselors should reach out to those at risk of becoming an addict and help them from experimenting with illicit drugs. Also, churches in the local communities can create small volunteer groups to help provide rehabilitation to drug abusers that can’t afford expensive treatment.Churches can also provide vocational education helping addicts that loss their jobs learn a trade and possibly get a job…
Drugs are running rampant in our society today. Families and communities across America are being torn apart by all types of drugs. The criminalization of drugs has not done anything for addicts other than put them behind bars and misappropriate the useful time of government agencies. America needs to start focusing on the treatment of addicts, not the incarceration. Soon after, Americans will notice the decline in problematic drug usage that Richard Nixon promised when he declared the “War on Drugs”. America has comprehensively failed on every level to deliver a drug policy that not only works, but has a lasting effect on people’s lives in America. It is time America decriminalizes drugs; not only is it a sensible proposition, but it will ensure America receives the victory in the endless battle in the…
I’m sure everyone here knows or has heard of someone that is dealing with an opioid problem. The misuse and abuse of opioids in this country has become rampant. Oxy, Vicodin, codeine, heroin – every time I read the news or listen to a news report there is always some mention of opioids. And while Dallas County does not see this problem as much as other parts of Texas and the rest of the States do, it is still a problem. We need to make sure that when those struggling with opioid abuse problems come through our courts that they are led to the best resources and treatments programs available. We can’t just continue to punish those facing a crisis with fines and jail time and expect their problems to go away. On the other hand, we need to be harsher with those responsible for selling and dealing. As a public defender I have represented both users and dealers and I can say from experience that the largest issue at hand is the inconsistency with which cases are treated. I will strive…
There needs to be more awareness about the issue at hand. Children are only taught that drugs will ruin their lives. They are not taught the details of how the drugs will. It also needs to be taught what steps to take if someone does fall into the addiction of drugs. I personally can’t remember being taught either of these throughout my entire K-12 education. Children are the communities future. We need to start with them.…
Now a day’s drug addiction has become a great problem in all over the world. Third world countries like Bangladesh are greatly sufferer from this problem. It’s just like cancer. As a part of the society different Universities are facing this problem. Our university ‘University of Asia Pacific’, specifically our department ‘Department of Business Administration’ is facing greatly by this problem. Recently it has become the top concern issue for the disciplinary committee.…