The Human Factor article states that drug abuse cost a lot of money financially in economic loss; and it is simply heartbreaking. In this article addiction is characterized as a brain disease. Sally Satel says that the world needs to stop worrying about addiction being specified as a brain disease and start focusing on how to stop this addiction. She believes that addicts have the power to reshape their own lives and in doing this they can stop addiction. Americans who abuse drugs affect the world economically and a lot of them end up homeless, unemployed, or catching a disease. A psychiatrist in a methadone clinic in Northeast Washington, D.C. works with patients who are addicted to drugs. Some of her patients suffering from addiction …show more content…
This is how serious addiction to a drug can be. Addicts can still pursue normal lives. They can clean their apartment and even have a job. For example, some of the psychiatrist’s patients actually worked jobs while addicted to heroin. Sally states that addicts have time to make other choices and do other things. These addicts could seek out treatment or even quit cold turkey. She has evidence of some of her patients quitting completely. So it is possible for addicts to make other valuable decisions and choices to benefit them and lead them to quitting. However, relapse can occur but during the time they are not using the drug they have a choice to do it or to not do it. Internal and external cues also play a role in use of the desired drug. For example, in the external cues if a person sees something or even hears something it could trigger them into reuse of the drug. Another example, in the internal cues if a person feels stressed or bored that can trigger their reuse as well. There are also factor that can cause the patient to not reuse the drug such as going to jail, disappointing their family, or losing a job. Some of her patients came to a point of self examination and that led them to want to fix their current addiction. The small choices like who to spend time with is crucial during the recovery phase because they could cause relapse. The
It is shown that people that tend to be involved in the use of drugs do so after making a voluntary choice (Heyman, 2009). The major use of drugs for social and non-medical preferences can lead to dependence and further addictions, it is a choice that people tend to make and from that it can lead to wanting it more, do it more with friends and further it becoming an addiction, that then effects the brain and body. When drugs are used in the wrong way they can cause many health issues but some people still tend to refer to drug addiction as a disease. Yes, There has been compelling evidence that addiction is a disease, however the result shown are weak and inconclusive. Results of different brain scans are shown by The National Institute of Drug Abuse (2017) are used to back up that addiction in fact is a disease, however the brain scans used in this research are not symbolic of any abnormal changes. The research by The National Institute of Drug Abuse do point out that changes in an individual’s brain is shown as evidence that addiction is a brain disease, however this argument can be shown as mistaken as changes in many human brains can be seen as not exclusive in addicts, although they can occur when a person is normal (Branch,2011). To top it off the information that is stated by the NIDA however doesn’t show evidence of the behaviour of addicts being involuntary or
This book covers one of the most destructible problems to society which is drug abuse followed by crime and violence. Many people don't know and underestimate how others become addicted to drugs. They think that people who use drugs do not have moral principles and that they could stop drug use simply by just choosing and saying so. In reality, drug addiction is a complicated disease, and quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain function and how it works that makes quitting hard, even for those who really want to. Fortunately, after many researches and experiences with others scientists know more about how drugs can affect the brain and found treatments that can assist people to heal and recover from
In order to successfully decrease the cases of drug addiction, society needs to remember that we cannot change the physiological effects of drugs, but we can prevent individuals from turning into them. In other words, the primary focus should be on the individual and not the drug.
For many years, individuals have battled substance abuse and addiction. My position comes from hearing about it, having seeing results from it, and reading about it, also developing my own thoughts about addiction. Weil and Rosen (1993) believe that a drug use (and addiction) results from humans longing for a sense of completeness and wholeness, and searching for satisfaction outside of themselves. McNeece and DiNitto (2012) says the reason why people continue to use drugs to the point of becoming a physically and/ or psychologically dependent on them are more complex, some have tried to explain this
The cost of drug addiction is very high. At the individual level, addicts are losing their lives and talented people are being wasted because of drugs like alcohol, heroin and painkillers. On the world stage, addiction issues are causing government officials to battle crime and poverty in far too many communities. At the end of the day, addiction seems to touch everyone's life
Methadone clinics can be another solution to combat the ever growing heroin epidemic. Methadone is very similar to heroin as it provides the same high, but it blocks the brains reward receptors that are effected by heroin. This allows the user to detox slowly without little withdrawal symptoms that accompany it, rather than a dreadful recovery. The goal is to relieve heorin addict’s cravings and desire for heroin in a safe, legal manner. Addicts are only able to attain Methadone and have use of the clinics by having a prescription. Methadone has been around and proven to be affective since the 1960s, but only recently have clinics come into practice. There has been a rise of Methadone clinics popping up in neighborhoods where there are high
D-The patient reports he is not stable at his current dose to the point he want to taper off. He expressed the need to want to get off on methadone. This writer listened to the patient vent about issues in his personal life and problematic issues with his transportation to ensure he dose daily. This writer then proceeded to discuss with the patient as to why he had entered treatment, his aspiration for his recovery process, and addressing alternatives to his barriers. The patient then reports he hasn't used any illicit drugs for three days, at which this writer commended the patient. When asked about what strategies to used to refrain from illicit drugs, he reports keeping himself busy and continue to care for his parents. The patient was
The patient appears to be happy and focused on her recovery process. This writer discussed with the patient briefly about her treatment plan goals and also, briefly discussed tapering off methadone, at which the patient is willing to pursue but at a seldom pace. There was no evidence of
Today I visited a treatment facility in Dayton OH. On James H Mcgee Blvd. This is a methadone based facility that has more than 800 clients currently receiving a daily regime of methadone; this is an agonist substance used in the treatment of opiate addiction. My interview today is with Lakisha Russell, a Licensed Social Worker: she also carries a MHT degree and a LCDC III. Furthermore acquiring a portion of this education at Sinclair.
One mystery of health and science is the problem of addiction and how we treat or even cure it? Many call it a disease, problem, or an issue in which he or she has no will power over the power of the drug. The idea of addiction and the future of curing/treating it is debated in Laura Miller’s article “Addiction is not a disease”, Benoit Lewis’ article “An Anti-Addiction Pill”, and the Ted Talk about addiction knowledge and it’s preconceived notions. The overarching themes/ideas/issues that are addressed in each of the readings are the need for a better health system that can better treat addicts, the need to better understand addiction and the human brain, and the need to understand the people who use drugs and the reasons for why they do so.
The brain disease concept from this documentary series restricts our understanding of complex behaviors such as drug addiction or alcohol use as a large population of society wonders why these people don 't simply stop the negative behaviors that they are engaging in. This disease perspective sends a message to the public that an addict 's condition is amenable to a medical cure and that the language used is more to describe conditions such as schizophrenia and other such afflictions that have not been brought on by the sufferer themselves and that cannot modifiable by the person 's desire to do better. From the brain disease perspective; addiction is something beyond these people 's control and is in part contributed by genetic dispositions and a chemical imbalance in the brain among other things, and not something based on an individual 's choice and behaviors leading to heavy drug use. The studies from the video, as well as other sources, typically cite the brain as the organ in which addiction is said to reside yet this is not perfectly clear and has not been thoroughly scientifically explored. Images of the brain are shown in the videos, one of a normal healthy person and one of a person who has an addiction. While this is true to an extent,
Although some people argue for the legalization of drugs, addiction to these substances has caused a huge increase in violent crimes in the home, at school, and on the street. Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to create compulsive drug abuse. They mistakenly view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem and may characterize those who take drugs as morally weak. One very common belief is that drug abusers should be able to just stop taking drugs if they are only willing to change their behavior. This is a false and uneducated belief. Drug abuse may start as a social problem or social escape but one the addiction has taken ahold of a person
In the Russel Brand documentary, Russel tries to get people in Britain to realize that being a drug addict is not a crime related problem, but a serious mental health problem. When you are addicted to something, you have a, “pattern of behavior that is characterized by an overwhelming involvement with using a drug and a preoccupation with securing its supply.” (Santrock 412) People argue against what Russel says because they think it is someone’s choice to take drugs or not, that may be right, but Russel believes it is a health problem that people need help for. Russel used to be a drug addict and was very good friends with Amy Winehouse who died from drugs. Those two reasons are why Russel has made this documentary. Russel Brand has been drug
Addiction is a “chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most individuals, but frequent drug use can lead to brain alterations that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain alterations can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease. People in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased threat for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug. It's common for an individual to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be constant and should be adjusted based on how the patient answers. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing desires.
A person’s body, in almost every aspect of its being, is addicted when one is a mild to chronic user and abuser. The nervous system, brain, and muscle tissue are all living in anticipation of the next high. So, for the addict, it is crucial that the cycle of behavior, is broken. The addict needs to pull up the anchor that keeps them from moving forward. This means changing environments, patterns and even sometimes friends and social associates.