Drug Abuse And Its Effects

Drug abuse is an addiction to a drug that can lead to harmful effects for the user and the people around him or her. Drug abuse has been around long before most of us were alive. Almost everyone that has a drug problem does not think they will get addicted when they try the selected drug for the first time. Drugs do things to people without them realizing it and hurt them in the long run

“Prescription drug abuse is the use of a medication without a prescription, in a way other than as prescribed, or for the experience or feelings elicited.” Prescription Drugs are ranked number two in drugs abused (Volkow 7).

Drug abuse is a problem that has been increasing immensely in the United States. The amount of people using drugs is increasing drastically with people starting or trying illegal substances as a younger age. Drug abuse is the over use of legal and illegal substances. The abuse of drugs is the number one health related problem. Types of drugs commonly abused include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, painkillers, depressants, cocaine, stimulants, hallucinogens, heroin, and methamphetamine. However, marijuana and cocaine are the most abused drugs in the United States.

Most people associate dangerous addiction with the use of illegal drugs, but substance abuse consists of any dangerous dependence, including alcoholism and reliance on prescription drugs. For centuries, substance abuse was regarded by society as a personal failing or moral fault, and addicts were shunned and forced to the fringes of the community. Substance abuse today is recognized as a disease, typified by the brain becoming reliant on certain substances to deliver neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin. Street drugs like marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines react with the brain in a similar way to legal addictives, such as alcohol, tobacco, and inhalants.

Substance abuse is a mistreatment of liquid or solid substances or drugs. When you think of individuals who take advantage of substances, what is your impression? Do you feel it is a choice and are exceptions? If so what are those exceptions. Substances come in various forms. You have your gateway substances such as marijuana and alcohol, which are common among the majority, are considered “harmless” then you have your “harmful” frowned upon substances like cocaine and “meth” that are notoriously known for damages on the brains functionality.

Drug abuse is a major public health issue that impacts society both directly and indirectly; every person, every community is somehow affected by drug abuse and addiction and this economic burden is not exclusive to those who use substance, it inevitably impacts those who don't. Drugs impact our society in various ways including but not limited to lost earnings, health care expenditures, costs associated with crime, accidents, and deaths. The use of licit or illicit drugs long term, causes millions of deaths and costs billions for medical care and substance abuse rehabilitation and the effects of drug abuse extend beyond users, spilling over into the society at large, imposing increasing social and economic costs.

Drug abuse is the consumption of any natural or synthetic substance or drug in an unapproved quantity for increased performance and enhancement. Most people abuse drugs because they want to gain the psychological effect with methods neither approved nor supervised by medical professionals. (Med India, Network for Health, n.d.) Drug Addiction is when drug abuse becomes a compulsion for maintaining psychological and emotional balance. Drugs decompose the basic structure of a whole society, by weakening families, reducing human productivity, corrupting governments, and demolding law respecting citizens. (Med India, Network for Health, n.d.) According to Med India, “The trafficking of illicit drugs and hallucinogens is the largest illegal business in the world accounting for about 8% of international trade, amounting to about $400 billion annually” (Med India, Network for Health, n.d.). Drugs decompose a whole society

Monique, interesting reply addiction in the family can cause both short term and long term harmful affects .You mentioned the harsh affects of substance abuse often have on youngsters; which in my opinion can be very devastating on a child/children. I have seen it recently firsthand. Your post reminds me of a case that was bought before the judge where a young lady had been using a heavy substance for quite some time now and had 3 small children ages 3-1 years of age. Some one had reported how the Mom often left the children home unattended quite often: roaming the neighbor hood, in need of food and unkempt. The case was bought before the judge due reckless behavior. The women was taken away by authorities and her 3 small children given over to child protective services due to neglect, until they could find relatives to take them in for a few months or until the mother agreed to straighten out her life.

Many people fail to realize the solid impact social issues can have on our everyday lives.

Drug abuse is a very important topic to debate today, as it affects both adolescents and the general population, but in fact how much do we know about the topic? What is the concept of drug abuse? Is is an important question for any loved one of a person with a potential substance use problem. Information on drug abuse clearly indicates that drug abuse is an inevitable desire to obtain and use increasing amounts of one or more substances. Nowadays the most abused drugs are usually alcohol and cigarettes. But we also do not rule out drugs legally prescribed by a doctor, as well as illegal drugs.

The definition of abuse of prescription drugs is using a medication in a manner other than prescribed, by a person who it was not prescribed for, to obtain a particular experience. Many people, but especially teenagers and young adults, have turned to abusing prescription medication. Some people have an increased genetic risk of getting addicted to medications but environmental factors such as economic level, lack of employment and pressure from peers also have a significant impact. Abuse of these drugs has harmful side effects to the person abusing them but can also affect the people around them. They are more likely to have difficulties in many areas of their life including problems with family, friends or coworkers. Abusers frequently

The use of drugs can have minor to fatal consequences if use in the wrong ways, also there will still be some sort of consequence if handled or used with care. Some issues that are major is drug dependencies. There are two different types of dependencies, psychological and physical. Psychological dependency occurs when a person’s mind comes to depend on a drug. An attachment to drug use often happens because of the substance’s ability to substance fulfilment of some emotional and personal need. A person with a psychological dependency could behave like feeling anxious in public situations, and might consume alcohol to fulfil that need for relaxation.

Drug abuse is an illness that causes a damaging pattern of using any substance that will in turn bring about substantial issues. Some of the major concerns are the tolerance of the substance and the withdrawal from it. The issues caused can be either work/school related or socially.

Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster 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. What people often underestimate is the complexity of drug addiction—that it is a disease that impacts the brain and because of that, stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower. Through scientific advances we now know much more about how exactly drugs work in the brain, and we also know that drug addiction can be successfully

The debate on drug has arisen since the 1860’s when pharmacist made an effort to regulate drugs. Drugs have always been consumed, but in an effort to stop them from spreading they’ve now been prohibited. Drugs can affect the body in such a way which an individual can hallucinate things, and could permanently damage an individual’s mind. Consequence of drug abuse can be cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease. Some people become addicted to drugs to the point where they have to depend on them to live or for a certain time until they can completely withdraw from the drug. Alcohol, which is legal, also has substances that can negatively impact an individual’s health, however, it is part of multiple traditions where people accustom to drink wine or beer with their meal and unfortunately having the privilege to try it has been abused and has also become addictive. That is why I believe any substance that puts a body at risk should be limited and only prescribed. Having acknowledged the physical limitation drug posses over a human, drugs should be kept illegal. One of the major compelling arguments about drugs is the benefit of its cost, which I feel there isn’t. Legalization will only allow for violence to increase, and will not be enough to get rid of the black market. Instead of getting rid of prohibition there are alternatives to seek for making the system stronger and save our citizens.