Drugs Essay

1b. List and describe briefly the major structures of the brain, as presented in your textbook, including the function of those elements that are most related to psychoactive drug reaction.

Drugs have been a problem in the country for a long time. Issues with drugs even existed in ancient times. However, through the War on Drugs, the media created a panic about the issue, making citizens believe drug abuse was an exponentially growing new epidemic in the United States. Although the War on Drugs was declared in 1982 and was intended to reduce the rates of drug abuse in the US, America’s drug problem increased dramatically over the next years (Bagley, 1988).

Not only can children be put in drug use situations but so can parents. When parents struggle to maintain a stable household or income and employment it may expand stress on the family and its powerlessness, pushing negligible people to discover answers or comfort in illegal drugs. In general, addiction and use of

Legalizing these drugs and having them on the streets, allows anyone, including young individuals, to easily be able to obtain these items. As stated by William Bennett, “Legalization on the other hand, removes the incentive to stay away from a life of drugs.” (548). Parents and guardians need to make a huge evaluation to whether or not they want to see some of these drugs on the streets permanently. During prohibition this nation made a huge decision to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol.

     During my research there were a lot of things I found really disturbing. The United States has the highest population in the world with most being victims of the “drug war”. Since the beginning of the war of drugs studies have shown that drug use has not decline but increased. (Figure 1)

The issue of drug abuse is a sad reality in every community, and drug prohibition is present across the globe. Whether it is under the guise of protection of family values, or public safety, prohibition disrupts more than it maintains. Many people view drugs as a problem but they can also be viewed as a problem solver. This essay will address the socioeconomic issues with prohibition of hard drugs, and argue for their legalization.

Therefore, president after president has adopted the “war” metaphor and declared drugs as a national security risk that must be fought at an international level to maintain society safe. In Bush’s speech to the nation, he states the citizens must come together behind one plan of action, “an assault on every front” (cited in Elwood, 1995 p. 106). Consequently, the misuse of rhetoric, war metaphors, and the assault on drugs have had a negative impact on society which has failed American citizens.

The war on drugs in our culture is a continuous action that is swiftly lessening our society. This has been going on for roughly 10-15 years and has yet to slow down in any way. Drugs continue to be a problem for the obvious reason that certain people abuse them in a way that can lead to ultimate harm on such a person. These drugs do not just consist of street drugs (marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy), but prescription medications as well. Although there are some instances where drugs are being used by subjects excessively, there has been medical research to prove that some of these drugs have made a successful impact on certain disorders and diseases.

The War on Drugs has been an ongoing effect ever since the Civil War introduced the drug morphine to the world. In the years since people have been coming up with drugs more lethal than morphine such as cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and so on and so forth. The War on Drugs is dangerous and leads to many deaths throughout the years. America has set up agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and other drug task force teams throughout the United States. Even though we may not be able to catch all the drug dealers the United States drug teams has put a tiny dent into this ongoing black market run by cartels and even the smaller drug dealers. In this essay, we will see the effect it has on the United States, the way we are trying to prevent, and overall what the drugs have done to America since the Civil War.

Education is the next stepping stone to the ultimate goal of prevention. According to The USA Today, 95% of unintentional poisoning deaths in the United States are drug overdoses and the number nearly doubled from 1999 to 2004 (“A Tragic Reminder” 3). Both parents and children alike do not understand the dangers that prescription drugs may bring ("Parenting of Teens" 1). After the recent death of actor Heath Ledger, his father issued a statement that said, “Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage” (“A Tragic Reminder” 1). Parents need to examine all areas of the problem and be aware of the lurking dangers. If more of the population understood the true threats that lie within the medicine cabinet, then young people today would have a much brighter outlook upon the future. Their outlook would not be based on the knowledge of how to use modern medicine for the betterment of our country and not its internal destruction. Today there are many myths regarding both legal and illegal drugs. Examples of these myths include the idea that marijuana causes people to become violent and the idea that aspirin is safe (Corder 3). In actuality, many have died due to hemorrhages as a result of aspirin abuse (Corder 3). Myths concerning drugs encircle American society; it is important for parents to maintain communication with their children in regard to

Today in our modern society, many people believe that teen’s develop a mindset of having a clean system and to stay drug free. However, people are not able to foresee that the drug use in America has rising up tremendously. Studies have shown that drugs can not only have impact on your life, but also have impact on those who surround you and also can led to the absence of adolescence. It leads to bad habits and only brings evil deeds. The possession of drugs and the conspiracy sell is illegal in the Unites States. If arrest and put on trial due to drugs can mean serious jail time. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, people are considered to have a substance use disorder. (Live Science) The Live Science states “... people have strong urges to use a substance or can't control their use of it, or if their use impairs them in social situations or leads to risky behavior.” Members of society have needs when a drug is being in place into there normal day routine. The report also states that an estimated 27.1 million people in the U.S. used an illegal drug in the past month. (Live Science) The mass-production, sale and possession of illegal drugs should be banned in the United States.

The line between public safety and the continuation of a high standard of privacy for all is a razor thin line; the United States government itself straddles it every day. Such is one very serious complication that the administrators and security forces of Coppell High School face: it is in the best interest of the administrators to prevent drug usage in the school as to stop the spread of any conflict (namely any characteristically delinquent behaviors such as interpersonal violence and school dropout) that they could potentially cause. However, it is also imperative to maintain some level of privacy so that students do not lash out against the administrators and school-wide morale remains fairly high. Numerous students and other relevant

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

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.

Drugs are heavily used throughout the entire world. However, it is important to understand and not undermine the variability in which drugs are used. It is clear some are for distinct medical treatment and others are for recreational use. In the United States, marijuana has been and continues to be a very controversial drug. Some states have allowed marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes, while others have completely outlawed the drug. Those who are against the legalization and regulation of marijuana suggest the economical and health risk associated with consumption of the drug are too high. Although there is risk involved with the legalization of the marijuana, our country has already been risking too much banning the drug.