Effects of Illegal Drug Use

The consequences that follow the use of any drug are unfavorable. Although many individuals may see drug addiction as a mere lifestyle choice, it is a problem that many individuals suffer from and inevitably a growing issue that leaves major social and economic impacts.

The consequences of a drug does not only affect the user it affects the community around also. Even escalate from one community to another. The website lsdabusehelp.com explains about the problems it causes. To put in short:

The effects of illegal drugs on society can range from impacts on their family and community to criminal activities which are induced by their addiction and misuse of these illegal drugs. To begin, illegal drugs can have a severe effect among family

Drug abuse in America is at an all time high across the country. Most people start out with a legit medical issue that leads to a prescription for pain, anxiety, stress, or even trouble concentrating. After repeated prescriptions, the body tends to get use to the medicine, with then leaves the body craving more. In fact, prescription drug abuse is the highest drugs abused my both men and women. Research shows that young adults ages 18 to 25 are the prime abusers of prescription drugs, ADHD drugs as well as anti-anxiety drugs. There several reason why this age group abuse these types of drugs. The reasons include getting high, to feel good, better study habits, stress, and weight loss.

Illegal drugs have addictive properties that make it hard to stop abusing them. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse more than sixty percent of patients suffering from drug addiction relapse into abuse(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2000). Depending on the type of illegal drug, the level of addictive

Getting hooked on illegal drugs could lead to a lot of bad decisions. Once addicted to drugs, it becomes impossible to restrain yourself and resist the urge to do it again. Not only that, doing drugs that aren't prescribed will encourage you to spiral into depression, have increased anxiety, and other forms of mental illness, more so than prescribed drugs. Though both types of drugs, illegal and prescribed can and will negatively impact you and the people around you and make you lose control of yourself- physically and mentally.

Drug abuse in America is evidently a huge problem, yet remains to be misunderstood by many people. Elizabeth Foy Larsen writes a strong, informative article about a young woman named Brittany who has fallen to drug abuse. Brittany was a drug free, well rounded student with great potential just like many other young adults in America. However, one occasion flipped her life completely upside down. She had gotten her wisdom teeth removed and received prescription medication to reduce her pain. She soon found the new pain medication to be to her satisfaction. After the pain faded away, Brittany made a decision that would commence her addiction. She used the now unneeded medication thinking it would be her last time. The sensation she felt influenced her to use it again. This occurrence began to repeat itself until Brittany found herself to be dependent on the drugs. “And when you 're under 25, it 's even easier for the drugs to take the wheel, since your brain is still developing--and therefore more susceptible to addiction” (Larsen, ℙ15). She then began to spend her time with a different group of friends, who introduced her to other illegal drugs. Larsen states in the article, “That means that when the prescription drugs become too difficult to find, many once-straightlaced teens turn to illegal drugs, like heroin. In fact, four out of five heroin users started abusing drugs by taking prescription opioids, according to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids” (Larsen, ℙ15). In

Whichever stance you may have on the matter, it is pretty evident that drug use is increasingly prevalent and an ongoing issue in the United States. “Drug use is on the rise in this country and 23.5 million Americans are addicted to alcohol and drugs. That’s approximately one in every 10 Americans over the age of 12 – roughly equal to the entire population of Texas” said Dr. Kima Joy Taylor, director of the CATG Initiative (Drugfree.org). Because of facts like these, the War on Drugs was created with the proposed mission to deplete the number of drugs being consumed and sold in the United States. After over forty years since Nixon declared it, the War on Drugs has continuingly failed its promises and created additional social problems for

In an attempt to demonstrate the absurdity of the drug abuse problems in the United States, it should be brought to light that the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use Health estimated that “27 million people aged 12 or older have used an illicit drug in the past 30 days” (Hedden, Kennet, Lipari, Medley, & Tice, 2015). As gun violence has become a popular topic in America over the past few years due to its’ related deaths, many Americans’ fail to realize that more people are dying from drug overdose than by weapon. In today’s society, controversy regarding drug abuse has taken a forefront due to various media outlets in our technologically possessed world. In order to grasp the underlying issue of drug abuse in the United States, it is imperative to observe the media’s effects on adolescents in a technologically and socially consumed digital age, how family and peers correlate with drug abuse, and whether or not drug abuse effects criminal activity.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the year of 2012. The number of people using heroin for the first time is dramatically high, with 156,000 people starting in 2012, doubling from the year 2009 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014) Those using heroin are typically adults aged between 18-25 years old. The impact of heroin is felt all over the United States affecting many people. Heroin is identified as one of the most important drug issues, therefore this is a social problem that is becoming typical, and more people are coming across negative health effects due to it.

My chosen contemporary social problem is drugs and alcohol abuse. Structural-Functionalist perspective on drug abuse is a response to weakening societal norms. Drugs and alcohol abuse is one of the most significant social problems not only in the United States but also around the world. As a matter of facts, drugs and alcohol abuse is a problem with innumerable effects both on the body and mind of a person. Many times, these adverse impacts affect the families, friends, and acquaintances of the addict whereby, for instance, the latter may lose their jobs or cause chaos. For individuals that abuse psychoactive drugs it can affect the body in many different ways, such as behavioral, cognitive and physiological problems, these problems occur when a person that abuse psychoactive drugs on a regular basis. Consequently, I chose this topic because it is a major problem that has affected the lives of the individuals and those around them in the communities. Not a single day has ever ended without me coming across a drug addict begging for money. To my dismay, some of these people are usually so drunk that they cannot even communicate or stand properly. Therefore, I have come to conclude that drug and alcohol is a problem that can cause long-term effects. I desire to learn more about the issue and help individuals with addiction problems now and in future.

The documentary “the house that I live in” by Eugene Jarecki tells the tale of the true cost of America’s War on Drugs. A film that does not just tell the side of the addict but for everyone that becomes involved with the process. From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a parent to the child that loses a parent to the system. It is a detailed and critical look on this so-called War on Drugs, a piercing look into America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.

The negative effects of substance abuse on the individual, more so the society as a whole, cannot be overestimated. Researchers of health, social and psychological fields have compounded various studies to help identify and determine abused substances and in painstakingly find what motivates the populace against abusing substances.

The legalization of illicit drugs has been a popular topic of debate. While there is often concern about the potential toxicity and the habits that may form, drugs are not necessarily the problem. In fact, the legalization of illicit drugs may be the answer to some of society’s problems. More drugs should be legalized because the drug is not the cause of the problem, our behavior is. Also, when compared to other substances that are legal we see the same social ills arise. If drugs were legalized crime would also be reduced. There is often a stigma placed on drugs, and because of this it is often hard to see the benefits that may arise from the legalization of drugs.

The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.