Peer Groups And Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is continuous use of substances like alcohol in quantities or with ways unacceptable by medical experts mostly for purposes of altering normal body functioning. It is majorly a health concern, but in the recent decades, it has risen to become one of the worst ills in the society (Haw & Hawton, 2011). There are various laws that prohibit use certain drug types especially those often abused. Most judicial systems protect their citizens from drug abuse and related issues. There are two categories of drug offenders namely the dealers and the users. This paper analyses the effect of substance use on the social institutions and effective mechanisms of dealing with the drug offenders (West, 2010).

In the present times, drug abuse is a major cause for concern and has an adverse effect on society in general. Although students comprise of a large section of drug abusers, grown-ups also capitulate to drug abuse. In fact among the middle-aged people there is an inclination to abuse prescription drugs.

Drug abuse in children and adolescents has been a problem since the past when drugs were used for aliments and now because of the ever present drug problem in our country. There is no community or family that is not affected by the use of drugs in their children. Drug abuse in children and teenagers may pose a greater problem for our country since they have not completely developed their brains to an adult level, with this in thought it seems clear why adolescents can become addicted drugs.

Predominantly, the idea of addiction falls under the sociological concept of deviance. Research has identified drug use predominantly as a problem of young males, whereas prescription drug use is principally a problem of middle-aged and older women (Adrian, 2003). According to the sociological idea of conformity, individuals who are around others who misuse substances or use them illegally will eventually give in and follow the norm their social group has initiated and partake in addictive substance use. Hence, because of sociological research, it is evident that drug use and abuse and addictions are a deviant behavior that individuals have learned through the idea of conformity and following an idea popular in an individual’s culture or

In his essay “Embraced by the Needle”, Gabor Maté sets out the stages of drug addiction and its consequences, its effects bring many torments to people who are vulnerable to drug dependences. At first, he explains the physiological effects of using drugs. Then, he reflects upon different degrees of stress that cause emotional youths are easily involved in substance abuse.

Drug abuse and distribution among youth is also a big problem. The use of both alcohol and cigarettes reached their highest points according to recent studies. Use of several

In this article, the author, Anna explains some of the factors that lead the individual to consume drugs. Almendrala states that, have someone in the family who uses drugs, mix with drug users and expose to the drug environment can influence them to try this kind of habit. Besides, Almendrala emphasizes that poverty and lack of education are also contributing aspects for someone to take drugs in overdose amount. The author is aware that, to quit from a drug is really hard and they need support from others to help them to recover from drug abuse, as strong will alone is not enough. Moreover, the author includes information that some of the drug users are afraid to seek help as people might be judgemental towards them and the police will put

Sometimes the two can go hand in hand being contributing factors of each other. Especially during adolescent years where peers encourage their friends to attend to behavior that is not part of their normal lifestyle. For instance, trying drugs for the first time, engaging in risky sexual behavior, and even encounters with alcohol. Even though these situations can end up being much more dangerous than intended, often times people do not back down because of what their peers may think of them. Friends follow along not knowing if they are even capable of a task because they feel they have a point to prove. Not to mention, there is pressures to be a part of groups like cliques and gangs, just as the local gangs in one’s urban community. According to Hallie Bourne, peer pressure is something that increases with age and begins to decline when an adolescence becomes independent from their family or guardian (Bourne, 2015). Similar to when Maria, decided to live a life of her own in New York for her and her unborn baby and become independent of her family back in Columbia where nothing was going

In the article of The Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Families and Children: From Theory to Practice, it refers to the effects of substance abuse on children. In the article the attachment of nurturing, and socialization for humans in current society remains solely up to the family. Each family member is affected by the behavior choice of substance abuse which clings to the family unit and gives impaired needs. The family environment is damaged and it leads to all kinds of problems in the family. The environment have a great impact on the effects of substance abuse on children and it effects the entire family and the behavior of the child. As children transition into adulthood they are still affected of what happened to them in their

Pressure to use heroin and other drugs from some students as well as pressure from non-students.

After much discussion and research upon the subject matter of drug use and addictions, the author has come to a conclusion. The basis for the author’s “Self-directed Addictions Project” will revolve around the recreational drug use among teenagers and young adults, as well as the foundations of such use. Having personal experience and considerable interest in the aforementioned topic, the author will be able to delve into various commonalities in which contribute to drug usage at such a young age. The author also has many connections within the addictions field as many family members are involved in law enforcement or the medical field. Interviewing these people will give reliable and direct information regarding the subject matter.

Drugs are becoming a social norm in the eyes of teenagers. Whether it is cannabis or alcohol, most teens have had some experience with a certain drug. Prescribed and non-prescribed drugs have an enormous influence on society, as it is used so often and becoming so easily accessed by youth. Most people can come to the conclusion that peer pressure in high school has the greatest impact on why teens try drugs. The topic of this essay emerges from the novel

Drugs and alcohol have been used for medical and recreational purposes throughout history. With advancement of technology it has become easier and easier to access these substances. It is not only illegal drugs but prescription drugs that are being misused and wreaking havoc across the world. Even with billions of dollars being paid out to stop the war on drugs, the problem persists. People from all walks of life have been affected by drugs or are becoming drug addicts themselves. One particular group afflicted by the misuse of these substances is the children of drug addicted parents. According to Cattapan and Grimwade, “Drug use seen in one generation affects the lives of the next”. Children with one or both parents on drugs face huge

In study after study, peer pressure is associated in adolescents of all ethnic and racial backgrounds with at-risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, truancy, drug use, sexual activity, fighting, shoplifting, and daredevil stunts. Again, peer group values and attitudes influence more strongly than do family values the level of teenage alcohol use. The more accepting peers are of risky behavior, and the more they participate in that behavior, the more likely a person is to do the same thing.

A drug is a chemical substance applied into treating, diagnosing and preventing one from disease infections or a substance that is used by a person to enhance his or her physical and mental state in the perceived effect. Drugs used for different purposes and their effect depend on which cause for usage. It causes both positive and negative consequences directly to the user and in the long-run it affects the whole society or community. Drug addiction is the activity of uncontrollable dependence on a substance by the user no matter the harm caused by its usage. It is a habit that has been in many years hard to curb especially among the youths. “We must recognize that substance abuse and addiction is a disease, not a moral failing or easily abandoned self-indulgence,” (Califano, 2008).The cases of drug abuse have been on the rise over the recent years and resulted in crimes. The cases have a great effect affected the society in general since the reliable energetic youths have turned to drug abuse. However, some measures have been initiated to mitigate, curb and treat drug addiction in the society as outlined in the essay.