Social Problems and Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse has been around for well over two centuries, but only recently has research begun to track the abuse and how to stop it. Surveys began in 1970 to document the abuse and has continues since. Although, in 1980 and much of the 90's more pressing items took the front lines and prescription drug abuse was sent to a lower priority. More concern was with street drugs and the crimes that were being committed due to the use of them. Early to mid-1990's surveys suggested that the prescription drug abuse was at an outbreak and was becoming a larger issue.
Patterns of drug seeking and drug taking is continently changing and is irregular. Inciardi & Cicero (2009) describes people who seek and take
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DuPont (2005) reports, "During the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the use of prescription medicines for an increasing number of indications. Participating fully in this trend has been the use of medicines to treat psychiatric disorders and the widespread use of narcotic analgesics to treat outpatients for the first time in a century." Errors in prescribing and over medicating has struck a wide spread controversy. Nonmedical use or use by someone who had not seen a physician to get a proper prescription is of a higher concern (DuPont, 2005).
Another issue with prescription drug abuse is the steep rise in deaths and visits to the emergency rooms. Unintentional overdoses send thousands to the each year. From 1999-2007 the number of overdose deaths in Los Angeles quadrupled from 2,900 to 11,500 according to the Center for Disease Control. Misuse accounts for nearly all of these (PDMP, N.D).
Many people have the inability to control themselves when faced with pressure from others. Also, social situations can lead to erratic drug behavior. Under stressful situations, such as divorce, or moving it can lead to self destructing behaviors. One pill leads to another and the abuse becomes uncontrollable (Guerrero,
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Patients who stay in treatment longer than three months have better outcomes than do people who undergo shorter treatments." Education is key to helping prevent a rise in future drug and alcohol abuse. Parents, employers, and school campuses can all helped educate the youth on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse (Guerrero, 2015). Giving people with addictions the proper help and rehabilitation could help combat those who may relapse and use again.
Functional perspective believes that society is unable to control and regulate its behavior.
In the book Social Problems, written by Guerrero (2015), " Sutherland (1939) proposed the theory
of differential association to explain how we learn specific behaviors and norms from the groups we have
contact with." If society believes that using prescription medication is a safer alternative to street drug,
they are more likely to abuse them." Guerrero (2015) also states, "Peer influence may be direct or
indirect: peers provide social opportunities to engage in substance abuse, and peers shape attitudes toward
substance abuse." People who may not usually engage in substance abuse may so do to peer
Prescription drug use has increased steadily in the U.S. over the last ten years. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug and more than half of those receive at least two or more prescriptions. The amount of people who took at least one prescription drugs has accelerated 4 percent between the years 1999 and 2008. As there is a steady increase in drug consumption, drug development and regulation process should be taken more
There is no doubt that there is a prevalence of substance abuse throughout several age groups. To a certain extent, a society is faced with the reality of controlling substance abuse. Or allow it run rampant throughout the community. Often times, we hear and read about the level of substance abuse among teen, young adults and mid-aged
Opioid drugs are some of the most widespread pain medications that we have in this country; indeed, the fact is that opioid analgesic prescriptions have increased by over 300% from 1999 to 2010 (Mitch 989). Consequently, the number of deaths from overdose increased from 4000 to 16,600 a year in the same time frame (Mitch 989). This fact becomes even more frightening when you think about today; the annual number of fatal drug overdoses in the Unites States now surpasses that of motor vehicle deaths (Alexander 1865). Even worse, overdose deaths caused by opioids specifically exceed those attributed to both cocaine and heroin combined (Alexander 1865).
There have been several news coverages on TV and social network about drug overdose of different cases recently and they have risen people’s concern about the problems of drug abuse national-wide. The drug abuse and opioid epidemic is not a new problem to the American society, actually it has been a serious problem for many years. So what is the situation of drug epidemic now, and how can we find effective ways to deal with this problem? A few writers who ponder this question are Nora D. Volkow, Dan Nolan and Chris Amico.
Millions of people throughout the world are taking drugs on a daily basis. If you were to ask someone why they take prescription drugs, most people would be taking them for the right reason. However, it’s estimated that twenty percent of people in the United States alone have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.1 Prescription drug abuse is a serious and growing problem that often goes unnoticed. Abusing these drugs can often lead to addiction and even death. You can develop an addiction to certain drugs that may include: narcotic painkillers, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants.1 Prescription drugs are the most common abused category of drugs, right next to marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and
The rate of death due to prescription drug abuse in the U.S. has escalated 313 percent over the past decade. According to the Congressional Quarterly Transcription’s article "Rep. Joe Pitt Holds a Hearing on Prescription Drug Abuse," opioid prescription drugs were involved in 16,650 overdose-caused deaths in 2010, accounting for more deaths than from overdoses of heroin and cocaine. Prescribed drugs or painkillers sometimes "condemn a patient to lifelong addiction," according to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This problem not only affects the lives of those who overdose but it affects the communities as well due to the convenience of being able to find these items in drug stores and such.
Substance abuse is a very widely known public epidemic in today's society. Many people are unfortunately plagued by this issue. According to Emedicinehealth.com (2012), “People abuse substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost,” (para. 1). People that are affected by substance abuse includes a very different range of people. Many that abuse the substances end up having health-related problems which in turn increases the need for health care. Other people that are affected by substance abuse are the family members and friends of the abusers because they have to deal with the person abusing the substances. Things that can be abused are
Specific purpose: To inform my audience about the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, some common drugs that cause abuse, and their effects and some common treatments.
Administered surveys, interviews and drug analysis at various community settings in the state of Michigan
Prescription drug abuse is not a new problem within our society. Prescription drug abuse has in fact been an ongoing problem that is currently spinning out of control. There are many people within our society that are currently dealing with prescription drug addiction. Prescription drug abuse is the intentional use of a medication without a prescription; in a way other than as prescribed; or for the experience or feeling it causes (The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction, 2014). Prescription drugs are developed to assist with various medical problems, and when prescribed by a medical professional are helpful for patients. The using prescriptions for those other than intended for may cause a number of serious issues
Treating the epidemic: Identification of questionable prescribing and dispensing patterns through results obtained from a one year state-run pilot program, aimed at developing a “standardized peer review process and methodology to review and evaluate prescribing and pharmacy dispensing ” (Foster B. et al., 2017) patterns in the state. Expansion of health care specialties with authority to prescribe treatment drugs to people abusing prescription drugs and availability of naloxone without prescription is also proposed.
Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem in society. There are many risk factors that can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. One of the main risk factors is peer pressure. When adolescents start at a young age there is an increase in health problems, addiction, and over all poor social outcomes. Parental influence has substantial effect on adolescents because the adolescent sees their parents and they learn by their example. Media plays a role in the use of drug and alcohol use among young people. Many school systems have implemented programs that teach adolescents about the problems of substance abuse that is funded
As the numbers grow of students who abuse drugs and alcohol, so does the poverty rate. The poverty rate in our rural community only creates a vicious cycle that has to be broken. There are many ideas that could render the debilitating effects of drug and alcohol abuse, sadly they have not been implemented. One solution that stands out in my mind is education. School aged children need to be heavily educated on the cycle of drug and alcohol abuse. Many students have witnessed this cycle, but they need a way out and through education that can be achieved. Students not only need to see school as a safe place, but also as a place where they can earn a diploma and learn life skills that will lead them in the right direction.
The purpose of this report is to show the major problems we face in America if we do not address the misuse of prescription drugs. America’s pain pill and heroin addiction exceeds that of all other countries in the world, statistics from the UN office on Drugs and Crimes show. This report will show emphasis on the misuse of prescription drugs and some of the causes.
Drug abuse is a rampant problem in the United States. Drugs can be abused in a variety of different ways by people from every walk of life. Most of us have been affected by drug abuse either directly or indirectly. Drug abusers harm themselves, as well as their families and communities. Drug abuse takes an enormous toll on our society at many levels. The cost of drug abuse on our society is astronomical, not only financially but also personally, emotionally, socially and professionally.