The Abuse Of Illicit Drugs Presents A Detrimental Effect On The Health And Well Being Of Millions Of Americans

In America there are a lot of problems, ranging from violence to obesity. A growing concern of many Americans is the drug “epidemic” with the growth of the war on drugs. Marijuana, throughout history, has been demonized and illegalized, however now a newfound acceptance of the drug is growing rapidly with some states fully legalizing the drug recreationally, and others medically.

Many addicts finish in the legal system because they do whatever it may take to get their drugs. Although some addicts who receive legal consequences are able to abstain, out of fear of incarceration, from use for a period of time but unless they receive treatment and continue to seek support from others who are recovering from addiction the time will come that they will use again. Women who become addicted will abandon their children, continue to use while pregnant, sell themselves, and often put themselves in danger in order to get their drug of choice. Children of addicted parent(s) often can have behavioral problems or trouble with school and friends. Many children are forced to grow up and have to take care of themselves, siblings, and the addict because the addict is more worried about using drugs than taking care of their family. This often leads to family or social service agencies intervening on behalf of the children. The getting and abusing of drugs becomes part of their daily life which leads to financial problems, social and medical problems. Many times friends and families have to sit by and watch as the person they love chooses to use drugs over them, no matter how much they try to help them stop the addict continues to use knowing what the possible consequences may be or they stop for a period of time only to go back to using again. Along with the addict

Drug abuse is defined by the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) as a “chronic relapsing brain disease.” Drug addiction is a serious dilemma in the US such with that of opioid addictions. To first understand the importance of harm reduction to substance abuse like opioid, one must understand why it is classified as a harmful substance.

America’s drug problem has increasingly become an epidemic. In a 2013 study done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 24.6 million Americans, 9.4% of the population,

During the year 1960, only four million Americans had ever tried illegal narcotics; today that number has risen to 74 million (DEAMuseum). The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) concluded that over the past thirty days, more than 20 million Americans over the age of twelve have used illegal drugs (NCADD). As one of the top health-related problems facing the nation today, the prevalence of drug abuse in society strains the economy, health care system, criminal justice system, and poses a major threat to public safety. This is because once they are hooked on a particular drug; addicts will do whatever it takes to come into possession of more of it. To illustrate that point, a 2004 study conducted by the Department of Justice (DoJ)

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) updated reports on the prevalence of substance addiction in 2015, illegal drugs use has been increasing in the entire United States. In 2013, approximately 24.6 million United States citizens aged 12 and above used illicit drugs. The increase represented a 9.4% of all the population consuming illegal drugs. In 2002, the total population of illicit drug use in America was approximately 8.3%. The increase in substance abuse has been attributed to the breakdown of social ethics in the society.

In 2013, more high school seniors regularly used marijuana than cigarettes as 22.7 percent smoked pot in the last month, compared to 16.3 percent who smoked cigarettes. Sixty percent of seniors don 't see regular marijuana use as harmful, but THC (the active ingredient in the drug that causes addiction) is nearly five times stronger than it was 20 years ago. One-third of teenagers who live in States with medical marijuana laws get their pot from other people 's prescriptions. The United States represents 5 percent of the world 's population and 75 percent of prescription drugs taken. Sixty percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them free from friends and relatives. The purpose of this study is to explore drug use in adolescent

In present time, recreational drug use in the United States has become a widely recognized topic that has generated a large amount of research over the years, which makes it a topic well worth discussing. Statistical findings show distinct trends that reveal important information on not only the types of drugs being abused, but

Since the early 1960’s there have been an alarming increase in drug use in the United States in 1962, four million Americans had tried an illegal drug. By 1999, that number had risen to a staggering 88.7 million, according to the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse.

Drug addiction is something many of us don’t encounter every day. Addiction has, plagued every society across the world, and continues to do so today. It has led to the decimation of towns, cities, and countries; yet we know little about what factors influence addiction. In the past it used to be viewed as a very simple almost binary process, that process being, if someone uses drugs they will become addicted. This idea was challenged and many began to believe that there were much deeper factors at play beyond the pharmacological properties of substances. It pushed us to question what aspects of society, culture, or biology leads people to substance abuse. It wanted to further analyze what factors turn some people from occasional recreational

Drug addiction has caused many problems for people and the community. It has caused illness and diseases, car accidents, loss of self respect, and family problems. When addicted to drugs, a person should always seek help before its to late to be

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.

Marijuana use is on the rise again among adolescents and teens and continues to be the most widely used illicit drug among our nation’s youth. The marijuana addiction rate has increased for all age groups, and one out of every six adolescents who use marijuana develop an addiction to it. Additionally, the Monitoring the Future

Many individuals struggle everyday with addiction. Addiction can surely be a life sentence to people who let it consume them. Throughout time, people start depending on the drugs; some people don’t know how to act or think without drugs. This dependence causes bad habits that can lead to losing family, friends, jobs, money, shelter and much more. Addiction and drug abuse can cause many negative effects on the brain, behavior, body, and others around.

Since 2000, the drug use rate in America has risen to the highest it’s ever been. In a survey done in 2009, 8.7 percent of people age 12 and up said that they used illegal substances within a month of taking the survey, a 9 percent increase since 2008 (Abuse, National Institute on Drug, 2010). This statistic alone is very concerning due to