The Impact of Drugs on Society

Substance abuse is present in every facet of society which does not discriminate among age, ethnic background, race, and gender. Many individuals who abuse illicit drugs use to escape various life events (e.g. past trauma, lose of love one, daily stress, just to name a few). There is a vast disgrace placed upon individuals who uses illicit drugs, especially among pregnant substance abusers. To reduce the rate of drug exposed infants state legislations have been prosecuting these women under child welfare laws with charges ranging from child abuse, neglect, or murder if the mother gives birth to a still born who has been exposed to illicit drugs (Fentiman, 2009). The following news articles illustrate the hardship of maternal substance abuse.

Through the years, substance misuse in the United States has turned into an industrious issue influencing numerous people. In 2008, it was assessed that 17.8 million Americans beyond 18 years old where substance subordinate. Women who use medications during pregnancy can have an enduring impact on fetal. Medications can have an impact of maternal and child wellbeing, yet there are a lot of different variables, which influence it, poor social environment, nourishment, cleanliness, and sexual abuse. Regenerative interruption connected with heroin utilization has been shown in both and women and even low dosages of opiates can impede ordinary ovarian capacity and ovulation. The harm that goes hand in hand with substance utilization comes either straightforwardly from the impact of the medication itself or from issues identified with development and/or unexpected labor. The entanglements of jumbling components clamorous way of life, poor nourishment, liquor utilization and cigarette smoking influence the appraisal of the impacts of cocaine in pregnancy. In obstetric practice, 100% of pregnant women utilizing cocaine or heroin are cigarette smokers. Cigarette smoking is presumably the most well known manifestation of substance utilizes and is noteworthy corresponding considering ladies who use unlawful medications. Babies whose moms smoked in pregnancy have a tendency to have lower conception weights and diminished length, cranial and thoracic

The central issue upon which the Supreme Court based their decision was in regard to the best interests of the child. They looked closely at the nature v. nurture argument, ruling that her psychological parents, the Racine’s, were capable of providing a healthier environment than her biological mother, Mrs. Woods. When looking at this case from a solely legal perspective, it is clear that the Court made the correct choice, considering Mrs. Woods’ ongoing battle with substance abuse coupled with her abusive relationship. However, this case, as with many could not be looked at simply from a legal perspective. Complex cultural aspects are embedded within the case that had to be considered in order to properly gauge the decisions and the effects of that decision. In the past, children were automatically placed with their biological parents or relatives, which, was viewed as standard procedure within the legal framework. Societal norms have progressed in such a way that allow for a more activist

According to Substance use during pregnancy: time for policy to catch up with research, “The drug war has included treatment of addicts and prevention but the emphasis has been on law enforcement; control at the source, interdiction, arrest, prosecution, imprisonment and seizure of assets (Lester, Andreozzi, & Appiah, 2004).” In other words the focus on the fight against drugs has been punishment. Many people view pregnant drug users as child abusers, child neglectors, and even murderers. In a lot of cases this is true. There are thousands of children today who suffer the consequences for their parents actions. In many places, women lose their children or end up in behind bars (Miranda, Dixon, & Reyes, 2015). Tennessee is the only state that considers it a crime to use drugs while pregnant (Miranda, Dixon, & Rayes, 2015). On the other hand, Alabama and South Carolina’s high courts have interpreted existing child endangerment and chemical endangerment statutes in order to prosecute drug-using pregnant women and new mothers (Miranda, Dixon, & Rayes, 2015). The main

punishment, e.g. whether the mother’s actions be perceived as criminal or treated as it would for one suffering from an illness in need of appropriate treatment. The diversity of dramatically different responses to this issue, illustrates the failure to establish a uniform policy for the management of this conundrum. As we discussed earlier, using controlled substances while pregnant can produce multiple adverse psychological, biological and developmental effects on the fetus, including death. In reality, pregnant women who use controlled substances consist mostly of the poor and minorities. The social policy context for these women includes dramatic reductions in services and access to legal recourse. Research has also shown that many drug users are also committed parents. One large barrier to seeking treatment is that the substance abuser is afraid that if they seek help they will lose custodial rights to their children. Something worth noting here is that, research suggests that pregnant women hold concern for the welfare of their unborn child(ren), but are too afraid to seek treatment for fear of losing custody of their baby. This fear is a direct consequence of the policies that we currently have in place. This is not to say that a child should not be removed from its parent’s custody in appropriate circumstances, but rather to suggest that

The increase of prescription drug abuse has never before been at an all time high. More and more people are getting into the “trend” that is recreationally using Prescription Drugs, and not just any type of prescription drug. Teens are recreationally using opiates such as Oxycontin, Adderall, Vicodin, Morphine Etc. And the numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate. It is now safe to say that Prescription drugs(mostly Opiates) are becoming an even bigger issue than some illegal drugs such as Cocaine, Methamphetamine and many more.

In the United States, prenatal substance use continues to be a widespread problem with the addictive substances used during pregnancy; the risk factors, and the long-term effects a baby can have. When a pregnant woman uses drugs, she and her unborn child face serious health problems. Long-term effects of drugs on babies can include behavioral problems as they grow older. They can also be born addicted to the drugs used to treat the mother’s addiction. The task at hand is to make sure that we view all drugs of abuse through a common lens, regardless of legal status, so that their impact on child outcome can be adequately assessed leading to appropriate policy

Over the past years, drugs have been taking over more lives than we could have imagined. It seems that drugs have become more “popular”, even though they have been around us our whole lives. Kids starting at age 11 are now doing drugs, which is pretty upsetting knowing your little brother could be doing drugs without you even knowing. A more upsetting topic is babies being born addicted to drugs. A study has shown in 2004 seven babies in every 1000 were born addicted to drugs, by 2013 27 in every 1000 babies have been born addicted (Staufenberg, J. (2015, September 7). Huge increase in babies born addicted to drugs in US. Retrieved October 1, 2015.). I know it’s hard, thinking how such precious little humans can be born suffering from withdrawal. Poor babies have to suffer due to their mother’s mistake, ever wonder how baby withdrawal can stop? A topic that has a lot of controversy around it is, should all pregnant women be drug tested? My opinion before I survey 100 people is, I believe they should be drug tested in order to protect the baby. In fact Tennessee has made a law to arrest mother who give birth to drug addicted babies. The legislation gives moms of babies who are born dependent on drugs two choices: Face a misdemeanor charge or go to drug court where they will be put through an 18-month treatment program. (Tenn. Moms Can Now Be Arrested for 'drug Babies ' | HLNtv.com." HLNtv.com. 1 May 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.) The effects of babies born to drugs could be

For some people, drugs are a part of everyday life. Drugs are what allow them to be able to walk around in the mornings with no ache, or comfort the pain of a recent surgery, or help and individual cope with anxiety or stress; however, the same drugs that are used to bring enjoyment into one persons life can bring destruction into another. This has become a major problem in the U.S. and all over the world as well. In a recent survey, thirty different clinics, spread out over five urban areas, reported that thirty-six percent of admitted patients has admitted to the nonmedical use of prescription drugs over the past year (Brown, Chaitkin, 1981); consequently, prescription pain killers have lead to more deaths that than heroin and cocaine combined (CDC, 2013).

Everyday in the United States, 2,500 youth aged 12 to 17 abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time (“Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes & Deaths – Drug-Free World,”n.d.) A 2007 survey in the United States found that 3.3% of 12 to 17 years olds and 6% of 17 to 25 year olds had abused prescription drugs in the past month (“Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes & Deaths – Drug-Free World,”n.d.) Prescription drug abuse causes the largest percentage of deaths from drug overdoses (“Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes & Deaths – Drug-Free World,”n.d.) Of the 22,400 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2005, opioid painkillers were the most commonly found drug, accounting for 38.2 % f these

In all societies, there are substances that are deemed as both not acceptable and acceptable for consumption. The laws today are a result of ever changing societal norms. Before a particular drug is discovered, it is not illegal; it simply exists in nature. When that substance is introduced into a society, it must be determined if its effects are in line with the societies morals which may be in large part regulated by the dominate religion. If it is proven to be beneficial to the society and abides by the social morals its use is largely unregulated. If an individual in that society that is not a part of the dominate religion uses an illegal substance, are they exhibiting deviant behavior or practicing their freedom of religion? Of

Cocaine’s impact on modern society according to the United States Department of Justice says, how only 1% of cocaine is used on an everyday basis by college-aged students. Furthermore, they say that the casual use is much higher because within the last year 5.1% of college-aged students consumed cocaine. However, nothing can really be done to change these percentages because due to the 20th century this illegal drug, as some others, have become legal in the United States therefore, trying to prevent this drug is something that can’t be accomplished.

The drug abuse menace has been indicated to be one of the leading factors that negatively affect people at whatever stage of life right from the fetus stage to the fully grown baby and the adulthood. There were astonishing statistics from the 2008 and 2009 data that relates to the pregnant women and drug abuse. It is indicated that the drug abuse by pregnant women who are younger was higher than the elderly ones. The percentages of pregnant women between the ages of 15 to 17 and abused drugs stood at 15.8% of them, a figure that is relatively higher that that of women in the same age gap who are not pregnant at 13% (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011).

The exploitation and overdoses of opioids, which includes morphine, heroin, and other pain medicines, is a serious public health epidemic in the United States. This constant maltreatment of these drugs by individuals has caused them their lives and misery to their families. According to the National Institute of Health on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “ In 2013, 1.9 million people suffered from substance use disorders related to opioid medicines and 517,000 suffered from a heroin use disorder.” There have also been many cases where infants had “neonatal abstinence syndrome,” due to drug abuse by their mothers during pregnancy and also transmission of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. The federal government has been in a constant manic position regarding this epidemic and has mainly just given an executive order, which have caused more pressure for the state and local governments to take more responsibilities to combat this epidemic.

In this time in age, we often acknowledge the achievements that we have made in society. With a country that took such long to get where we are today, we have a much longer way to go. Factors such as structural inequality, marginalization, race, class, and the stigma associated with all these factors influence the way we look and perceive drug dealers and users. An individual’s decision to use drugs is embedded in an unequal social structure, a social structure that produces unequal outcomes, violence, and stigma for drug users/drug dealers dependent on their social status. In this paper I will analyze forces such as structural marginalization, violence to individuals, and the deviance associated in relation to drug dealers and users.