In and around most large cities in America, the rising substance abuse epidemic has brought about a renewed interested in determining the root cause of substance abuse, the effects of substance abuse on individuals and societies, and the substance abuse treatment modalities that achieve the best outcomes. In reviewing the current research on substance abuse there seems to be no one clear cause of substance abuse disorders, although there is strong evidence that a number of life circumstances may predispose an individual to a substance abuse disorder, as well as a number of protective factors that may reduce an individual’s risk of developing a substance abuse disorder. One important risk factor that is commonly associated with substance
In the United States of America, we, the people value several things, some of which
Drug use in New Mexico is the highest factor into crime, violence, homelessness, poverty and overdose. Statistics have shown that this state has had the highest drug overdose death rate in the nation for most of the last two decades. With illegal drugs still playing a big factor into this problem, prescription drugs cause more deaths than both cocaine and heroin. There are many contributions into why New Mexico has had such a bad drug abuse problem including one of the biggest cartels in the US is located here and many of the society is introduced to drugs at such a young age. There has been an ongoing crisis of deaths but with help from the
There is an opioid abuse epidemic occurring throughout the state of Arizona. In recent years, Arizona has remained above the national average for opioid abuse and the number of individuals abusing opioids continues to rise (SAMHSA 2013). As a result, the number of opioid related deaths has increased. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, there were 494 recorded deaths due to prescription opioid abuse in 2014. This death rate has increased 16 percent compared to previous years (AZDHS 2014). Many citizens of Arizona believe that the opioid epidemic will not profoundly affect them. However, the opioid epidemic may generate more costs for the state of Arizona thus affecting all individuals in the state of Arizona.
Substance abuse is a very current problem in the United States. Opiate addiction is a particularly difficult problem in the State of Vermont where the abuse of prescription opioids has created addictions for many individuals. The problem of substance abuse has severe repercussions that may encompass severe dependence and overdose.1 Substance abuse is an epidemic that cannot be ignored. However, the combined forces of over-prescription, addiction and subsequent unemployment may mean that coverage for treatment for opioid addiction is not guaranteed even with increased Medicaid access through the Affordable care Act (ACA).
Between the periods of 1962 to 1968, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that there was an alarming 1,390% escalation of scheduled drug arrests in Florida (Rachin, 1971). That upsurge illuminates the severity of Florida’s drug epidemic preceding the ratification of the Marchman Act. Within the early 1970s when chapters 397 and 396 were fused, there were between 7,000 to 14,000 heroin
It has drug abuse problems, the same problems that have existed for 50 years now. The only difference is the substances folks use to disrupt their lives. Recently, the focus has shifted from crack and Ecstasy to heroin and prescription medications. This has resulted in an increase of drug-related deaths, according to the
One of the fastest growing epidemics in the United States is prescription drug abuse as reported by the DEA (Partnership for Drug Free Kids, 2013). All ages are guilty of abuse of medications, however, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2016) reports young adults abuse these prescription drugs at the highest rates compared to all other age groups. The NIDA reports misuse and abuse is highest among opioid pain relievers, ADHD stimulants, and anti-anxiety drugs (NIDA, 2016). The use of these prescription drugs to treat a variety of physical and mental health issues is quickly becoming a top conservative treatment option. While pharmaceutical companies make extreme amounts of profit off of these physical and mental issues, young adults are increasingly taking on the consequences of addiction and overdose.
In 1971, Richard Nixon launched the war on drugs stating, “America’s public enemy number one in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all out offensive” (Sharp, 1994). Since this war was declared 45 years ago the prison population has risen dramatically and has cost tax payers a substantial amount of money, with no end in sight. Nearly sixty five percent of the 2.3 million U.S. prisoners meet the criteria for substance abuse or addiction, yet only eleven percent receives treatment during their incarceration and a large majority of these offenders return to prison within years of being released. Our society needs to become more proactive when fighting this war versus what we have done in the past by being solely reactive. We need to give these nonviolent drug offenders a chance to succeed by offering rehabilitation services instead of sending them to prison (Howard, 2015).
For America, we believe that narcotics and drugs are the pathway to death, unsuccessfulness, and failure. In Southern Florida, we are having some of the worst drug deals and many are ending up in the hospital or dead. Crime is a high result to narcotics and the United States wants nothing to do with it.
It is no secret that drug addiction in Weston, Florida (FL) is a serious problem. It is estimated that 8.42 percent of people in Florida (FL) have used an illicit drug at least once in the past month. Marijuana is the drug that people in Weston use more than any other illicit drug. Cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin are some of the other drugs that are commonly used in Weston, Florida.
Maine, located in the northeasternmost are of the nation, includes beautiful parks and a rocky coastline. Unfortunately, the state’s beauty doesn’t make it immune to the ugliness of substance abuse. There is help out there for addiction sufferers, though. The following are just a few of the best in Maine:
America has been at war for a lot years dealing with drugs in the United States. Law enforcement has been fighting to decrease this drug abuse for almost centuries. Presidents have personally have been trying to find different methods on how to stop this drug war. Unfortunately law enforcement has not been able to win this battle. You could see how they are losing because there been so many cases that involve drug abusers that had to go to get treatment or some even go to prison. This is causing so many problems especially with the drug trade business which sometimes involves violent crimes in different neighborhoods which is only benefiting the organized crime members and the drug dealers. The United States has put so much effort on stopping this Drug epidemic by spending billions of dollars to stop this war. In order to see how has law enforcement and the United States been trying to stop this war we have to go back to the history when drugs were introduced to the United States. According to Elaine Casey
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.
“Drug addiction and drug use can be linked to at least half of all major crimes committed in the United States.” ( ) Drug addiction is defined as a human body craving the effect of a high from a drug orally, through the nose, or by injection. The high, depending on the drug, can be a rush, known as “uppers” drugs like cocaine or Adderall which are classified as stimulants that give the body energy. “Downers” drugs are Xanax and Valium, which are anti-depressants and relax the body. People who are drug free, have little to no sympathy for addicts, believing that the addicts lack strong willpower and morals. Addiction is a disease and that is very complex to the human body and it incredibly difficult to overcome to get clean and quit.