The Problem Of Drug Addiction

Most people do not completely know the definition of drug use and addiction, or the treatments that can be provided to stop it. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as “addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). This definition gives an accurate representation of what addiction is, and how it can be such a serious problem. As given by the definition, addiction is a chronic disease, and when you have an addiction it is extremely difficult to quit. “Drug addiction is a complex disease”. It later goes on to state that “brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a “relapsing” disease.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). This shows why people

Many people believe the misconception that an addiction is a moral problem and not a disease. To better understand the reasons why an additicition is in fact a disease; I will identify several types of addictions, and the problems associated with them. I will examine reasons why certain people are more susceptible for developing an addiction. Also, I will determine why many addicts deny their problems and many recovery methods addicts use to fight their illness. Researching these issues, will help aid my claim that addiction is a disease.

Katie is an everyday 35 year old woman; she has a wonderful husband and 2 small girls, a great job and looking up the ladder of success. Over the past few years, she has dedicated herself to having success at work and success with having a loving family. Anyone would meet Katie and her husband, Lewis, would think they have everything anyone could ever want. Even with her seemingly perfect life, Katie hides a secret. Katie has succumbed to a life of prescription drug addiction.

Widespread enthusiasm for the disease model, however, has led to willingness to overlook the facts. Addiction has very little in common with diseases. It is a group of behaviors, not an illness on its own. It cannot be explained by any disease process. Perhaps worst of all, calling addiction a "disease" interferes with exploring or accepting new understandings of the nature of addiction.

Most people associate dangerous addiction with the use of illegal drugs, but substance abuse consists of any dangerous dependence, including alcoholism and reliance on prescription drugs. For centuries, substance abuse was regarded by society as a personal failing or moral fault, and addicts were shunned and forced to the fringes of the community. Substance abuse today is recognized as a disease, typified by the brain becoming reliant on certain substances to deliver neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin. Street drugs like marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines react with the brain in a similar way to legal addictives, such as alcohol, tobacco, and inhalants.

According to NIH, the death rate caused by usage of heroin has been increased by triple of its number in the past 10 years. The purpose is to treat people; especially teenagers understanding its negative consequences it has on them before they get addicted to it. When the addiction starts addicts have no idea that they would be so in to it that there is no possible way to stop. Addiction is a chronic, weakened disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use despite consequences and by long lasting changes in the brain (“United”). There are a lot of different reasons why people become a drug addict but their main reasoning is to be stress free, and stay happy. Most people consider who are drug addict has a bad character, lack of moral principles, and irreligious character of someone. However, being a drug addict comes from a wrong choice of a person, against all the damages it causes to them. Drug addiction doesn’t only impact health, but it has a big effect on our economy, family, lifestyle and career. As the drug fact institute explained it “Addiction is form of a disease and as such it can be pause serious of negative consequences your emotional wellbeing, physical health and emotional life” (“The truth”). As of right now, Heroin is one of the most highly addictive and dangerous drug of all. It 's also been known that people get addicted to heroin after just using it couple of times.

In contrast to the belief that addition is merely an immoral act, it’s a complex disease that requires more than good intentions and strong will to overcome. The difficulties in quitting drug addiction are attributed to the fact that it alters the way the brain functions. Excessive drug use and abuse change the brain in manners that

In order to understand how to treat addiction, it is important to first understand why addiction occurs. Often, there is a misconception on what steps need to be taken to deal with addiction, and what factors increase the propensity of addiction in the first place. The different models of addiction aim to clarify and justify reasons why addiction occurs both physiologically and psychologically, as well as provide plausible solutions to stop addiction. Although the models all contain differing view on why addiction occurs, and tenets and tactics on how to effectively deal with addiction, it is important to understand that any type of addiction can be harmful and dangerous.

Society as a whole is impacted greatly by substance abuse and addiction. Not only does it hurt the abuser directly, but it also becomes an enormous financial and social burden on society. Addiction wrecks families, and also highly correlates with poverty because the drug abuser ends up giving everything that they have to keep their addiction going. It also places extraordinarily high demands on the education, criminal justice, and social service systems. Children and babies both are dangerously impacted by the addiction of their parents and the same addiction is likely to even show up in their own lives later on. Drug babies are being born every day already addicted to the same substances their mothers have abused; they are the ones who truly suffer the greatest consequences of the effects of addiction. Teenagers are peer pressured by the alcohol and beer industries to drink; many alcoholics in our society are a result from binge drinking while in college and even in high school. People bound by these addictions who never get the help they truly need or lose their family and feel alone often commit suicide because they feel they are unimportant to society and that ending their own lives is their only means of escape.

Addiction is a serious concern in today’s society. According to a recent report released by the Surgeon General, 20.8 million people met the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder in 2015 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). Individuals who meet the criteria for abuse or dependence often times suffer significant consequences. These consequences could include things such as the loss of his or her family, friends, home, or job, serious health problems, or even incarceration. Their substance use may also lead to life-threatening problems like overdoses or accidents. Despite the persistent physical and psychological consequences the individual may continue to use.

A crisis that many communities in Georgia are experiencing is addiction. A large substance that is currently being abuse is methamphetamine. Methamphetamine can be smoked, snorted, injected, taken orally and dissolved in liquids. The most common use is smoking and injecting the drug because of the immediate reaction it has on the body. It is highly addictive and has repeated patterns of binges and crashes with the individual constantly trying to reproduce their euphoric high.

Addiction is a choice and by classifying addiction as a disease, we are just enabling drug addicts to take no responsibility for their own actions in their lives. By labeling addiction as a medical condition it creates a false assumption that addicts have no control over their own behavior. People become addicts because of their behavior, not their brain chemistry. The disease concept is so popular because it gives people an easy way out; if they inherited their addiction they can’t be responsible for their own behavior. The disease model of addiction is flawed for a number of reasons; first, most people who take drugs do not become addicted, but may take drugs for a period of time, then stop when they choose to do so. Many well respected professors and scientist claim addiction is a scapegoat behavior that has been incorrectly identified as a physical or mental illness, an addict is only a victim of bad science and misguided policy.

What if I was to tell you that everything you know about addiction is untrue? What if I was to say that our pre-conceived views on addiction were based on ignorance. It’s pretty simple really, it’s about CONNECTION NOT addiction.

Drug addiction has always been common in societies since the dawn of civilization. What causes drug abuse though? Theories abound from peer-pressure (plays a role) to dysfunctional (broken) homes. The sensation of drug addiction originates from the emotional and societal factors that affect each individual. It starts out recreational, to let loose and briefly enjoy a sensation of joy and forget the troubles of your family situation. I come from a home that was broken multiple times and everyone I’ve encountered with drug issues has come from a broken (dysfunctional/neglectful) home.

Drug addiction is one of society 's biggest problems and it is rampant among teenagers and young adults and one of the most abused drugs is marijuana. Cannabis sativa or marijuana usually grows throughout tropical and temperate climates and then plant 's stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds are then dried. What attracts to most users is the mind altering effect these parts produce which is addictive to some extent. It is usually smoked as cigarette, or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, in which cigars will be emptied of tobacco and refill with marijuana or sometimes it is combined with another drug. It can also be brewed as tea or mixed in food. Hashis is a more concentrated, resinous form which is sticky black liquid, hash oil. The