The Problem Of Drug Addiction

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.

We know there are numerous medical benefits of marijuana, but others are uncharted territory since only limited research can be done on an illegal drug. We also know the therapeutic effects of marijuana are based on science. Marijuana contains 60 active ingredients known as cannabinoids (Zimmermann). The primary one is THC which targets the CB1 receptor in the brain, liver, kidneys, lung, and nervous system. The CB1 receptor helps the person handle pain. In fact, the FDA has approved two chemically altered forms of THC that are used for nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Another cannabinoid is CBD which reduces pain and inflammation, has been shown to control epileptic seizures, and may even be a treatment for mental illness and addition. Recent animal studies of THC and CBD show that it may help kill

Although some people use it for medical purposes, there are others who use it for their personal enjoyment. Further, marijuana is a cannabis plant that can be smoked or eaten. When marijuana is smoked or ingested the psychoactive cannabinoid chemical known as THC along with other cannabinoids interact with the body by filling the brain receptors known as cannabinoid type 1 (CB1R) and type 2 receptors (CB2R) with dopamine, which is the brain’s reward chemical. (Sharma, et al, 2012). Furthermore, the CB1R are associated with the cognition, body movement, and sensory perception, which is the reason for effects on short-term memory, coordination and balance. Additionally, the CB2R receptors are found in the immune system tissues, such as the lymph nodes and spleen (Sharma, et al, 2012). This receptor is said to suppress the function of the immune system, but these functions are not completely understood. The effects of THC on these receptors explain why people experience behavioral effects such as; relaxation, lack of concentration, euphoria, paranoia and panic. People also experience physiological effects such as; increased appetite, rapid changes in blood pressure and heart rate (Sharma, et al, 2012). Moreover, chronic abuse of marijuana at a young age may lead to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, but different environmental and genetic factors play a role in the development of a

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.

Finally several studies have shown that the medicinal value of marijuana is one of the safest therapeutic substances known. There is no evidence of death associated with an overdoes of marijuana. Many doctors find value in the prescription of marijuana for the treatment of nausea and to increase appetite in a variety of patients, reduction of intraocular pressure of the eye, reduction of muscle spasms, and the relief from chronic pain. Patients with chronic diseases the use of marijuana has been beneficial when dealing with symptoms, helping the patients overcome some of the pain. For AIDS patients marijuana reduces the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite caused by the virus

Cunning, baffling and powerful are three words that best describe the disease of addiction. From my own experience with a close friend who has suffered through addiction, I believe it is a disease that shows no mercy to its victim, and that the only path to recovery is to separate the addict from the substance or activity causing the addiction. As stated in the writings of Alcoholics Anonymous, without some form of recovery its only end is jails, institutions and death. Sadly the addict in my life lost all sense that his disease caused harm to those around him. The disease reached far into his personal and social life and affected many people during both his active stage of addiction and the ongoing recovery period afterward.

Aimee Parry was a 26 year old women who was addicted to fentanyl(Nish et al., 2012). At age 14 she founder herself pregnant and got an abortion, 6 months later she got pregnant again she just wanted someone to love her(). Her life started to go downhill when her son got taken away from her and she believed that she no longer had anything to live for(Nish et al., 2012). Whelan et al., (2013) state that, addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. A person who was addicted to drugs would lie, cheat, report their friends, steal, or do anything to satisfy their personal need(Whelan et al., 2013). In this paper I will be focusing on a 26

“Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction”(Bob Marley). This was a quote said by Bob Marley. The quote is saying that marijuana is better and safer than alcohol. The earliest record of cannabis use was 10,000 years ago. There are three types of marijuana such as sativa, indica, and ruderalis. Cannabis is taken in many ways such as dried flowers or buds, pressed resin from the flowers and leaves known as hash, loose resin known as kief, and concentrated resin extracted known as hash oil. Cannabis leaves and flowers have a resin containing unique chemicals called cannabinoids. There are more than 60 kinds of cannabinoids, but the best known is commonly called THC also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

My aunt, who raised me as a child, battled with cardiovascular heart disease. The doctor had warned earlier when she was around 40 years old. She knew that her lifestyle and weight was putting her life in danger. I tried to get her to eat a healthier diet and exercise daily. She could not get herself to lose weight and get healthy. She suffered a two strokes a few years ago that nearly took her life and left her paralyzed on one side of her body. Of course, no one told her that she would not get the treatment she needed to recover because she got what she deserved. The doctor warned her many times. Everyone knew her diet, weight, and lifestyle lead to her strokes. But no one went

Drug use is a common issue that is occurring all around the world today. Drug addiction is also called substance use disorder. It is a disease that changes a person's brain, actions, and self control by making them incapable of not using the legal or illegal drug or medication they have become addicted to over time. Alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are also considered drugs. Whenever an individual is addicted, they may continue their drug usage regardless of its consequences. Addiction is a long term disease. For most individuals, the initial decision to use drugs is optional. Individuals in recovery from drug use disorders risk returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug. Many individuals may need help from their doctor,

Drug and substance abuse has become prevalent in the contemporary society. Today many people abuse drugs because of the exposure they receive from the internet. Smoking of tobacco and its products has been legalized in the American soil despite its hazardous health impacts. However, the various group argues that smoking of tobacco should be eliminated because of the unhealthy related issues it triggers while smokers claim that it is their right to smoke. The society has a duty to protect young generations and nurture them to responsible adults. Let us imagine living in an environment where every individual smoked cigarettes? For the people who love smoking the idea would be appealing to them while for those who hate smoking it would feel devastated and uncomfortable to stay in an environment filled with smoke. The ruling state should not allow the mediocrity of the profit making institution continue harming the citizens through the selling of harmful tobacco substances. Banning tobacco inhaling products on American soil would lead to significant, positive changes for the public as a whole.

Personal experience: mom not letting me hang out with older cousin, as i got older, realized it was because, him having a drug addiction.

I know that drug addiction can be on any kind of drug even prescription medication and it can consume your life and make you do things you wouldn't normally do just to be able to get your next fix it's a bad epidemic that can happen to everyone, it can also damage the brain and have horrible side effects when mixing drugs with other substances but still people continue to use them and some want to stop but can't because they don't know how and they're afraid that they won't be able to do anything without them, what i would really like to know is how to help with addiction instead of enabling it because some have had family members or someone they care about in a battle with addiction and they don't know how to help in the right way instead

Some people truly do not understand how serious an addiction really can be; they even used the word lightly. They say thing like I’m addicted to shoes, or I’m addicted to eating chocolate. They can really like shoes or really like to eat chocolate but can they truly say that they are addicted to these things. The common definition for the word addition is to have a compulsive need to have something on a regular bases, that can means every day. Addiction is looked at as being a chronic disease of the brain. Just like any other disease addiction can take over your life. The most common addiction that hurts our society more then we know is drug or alcohol addictions. Not only is it taking over our community’s but it is also taking over our jails and prisons. There are over 6.8 million people in America that are suffering with a drug or alcohol addiction, and many of these people are suffering alone. Since they have these addictions many times they are arrest for using drugs or committing a crime so that they can get the drugs they need. There are over two million people serving time in our jails and prisons and over 500,000 are there because of a drug related crime. Drug and alcohol addiction has become an increasing problem over the years. We need to look more in to making sure that these individuals get the right help instead of just locking them up and throwing away the key. By doing this we could decrease their chances of them reusing and re-offending and returning to jail

Drug abuse has always been a very delicate question as it always it deals with the health, well-being and even lives of human beings belonging to any country. The position of the United States of America towards drugs has always been very clear and distinctively negative. Throughout the history of the country there were numerous cases against drug dealers, buyers and many more. These cases did always catch the attention of civil people who by showing interest in such cases revealed their worries about the future of their own children that one-day might face this problem, too. As time goes by it get even more clear that people need to feel protection from the side of law enforcement establishments such as police. Drugs may destroy the life