social issues

Drug Abuse and Addiction

Stephanie Garcia

SOC 305

Craig Allen

August 18, 2014

Abstract

Drug abuse and addiction is a social problem that affects the community heavily. It is costly to treat and control the sale of illegal drugs. It has become a significant health problem. Drug abuse leads to the creation of unstable society members who are prone to violence. A number of measures have been implemented to help solve the problem. These measures include tight laws on sale of drugs, rehabilitation centers and other forms of science-based treatments. An alternative response should focus on preventing the entry of illegal drugs.

Keywords: Drug, addiction, abuse, problem

Drug Abuse and Addiction

Drug abuse and addiction is a social problem that affects the society on multiple levels. It affects the ways people relate in society. It has adverse economic and health impacts on the general condition of the society. The problem of drug abuse is present in many parts of the globe. It is a challenge that is facing all the countries in the world. Drug abuse and addiction turns fully functioning individuals into potential dangerous members of the society who pose a risk to themselves and anyone else around them.

It is worth noting that there are many forms of drug abuse. First, there is abuse of common drugs like cocaine, heroin, coke and so forth. Second, there is the abuse of medicines by patients who are addicted to them. Painkillers are among the most commonly abused drugs in the United States.

Problem Statement

Drug abuse is a challenge to all the societies all over the world. It has become difficult to control the problem because of the addiction and huge profits that emanate from the practice (Barnard, 2007). There is a need to come up with a solution to the problem.

Implications and Alternative Solutions

Drug abuse has a number of implications on the general well-being of the society. First, the issue of drug abuse and addiction costs the society a lot of money. According to research, the United States spends approximately half a trillion dollars in managing drug abuse and addition (US Department of Justice, 2001). Socially, drug abuse and addiction creates unstable members of the society who are prone to violence. It is very hard to deal with people who are addicted to drug. In fact, most drug abusers end up joining dangerous gangs or becoming homeless. The society is burdened because it has to care for people who have been reduced to cabbages by drugs.

Drug abuse and addiction has affected the society heavily. It is a fact that 14% of the patients admitted in the hospital suffer from drug abuse related problems in fact approximately 70% of people found in state prisons abuse drugs on a daily basis (National Institute of Drug Abuse, n.d.). The number of individuals arrested for drug related offences is responsible for increasing the population of state prisons by a third. These facts testify that drug abuse and addiction is an enormous burden that the community is forced to carry.

In response to the issue of drug abuse and addition, the society has come up with different ways to help solve the problem. First, the government has implemented tight laws that govern the use of drugs and discourage the trade of illegal drugs. It is against the law to sell or consume some drugs in the United States. Second, the society has formed rehabilitation centers that offer refuge to drug abusers who wish to recover from their addiction. In general, the government has invested so much money in researching the best treatment for drug abusers in relation to the scope of the problem. A number of science-based treatments have recorded immense success with a substantial number of drug addicts.

The interventions programs implemented by the relevant authorities have been beneficial to some extent. It has been possible to reach a number of drug addicts and implement change in their lives. However, the effectiveness of these programs is affected by the fact that the trade of illegal drugs is still a huge problem. Young kids have easy access to illegal drugs, which facilitates addiction at an early age (Heymann & Brownsberger, 2001). Schools are still places where students can access some drugs. It is essential to find a solution to the problem of drug access among the youth. Easy access to drugs ensures that the number of people falling to addiction exceeds the number of people being saved by the different intervention and treatment programs. The effectiveness of these treatment programs has been hampered by the cost of the treatment. Some people cannot afford to pay for the total cost of treatment.

An alternative response to the problem of drug abuse and addiction would be to facilitate cheap treatment options and implement tight laws on illegal drug trade. In addition, should be must be drug-free zones at all times. A tight leash on illegal drug trade will reduces the probability of young people accessing the drugs. Therefore, there will be no chance to experiment. It will reduce the scope of the problem by a huge margin. The only downside of this alternative response is the cost. The government would have to use so much money to cater for the cost of treatment. It would have to put in place expensive surveillance equipment to ensure no drug enters the nation.

In conclusion, the problem of drug abuse and addiction would be very hard to eliminate. However, it is possible to reduce the negative effects to manageable levels. Tight laws and practical implementation is the key to preventing the rise of new addicts. Presence of proper treatment options at cheap price will help those who are already addicted (Sheff, 2013).

Barnard, M. (2007). Drug addiction and families. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

The book speaks about the problem of drug addiction and its effects on the families. It helped in getting information on how drug abuse can destroy families. It is very difficult for children to be brought up by parents who are addicted to drugs. In addition, the book helped in understanding the nature of the problem.

Heymann, P. B., & Brownsberger, W. N. (2001). Drug addiction and drug policy: The struggle to control dependence. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.

The book focuses on the how drug policy should be formulated to improve effectiveness. It discusses on the different forms of punishment that drug offenders should be given. It was important when it came to understand the effectiveness of drug policy. It was essential in obtaining in understanding the weaknesses of current drug policy system.

National Institute of Drug Abuse (n.d.). Magnitude of Drug Abuse. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/magnitude/

This is a report by the National Institute of Drug Abuse. The report outlines the magnitude of the drug problem in the United States. It shows that drug abuse and addiction is not a problem that should be underestimated. It helped in obtaining the level of burden that society is experiencing because of drug abuse and addiction.

Sheff, D. (2013). Clean: Overcoming addiction and ending America's greatest tragedy.

The book defines the problem of drug abuse and addiction in America. It gives detailed information on how to battle the challenge of drug abuse and addiction. It helped in obtaining information on the available solutions. Therefore, it became possible to determine the best alternative response and its effects on the society.

US Department of Justice (2001, May). Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/fs200117.pdf

The paper is a report by the US Department of Justice. It defines the effect on drug abuse and addiction on health. It gives the health cost of drug abuse and addiction. The report is very comprehensive, which made it the best paper to consult. It provided information on the toll of drug abuse and addiction on healthcare.

References

Barnard, M. (2007). Drug addiction and families. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Heymann, P. B., & Brownsberger, W. N. (2001). Drug addiction and drug policy: The struggle to control dependence. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.

National Institute of Drug Abuse (n.d.). Magnitude of Drug Abuse. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/welcome/aboutdrugabuse/magnitude/

Sheff, D. (2013). Clean: Overcoming addiction and ending America's greatest tragedy.

US Department of Justice (2001, May). Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem. Retrieved August 18, 2014 from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/fs200117.pdf