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The impacts of drugs in society
How drugs affect health essay
The impacts of drugs in society
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Drug abuse has been a major issue in the United States. It has dated back to the 1800’s. Drug abuse has also been strongly influenced on our youth. Drug addiction has resulted from drug abuse. Drug addiction leads to an increase in crimes due to the cost of many drugs sold on the streets. Drug addiction is a disease which needs medical attention to overcome. There are different types of drugs that are classified in different categories, which will be discussed below. The United States is constantly fighting to control drug abuse. First, let’s talk about the history of drug abuse. Drug abuse has been a major issue in the United States. Drug abuse is directly linked to crime. Many drug abusers commit crimes to feed their addiction. The relationship between drug abuse and crime is a very important policy issue. In the 1800’s to early 1900’s drug abuse was not widespread. It was associated with small groups, such as, musicians, artists, and very imaginative people. Opium dens developed in the west coast cities. It then spread throughout the country, resulting in an increase of Asian immigrants. The Chinese immigrants had brought over their opium products, which further spread opium use in America. Psychoactive substances became wide spread in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s. Timothy Leary was a professor at Harvard University. He was also a very influential figure during this movement. People began seeing drugs as a recreational substance. Many young individuals then began abusing drugs. Drugs have impacted our youth immensely throughout the years. Children are being exposed to drugs at a younger age each year. Marijuana use is one of the most abused drugs by Teens in the United States. MTF studies have been conducted to gather in... ... middle of paper ... ...tice Populations- A Research-Based Guide. Retrieved from National Institute on Drug Abuse: www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-abuse-treatment-criminal-justice-populations/introduction Asia, D. T. (n.d.). Risk Of Disease With Drug Use. Retrieved from Alcohol Rehab: www.alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/risk-of-disease-with-drug-use/ Gaiter, D. J. (1982, February 14). Study Says Drugs Influence Criminal Behavior. Retrieved from New York Times: www.nytimes.com/1982/02/14/nyregion/study-says-drugs-influence-criminal-behavior.html Schmalleger, F. (2012). Criminolgoy Today: an integrative introduction. In F. Schmalleger, Criminolgoy Today: an integrative introduction (pp. 230-350). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. Treatment, A. R. (n.d.). Drug Addiction Diseases. Retrieved from Axis Residential Treatment: www.axisresidentialtreatment.com/drug-addiction/disease/
Criminology. The. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012. Print. The. Shakur, Sanyika.
Lilly, Robert J., Francis T. Cullen, and Richard A. Ball. 2011. Criminological Theory: Context And Consequences. 5th ed. California: SAGE.
Hickey, T. J. (2010). Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Crime and Criminology, 9th Edition. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Akers, R, & Sellers, C. (2009). Criminological theories: introduction, evaluation, and application. New York: Oxford University Press, USA.
About one out of five 10th graders and about 1 out of four high school seniors used marijuana in the past month (Facts for Teens, 1). It is the second most popular drug among teens in the US (Encarta, 1). Teens, ages 12-17, that use marijuana weekly are nine times more likely than non-users to experience with illegal drugs and alcohol (Fed. Study, 1). More 13 & 14 year olds are using drugs, fifteen pe...
The war on drugs in our culture is a continuous action that is swiftly lessening our society. This has been going on for roughly 10-15 years and has yet to slow down in any way. Drugs continue to be a problem for the obvious reason that certain people abuse them in a way that can lead to ultimate harm on such a person. These drugs do not just consist of street drugs (marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy), but prescription medications as well. Although there are some instances where drugs are being used by subjects excessively, there has been medical research to prove that some of these drugs have made a successful impact on certain disorders and diseases.
Drug use and abuse is as old as mankind itself. Human beings have always had a desire to eat or drink substances that make them feel relaxed, stimulated, or euphoric. Wine was used at least from the time of the early Egyptians; narcotics from 4000 B.C.; and medicinal use of marijuana has been dated to 2737 B.C. in China. But it was not until the nineteenth century that the active substances in drugs were extracted. There was a time in history when some of these newly discovered substances, such as morphine, laudanum, cocaine, were completely unregulated and prescribed freely by physicians for a wide variety of ailments.
The consequences that follow the use of any drug are unfavorable. Although many individuals may see drug addiction as a mere lifestyle choice, it is a problem that many individuals suffer from and inevitably a growing issue that leaves major social and economic impacts.
Drug abuse has changed over the years due to the trends that Americans face from the encouragement of different cultures. The abuse of substances creates many health problems. The following will discuss the past and current trends of drug use and the effects these drugs have on the health of the individuals who abuse the drugs.
"Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction." Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Feb. 2007: 1-30. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 20 Jan. 2014.
The drug control policy of the United States has always been a subject of debate. From Prohibition in the early 1930’s to the current debate over the legalization of marijuana, drugs have always been near the top of the government’s agenda. Drug use affects every part of our society. It strains our economy, our healthcare, our criminal justice systems, and it endangers the futures of young people. In order to support a public health approach to drug control, the Obama administration has committed over $10 billion to drug education programs and support for expanding access to drug treatment for addicts (Office). The United States should commit more government resources to protect against illegal use of drugs by youths and provide help for recovering addicts.
The use of drugs and mind-alternating substances has been a part of society for decades. The ‘high’ that people attain from the use of such substances is very attractive and exciting however, the effects of this use are minimized. Particularly for youth, a group of individuals who are seeking independence and experimentation, drug use represents the balance between taking risks and taking responsibility for one’s actions. However, the developmental processes of adolescents are known to not encompass the maturity required to fully think through such decisions. As such, the use of a ‘smaller-scale’ drug like marijuana is even more minimized. The purpose of this paper is to discuss what the risks of using marijuana are for youths, why they are the most affected, how this problem has progressed over the last three decades, and what preventative measures and treatment options are in place. It will also discuss what schools, parents, and government agencies could be doing to help improve the issue, and the impact that this issue is having on society.
Drug abuse and addiction are issues that affect people everywhere. However, these issues are usually treated as criminal activity rather than issues of public health. There is a conflict over whether addiction related to drug abuse is a disease or a choice. Addiction as a choice suggests that drug abusers are completely responsible for their actions, while addiction as a disease suggests that drug abusers need help in order to break their cycle of addiction. There is a lot of evidence that suggests that addiction is a disease, and should be treated rather than punished. Drug addiction is a disease because: some people are more likely to suffer from addiction due to their genes, drug abuse brought on by addictive behavior changes the brain and worsens the addiction, and the environment a person lives in can cause the person to relapse because addiction can so strongly affect a person.
Williams, F., & McShane, M. (2010). Criminological Theory, (5th Edition). New Brunswick, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.