Substance Abuse: A Nationwide Epidemic

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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. The most commonly abused substances are Nicotine, Inhalants, Alcohol, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Prescription medications, Heroin, Ecstasy and Marijuana. 1a(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011) Initially, a person may find themselves using substances voluntarily and with confidence that they will be able to dictate their personal use. However, over the period of time that drug use is repeated, changes are taking place throughout the brain, whether it is functionally or structurally. Drugs contain chemicals that enter the communication system of the brain and disturb the way in which nerve cells would typically send, receive, and process information. The chemicals within these drugs will cause a disruption to the communication system by either imitating the brain’s natural chemical messengers or by over-stimulating the brains “reward system” by sending mass amounts of dopamine. As an individual prolongs his or her use of these substances, they may develop an addiction. Drug addiction is often characterized as being a complex brain disease that causes compulsive, uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking and use without any regards to the consequences they may bring upon themselves, or society. As long as the brain is exposed to these large amounts of dopamine on the reward system, it will inevitably develop a tolerance to the current dopamine levels, which it is receiving, lessening the pleasure the user will experience. In order to satisfy the brains “reward... ... middle of paper ... ...www.drugfree.org/about 8bPartnership at Drugfree.org (2010). Annual Report. Retrieved October 21, 2011, from http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/PARTNERSHIP-ANNUAL.pdf?utm_source=About_Us&utm_medium=annual_report&utm_campaign=download National Institute on Drug Abuse (2009). Preventing Drug Abuse: The Best Strategy . Retrieved October 21, 2011, from http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/strategy.html National Institute on Drug Abuse (2009). NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction . Retrieved October 22, 2011, from http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/treatmeth.html Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Meng-Jinn Chen Ph.D, Brenda A. Miller Ph.D, Joel W. Grube Ph.D, & Elizabeth D. Waiters Ph.D (2006). Music, Substance Use, and Aggression. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 67(3), 373-381 .

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