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An essay on the consequences of drug abuse
Drug abuse and its effects essay
The abuse of drugs and its impact
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In some people's opinion drug abuse is a choice, and some believe it is forced upon due to peer pressure or the pressures of life. Some people are able to use prescription drugs without ever experiencing negative consequences or addiction. Even though some drugs are not considered hazardous if they are plant based or are only used occasionally in a controlled manner, it can still result in severe consequences. The use of unprescribed drugs should just be avoided in the first place, if not for a legitmate medical use. Drugs can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle, and can cause serious damage physically and mentally. The reasoning for my stern opinion that unhealthy drug use is overall problematic, is due to the experience of losing my best friend from drug abuse. During high school I had a best friend who I have been inseparable with since kindergarten. We were inseparable until my best friend began the use of Marijuana. Myself having no knowledge of this new drug, my friend informed and convinced me it was harmless and a non-toxin herb. At first his use for marijuana was only occasional, but as time passed his use of it only increased. It was no doubt that he eventually got addicted. Not only did it show in his appearance but his personality as well. Since I was completely against the idea of the use of marjiuana, my best friend and I became distant with one another. The separation from my best friend had made me become vulnerable, and I felt lost without him. We have gone from inseparable to barely talking at all. Being vulnerable and making an attempt in trying to get my best friend back, I thought trying the drug would somehow help. Of course my best friend astonished at the idea, gladly gave me my first dose of marijuana. Imme... ... middle of paper ... ... are on drugs tend lose all aspects of their priorites, for drugs become their only priority. But most importantly, one simple drug can seem harmless at first but actually lead to greater dangers, including death. My best friend whom I've grown up with half my life, could still be here today if it wasn’t for drugs. From his death I have realized that drugs consume you, and only have negative effects on people. If I was not awakened from the destruction of drugs from prior experience, it is a possibility that I would not be alive today. Even though my best friend's death was a tragedy, he is now in a better place. His death is a constant reminder to me of how easily it is to fall into bad choices and let your life just slip out of control. Resisting temptations such as drugs, and being strong willed to have a better life can only lead to a path for postitive outcomes.
A fatal car accident can happen if a wrong turn is made or even the decision to try an addictive drug are experiences that make people realise that nobody is superhuman and can turn to “Dust”. A human being is vulnerable to many things and Oursler recognizes this. He mentions addictive items in the audio as well as suggestive thoughts that can be about personal identity: “...cigarettes, drugs,” and “You’re this, you’re that, you just don’t know, huh?”. Cigarettes and drugs are obvious choices that people make and can become slaves to. People just cannot wait until their next cigarette or have to take frequent smoke breaks. More extreme drugs like heroin and meth can put people over the edge and even kill people in order to obtain. The hold these drugs can have on people, only others can imagine, but it is a reality for them. Minds can be obscured by addictive substances and they can be molded by the environment. “You’re this, you’re that, you just don’t know, huh?” can be tied to the notion people are products of their environment. People have the urge to fit in and when a clique, group, or trend makes itself known, there are people who want to be associated with them or the group. The individual then decides if that is what they want to be a part of or their interest gravitates toward something else. People are manipulated by the environment and “it’s become a dark time very quickly” (Licht
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.
“While we all did some things that were in poor taste, not all of us resorted to such desperate measures. Sure, some did, but not all of us. This has made society view drug addicts virtually as lesser beings. The effect it has had in my life is a loss of trust by others who are aware of my past addiction issues” (treatment4addiction.com) Many people see drug addicts as lowlifes who need to stop doing drugs and believe that it is easy to do so. They believe that all drug addicts are scum, that they are not people like everybody else. They do not see it as a disease and because of this they tend to completely shut out the family member or friend suffering from this. In an interview with PocosPeroLocos.FM Williams
In a culture with such diverse commonalities, the differentials that set precedent come from social norms. These norms set the template for what acceptable behavior is. Being known as having a melting pot of a population we can expect that the norms are influenced through religion, values, ideas, and self views. Deviant behaviors occur when these social norms are disrupted and acts are seen to go against what we have always thought as wrong or weird. Deviance is a broad term that encompasses the idea that we know what is right from what our neighbor does. For example, trends of fashion change quite rapidly. If you don’t believe me watch shows on television that reminisce about the 70’s 80’s and so on. Today we look at what was worn in the previous decades and find it hard to imagine people dressing like this now. However, in the days that style was popular it was seen as the way to dress. Norms change to fit what the popular trend is now. Deviance likewise counters with what is unpopular. There are far more serious deviant acts than dressing from the wrong decade; they are also heavily tied to the law. Laws are more inflexible than behaviors of changing times. They are intact from the idea that if caught participating in such acts you could face serious punishment and rightfully so. Let’s take a look at one form of deviance that persisted in our culture for many years.
The rate of death due to prescription drug abuse in the U.S. has escalated 313 percent over the past decade. According to the Congressional Quarterly Transcription’s article "Rep. Joe Pitt Holds a Hearing on Prescription Drug Abuse," opioid prescription drugs were involved in 16,650 overdose-caused deaths in 2010, accounting for more deaths than from overdoses of heroin and cocaine. Prescribed drugs or painkillers sometimes "condemn a patient to lifelong addiction," according to Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This problem not only affects the lives of those who overdose but it affects the communities as well due to the convenience of being able to find these items in drug stores and such. Not to mention the fact that the doctors who prescribe these opioids often tend to misuse them as well. Abusing these prescribed drugs can “destroy dreams and abort great destinies," and end the possibility of the abuser to have a positive impact in the community.
Marijuana has been a frequently abused drug for quite some time, but is just now receiving national attention on the controversial issue of the question if it should become legalized, and what effects this will have on Americans and their communities. Recently there have been many arguments made about how marijuana should be legalized for medical reasons since, for example, it is a great option for people attempting to manage their chronic pain. By legalizing the drug, many people will begin to accept the fact that it is okay and will result in an extreme increase in drug use throughout the United States. Marijuana is known to be a gateway drug in the sense that it leads to a person using narcotics that have even worse physical and mental effects
One of the main causes of prescription drug abuse is the lack of education for both doctors and patients. People usually use prescription drugs to loose weight, get high, and get stronger. Many people who consume drugs do not know the dangers that exist while consuming them. Patients normally don’t think to themselves that these medications are dangerous because they come from Pharmacies and are provided from doctors. However, prescription drugs can be just as deadly and detrimental to your health like a gun or drinking alcohol can be. Most people don’t care to properly store them either. If prescription drugs aren't treated at the recommended temperature, at the right dosage, or taken by the right person, you can take something that was meant to save lives and turn it into something that can seriously hurt or make you very sick. One of the most dangerous prescription drugs out there right now is OxyCotin. OxyCotin is a prescription drug pain reliever that's designed to slowly release medicine over time by form of a capsule. Abusers bypass that by chewing, injecting, and even snorting the medicine in the drug (Meadows, Michelle). Prescription Drugs: Their Use and Abuse says when a person takes so much over the safe dosage amount the drug can actually have very different effects on your body.
My best friend used to smoke marijuana on a regular basis. Over time, he developed many obvious bad habits and changed his life style tremendously. He started getting lazy with schoolwork, and did not show much interest in anything at all. His parents noticed all these side effects that had been occurring but were unaware that their son smoked marijuana. After the grades fell so much, they decided to take him to get checked out because they were afraid he had developed some sort of ADD. They come to find out that because of him smoking so much marijuana it had led to brain problems, memory problems and affected his thinking skills. He was unable to stay concentrated on something and constantly was out of breath when any physical activity took place. My friend finally quit smoking marijuana because he saw what it was doing to his life. Many teens try marijuana not knowing all the side effects that come with this drug. This drug has many misconceptions from when it is really legal to what marijuana will actually do to your body. People think that marijuana is the most harmless drug because one never hears of people dying from it or getting deathly ill. This is false because marijuana does things to the body that can not be seen from the outside. The majority of the damage is in the brain and lungs which can get extremely dangerous. All the bad side effects from this drug will really harm people’s bodies and ruin their futures and lives.
The film Requiem for a Dream conveys to its viewers the destruction to an individual’s life if they fall victim to addiction. Sara was placed in a mental hospital, Harry lost his arm, Marion partook in explicit sexual endeavors, ripping her of her morals, and Tyrone was arrested and jailed, where he experienced critical withdrawal symptoms. These are all situations that could have been avoided. It is important for someone to think before they intake any drug even the mildest of forms because, who knows? They may be next to fall victim to
Smoking marijuana has changed my life for the best. I consider marijuana as my cheer-up medication. People believe that smoking marijuana is extremely bad, but in my opinion, it is one of the greatest discoveries known to man. Since I have been smoking marijuana, I have noticed that it can be used in great ways, such as relieving stress, easing serious pain and giving personal motivation. I would not consider myself as an expert in marijuana, but I am close enough to be a spokesperson for it.
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. Humans have used drugs of one sort or another for thousands of years. 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 BC in China.
Controversies over drugs and the effects they have physically, mentally, and emotionally have been around for centuries. Some argue the fact that smoking marijuana has no health effects on the body. Some also say that other drugs have no long term mental consequences to suffer. Now, thanks to technology and hours of studies, answers have came to show the true long term health effects of drugs on the human body and mind.
People usually abuse marijuana by becoming addicted and smoking it just because instead of using it for their well-being. I went around and asked about ten people I know who have been smoking for at least five years. When I asked them if they had ever experienced memory problems, learning difficulties, trouble with problem solving and loss of muscle activity and addictive capability, they responded, “If anything, marijuana enhances my memory.” “I would not be able to learn in school if I did not smoke.” “The only problem I had, was being addicted to marijuana, but it was all in my head because when I finally stopped smoking, I had no withdrawal symptoms.” The only side effect that seemed to be accurate when asking these questions was the addictive properties. Although being addicted to marijuana mentally can be a problem, all of the many positive side effects of marijuana outweigh the one negative side effect that seems to be the most
The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.
There are many addictions in the world, and drug addiction is the biggest. People may experiment with the drug for many reasons. “If your drug use is causing problems in your life, then you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem”.(Lawrence Robinson pg.1) Many people start out using drugs by peer pressure or out of their own curiosity. Stress, anxiety, lows self-esteem and depression could be another factor to start using drugs. The drug takes over your body and gives you a good feeling that many people tend to enjoy. The urge to use the drug can keep increasing rapidly after the first use. The urge can become so severe that your mind can find many other ways to deny the factor of addiction. Very few drug addicts can feel and realize when they have crossed the line with drugs. A drug addicts mind can build up a very large tolerance for the drug that they start to abandon the activities they used to do on a daily basis like showering, hobbies, socializing and even being associated with family members. The person with the addiction will continue to use the drug knowing that it is harming there body, but they don’t have any remorse. A drug addict will often try to hide their problem, so they can continue to use without anyone’s input. Family and friends may try to use preaching methods or tell the user that they need to stop using the drug. This method is not ...