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Mental illness and drug addiction
Effects of drug addiction essay
The effects of addiction
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When prospecting over the options for whether to incarcerate a drug addict or send them to a rehab center, the clear choice is to send them to the more resourceful and better-equipped facility, rehabilitation. Families witness the negative effects of drug abuse and can even fall victim to the consequences their loved one endures, but out of humans’ emotions like compassion and sympathy, relatives only want to see their family back to normal. Even though the use of several drugs is illegal in the United States, the developmental problems which incur after abuse for an extended period of time designate that the success of rehabilitation is much better than for an addict to serve jail-time. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, …show more content…
For instance, some say that drugs are illegal in America and should be put away for even trying them; however, humans are constantly curious and want answers. That “just one time” of trying certain drugs could be the gateway to drug addiction. These abusers’ minds physically change and take away the body’s capability to function (“Is Drug Addiction”). We cannot blame a person for their wrongdoings when that person has no control or cognitive process that identifies their fault. Skeptics also claim that rehab is ineffective; although, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has a page called, “Treatment and Recovery,” which displays a simple image which depicts the human brain before drug use, one month after being meth-free, and fourteen months meth-free. After the 14th month of abstinence, the brain was nearly restored and showed signs of life and activity almost perfectly proving that rehabilitation saved this specific patient. Families nationwide have to suffer the consequences that a stupid decision their relative made, but still want to see that relative thrive and get ahold of their life …show more content…
Breakthroughs in medical sciences over the past decades have disbanded ancient theories and have shown humans how to treat addiction most successfully. Rehabilitation centers are much superior homes for addicts by providing proper care, costing less, and even reporting positive results post-treatment while prisons impact inmates negatively with their drug trafficking systems, government cost, and lack of qualified assistance for drug addicts. Throwing a drug addict in jail and expecting them to get better is like putting a dog in a room full of toys and food and expecting the dog to sit still; it does not work. Rehabilitation is the best option to influence addicts and their families while not costing a pretty penny to
Within our society, there is a gleaming stigma against the drug addicted. We have been taught to believe that if someone uses drugs and commits a crime they should be locked away and shunned for their lifetime. Their past continues to haunt them, even if they have changed their old addictive ways. Everyone deserves a second chance at life, so why do we outcast someone who struggles with this horrible disease? Drug addiction and crime can destroy lives and rip apart families. Drug courts give individuals an opportunity to repair the wreckage of their past and mend what was once lost. Throughout this paper, I will demonstrate why drug courts are more beneficial to an addict than lengthy prison sentences.
Once these individuals in rehab serve there sentence the majority of them, won’t look straight to the next opportunity to get high, but the next opportunity for a better future after being encouraged in rehab to accomplish something in life, compared to someone’s attitude coming out of prison. One story involved a man named Richard with his wife Marcia. She was an addict who was often jailed for it, but Anthony believed like many others that “addiction can be overcome with proper help. He believed that the solution was to get her into a mental hospital [and] get her whatever she needs – Xanax, morphine, to get her chemical imbalance right. Show her some respect. (114)” Give her some working skills, so once she gets out she is capable of being successful but instead she kept getting “kicked down the steps” by the criminal justice system. The jailing and torture of addicts is routine to people serving cases for drug related offenses, who are often not built to endure prison, let alone jail. “The Justice Department estimates that 216,000 people are raped in these prisons every year. (This is the number of rapes, not the number of rapes – that is much higher.) (109)” This is ultimately shows the simple fact that many people are not built to endure
Right now in the United States there are over 2 million people incarcerated in the country’s prisons and jails. Out of this population about one-quarter of these inmates have been convicted of a drug offense. With drug offense arrests increasing nationwide and the prison population increasing there is an alternative to incarceration has been used over the past two decades in many cities across the country. This alternative is in the form of local drug courts that are now found in most major cities in the United States. A drug court is a specialized court in which the judge, prosecutor, public defender or private attorney, probation officers, and treatment counselors work together to help chemically dependent offenders obtain needed treatment and rehabilitation in an attempt to break the cycle of addiction and further criminal offenses. Some argue that treatment rather than incarceration is a waste of time and valuable resources that could be used elsewhere. Research however has shown that court ordered treatment is the best option for drug offenders. Treatments through drug court has proven to be less expensive than incarceration and has also been shown to reduce crime and provide a lower relapse and re-arrest rate for offenders that are placed in drug courts as opposed to those that are not.
This often referred to definition is a pretty universally accepted and simple concept if we continue to do what has failed in the past why should we expect a different outcome? We shouldn’t but in the case of drug addicts the legal system holds on to the dogma of incarceration alone for the most part will somehow rehabilitate a disease. Prisoners with other medical conditions are sent to prisons that can meet there medical needs. Treatment for inmates who are mentally ill are mostly undertreated if they receive treatment at all. I will not say all because there are some states that are trying to offer treatment but unfortunately when money is tight as it has been for several years now this is one of the first programs to get defunded. I am not asking for preferential treatment for the drug abuser I am asking for equal treatment drug addiction is a disease and we need to treat it as such. The hardened criminal that has multiple convictions is not necessarily who I’m describing the first time someone is found guilty of possession this is where we start and teens who commit crimes to get drugs that is where we should start. Not to say if someone wants to get into the program that doesn’t fit that description we don’t help them out by all means we do but the earlier we can stop the progression of their criminal activity the better. If we continue to go on acting as if addicts don’t need treatment in our prisons we will continue to see them return which is insanity.
There are many contributing factors and political issues that address substance abuse. Throughout the years, many researchers have designed many interventions and social policies designed to treat people who have used, abused, and became addicted to substances. Today, there are many new studies that address substance abuse at the individual, group, family, and community or policy levels. Today, there are many services that are effective for decreasing recidivism in youth who have completed a substance abuse program. A substance abuse treatment program or center is the best way to treat individuals who have abused substances.
The repeated use of drugs often causes both physical and psychological dependence, as mentioned in an article by the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (“Drug Dependence”). In order for an individual to truly be set free from their addiction, seeking treatment is necessary. Rehab centers are a great place with scientifically proven methods to cure those addicted to drugs. It is important to try to end drug use in our country, rather than allowing it to continue longer than it already has. While funding for rehabilitation facilities could become an issue, drug users may continue their addiction without proper treatment, and therefore those arrested for drug use should be sent to a rehabilitation center instead of prison.
Even though science has proven that drug dependence is a disease that affects the brain, our society scrutinizes addiction as a moral weakness and many will argue with proven scientific research. This negative stigma is echoed throughout the daily lives of substance abusers and those who strive for sobriety day by day. This stigma is many times a grave concern within the workplace.
Every single person in an addict’s immediate family is affected in some way by the individual’s substance abuse. In recent years, our society has moved further away from the traditional nuclear family. There are single-parent homes and blended family homes. Each of these family structures and more will affect the addict’s overall impact on the family. If young children are a part of the family, their
Drug and alcohol abuse has become a worldwide epidemic within today’s society. The battle against drugs and alcohol is not going to diminish. Therefore, we as a society need to work together to address these problems while incorporating successful treatment plans and services for these individuals. The addiction to these substances does not only effect oneself, but can also have profound consequences for the children and families. When children are involved in a family structure that abuses alcohol or drugs an array of dysfunction becomes evident. Children might be subjected to child maltreatment, child abuse, physical/sexual abuse, or neglect, among many other inappropriate parenting practices.
Literature Review Introduction Recidivism refers to the tendency of reversion to criminal activities of the released inmates. It is measured by the frequency with which released offenders return to incarceration for new crimes. The rates reflect the effectiveness of instituted programs that focus on integrating the released offenders into the society (Schmallager, 2007). When the rates are healthy, it means that the programs in place are doing well in helping the offender restrain from criminal activities. The importance of correctional programs cannot be downplayed for any reason.
Criminal justice programs around the world face various challenges especially in rehabilitating the behavior of inmates within correctional facilities. The purpose of this research paper will be to assess the various issues that exist in rehabilitative programs within prison systems. Basically, rehabilitation programs are used to correct and rehabilitate criminal offenders so that they can emerge as useful members of society once they complete their prison sentences. Some of the rehabilitation programs that are commonly used to reform inmates include counseling, health and fitness programs, transcendental meditation, academic programs and religious programs. These rehabilitative programs are usually based on the assumption that criminal behavior in most suspects is caused by some contributing factor such as a history of violence, psychological or mental disorders (Barkan & Bryjak, 2009).
Suffering from an addiction is punishment enough, sending drug addicts to jail is not the solution. Addicts are suffering already by not having a place to stay. Most of the time addicts do not remember where their family is located at and they need help to get better.That is why I am saying that addicts should go to rehab instead of prison.
Drug abuse dates as far back as the Biblical era, so it is not a new phenomenon. “The emotional and social damage and the devastation linked to drugs and their use is immeasurable.” The ripple of subversive and detrimental consequences from alcoholism, drug addictions, and addictive behavior is appalling. Among the long list of effects is lost productivity, anxiety, depression, increased crime rate, probable incarceration, frequent illness, and premature death. The limitless consequences include the destruction to personal development, relationships, and families (Henderson 1-2). “Understandably, Americans consider drug abuse to be one of the most serious problems” in the fabric of society. And although “addiction is the result of voluntary drug use, addiction is no longer voluntary behavior, it’s uncontrollable behavior,” says Alan Leshner, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Torr 12-13).
Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. It may also be difficult for substance abusers to be accommodated at home and it may not be tolerated in the community of residents of rehabilitation programs. The author states, that they end up losing their support systems and suffer frequent relapses and hospitalizations (Agnes B. Hatfield, 1993).
Substance abuse is an issue that plays a major social problem in society, the effect of drugs on families and communities is destructive. This paper will discuss evidence showing how substance abuse is a specific social problem that is widespread, and is affecting every level of our judicial system. Many people turn to drugs for many different reasons, they will try just about anything to relieve the pain. In our society today many people go through devastating experiences in their life. Furthermore people turn to drugs to mask the horrible memories and find relief. Drugs can temporarily relieve the symptoms of angry, loneliness or boredom, but it may be a temporary fix to an individual problems. They may