...Drug Abuse: Silent Epidemic Jennifer Lieberman Com 220 December 4, 2011 A. Caruso Drug Abuse in Today's Culture There are many drugs that are abused in today’s culture, and they are more readily available and affordable than a person would think. Even though not everyone that uses illegal drugs is an addict, drug abuse is a terrible epidemic in the United States because so many people die every day from drug overdose and drug abuse can lead to long term health problems. The current statistics state that one in four people die from fatal drug overdose. The most commonly abused drugs fall into six categories, have both “positive” effects and adverse effects, withdrawal symptoms and overdose potentials. The first category I want to explore is Stimulants. The drugs most commonly abused from this category are Amphetamines and Cocaine. Each drug in this category will give the user the feeling of increased energy, increased strength feelings of euphoria and a suppressed appetite. The adverse effects of this type of drug are an increased blood pressure, dry mouth, weight loss, mood swings, and paranoia. The most commonly seen withdrawal effects are mental agitation, depression, and panic. Both Amphetamines and Cocaine have the potential for fatal overdose even in small amounts. The next category I am going to talk about is Hallucinogens. The most commonly abused drugs from this category are LSD, Ecstasy, and Mushrooms. The drugs in this category...
Words: 2299 - Pages: 10
...compulsive drinking of alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction.” a person who suffers from alcoholism is addicted to the effects of alcohol (Webster 1). He or she has a physical or mental desire to consume alcohol past their physical ability to control themselves. Alcohol is the second most commonly abused substance according to the NID (Pdf 1). This paper will present facts on, biological effects of alcohol on the body, the addiction to alcohol, genetic loading, and the deaths that are caused in some way by alcohol. Alcohol affects people differently. According to the CDC, the reasons are: Age, gender, race/ethnicity, physical condition, amount of food consumed before drinking, how quickly the alcohol was consumed, the use of other drugs or prescription medications, and family history (CDC 1). When alcohol is consumed, it bypasses the digestive system and goes directly to the blood stream; about twenty percent of the alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream via the stomach, and the other eighty percent by the small intestine (Dunlap 1). Alcohol acts as a sedative, but is perceived as a stimulant. The reason for this is that alcohol causes people to speak more freely; it impairs judgment and physical ability. Alcohol dilutes itself in water found in the body, this is one of the ways alcohol effects people differently, because there is more water in muscle tissue than in fat tissue, an athletic person will react differently to the alcohol than an...
Words: 981 - Pages: 4
...advantage of certain type of drugs that cause them to be dangerous. When people hear the word “drugs”, they automatically assume something negative. Drugs can come in all shapes, forms, or fashion. Drugs can come from a doctor, bought from a dealer off the street, or in a grocery store, either way; a drug can affect people in different ways. Alcohol is also considered to be a drug, and can also be addictive and toxic if too much is consumed. Prescription and illegal drugs can have different names for identity. Some examples of prescription drugs are: Hydrocodone and Adderall, these drugs must be provided by a doctor. Some examples of illegal drugs are: LSD and Ecstasy AKA X or Ex, and these can be bought from a dealer off the street with no prescription. According to the website of Illegal Drugs, “Cocaine is the powerful stimulant found in nature and is considered to be a Schedule II controlled substance. It is illegal to possess, sell, or grow and cannot be used as an anesthetic.” According to the website of Illegal Drugs, “Cocaine comes from the leaves of a cocoa plant which grows in South America and transformed into a white powder.” This particular drug can be addictive because it causes the blood vessels in the body to become narrow, constricting the flow of blood. Prescription drugs can be taken for different reasons, but can also be addictive if not taken properly. According to the website of Turning Point of Tampa, “Prescription drug abuse is a modern day plague...
Words: 786 - Pages: 4
...problem of prescription drug addiction is at its worst today than ever before, causing countless cases of dependency and abuse at epidemic proportions, and gaining the reputation of being the "silent epidemic" in some major cities in America. Prescription drug addiction is also known as the "silent killer," and rightfully so, because it can take one innocent pill, or the wrong dosage, to place its user into a permanent sleep-an all-too familiar event known as fatally "overdosing." From suburban neighborhoods, to celebrity life, to the ghettos-prescription drug abuse seems to have no bounds in our society, affecting millions everyday. But how wide-spread is this kind of abuse, and how serious is it? In 2010 alone, it was reported that an estimated 7 million America citizens claimed to be abusing prescription medications. Granted, this is only a little less than 3% of the total US population, but the jolting fact comes from the amount of increasing deaths from prescription medication abuse. It's one thing for large populations to abuse drugs, true; but it's another thing to lose lives rapidly over such a short period of time. As stated earlier, the strength of prescription drugs can be so overwhelming that it may take one instance, or one miscalculating dose, to result in a deadly overdose. In other words,...
Words: 640 - Pages: 3
...Is cheating okay? Most people would say no. Using Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids is in fact cheating. It is the use of drugs to gain an unfair advantage in a sporting event or competition. It is no different than cheating on a test or taking a short cut in a race. If being unfair is not enough of a reason not to use Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids, there are also numerous irreversible health hazards. Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids are illegal for several reasons including numerous health hazards and general unfairness in competition and need to continue to remain illegal. To better understand why steroids must continue to be illegal one must first know what they are. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids are a type of drugs commonly used by athletes and other...
Words: 1046 - Pages: 5
...primarily because of its medicinal contribution, also to cut down on the amount of nonviolent offenders that are causing overcrowding in American jails and prisons, and for the monetary impact it will have on our economy. Medical marijuana has been proven to be effective in the treatment of physical, and mental health problems. “Some of the compounds commonly abused today are accepted pharmaceutical agents.”(Doweiko, 2012). Medical marijuana has also been found to be helpful in the treatment of cancer patients for pain management. According to "Drug Policy” (2015) Medical marijuana used by individuals with PTSD showed a 75% reduction in symptoms. So if we know that pharmaceutical medications such as opiates, and benzodiazepines are commonly abused, and highly addictive then why are they continuously being produced? I believe there is one answer for this, and that is money. Medical marijuana proves to be safer than these harmful medications that are being abused, and causing overdose deaths at an alarming rate. There are many prescription medications on the market today that can have some serious adverse side effects, yet they are still being distributed to patients for treatment. I myself was prescribed a popular prescription medication by a healthcare professional that caused me to have...
Words: 624 - Pages: 3
...Drug Profile Paper Lainie Goodell PSY/425 September 27, 2010 Dr. Maria Cuddy-Casey Drug Profile Paper Addiction is an illness that usually progresses over time. Addiction is something that the body and the mind become used to and therefore all control is lost. Most addictions are caused from substances that are used to alter the mind and body. The psychology of addiction is the mind and physiology is the brain. Both the mind and the body can become addicted to substances and have altering, often painful, effects on the body if there is withdrawal. Even some substances, though legal, such as prescriptions are often abused the most. The following will address the different types of substances, including prescription drugs, their effects and withdrawal symptoms. Psychology and Physiology of Addiction “The brain is greatly affected by the disease of addiction. It's the kind of addiction that targets the brain” (Powers, 2010, para.3). The body brain becomes addicted to the substance when it is taken on a regular basis. When the brain is affected it caused a person to lose all sense of what is right and willpower is no longer relative. The person who becomes addicted now has to have the drug simply to keep their body from failing them; almost like the person needs the drug to stay alive. Specific Drug Substances Every drug has a category to which it belongs. Stimulants increase the activity in the brain. Depressants are exactly like their namesake and lead to such...
Words: 1162 - Pages: 5
...Substance abuse is the destructive pattern of use of any substance for mood altering purposes, which leads to addiction and many other potentially serious problems (NCDHHS). Substance abuse is not limited to the abuse of drugs; it also includes inhalants, alcohol and solvents. In reality, nearly any substance can be abused (NCDHHS). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the abuse of illicit drugs and psychotherapeutics has increased; with 9.2 % of the population over the age twelve having abused some substance. Not surprisingly, there has been a rapid increase, (due to its easy access) in the use of marijuana (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). Whilst there is no definitive cause of substance abuse, there are a myriad of factors that can trigger it. Socioeconomic status, family history, child abuse, depression, low self-esteem, stress; these are but a few reasons that can trigger substance abuse in an individual. Having relationships with people who use abuse substances, or accept their use as normal can also lead a person to develop substance abuse issues (Robinson, Smith &Saisan, 2014). There is no precise way to determine if someone will or does abuse substances, but there are some things one can look for and identify as indicators of substance abuse. Lack of interest in activities, depression, taking unnecessary risks, becoming drunk or high regularly, preplanning substance abuse, needing more and more substances to get drunk or high and blacking...
Words: 1967 - Pages: 8
...RESTRICTED DRUG ABUSE AND ITS PREVENTION INTRODUCTION 1. Kilos of heroin seized, drug smuggler arrested and sad tales of lives ruined by drugs like father handed over his only beloved son to police due to his destructive activities for urges of drug, wife is killed by husband not to give him money to buy drugs and recently children of riches families are addicted by Yaba, readers of our country have become accustomed to this kind of reports in newspapers and magazines. The problem of drug is not new issue. Twenty years ago, this problem experience mainly in Western Europe and United States. But today drug abuse has become a problem of all society. It knows no boundaries, either geographical or economical. AIM 2. The aim of my presentation is to analyze the drug abuse in short and find out the probable solutions to eradicate this social problem. SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION 3. The sequence of my presentation is given below: a. Definition b. Commonly used drugs c. Causes of drug abuse d. Effects on individual e. Effects on the society f. Drugs in Bangladesh 1 RESTRICTED g. Trafficking of drug h. Prevention or fighting back i. Conclusion j. Question and Answer session. DEFINITION 4. Before giving the definition of drug abuse we should know what is drug and abuse. A drug is broadly speaking any substance that when absorbed into the body of living organism alters...
Words: 1544 - Pages: 7
...elderly population is the generation most treated by healthcare professionals. It stands to reason that prescription drug abuse within the elderly presents a much higher risk than prescription drug abuse among younger generations. Ignoring this problem leads to a diminished quality of life and a less attentive healthcare system. Sadly, prescription drug abuse is a silent epidemic among the elderly population and it is a growing problem. With proper attention and diagnosis, there can be a reduction in injuries, such as hip fractures from falling, excessive hospitalizations, and even untimely death. Prescription drug abuse is overlooked by our healthcare professionals every day. Elderly patients are prescribed more medications than younger...
Words: 1507 - Pages: 7
...Prescription drug abuse is on the rise as a result of the numerous ways they can be taken, the different varieties of each type of drug, and their effortless accessibility. Doctors have reported writing more prescriptions out to patients recently than there has ever been before. “Ohio pharmacists filled 2.7 million prescriptions in 2008 for high-powered painkillers such as OxyContin and Percocet, narcotics that contain oxycodone; that's nearly one for every four people in the state” (The Columbus Dispatch 1). In addition to going to a local pharmacy to get prescription medication, people now can go to the Internet and find an online pharmacy which will send them medications. They are able to attain medication easier for the following reasons:...
Words: 659 - Pages: 3
...PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS INTRODUCTION Since the dawn of early civilization, psychoactive drugs have been used for many purposes. Psychoactive drugs are basically any substance that alters the mood and brain function of the person through taking them in any form. These drugs are used for a variety of reasons such as medical purposes, religious practices and even recreation. To give you a better perspective, listed below is a list on some types of psychoactive drugs that will be looked at further. 1. Stimulants. 2. Depressants. 3. Hallucinogens. STIMULANTS. These are substances that stimulate brain activity. Most psychoactive drug stimulants are used for recreational purposes like amphetamines, which are very dangerous drugs that cause mind-altering behavior. Some stimulants such as anti-depressants are prescribed for patients that need the medicine. Stimulants temporarily improve a person’s mental or physical abilities and are sometimes referred to as “uppers”. EFFECTS OF STIMULANTS Stimulants are often prescribed by doctors to treat a wide range of conditions, including obesity, depression, and sleeping disorders and are often abused because of the “rush” they bring on. Stimulants act by increasing activity in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. They increase alertness, physical endurance and the ability to stay awake. Heart rate and blood pressure are also increased by stimulants. TYPES OF STIMULANTS Stimulants can be categorized as: 1. Amphetamines ...
Words: 1026 - Pages: 5
...Drug Profile Drug Profile * * Addiction is an escape of experiencing control it is an illusion and a mood altering experience. A pathological relationship with life-threatening or negative consequences, it is the experience that is addicting. People can become addicted to anything that alters our mood or consciousness. Addiction can be about self-harm and when done repeatedly it will stop or ease emotional pain that a person may be going through. An individual’s addiction can show an increased psychological and physiological dependence on the substance, and the person will cannot live a normal life. A drug addicted person will become unable to cope without the drug they are addicted too. Addiction can lead to antisocial behavior, violence; crime of all sorts, even murder to get what they want. Giving up drug addiction takes strength, mind strength mostly because the mind is responsible for the addiction. It is the beginning of addiction and the end of addiction. The mind and the body crave pleasure and stimulate neurotransmitters in the brain and the addiction finds pleasure in the drugs and the sensation itself. Any withdrawals from the drug will bring about depression, irritability, suicidal thoughts, restlessness, and anxiety. Addiction is mind control and can be overcome if the person wants, learning about his or her condition will give insight and understanding as why he or she may be addicted. There are three categories that certain drugs can share and have...
Words: 1252 - Pages: 6
...Vicodin Table of Contents Background………………………………………… Page 1 Hydrocodone……………………………………….. Page 1 and 2 Acetaminophen……………………………………... Page 2 and 3 History and Social Impact…………………………. Page 3 and 4 Drug Abuse…………………………………………. Page 5 and 6 Conclusion…………………………………………... Page 6 and 7 Appendix …………………………………………… Page 8 and 0 Defined Terms……………………………………… Page 10 Work Cited…………………………………………. Page 11 Background: Vicodin is an orally taken painkiller composed of a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, classifying it as an opioid pain reliever. In this capacity, Vicodin will bind to opioid receptors and reduce the sending of pain messages to the brain 1. Opioid receptors are used to control pain, slow breathing, and have a general calming affect. In a regular Vicodin tablet, there is 5mg of hydrocodone, which reacts with the 300mg of acetaminophen 2. Individually, hydrocodone and acetaminophen are medically used drugs that are used to relieve pain, however when employed together they having a much more hard-hitting effect. The combined drug works similar to other opiates by travelling along neurological pathways and increasing dopamine levels, resulting in euphoria and pain relief 3. Currently, Vicodin is classified as a level three controlled substance due to its tendency to cause psychological dependence, potential abuse, and its acceptance for medical treatment in the United States. As of 2006, more than 6.4 million people reported that they had misused Vicodin...
Words: 2445 - Pages: 10
...Tanya Perez Dr. Dreyer English 1213 25 January 2014 To Be or Not To Be….A Child Child Abuse is most commonly known as physical maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse or neglect ) of a child. Lasting scars are left by neglect and child abuse. Physical scars can be present from spanking, slapping, beating, burning and any other negative physical contact a victim may have endured. However, it is the emotional scars that have the longest lasting effects on children. According to a yearly report, done by the Child Welfare Information Gatewat (CWIG), 686,000 children are victims of neglect and abuse. CWIG states for every 1,000 children, 9 are victims of abuse. Children are mostly abused by their parents, accounting for four-fifths of the victims. Two-fifths of that was mom acting alone, one-fifth of dad acting alone and one-fifth mom and dad acting together. (Child Welfare Information Gateway). If you can’t trust mom and dad, who can you trust? The remaining one-fifth of abuse was done by a non-parent. Parents have used excuses such as that they were abused as children, stress, financial problems and drug/alcohol abuse for the abuse they inflict. Lack of trust is a big effect these children will encounter in their lives. They can shy away from strangers, becoming withdrawn and afraid. This hinders progress in school and work. Children may fear being controlled. Constantly being told you are bad, stupid and worthless can eat at...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
