...reader to agree with his argument, which is that addiction is not bred from the drug itself, but from the feeling of abandonment or neglect. Mate also uses personal anecdotes from people he has met that have issues with drug abuse. The mixture of the scientific statistics, and personal anecdotes validate his argument, and make the reader agree with what he is saying. In “Embraced by the Needle” Mate discusses the ways in which addiction is bred and how it can eventually take over someones life. Gabor states “No drugs, in itself, are addictive.” This means that it is not the drug that causes the addiction, it is why the people are doing the drugs in the first place, and the way it makes them feel. If people grow up in an abusive household and have never experienced a “warm, soft hug”(305), they turn to drugs because it will give them that feeling. Although some may agree with Mate’s argument, the ways in which he gives his evidence and examples lacks all the necessary information needed in order to make a decision on whether you agree or disagree with his argument. In paragraph four Mate uses a scientific example saying, “Only about 8 per cent to 15 per cent of people who try, say alcohol or marijuana, go on to addictive use.” (305) While this statistic may be true, it is difficult to report on how many of those people of that eight to fifteen per cent are using it because they simply have an addictive personality. For Mate to say that all addictive drug use is caused from neglect...
Words: 1865 - Pages: 8
...Millions of people are addicted to drugs and alcohol; thousands upon thousands of those people die every year due to drugs and alcohol. The trouble usually begins at a young age. A girl named Savannah first started taking drugs when she was only ten years old. Both of her parents were drug addicts, and her mom was the one who got her started with drugs and alcohol. She would constantly use drugs: taking pills, smoking marijuana, and drinking completely excessive amounts of alcohol. She talks about how her life changed when she went to The Phoenix House to recover from her addictions. After incredibly hard work, she has fought her addiction. Savannah is looking forward to the rest of her life, hopefully with no drugs or alcohol. With full optimism,...
Words: 1527 - Pages: 7
...Drug Treatment for Offenders Nicole Myers 20700 CRIJ 1304 Probation and Parole Abstract The addiction to drugs is a difficult thing for any individual to deal with. Often, addiction leads to the decline of a person’s well-being, financial security, and health. Drug addicts have a hard time keeping a job, their families suffer the consequences, and sometimes the addicts find themselves either in trouble with the law, or homeless on the street. There is an epidemic of almost epic proportions in this wonderful nation called the United States. However, this epidemic is not only national; it is worldwide. And because of this epidemic there are other problems in society such as an increase in crime and prison overcrowding. The epidemic is that of Substance Abuse and Addiction. The penal systems of each state house more prisoners due to drug related crimes than any other. Treatment instead of incarceration would be beneficial to the addict himself and to society as a whole. Evidence shows treatment would lower the amount of criminal activity due to substance abuse and addiction. Logic shows that if a problem is cured then the consequences of the problem disappear. There are different points of view on the subject of treatment or incarceration for those criminals who are substance abusers. And there are valid points in either argument. The viewpoint in favor of incarceration is supported by the deterrence and incapacitation theory. This theory promotes increased arrests, prosecutions...
Words: 677 - Pages: 3
...Legalization In most countries, possession and use of cannabis that is also commonly known as marijuana is considered illegal. In fact, it can be noted that for many years, cannabis has been considered to an illegal drug in most countries. Nevertheless, today, some countries have legalized cannabis while other countries have not. In particular, small quantities of cannabis have been allowed in regions such as Europe, North America and South America. Moreover, in the United States, some states such as Washington and Colorado have also legalized the possession and usage of marijuana for medical purposes. On the other hand, various penalties are imposed for use or possession of cannabis in most countries. The penalties generally range from simple to severe punishments. Possession of small quantities of marijuana is not punished the same way as possession of large quantities. In this argumentative essay, I seek to argue the reasons why cannabis should be legalized, and why it should not. Primarily, cannabis should be legalized since it is used for medication, and its legalization means better and higher quality health standards. For example, Sativex is a recent drug that has been discovered to cure Multiple Sclerosis (Kmietowicz 89). The drug has been used in the United Kingdom to treat MS patients, and it has been found to work effectively. Therefore, banning of cannabis would be a disadvantage to people who suffer from diseases that use cannabis as a major component in their medicine...
Words: 1281 - Pages: 6
...the impact of the acute usage of alcohol on the body? usage of alcohol can have many negative effects on the body. Over time and with long term use an individual can develop both physical and emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms can include liver failure, changes in brain function. 2. Discuss the arguments for and against classifying alcohol dependence as a disease. Are there differences with drug addiction? How about compulsive gambling? Alcoholism is a primary chronic disease with genetic psychosocial and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. People use the terms drug abuse and addiction. One can abuse drugs without necessarily being addicted to drugs. Drugs abuse specifically requires that drugs have a negative effect on the user’s life. Drug addiction the addict has developed a tolerance to drugs increasing the used amount and experiences withdrawal. Compulsive gambling disorder is uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the tool it takes on your life. 3. One treatment method utilized for withdrawal is pharmacologic treatment. Discuss your perspectives of using pharmacologic treatment, what are the pros and cons? treatment for alcohol withdrawal is only works if the patient is correctly taking the medication. If a patient would rather drink thank take the prescribed medication than the medicalization will be ineffective. The treatment for alcohol withdrawal has its’s drawbacks...
Words: 253 - Pages: 2
...Kaisha Killion Professor Salmond Developmental Psychology 27 Sept. 2013 Substance Abuse and Pregnancy Women are incredible creatures. Women have the incredible ability to aid in the development of a new life within a matter of months. Whether a pregnancy is wanted or unplanned the process of development for the young zygote nestled within the mother’s womb is still phenomenal. The developing bundles of cells are very vulnerable from the very start to the end of a pregnancy. The progress of development for the zygote is a delicate one than can be interrupted or slowed down by many internal and external forces. The forces that can interrupt development can range from biological to environmental. The woman carrying the child is responsible for not only her life but the life of her unborn child. Many activities a mother engages in, the unborn child engages in as well. Activities that the mother participates in can be harmless such as listening to music or enjoying a healthy snack. Unfortunately, some activities are not beneficial for the new life. A mother who participates in substance abuse is putting herself and her child at risk. Substance abuse during pregnancy can have adverse effects on the mother, the unborn child, and raises an ethical dilemma. The online Merriam Webster dictionary states that “Autonomy is self-directing freedom and especially moral independence” (Merriam-Webster). Autonomy is a freedom that many individuals can exercise but it takes...
Words: 1612 - Pages: 7
...use of alcohol and illegal drugs is very common around the United States. Although both alcohol and illegal drugs have serious side effects people still use them to gain the feeling of satisfaction during parties, reunions, or any other social event. Both alcohol and illegal drugs cause many damages to our society and the individual. For these reasons alcohol and illegal drug abuse classes should be mandatory at all high schools at some point. Alcohol is a gateway drug in the United States. This means that alcohol can be considered the first step to be involved in any other illegal drug. The abuse of alcohol or drugs has very serious side effects. As any other substance that is taken without a proper control alcohol and drugs can become...
Words: 989 - Pages: 4
...Substance Abuse and Psychosis in Adolescents Over the past several decades, the U.S. population has grown significantly and continues to do so at a rapid pace. The most recent U.S. Census Bureau figures estimate that the population in the United States is currently nearing 304,800,000. Of this tremendous number, approximately one quarter are children under that age of eighteen years and over 40 million are adolescents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001a). For the purpose of this examination, we will define adolescents as individuals between the ages of ten and eighteen years, although it is important to keep in mind that there are many different definitions and understandings of adolescents, most of which are not as directly related to chronological age (Santrock, 2001). Adolescents are a very special population because these are often the years in which childhood and adulthood become blurred, roles, expectations and needs change, as well as significant physical and psychological growth. As we also know, experimentation is often characteristic of adolescence and this experimentation can be physical, sexual or philosophical; all of which may possibly lead to drug use. This paper seeks to examine the question of whether or not drug abuse is related to psychosis in adolescents. Literature Review Adolescent Drug Use According to a national study in 2006, over 60 percent of reported that drugs were used, kept and sold on their school campuses on a regular basis. ...
Words: 2009 - Pages: 9
...elementary and middle school. Kids always pledged to stay away from any type of drug. Once I knew friends that were smoking and I talked to them about it, they made it seem so harmless, and that’s when I really got curious about it. Then I started to find out more information about marijuana and its effects, and I started to wonder whether marijuana should be legal for recreational use? After all my research I have come to the conclusion that marijuana should be legal for recreational use in the United States. Lets start by looking at the economical perspective. The United States has a national debt of trillions of dollars, and a huge financial problem is how much our law enforcement and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are spending to enforce the prohibition of marijuana. “In America we spend nearly $8 billion trying to enforce the laws prohibiting the use and possession of marijuana” (Cartwright 86). This money could be spent on highways, schools and other government properties but instead it is spent on enforcing laws that are being broken every single day. Another huge part of the DEA is the so-called war on drugs. Mexican drug cartels are a huge supplier of marijuana to the U.S. “In 2009, the U.S. National Drug Intelligence Center estimated that Mexican and Columbian drug trafficking organizations generated somewhere in the range of $17 billion to $38 billion annually in gross wholesale proceeds from drug sales in the United States” (Kellner and Pipitone 30). Granted all this money...
Words: 1609 - Pages: 7
...victims themselves but others around them. It can affect the victim's children because they are seeing their mother being beaten up in front of them, they are hearing shouting from another room, and a child may feel as though they have to join in on the fight to try and protect their parent. The child will grow up thinking it’s ok to be physically and mentally abused by someone who is meant to love them. Research shows that children of all ages are affected if there is violence or abuse between their caregivers and extended family members. “Children and young people who experience violence in their families and whānau are more likely than children who have...
Words: 844 - Pages: 4
...Introduction Marijuana is a psychoactive drug made from the dried leaves and flowering parts of the hem plant (Dudley, 1999). Marijuana contains an active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC. It is one of the most strictly classified illegal drugs in the United States. Marijuana is a schedule I substance. Schedule I means that marijuana has a high potential for abuse. It is illegal to buy, sell, grow, or possess marijuana in the United States. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana is derived from the plant Cannabis. War on Drugs Marijuana prohibition comprises a large part of the federal government’s War on Drug’s. Law enforcement officials made 600,000 marijuana-related arrests in 1995 (Gerdes, 2002). The criminal prohibition of marijuana, this represents an extraordinary degree of government intrusion into the private, personal lives of those adults who choose to use it. People convicted of marijuana offenses face penalties ranging from probation to life imprisonment, plus fines and forfeiture of property. The government spends millions of dollars annually on preventative programs such as Dare Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), in which local police officers visit schools to teach young people to refrain from trying marijuana and other drugs. Marijuana Medical Uses Despite federal laws prohibiting marijuana in 1996, California and Arizona passed state initiatives legalizing marijuana for medical use by patients...
Words: 1485 - Pages: 6
...Effects of Alcohol on Society Halyna Strembitska Submitted to: Tarisa Matsumoto-Maxfield In fulfillment of course requirements for English 205 It is 11.40 p.m. on a Monday night and Darren is doing something he has not done for a very, very long time: staying sober. Darren is exactly 17years and 3 months old and a senior high school student. According the law, Darren can only take his first legal bottle of beer when he is in his senior year of college (at least at 21). But he is not the only underage American who drinks. In deed, an estimated 63 percent of underage high school and college students drink for at least one night per week. This prevalence, of course, comes with an array of harms, both to the individual and society at large. Adults are not spared either. Adolescents and teenagers grow up witnessing their parents and other adult relatives make toasts of champagne and wine at special occasions. Adults also casually enjoy several beers, say, at picnics. As it is, today, alcoholic drinks are as regular at business lunches in the same way they are at college fraternity parties. However, in spite of the fun and prestige associated with alcohol, and forceful arguments to the contrary, both underage...
Words: 2784 - Pages: 12
...Code Date Psychology Drug Abuse Introduction The aim of this research paper is to discuss contributions offered by anthropology especially, ethnography in the study of addiction and recovery basing arguments from the book, ‘Anthropology of Addiction and Recovery’. The paper further lists the criteria for substance use disorder and thereafter gives an explanation to the negative impacts of alcohol on Native American nations. Finally, the paper will show detailed information on how specific cultural knowledge was used to market cigarettes. Four specific contributions that anthropology, especially ethnography, has offered in the study of addiction and recovery. Ethnography is the study of people, culture and how the environmental and cultural factors affect values and behaviors of a person or groups of people in a social setup. A study of ethnography conducted outside United States of America reveals that the number of drug ethnographies has grown steadily since 1960s because many social issues are associated with drug use. Ethnography illustrates that drug use is not one phenomenon, but many since specific drug is used in specific situations. According to Glasser (2012), Ethnography clarifies the different implications of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in the life of an individual. According to Glasser, Ethnography also explains the psychological and physiological implications of the use of such drugs. Ethnography further indicates that drugs are used within a subculture...
Words: 919 - Pages: 4
...from 21 to 18 years due to some of the premises that have been brought forward to support the law. The Procong.org website explores the pros and cons of controversial issues such as whether the drinking age should be lowered from 21 to a younger age. I will examine three premises from the Procon.org website that support my position on this topic. One of these premises is that lowering the MLDA 21 would be medically irresponsible (Dejong, & Blanchette, 2014).I do not think that lowering the age from 21 years to 18 years should be considered as medically irresponsible. I agree that consuming alcohol below 18 years is harmful to the mental health of an individual. The consumption of alcohol affects the development of the brains of young adults at the frontal lobes which is crucial for the functions like planning, emotional regulation and organization. When the consumption of alcohol interferes with the development of the adult brain, it brings about potential chronic problems like dangerous risk-taking behavior, vulnerability to...
Words: 965 - Pages: 4
...driving while high.” now marijuana does in fact impair the driving skills of one, but not in a similar way as alcohol. Marijuana gives you a high that makes you more cautious of your surroundings which is why drunk driving kills more than 20 people a day and marijuana studies have not found similar results. In addition, we all have seen the brute force the Mexican cartel can create, as a matter of fact people feel as...
Words: 735 - Pages: 3
