...Drug Addiction is a Problem in Today’s Society Tony E. Harbour Research Writing/Com/220 April 3, 2011 Cheryl Drug addiction is one of the major problems in American society. Actually, almost every country faces such problems today. A lot of measures are taken to fight against drug abuse, and, definitely, some changes for the better are evident. However, this problem is not eliminated and, perhaps, will never be. Today, Americans are losing their jobs, families, and even their lives over the abuse. There are a lot of legal drugs that Americans are addicted to, but there are also a lot of Americans who are addicted to street drugs. Either way, drug abuse is drug abuse. Who does drug addiction affect? Drug addiction affects everyone from infants to adults. According to 2006 statistics from the Department of Health and Family Services concerning drug abuse there was an estimated twenty million Americans aged twelve or older who were current illicit drug users. These drugs included, but were not limited to marijuana, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or addictive prescription drugs. (Drug Addiction Support). (2006). Every day, you hear about people having babies who are addicted to crack as well as other drugs and most of us say to ourselves or other people “I’m glad that’s not me or anyone I know”, but what people fail to realize is that according to statistics, drug abuse and addiction cost Americans four hundred and eighty four billion...
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...Substance abuse is a disease that does not discriminate, no matter what race or gender, it can affect anyone, anywhere, at any given time, and children as well as adults can fall prey to this type of addiction. According to Robinson, Saisan, and Smith (2012), “Some people are able to use recreational or prescription drugs without ever experiencing negative consequences or addiction.” (para. 1). I have known people that were addicted to drugs, whether street drugs or prescribed, and I have seen the what they were like when they were clean, as well as when they were high, and I have heard the horror stories that were associated with their addiction. Being addicted can tear apart a family, make a person do things that they would not normally do, and sometimes their addiction would cause problems even when they were clean; people looking for money that was borrowed or stolen, as well as drugs. Families have gone broke, college savings gone, jewelry from a family member taken to get their next fix, household items pawned for a few dollars to buy a bag of heroine that would only last one day, if that, cars repossessed because the money that should have gone to making the payment was used to buy cocaine, and marriages broken apart because either the husband or wife chose their addiction over their spouse. An interview was done with a member, as well as being one of my friends, from a community NA, or as this member would rather it be called, “A 12-step Recovery Program”...
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...someone that uses or abuses at least one drug. Not only are drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines bad for you, over the counter drugs such as painkillers can be just as bad. Some people even make the choice to use steroids to have an advantage in athletics or just to look more physically fit. Drugs have been a serious issue for student athletes for a long time and are still an issue today. Drug testing of members of high school athletics and activities should take place to make sure that students aren’t making decisions that could turn into addictions and so that they are putting themselves in a position to be successful. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2013, drug use was down to just under twenty-nine percent. This was about seven percent lower than the year before. Drug use had started to decrease until the use of marijuana skyrocketed. Today, fifty percent of high school seniors have admitted to using an illegal sometime in their life and about thirty-five percent admitted to using marijuana in the past year (The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction). Also reported was the use of Adderall. Just fewer than...
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...Drug Addiction Drug addiction is on increasing problem in today’s society. Drug has been increasing immensely among our society today. It can either help us or destroy us from accomplishing our goals or dreams in life. People sometimes feel they are too bright, too powerful, too much in control to become addictive however addiction can trap anyone. It can lead to harming one’s body, causing problems in the person family and also in societies and the communities. This topic is interesting because it is an ongoing problem in the world and more people are becoming addicted and cannot stop. This topic talks about peoples decisions they make and how their lives can change in minutes and how can they recover from it. The thing I want to know why people chose to do drugs if they know they are bad from the beginning of their lives. Is it depression that it’s causing them to do it, is it too much alcohol drinking or just for fun because one friend is doing it, they want to do same. For me personally I grew up in a country that was strongly against drugs and nobody really had any interest in it and really was not a big issue, but since coming to America this was a big issue for me because I knew America has a big drugs users and I didn’t want to part of it. After years living here I saw how people in America are in love with drugs, I didn’t want to be part of it I was kind of scared at the beginning. In most of the movies on TV there is someone that is using drugs and in hip hop...
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...society view addiction as a disease? Drug addiction is a significant problem in today’s society yet it also seems to be debatable as to whether society should view drug addiction as a disease or choice. Drug addiction continues to grow and affects a diverse population which includes much younger age groups. It must be noted that drug addiction is a voluntary choice; whereas disease is not, despite whether a disease is deemed mental and/or physical in nature. Frankly, whether society views addiction as a disease or choice, it is a problem and a controversial issue. The definition of drug addiction, according the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is: “the quality or state of being addicted <addiction to reading>, compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly: persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.”(“Addiction” n.d.) Numerous government and other science researchers continue to study drug addiction while addressing whether addiction is a choice or a disease. There is significantly more information that states addiction is a choice. Drug addiction may be the underlying cause of a disease. However, despite whether addiction may result in disease, addiction is a choice and it is a subject of major study and may reflect how addiction is viewed. “Scientifically, the contention that addiction is a disease...
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...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 issues is...
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...Research Project The number of women who are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction while they are pregnant or once they have given birth, is growing more and more every day. Addiction during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the health of the mother and her unborn child. The baby could suffer from different types of abnormalities and defects. The mother, on the other hand, may suffer from high blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases, premature labor, and skin infection along with many other problems. Addiction during pregnancy is a serious problem, and these women who are suffering from drug or alcohol addiction should seek help immediately. According to Social Work Today, an individualized program and flexibility are among the top recommendations for treating pregnant or postpartum women addicted to alcohol or other drugs. Different facilities offer different programs and a different length of treatment depending on the woman’s needs. Education and life skills are taught in all of the programs for pregnant or postpartum women with addictions. For example, they learn to cook, clean, and how to manage their household. At Gratitude House facility, they teach parenting classes and instruct patients on how to care for their baby. Individual therapy is required once a week as well as group therapy sessions and other group activities. Peer support is essential to women with addictions while pregnant or after giving birth. Some women may experience guilt, remorse...
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...Understanding Early Drug Use and Its Benefits on Future Drug Treatments Laura-Ryan Brooks Argosy University Abstract Drug abuse is a growing problem in the world today. Past studies have been conducted in efforts to recognize similar patterns in addicts’ lives that may have contributed to their behavior. The emerging results from this research suggested that it was due to several maltreatments occurring during the addicted individual’s adolescent years that were behind their early drug use. It is during the critical years of adolescence, when the brains of young adults are still developing, that the youth of today are most susceptible to a number of issues that can lead towards drug addiction, such as problems at home, abuse, and peer-pressure. Exploring these adversities will help shed some light on why adolescents make the decision to use drugs. This paper will address what influences drug use and how this knowledge can help treat addiction. Issues surrounding why addicts began drug use and how this information could be beneficial in treating substance abuse in the future will be explored. . Understanding Early Drug Use and Its Implications on Future Drug Abuse Treatment Addiction has been defined as a “misguided attempt at self-repair” (du Plessis, 2012 para. 53). But who is in danger of becoming addicted or may be feeling the need of some “self-repairing? During a 2013 testing of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), a tool to assess certain...
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...Hamilton General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about Josh Hamilton before cocaine took over his life, during the use of cocaine, and now as he is recovering from the addiction. Organizational Pattern: Topical Order INTRODUCTION I. Attention Getter: I have a story to tell you about a boy, blessed with a God given talent, who grew up to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional baseball player. A wonderful story, except that after becoming that amazing athlete, a monster crept into his life that has and will change it forever. Let me tell you about his journey. II. Credibility Position: Through thorough research about Josh Hamilton, his life and his career, I am excited to share with you many of the interesting facts and stories that I have learned. III. Reveal Topic: Lots of people in this world struggle with addiction, but only some people are blessed enough to get the opportunity to get their life back before the drugs. IV. Preview: Today I would like to share with you about Josh Hamilton prior to his drug use, during the use of cocaine, and now as he is recovering from the addiction. (Transition: First let’s take a look at the kind of person Josh was prior to drugs.) BODY OF SPEECH I. Main Point # 1: a. From the age of six, Josh spent as much time as he could at the ball fields. Even if it was just to shag balls for his brother’s team in hopes that after the...
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...review system that recognizes errors most commonly made by university students in academic essays. The system embeds comments into your paper and suggests possible changes in grammar and style. Please evaluate each comment carefully to ensure that the suggested change is appropriate for your paper, but remember that your instructor's preferences for style and format prevail. You will also need to review your own citations and references since WritePoint capability in this area is limited. Thank you for using WritePoint. Alcohol and Drug Addiction COM/156 There was a missing person report across the news today, my co-worker stated. I never paid any attention to it; I went on about my day as if everything was fine. When I arrived at home I had several messages on my answer machine regarding my best friend Sonya. The message said, Samara please call me it’s Sonya’s mother, I haven’t heard from her in a...
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...Introduction Drug addiction is the continued use of any substance, medical or herbal. This has been occurring for many years throughout the world. Our aim of the assignment is first, to make people aware of the drug addition that is occurring now, the effects of drug addiction. Our aim of the report is to dissuade the masses of drug addiction and give reason to stamp it out entirely. Identifying the problem Drug abuse started with opium. Chinese farmers first started consuming large amounts of opium to ‘forget’ the pains they were suffering. The modern ‘druggie’ uses a variety of different substances. They range from the most common cough syrup to the burning of herbal combinations and inhaling the smoke. This is one of the major problems of modern drug addiction. People are getting ‘high’ on the simplest substances; even glue sniffing is taking drugs. Some of the more common forms of drug are: Heroin Cocaine Marijuana (more commonly known as weed) Phensidyle Today, these practices are threatening the foundation of our society. The number of addicted youth is increasing in number every day, demolishing the whole economy of our nation. Thousands of talented youth's careers and the dream of their parents are shattering every day due to one wrong step taken. This problem is almost beyond anyone's control because established drug markets are constantly catering the thirst of drug for hundreds of addicts and there is practically no one to curtail the heinous...
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...I have been asked to explain the effects substance addiction has on young adults and adolescents. In this presentation, I will explain what substance addiction is and how it affects a person’s behavior, way of thinking, physical body, and even a person’s social life. I will also explain why it is important to participate in treatment whether it is in-patient or outpatient and what benefits treatment has. According to the online medical dictionary, substance (drug) addiction is a condition where a person has an overwhelming desire to take a particular drug. (Free Dictionary, 2013). Wikipedia has a different definition on substance addiction. Substance addiction is a state of heavy dependence on a drug (Wikipedia, 2013). A person never wakes up in the morning and decides to become addicted to drugs. Actually, drug addiction usually happens after a person has been using a particular drug over a period of time. There are signs and symptoms to look for when determining if a person has a drug addiction. If you see a person feels they must use a drug to deal with problems or if a person spends money they do not have to get high. This may mean they have an addiction problem. Five indicators will allow you to know if a teenager is using drugs. The first indicator is problems at school. If a person is known for, doing well in school and actively involved in school activities, and then starts to loose interest and eventuality stops all together. The second indicator is physical...
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...Professor Barry Berger Drugs, Society, and Behavior December 12, 2013 Is there an addictive personality? Is there such thing as an addictive personality, and if so, why are some people more prone to becoming “addicts” while others are not? This question was something that interested me when I saw that the topic was available to talk about. Being an addict or becoming an addict to something, for instance, drugs can consume someone’s life. This subject is very puzzling in the medical world. Being an addict means that a person is “reliant on a substance or behavior that the individual has little power to resist (NIDA).” If a person has an already predisposed personality to becoming addicted to something, then that addiction can consume the person’s actions and every thought. An addictive personality is referred to as a particular set of personality traits that can make an individual predisposed to addictions. Two types of addictions are substance-abuse addictions and behavioral-based addictions. In substance abuse addictions, dopamine is released in the brain due to the usage of the drug. This causes a range of sensations to happen, producing a euphoric event, making the addict to feel this sensation again, leading to drug abuse. It creates a compulsive need for the drug and craving the drug badly that when the drug isn’t administered could lead to withdrawals. On the other hand, the behavioral addictions are similar to the substance abuse addictions, expect that the individual...
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...English 101 Dr. Rose November 24, 2014 The Disease of Drug Addiction A major problem in the United States today is the disease of addiction. The disease of addiction is unlike many other diseases, people generally struggle greatly while making an attempt to change for the better. In many cases, the addicts may be clean for a various amount of time, but generally will have a relapse. The media produces tales of inspiration and hope, but also pressure for the addict in various ways. The disease presents various problems with the addict’s behavior, appearance, and attitude. The views of society make it hard for addicts to change, so the addict’s chances of ever being fully clean are slim. Drug addiction is a serious physical and psychological impairment that is very difficult to ever truly recover from. “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences” (Science of Addiction). Since addiction is labeled as a brain disease, the addict’s brain cannot function properly without the drugs. Drug addicts act on their cravings for the drug, and they do not think about the repercussions of the drugs. The high of a drug is like no other, and they keep coming back for more and more. Other than the fact the person is addicted to drugs, there is many different reasons people abuse drugs. One of the many reasons people start doing drugs is to do better at something, like their job. For example...
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...Today, drugs and other substance abuse are a leading problem in the U.S. This explicit use of illegal substances, as well as medicated drugs, can cause crime, loss of job, health care, and even death. Perhaps the most significant issue concerning drug use and abuse is the fact that it can easily lead to addiction. The author of the excerpt, Want-Creation Fuels Americans’ Addictiveness, Phillip Slater, describes his view of the average want of Americans. He believes that the want and desire of certain attributes and worldly possessions can create addiction of substances and other concepts. Through this excerpt, he correctly and truthfully explains that this need for fast solutions, the facade for success, and relating addiction to the human...
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