...Alcohol and Drug Addiction Liberty University Abstract This paper is a reflection of addiction in the United States and the statistics that prove addiction is a major issue within the country. Discussed in the paper will be first the primary causes of addiction and risk factors that may lead to an addiction in an individual. Going further into the problem, the cycle of addiction and how to break free of the cycle and an individual’s addiction is talked about. Since there are different drugs that can cause addiction, a breakdown of certain drugs is given. These drugs include alcohol, prescription drugs, heroin, and marijuana. Next, the side effects of drug addiction to the drugs chosen are described in depth as well as the signs that can be viewed in screening for drug addiction. Resources available to drug addiction are touched on and treatment options to explore what can be done if an individual does suffer from drug addiction. Finally, what human service professionals are doing to assist individuals who are addicted and how they can improve on training to ensure that addiction can be caught early enough to make a difference? Introduction to Drug Addiction Addiction is a chronic disease of brain reward, motivation and memory in individuals who submit to any number of different drugs available to them. Such chronic need for the drugs leads to manifestations biologically, psychologically, spiritually and even socially in any given individual (ASAM, 2014). These, however...
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...characteristics. Heroin’s medicinal name is diamorphine (National Institute of Health, 2013). According to Foundation For A Drug-Free World (2013), The Truth About Heroin, street names for Heroin are too many to list, but the following are a few examples: Horse, ‘H’, Smack, Heavy Stuff, Brother, Chick, China White, Judas, and Mr. Brown. Heroin typically presents as a powder form ranging in colors from white, gray, yellow, or brown. It can also be refined into a thick stick tar-like substance also street named “black tar” (National Institute of Health, 2013). Heroin is an illicit drug classified as an opiate derived from morphine after it has been refined from the Asian poppy. Heroin is known for its strong pain relief characteristics. Heroin’s medicinal name is diamorphine (National Institute of Health, 2013). According to Foundation For A Drug-Free World (2013), The Truth About Heroin, street names for Heroin are too many to list, but the following are a few examples: Horse, ‘H’, Smack, Heavy Stuff, Brother, Chick, China White, Judas, and Mr. Brown. Heroin typically presents as a powder form ranging in colors from white, gray, yellow, or brown. It can also be refined into a thick stick tar-like substance also street named “black tar” (National Institute of Health, 2013). Heroin Addiction Heroin Addiction DELETE BOX, OR PLACE TEXT OR LOGO HERE DELETE BOX, OR PLACE TEXT OR LOGO HERE Phone: 555.555.5555 Fax: 555.555.5555 555 Street Address City, State...
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...illegal or habit of taking any drug as an addiction. Drugs invaded every aspect of our society since 1960s. Around 208 million peoples take drugs as per survey done by National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The most commonly abused drug is alcohol. Which is the reason for more drink and drive cases and teen's deaths in road accidents Marijuana is again commonly used drug. 3.9% of global population aged between 15 to 64, abuses marijuana as per Unites Nations 2008 Drug Report. Cocaine and Heroin is abused globally nowadays. Why peoples abuse drugs? Peoples take drugs to seem grown up, to relax, to relieve boredom, but this solution eventually turns out a biggest problem for these peoples. Some abuse drugs to because they have problems in life, but taking drugs becomes the worst problem in their life. Some examples of same are below: “I ended up homeless and on the streets, living and sleeping in a cardboard box, begging and struggling to find ways to get my next meal.” —Ben (Source-http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/the-truth-about-drugs.html). “I felt that I was more fun when I was drunk. Soon after I started drinking. I was introduced to marijuana. Later, I was hanging out at a friend’s house smoking marijuana. when someone pulled out a bag of cocaine. Snorting cocaine quickly became a daily habit. I was stealing money from my parents’ business and from my grandparents on a daily basis to support my alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and LSD habits. Then I was introduced to...
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...that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Abusing either one of these substances can lead to the death of you or the death of someone else or even cause a major change in their life like Jacqueline’s story, her whole life has been changed because of another person’s ignorance and carelessness. Therefore, you should know the facts about drug and alcohol abuse before you do something you may regret for the rest of your life. According TO NIDA FOR TEENS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND DRUG ABUSE, drugs are chemicals or substances that change the way our bodies work. Drugs find their way into your bloodstream, whether you ingest, inhale or inject them, they are then transported to parts of your brain. Weighing about three pounds, the brain is made of many parts that all work together as a team. Each part of your brain has a job to do. When drugs enter your brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change the way your brain performs its jobs. These changes in the brain are what lead to compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction. Alby, an eighteen year old teen who was residing in a maximum-security jail, ended up in jail because he began dealing drugs. HEADS UP: REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY, recorded that it all started one summer day on a street corner in Yonkers, New York, when Alby was thirteen. One of his friends told him “You need to get your mind right. Hit this blunt”. Alby didn’t hesitate to try it, at the time he didn’t have the strength to say “no”. He wanted to fit in and if...
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...Katie DeLaney Synthesis Essay (Final) INEBRIATION AND ADDICTION Inebriation and addiction are often noted in the writing and poetry of some postmodern authors. In the poetry of Allen Ginsberg “Howl”, short stories by James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues” and Raymond Carver, “Cathedral” talk of alcohol and addiction exist. Reading the poetry of Ginsberg and the story by Baldwin, obvious references are made to inebriation and addiction, more subtle notations are described in the work by Carver. In the story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver the narrator drinks too much and seems unable to effectively communicate with his wife. Drinking and smoking marijuana goes on throughout the story telling. The short story “Cathedral” portrays individuals isolated from each other for various reasons. It appears that the maladies suffered by the narrator and wife provide reasons for inebriation and addiction. For example,” So when the time rolled around, my wife went to the depot to pick him up. With nothing to do but wait—sure, I blamed him for that—I was having a drink and watching the TV when I heard the car pull into the drive. I got up from the sofa with my drink and went to the window to have a look”. The narrator begins to drink while waiting for his wife and the blind man to arrive from the train station. In this quote the first indication of drinking start. As the story progresses drinking and marijuana smoking occurs throughout. Drinking occurs after the characters...
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...overdoses. Given this fact, the classifications for legal and illegal drugs are quite unbalanced. Marijuana is currently an illegal drug. Its primary contents are the cannabis plant and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Along with cocaine and heroin, marijuana is classified as a Type 1 drug, meaning that its use can result in maximum penalties in state or federal prison. Currently, the only states with legal authorization to medically administer the drug are California and Arizona. Marijuana use should be legalized in all states because the reason for its previous abolition is nonexistent today, research supporting its use is kept hidden from the public, it is safer than most legal drugs, it does not contribute to the use of other drugs, and it proves effective in the medical field. The use of marijuana should be legalized because the government’s reason for prohibiting it does not apply today. According to Charles Schaffer, founder of the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy, “Marijuana was outlawed in 1937 as a repressive measure against Mexican workers who crossed the border seeking jobs during the Depression. The specific reason given for the outlawing of the hemp plant was its supposed violent ‘effect on the degenerate races’” (Schaffer, sec. 1). Government used the prohibition of marijuana as a discriminatory tactic to keep foreigners out of the United States. In outlawing the use of marijuana, the plan backfired – more Mexicans entered with large supplies of the drug. Lawmakers were more...
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...Outline: Should Marijuana be Legalized? Introduction History of Marijuana (Raymond) Describe the History of the Drug Marijuana. References: Cohen, M. (2012, 12 08). Marijuana legalization and states rights. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/marijuana-legalization-and-states-rights/ Committee on Substance Abuse and Committee on Adolescence, . (2004, 6). Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth . Pediatrics, 113(6), 1825 - 1826. Grush, L. (2013, February 6). Smoking Marijuana Linked with Higher Risk of Stroke in Young Adults, Study Finds. Fox News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/06/smoking-marijuana-linked-with-higher-risk-stroke-in-young-adults/ Harvey, B (Director, Writer). (2007). The Union: The Business Behind Getting High (Documentary, DVD). Canada: Eagle Entertainment. Head, T. (n.d., n.d.). Why is Marijuana Illegal? About.com Guide. Retrieved from http://civilliberty.about.com/od/drugpolicy/tp/Why-is-Marijuana-Illegal.htm The Truth About Cannabis. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.truthaboutcannabis.org/ Body Paragraph 1 Pros- Medical (Anthony) Discuss the positive effects that legalizing Marijuana will have on Medical needs. References: 17 legal medical marijuana states. (n.d.). ProCon.org. Retrieved from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 Cannabis and mental health. (n.d.). Cannabis and Mental Health. Retrieved...
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...Most teenagers have probably explored with alcohol use in high school before college. The problem with underage drinking is a problem throughout all high school and colleges around the country. A lot of people don’t understand the consequences or the impact it can have on their lives, as they get older. Most of the time parents are unaware of the risks that their children face when they are involved in underage drinking. According to the National Survey on Drug Use, it is approximated that 24% of the population between the ages of 12 through 20 have engaged in underage drinking. Medical Experts say that alcohol can be used to increase metabolism and also helps with digestion. Despite the fact that it is against the law for college and high school students to consume alcohol, there is a large amount of teenagers experiencing the usage of alcohol. Even though it is said to be favorable, too much consumption has led to negative result and side effects. It is apparent that teenage alcohol abuses are basic problems that need to be taken up in society by our leaders, advisers and as well as the parents. Many people ask this question everyday, “Why do teenagers take prescription drugs?” Well most of the time teens wrongly believe that these drugs are more safe than regular drugs mainly because they are accessible to them from home or from friends. Breaking away from reality and being bored are the main reasons that teenagers abuse drugs. Peer pressure to continue friendships and...
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...Becoming Addicted to Marijuana “Marijuana is the most commonly used drug illegal drug in the world.” (“What is Marijuana”, 2013). It has recently become legal in a couple states, and more states are sure to follow their lead in the upcoming months. People can make the argument that marijuana does not have any negative effects, but they are wrong. Becoming addicted to marijuana is easy, and it only opens up the door for you to try other harmful drugs once marijuana quits getting you high. You need to know the whole story, how people become addicted, the negative effects it has on your body and mind, and what you can do once someone you know has become addicted. Many people experiment with drugs at a young age, usually marijuana is the first drug that many people start off experimenting with. Why do people decide to experiment with drugs? “People experiment with drugs for many different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression”. (Robinson, Smith...
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...Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is a very controversial drug. With the American public being more informed regarding health, strong opinions on both sides of the marijuana argument have developed in regards to why the Government and other establishments are so opposed to re-evaluating the use of marijuana, whether for recreation or medical use. Marijuana has been researched, analyzed, studied, and proven to have positive impacts on the American society. A couple of these impacts are a boost to the economy (additional taxes) and health care (medical benefits). It is going to take society becoming more educated and with up-to-date scientific data to prove or disprove previous misconceptions about the drug and finally remove the bad reputation that this drug has garnered. During the late 19th century through the early 1920’s, marijuana was legal and a widely used ingredient for medicinal purposes and even sold at local pharmacies. In 1937, the US passed a law that ultimately ended up prohibiting sales and use of the drug in the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 in an effort to control the Mexican immigrant population in the Southwest. The Act, after being deemed unlawful, was replaced by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The federal government lists marijuana as a Schedule 1 narcotic which defines it as “narcotic drugs with no known acceptable medical use, that carry a high abuse potential” (Drug Enforcement Agency [DEA]). Regardless of the barriers...
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...Legalization of Marijuana Shirley Pardo Lone Star College Cy-Fair Abstract The legalization of marijuana has become a major issue in the United States. There are many strong arguments both for and against marijuana legalization. Some would argue, its medicinal properties and its effects on the body. Others would argue about its effect on society and how the prohibition ultimately contributes to organized crime. Marijuana is a schedule I drug, and is the most illegal drug used in the United States. The effects of marijuana have been scientifically proven to be less harmful than alcohol, and it’s helpful in a treatment of many different diseases and health issues. National Legalization of Marijuana The marijuana plant or its scientific name cannabis, has been the topic of much debate throughout the history of this country. Many people do not know that it was not the effects of marijuana that originally prompted its banning. It was actually originally, the work of the cotton industry before and after WWII, who lobbied the illegalization because of the plant's mind altering effects. The cotton industry was afraid that hemp, a product of the marihuana plant, would soon overpower the strong hold of cotton since it was a more durable textile that required less work, there is less depletion of the soil, and could be produced virtually anywhere. Since the time it became illegal, it has been grouped with other narcotics as a counterpart. The truth is marijuana has many benefits...
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...Medical Marijuana Although the legalization of recreational marijuana is controversial, a majority of Americans are more supportive of legalizing medical marijuana. Since the effects of marijuana on youth is not positive, but medical marijuana can have a positive effect on patients of all age groups, it seems reasonable to legalize medical marijuana because the benefits outweigh any negatives. Modern technology has discovered many benefits to the legalization of it. Those benefits include lower crime rates, more jobs, an alternative to painkillers or opiates and more tax money for the government. The current culture of marijuana is evolving. People are more supportive of legalization after being informed of the universal benefits. The legalization of marijuana in certain states has had...
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...Bele E Mrs. Martin 8th Period 22 February 2017 Marijuana Marijuana has multiple negative effects on the human’s brain and body. Marijuana might possibly affect a person’s body and mind any time it gets into their system, even if they only use it occasionally. More than one in three people in America have tried marijuana at some point in their lives, that is more than 3.8% of the planet’s population. Sadly, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. There are many things that come along with smoking marijuana, such as risks, and physical effects, as well as mental effects, and none of them are very pleasant sounding. Marijuana is a combination of shredded leaves, stems, and flower buds of the Cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana can be...
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...Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in our society today. Although many slanderous claims have been made about cannabis over the last seventy years, the truth about it is slowly starting to resurface. Unfortunately, all these years of propaganda has led to a stereotypical view of the typical “pot smoker.” This skewed perception of a lazy and unmotivated American is the result of over seventy years of propaganda and misinformation spread by private interests who needed cannabis illegal for their own personal gains. Most of the accepted reasons that marijuana should be illegal are complete fallacies. I strongly believe that marijuana should be legalized for all uses. The reason marijuana is illegal today has a very clear, well-documented past with the United States government. Hemp (the plant that is grown to make marijuana) is a very powerful biomass source. It can be used as fuel. It could end our dependence on fossil fuels forever. In fact, Dr. Rudolph Diesel created an engine that ran on peanut oil, which is another type of biomass fuel that is made in the same way as hemp fuel. Biodiesel made from hemp can run in any diesel engine, without having to modify the engine in any way. Obviously, this poses a big threat to oil companies. They fought from the very beginning to criminalize marijuana because of this reason. Instead of importing massive amount of crude oil from foreign nations, we could grow hemp locally and cut down...
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...These people pose no threat to public safety and should be sentenced to treatment instead of the government spending money to keep them in prison. A sentence based off a small amount of marijuana is ridiculous, what harm was this person doing to belong in jail? Yes, they should be punished but jailtime for such a small innocent act is horrible. Prison breeds more crime, “The Bureau of Justice Statistics' report on state prisoners in 2014 found that 68% of state prisoners were re-arrested fewer than three years after their release and 77% were re-arrested within five.” People in poorer communities are more likely to grow up around and fall into a life with drugs. These people are then targeted by the legal system and instead of reaching out a helping hand the system makes their lives harder. Perpetually trapping the low class in a system of hardships that is extremely hard to...
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