Drug Abuse in the Society
Drug abuse is one of the significant challenges that the world is currently facing. Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, refers to the use of drugs in amounts that are harmful to oneself. Any use of drugs not prescribed by a doctor is defined as substance abuse. Research has shown that children as young as thirteen years are engaging in the smuggling of alcohol and cigarettes, among other drugs in school. Seeing young children engage in drug abuse instead of concentrating on their studies is a shame to the nation that has been captured in several national surveys. Drug abuse has become a significant problem in society due to the adverse effects of drugs on the user’s health and the community.
Various factors contribute to the problem of drug abuse. Peer pressure has been identified as a significant factor contributing to drug abuse. The majority of young people like to identify themselves with others without understanding what they are going through. They admire those who engage in drug abuse and end up using the drugs themselves. A family history of drug abuse is yet another factor that may lead to drug abuse. People coming from families with a history of drug abuse are likely to engage in drug abuse later in their lives. Lack of proper parenting also increases the likelihood of drug abuse as the child has no one to monitor and guide them throughout their lives. Life challenges, for instance, the loss of job, divorce, among other challenges, may also contribute to drug abuse as one attempts to forget those events. These, among many others, contribute to the problem of drug abuse.
Drug abuse is associated with significant side effects to both the user and the community at large. These side effects are the reasons as to why society needs to identify solutions to solve the problem. The following are the effects resulting from the use of drugs. For one, the use of drugs results in drug addiction. Research has shown that drug addiction is a major is a difficult disease to overcome because it affects the normal function of the brain. The impacts of drug abuse among the young to their brain are detrimental. Research has shown that a person’s brain continues to grow up to the age of twenty-five years. Engaging in drug abuse at this stage interferes with the normal function and the growth of the brain. Whether drugs are used directly or indirectly, drug abuse affects and activates the reward system in a person’s brain. Activating the reward increases the release of a neurotransmitter known as dopamine in large quantities, which triggers an extreme sensation of euphoria or pleasure. This implies the use of drugs over stimulates the part of a brain that is responsible for rewarding a person for doing something positive, for instance, by hugging a loved one or enhancing socialization.
The sensational feeling that one gets from the use of drugs makes the person want to experience the feeling all the time. This encourages that user to engage in drug abuse, again and again, making one dependent on using the drugs. With time, the continued overstimulation of the dopamine reward system may be associated with permanent changes in the brain. As a result of overstimulation, the brain begins to produce less dopamine to compensate for the flooding of the brain with dopamine when one is on drugs. The reduced production of dopamine makes an individual feel less pleasure and experience depression and feels lifeless. When one gets to this level, the person cannot live without relying on the drugs and develops a tolerance to the drug and, therefore, one needs to take more quantity of the drug for the person to experience a normal or slightly elevated sense of pleasure.
Drug abuse also affects the mind in the following ways; it impairs a person’s cognitive function. Drug abuse also affects the glutamate, yet another neurotransmitter involved in the reward system. The effects on this part of the brain change the way a person thinks, making it difficult for the victim to think appropriately and to learn. This mainly affects students who are required to pay attention to them to learn. It is one of the symptoms that teachers and parents use to identify whether a student is using drugs or not. For instance, students might be performing well throughout their school life. However, after some time, the student’s performance may begin to decline with a substantial explanation. Such changes may sign of the use of drugs. Drug abuse also causes changes in brain connections and loss of memory. Research has shown that most of the people who engage in drug abuse experience memory loss. Cues in the victim’s environment may cause a person to crave for more drugs. Physical changes in the connection of neurons are yet a significant factor.
Drug use is also associated with increased financial problems. Some of the drugs, for instance, alcohol and cocaine, are expensive, especially when one becomes an addict. According to research, drug addicts spend a lot of money per day to purchase the drugs compared to the money they spend on food. The use of the drug also impacts a person’s level of productivity and success, for instance, in school. A lot of time is spent searching for drugs, using the drug, and recovering from the impacts of these drugs. The amount of time wasted using these drugs could have been used productively in other activities. Students could use this time to advance their career.
Drug use may also cause injuries, which may result in death. Research has shown that users of alcohol and other drugs are likely to acquire damages when they are under the influence of drugs. Statistics show that the highest number of road accidents is usually as a result of drunk driving. In worse cases, accidents may result in the death of the victim or other innocent people. Statistics regarding drug-related deaths are on the rise, with the current statistics doubling the number recorded back in the 1980s. This shows the need to establish strategies that can be used in addressing these challenges.
Lastly, drug abuse is also associated with significant legal consequences. The use of drugs does not only affect an individual’s health, but the victim also has legal implications of dealing with in case they are caught with the drugs. Many people have been incarcerated due to the selling and the use of drugs. Moreover, the majority of employers ensure that they take a drug test during hiring. Other employers also conduct such random tests even after one has been employed. The use of drugs may, therefore, make an individual lose his or her job leading to increased theft and poverty.
Considering these negative impacts, it is important to come up with strategies to address the problem of drug abuse and its consequences. Failure to solve the problem puts the life of the victim and the entire society in danger. The following solutions can help address the challenge of drug abuse both in school and in the community.
One of the strategies involves the establishment of drug prevention programs. There is a need to create programs that focus on strengthening communities and those that target some of the risk factors that encourage people to engage in drug abuse. It is essential to note that the most effective strategy or solution to a problem is the one that addresses the root cause of the problem. Addressing these factors will help those who have already engaged in drug abuse and also help to prevent other people from falling into the trap. A community that cares for the people act as an organization that helps teachers and parents and other individuals within the society to work together while addressing the problem of drug abuse. Moreover, such an organization allows people to become connected, which has helped people curb smoking, among other drugs in society. According to Humphreys, a psychiatry professor at Stanford University claims that “There is no evidence that a speech you give about marijuana makes any difference.” Instead, the professor recommends programs that teach students life skills that they can employ in risky situations, which might tempt them to engage in drug abuse. However, these programs ought to start early before children and teens can begin engaging in drug abuse so that the problem is eliminated before it even begins.
The second strategy for addressing the problem of drug abuse involves the use of media-based interventions. Media-based interventions, for example, the use of Public Service Announcements (PSAs), is a potential solution to the problem of drug abuse. Media channels, such as radio, TV, prints, and billboards) provide a cost-effective channel during fight drug abuse. Secondly, media channels also cover a large audience. However, these channels are understudied. According to one empirical study conducted to determine the effectiveness of media in reducing cigarette smoking revealed that a large number of people were convinced to reduce while some people quitted such behaviors. The media was used to demonstrate to the people the adverse effects of drug abuse on their health and how they can stop this practice.
Thirdly, treatment programs can help fight the problem of drug abuse. It is important to note that majority of the strategies that are used to solve the drug abuse problem usually focus on drug prevention itself and are, therefore, not early-stage intervention. There is, therefore, a need to change the status quo and provide drug abuse treatments, both in schools and in the community. Adams City High School has implemented such a program. The school runs a program known as the Encompass. The program utilizes a cognitive behavioral therapy model to fight the problem of drug abuse.
Lastly, there is a need to enhance family-based intervention. Family plays a significant role in the fight against drug abuse. Research has shown that proper parenting, characterized by consistent rule enforcement, high levels of family support, and strict monitoring of the child’s behavior, helps to ensure that children do not engage in drug abuse. Improper parenting is one of the factors that contribute to the rise of drug abuse. It is, therefore, necessary to ensure that child has proper parenting to ensure that children do not engage in these practices. Proper parenting will also enable the parent to identify changes in child characters, thus taking the necessary measures to help the child.
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