Special Populations
Introduction
From a psychological perspective, special populations refer to groups of individuals of a society that are prone to a variety of impediments based on their gender, health status, age, and background. The list of vulnerable people increases as the world globalizes its operations to adapt to the changing courses. People affected by alcohol and substance abuse form the majority segment of vulnerable groups in the United States currently. Due to the increased integration of the drug industry and the rise of drug cartels, the majority of the people are sinking in this ship. Therefore, the need for government intervention to surpass this problem prevails to ensure their resilience and survival.
Impact of Gender
According to statistical data from the National Institute of Drug Abuse of the US, it has been proved that males are more exposed to drug abuse compared to females. There is high drug dependence in men, unlike in women in most cases (Cotto et al., 2010). However, the specificity of the drug abused determines the rate at which these genders abuse it. For instance, marijuana, alcohol, cocaine substance are misused more by males. Likewise, pain killers, amphetamines, birth cohorts are linked to females more often (Cotto et al., 2010).
Conversely, females tend to exhibit adverse effects of drug abuse compared to males. In terms of treatment, women seek substance use treatment after a referral by medical specialists. Men, on the other hand, ought to be coerced by the justice system to seek such services.
Impact of Culture and Ethnicity
Reports from researches carried out indicate that the Vulnerability of drug abuse is implicated substantially by the culture of individuals. For instance, in the United States, diverse ethnic groups exhibit the highest percentage of substance abuse. The African American and Latino communities are instances of groups where drug abuse has the highest toll in America today (Stevens-Watkins, Perry, Harp & Oser, (2012). According to the Ethnicity and Health in America Series, these ethnic communities experience barriers that deter their ability to access treatment. Such factors contribute to their increased dependency on drugs. Culture dictates the conformity behavior an individual expresses towards various issues (Stevens-Watkins, Perry, Harp & Oser, (2012). From a recent study from Washington State, an accelerated abuse of drugs has been linked to acculturated Hispanics. Compared to unacculturated Hispanics, these groups indicate an unaccustomed concentrate of illegal drugs.
The intersection of Social Political and Economic Factors affecting Vulnerability
Social factors such as poverty have been associated with the soared cases of drug abuse in America. Disparities in access to health care services are limiting factors that contribute to substance abuse (Glass et al., 2017). Alternatively, the American government has not been keen enough to establish measures to counter drug abuse. Litigation procedures may assist in impeding the rate of drug abuse, therefore, creating a more drug-free America. For instance, the Mexican government has had a fair share of the fight in its attempt to curb and close up the rising drug cartels. Economically, the lack of job opportunities has created financial unrest in most individuals, causing them to opt-out for drug trafficking activities (Glass et al., 2017). For instance, in the case of African-Americans, due to the ongoing racism, accessing employment has proved difficult. In attempts to provide for families, drug trafficking is their only option. As the notion goes, ‘you cannot sell what you do not use,’ they eventually become addicts.
Program Model
In an aim to counter addiction and continued drug abuse, the US government, in collaboration with the UN Office on Drug Abuse, has developed preventive and treatment measures to combat this issue. Establishment of rehabilitation facilities and mental institutions that will provide unlimited substance use treatment services to all Americans is a commendable take the government will venture in. In liaison with the Ethnicity and Health in America Series, the government has developed measures to curb racism in terms of ethnicity, especially in the healthcare sector.
Risk Factors Addressed by the Program
According to Bierut (2011), predisposed risk issues that compel the Vulnerability of drug users include genetic aspects and brain makeup, which stimulates the addictive nature of an individual. Likewise, psychological factors such as stress affect the reasoning of people towards drugs alongside environmental catalysts like peer pressure and abusive families (Gaalema, Leventhal, Priest & Higgins, 2018). Additionally, drug abuse at an early stage may also contribute to the susceptibility of an individual towards drugs.
Health Needs to be Addressed by the Program
According to the American National Institute of Health, drug abuse individuals suffer impaired judgments, mental health, sexual abuse, prejudices, family problems, and economic breakdown. Based on these issues, the program aims at providing treatment in all possible dimensions, whether psychologically, mentally, or economically (Gaalema, Leventhal, Priest & Higgins, 2018). Substance misuse victims need rehabilitation services to assist them reform and pick –up a better life (Abuse, 2016). Mental centers will help the addicted and adversely affected victims to regain a stable mental state. Families of the victims will receive grants from the government to aid them in sustaining their needs.
Services Offered by the Program
The above needs prerequisite services that are not limited at any point. The program aims at availing equitable services to all Americans regardless of their incomes to help them combat drug abuse issues. Health mental services (Abuse, 2016), rehabilitation services, and psychological services are aimed at the ostentation of the victims.
Conclusion
Vulnerabilities such as drug abuse are hastily affecting the human population at a drastic rate. With ethnicity and gender as the triggering factors, the situation is slowly falling out of hand. Drug abuse victims are prone to mental illnesses, sexual harassment, and family problems. The issue has reached an alarming point where the government needs to intervene. The creation of rehabilitation and psychiatric facility programs is an outstanding measure that will help deter substance misuse and treat the affected individuals. Implementation of this measure will help ensure a drug-free environment.
References
Abuse, S. Mental Health Services Administration. Behavioral health treatments and services. 2015.[January 25, 2016].
Bierut, L. J. (2011). Genetic Vulnerability and susceptibility to substance dependence. Neuron, 69(4), 618-627.
Cotto, J. H., Davis, E., Dowling, G. J., Elcano, J. C., Staton, A. B., & Weiss, S. R. (2010). Gender effects on drug use, abuse, and dependence: a special analysis of results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Gender medicine, 7(5), 402-413.
Gaalema, D. E., Leventhal, A. M., Priest, J. S., & Higgins, S. T. (2018). Understanding individual differences in Vulnerability to cigarette smoking is enhanced by attention to the intersection of common risk factors. Preventive medicine, 117, 38-42.
Glass, J. E., Rathouz, P. J., Gattis, M., Joo, Y. S., Nelson, J. C., & Williams, E. C. (2017). Intersections of poverty, race/ethnicity, and sex: Alcohol consumption and adverse outcomes in the United States. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 52(5), 515-524.
Stevens-Watkins, D., Perry, B., Harp, K. L., & Oser, C. B. (2012). Racism and illicit drug use among African American women: The protective effects of ethnic identity, affirmation, and behavior. Journal of Black Psychology, 38(4), 471-496.