Drug Use And Its Effects On The Community - 1474 Words

Drug use doe not only affect the users but also have a devastating effect on the wider community as a whole. This includes their friends, families, government resources and businesses. Economically, when the effects are quantified an estimated $180.9 billion is lost annually due to drug use as reported by ONDCP in 2002. Drug abusers experience several severe health effects ranging from ill-health, general sickness to death. Different drugs used by an individual has different health effects such as cocaine, methamphetamines and even alcohol. Excessive and continuous consumption of alcohol leads to liver cirrhosis which is a very dangerous condition ultimately leading to death. Drug use has four major effects on its consumer which are medical, addiction, social and economic. Addiction is the greatest effect of drug use to an individual as it is the underlying course of all other drugs related problems. When one is addicted, it means he/she cannot live without consuming that substance. Continuous consumption of those drugs will lead to a devastating health effect and economic impact. Apart from addiction, health effects such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis are caused by sharing of needles when using the drugs. AIDS, which have no cure can be transmitted through sharing needles with an infected individual. St atistics prove that 4 out of every 10 deaths of AIDS are drug related in US. Apart from the needle sharing, the intoxication from the drugs leads to impaired judgment whichShow MoreRelatedThe Signs Of Addiction And Addiction898 Words   |  4 Pages Families can do different things that can help with addiction. According to Alcohol and Drug Abuse Affects Everyone in the Family (2015), families can learn the facts about drugs and addiction so they can know what to expect. The family needs to make sure they get help for themselves other than getting help for the addicted person, but also learn what they can do to help the addicted family member. They would maybe need to get a family intervention and always look for a long term recovery. The familyRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse1298 Words   |  5 PagesPrescription drugs are being taken for reasons other than the ones they are being prescribed for, fueling an addiction that impacts as many as 48 million Americans (Prescription Drug Abuse WebMD). According to MedLinePlus, an estimated 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons. This is prescription drug abuse. While a considerable amount of time, resources, and attention are focused on the problems associated with illicit drugs, prescription drug abuseRead MoreThe Movie The Wolf On Wall Street Essay1369 Words   |  6 PagesDaring to Defy Drug Abuse If you have ever seen the movie The Wolf on Wall Street, there is no doubt you have seen the effects drugs can have. Leonardo DiCaprio portrays a high-strung stock broker reliant on a multitude of illegal drugs to keep up with his hectic life style. His addiction gets so severe that at one point in the movie, he is lying on the floor, unable to move due to the drugs’ effects on his body. Even though the movie is set in the 90’s, a decade infamous for its use of drugs, today, drugRead MoreThe Needle Exchange Program And Methadone Clinics Promote Public Health902 Words   |  4 Pagesclinics promote the abuse of drugs. The harm reduction approach intends to treat and educate addicts in hopes they will stop the abuse and decrease the rate of disease. Not all drug addicts are criminals, and those who are not criminals may actually have a â€Å"true† addiction or illness. Instead of criminally charging those individuals, the policy is trying to connect with them to g et the actual help they need. For years now, the United States has attempted to ban such drug use with no success. The governmentRead MoreThe Legalization Of Drug Legalization1310 Words   |  6 Pages Drug decriminalization is opposed by the majority of Americans. Leaders in drug prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement are against it, as are many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate in the United States. Although, pro-advocacy groups claim decriminalization of drugs will lower incarceration rates and boost the economyRead MoreThe War On Drugs : American Foreign And Domestic Policy1676 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States has focused its efforts on the criminalization of drug use. In June 1971, President Nixon declared a â€Å"war on drugs.† He dramatically increased the size and presence of f ederal drug control agencies, and pushed through measures such as mandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants. . The War on Drugs has been a centerpiece of American foreign and domestic policy. The rhetoric of war shaped the impact of methods. Not only does war require military strategies, but an enemy as well. InRead MoreThe Internet And Modern Media1509 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern media promotes messages that may or may not support the use of drugs. This corresponds with the concept of role models, as those who are respected by teenagers are privy to a greater level of exposure into their life. Therefore, their â€Å"adult habits,† such as drinking can lead teenagers to act accordingly due to the manner in which they deify their role models. Conversely, if a role model(s) is adamant in abstaining from drug use, their ideologies will trickle down to their teenage followersRead MoreWhat Is The Potential For Addiction?1320 Words   |  6 Pageseasiest drugs to become addicted to. The addiction is very severe, many people relapse after long periods without the drug. However, the more the drug is used, the harder it is to receive a â€Å"high†. Methamphetamine is both psychologically and physically addictive. The drug is known to be psychologically addictive because users have anxiety while in withdrawal to the drug. The drug is also physically addictive because the body creates a tolerance to it and there are negative symptoms when the drug is withdrawnRead MoreRisk Factors For Adolescent Drug Abuse1462 Words   |  6 Pages Body: Risk Factors for Adolescent Drug Abuse There are an abundance of risk factors that can relate to the contribution of drug abuse in adolescents. The primary risk factors can be divided into two main categories: social and emotional triggers. Social factors play an important role because during the adolescent years it can be an extremely emotional and physically tough time for teens to transition through. Adolescent phases are one of the biggest transitional stages in a person’s life becauseRead MoreDrug Abusers And A Small Community867 Words   |  4 Pagesarticle looks into the lives of drug abusers in a small community. It aims to discuss the problems Methamphetamine users face in their day-to-day lives. It opens by explaining how people become first â€Å"turned on† to speed, which is usually in a big group and by someone that they are close to who has used the drug before. Even individuals who are initially revolted at the idea will succumb to the pressure of fitting into the group. Individuals who had u sed other drugs in the past, mainly Marijuana or