Narrative: Drug and Its Types - Essay Example

? 3a Narrative The story has two main characters, me and my best friend Abdullah. I belong to the country of Arab. There I studied elementary school,middle school and high school. Presently I am pursuing my undergraduate studies from the USA. When I was assigned with this topic I thought about all the topics and tried to relate my personal experiences with those. But not a single one proved to be working. But as I thought about the term “Drug Abuse”, I remembered Abdullah. We used to be the best of friends since the junior classes. In the classroom we used to sit next to each other and we also used to share our lunch. Abdullah was a bright student. Every time after stepping out of the exam hall, he used to say with a smile, “I’ll rank this time also, the paper was so good”. The teachers used to praise him so much. He was good at sports even and represented our school for the interschool competitions within the region. He used to take tuitions from the best teachers and he always outshined at every occasion. I could remember that the only thing that was not perfect in his life was the differences between his parents. Abdullah used to live beside my house and I could hear his parents fighting most of the time. A huge car used to come at the school’s gate for picking him from school and my friend used to offer me a ride every day. The way to home was a memorable journey; we used to switch on the music player and then used to talk about our teachers, friends and mocked them. We giggled throughout the way but as soon as the car used to get closer to our home, Abdullah’s smile used to disappear. He never felt comfortable about his parent’s fights which were audible from a distance. I could read the expression on his face which was nervous and ashamed at the same time. Sometimes when his parents fought, he came running to my house asking for a pencil or an eraser, and I could understand that pencil or eraser was just an excuse to stay away from the circumstance in his home. During weekends, when I and my family used to go for an outing and my father used to drive out the car from the garage I noticed Abdullah standing in his balcony and staring at us with a sad face. I felt bad for him but then I was too young to do anything to help him out. He had no sibling and he was the only child of his parents. Often Abdullah used to tell me about his worries and he used to feel upset about those fights. Then gradually Abdullah started performing poorly in the exams. He even started missing the regular classes. When asked, he often replied, “I’m not well”. One thing must be mentioned in this context. The parents of the new generation focus a lot on the material comfort of their child. As a result the demands of the child grow at a greater pace. Moreover working parents feel guilty that they are not spending sufficient time with their kids. Thus the parents keep expecting that their child will be satisfied if they are offered with the latest gadgets and it would compensate their absence. Thus, the emotional attachment among the new generation kids with their parents can be found to drop at an increasing rate as the kids consider their parents as someone who will meet their demands. The same thing happened with Abdullah. He never had to request his parents for anything. He had all the luxuries and comforts a person can think of except a peaceful and happy life. He rarely talked with his them. Things turned worst when his parents decided to get separated. We were just 13 then and I found Abdullah sitting at a corner of the bench during lunch hours weeping silently. I asked him why he was upset. He said he was unable to decide with whom he should stay for the rest of his life, as he have to choose either his mother or his father, “But I love them both”, said Abdullah. For the first time I myself felt like crying seeing someone else’s tears. Then Abdullah moved to a different place with his mother and his father stayed beside my house alone. I started missing my friend a lot but time is the best healer and gradually I got accustomed with my friend’s absence. I often asked Abdullah’s father about my friend and got to know from him that the bright and cheerful Abdullah has now become a drug addict, a severe one, who is even selling his clothing and his mother’s jewelries for purchasing drugs. Once his mother tried to stop him from doing so, but he threatened her that he would commit suicide in case she hinders him from using drugs. I learnt that my friend often suffered from emotional breakdowns and ended up exhibiting violent reactions. The doctors tried to treat him but nothing could keep him away from drugs. Two years followed and then on a fine Monday evening, as I returned from school I received the heart wrenching news, Abdullah was no more. He had committed suicide as his mother asked him to leave home by getting tremendously irritated by his torments. Since then I started hating drugs and wished no one experiences such an ill fate like my friend’s. Moreover I learnt a great lesson which would help me in future to lead my own life as well as to guide others. The lesson states that it’s extremely necessary on the parent’s part to spend time with their kids during the kid’s growing up days. During the transition from childhood to adolescence a child experiences the need to be close to someone and share their feelings. No one else can understand this feeling except the parents. This is a high time when the child longs for trying the matured things and eventually they end up harming themselves. I would say also mention that parents must not be so selfish, that they would only focus on their own disputes ignoring their child and sometimes compromise is necessary for the sake of the loved ones. 3b Research In the previous part we can find that drug abuse is a crucial phenomenon that is considered to be a recent trend among the young generation which provides them with momentary relief from stress, tension and work/study/social pressure. In this section we will discuss about the various categories of drugs, effect of drug abuse on the society and the recommendations for dealing with the affected people. First of all it’s necessary to know how many types of drugs are there and what their uses are. Then the discussion will follow some relevant data and finally the research will be concluded with recommendations. Drug and its types Drug is a pharmaceutical preparation or a naturally occurring substance used primarily to bring about a change in the physiological, psychological or biochemical state. A drug when used positively i.e. for treating an illness, preventing a disease and improving health condition is termed drug use. However Drug abuse refers to the intake of drugs for reasons other than medical in a manner that affects physical or mental functioning. It leads to addiction. Illicit drug abuse proves to be a serious spoil for the health and safety of the drug addicts as well as the non addicts along with the society at large (Coomber, 2013). Neurotransmitter dopamine plays a significant role in determining the effects of drugs such as cocaine and heroin. The pleasure center of the brain is affected by cocaine making it more pleasurable and significant than some basic human necessities such as food, sex, or exercise. Dopamine is usually released by nerve centers and is then withdrawn (Drozak & Bryla, 2005). Addictive Drugs can be classified as below: Narcotic Analgesics: It relieves or kills pain with opium like effects. Its short term effects are euphoria, drowsiness, apathy, thought process impairment, overdose of heroin can cause convulsions, coma and death, and feelings of pain and hunger are not felt. Its long term effects lead to constipation, respiratory impairments, mood instability, physical deterioration, and reduced libido. Stimulants: It speeds up or excites the central nervous system. It short term effects are suppression of appetite, a sense of super-abundant energy, increased wakefulness, increased motor and speech activity and, a heightened feeling of well- being, euphoria. Its long-term effects are rapid and irregular heartbeat, chronic sleep problem, mood swings, poor appetite and, amphetamine psychosis. Depressants: It slows down or depresses the functions of the central nervous system. Its short term effects are euphoria, poor motor coordination, sedation, impaired concentration and judgement, relief from tension and anxiety, and lowering of inhibitions. Its long term effects are chronic sleep problems, decreased attention span, respiratory impairments, depression, poor memory and judgement, impaired sexual function, and chronic fatigue (Scorzelli & Chaudhry, 2009). Hallucinogens: These drugs affect the mental processes, emotions and perception. Its short term effects are feelings of depersonalization, alterations of mood, ‘pseudo hallucinations, distortion of the sense of distance, time and direction, and synesthesia. Its long term effects are LSD precipitated psychosis, flash back or spontaneous recurrence of on LSD experience can occur. Cannabis: It is derived from cannabis plant. For example, ganja, charas, hashish oil, bhang. Its short term effects are impaired short-term memory, lowering of inhibitions, altered sense of time perception, reddening of eyes, and mild euphoria. Its long term effects are impotence, decreased cognitive ability, respiratory problems, a motivational syndrome, and psychosis. Volatile solvents: These drugs are volatile hydrocarbons and petroleum derivatives. Its short term effects are sudden death, staggering gait, clouded thinking, hallucinations, slurred speech, and euphoria. Its long term effects are liver, kidney and heart damage, psychosis, and permanent brain damage. The most dangerous drugs in terms of addiction is the volatile solvent which generally damages the thinking process and can even cause sudden death. It affects the brain, liver, kidney and heart. In terms of harm within the society, cannabis is dangerous as because its intake is in the form of smoke which affects the people around. Illicit drug use in USA USA is known to be the World leader in illicit drug use, reports states that illicit drug usage is very much prevalent among the young people of U.S. whose age group range between 17-29 (Grossman, Chaloupka & Shim, 2002). The drug consumption and utilization within the United States has been on an increasing trend due to the illicit drug trade. About 8,400 new users per day started consuming illicit drugs in 2011 as per research studies. Fifty-one percent were under the age of 18. In spite of the increase in funding for drug prevention and treatment, the US continues to be the world’s largest consumer of illegal drugs. The most popular drug within the United States is Marijuana accounting for over 75 percent of illicit drug trade. Drug users generally begin with marijuana. Research studies say that more than fifty percent of new illicit drug users start with marijuana. The next popular alternative is prescription pain relievers, and inhalants (United States Senate Caucus, 2012). Recommendations for tackling the issue of drug abuse At least eighty percent of all the illicit drugs consumed in the US are imported from foreign countries. The methamphetamine’s market supply is mostly from laboratories in both Mexico and the US. The demand can only be reduced by education to prevent dependence, and through increasing prices. Supply of illicit drugs can be combated by programs aimed at destabilizing the operations of illicit drug cartels at all levels and severing their links to political power, and by seizing their products, financial assets, and businesses. Also drug testing in public sectors has become a much discussed issue of the modern corporate cultures since both the employer and the employee believes that drug testing is essential for maintaining the safety of the organization. However the procedure of drug testing involves a lot of investment. It has always remained as a matter of controversy for the society to decide whether to invest towards the program and whether to organize rehab facilities for the addicted ones. Further self-help groups could also prove to be effective in eradicating the usage of drugs among young people by the application of agent-based models (Hiance & et. al, 2012). References UNITED STATES SENATE CAUCUS ON INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL. (2012). Reducing the U.S. Demand for Illegal Drugs. Available at < http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/files/serve/?File_id=81b53476-64a3-4088-9bae-254a84b95ddb> (External Link) Coomber, R. (2013). Key Concepts in Drugs and Society. SAGE Publications. Available at < http://olc1.ohiolink.edu/record=b33036674~S0> (University Library Book) Hiance, D., Doogan, N., Warren, K., Hamilton, I. M., & Lewis, M. (2012). An Agent-Based Model of Lifetime Attendance and Self-Help Program Growth. Journal Of Social Work Practice In The Addictions, 12(2), 121-142. doi:10.1080/1533256X.2012.669702 (University Library Journal) Grossman, M. Chaloupka, FJ. & Shim, K. (2002) Illegal drug use and public policy. HEALTH AFFAIRS Volume: 21   Issue: 2   Pages: 134-145. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.21.2.134 (University Library Journal) Scorzelli, J. F., & Chaudhry, S. Z. (2009). Relationship between Anxiety and Addiction to a Depressant Drug. Journal Of Psychoactive Drugs,41(1), 61-66. (University Library Journal) Drozak, J. & Bryla, J. ( 2005). [Dopamine: not just a neurotransmitter]. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Pub Med: 59: pages 405-20. Available at < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16106242> (External Link) Read More