Impact of Substance Abuse on the Human Body - Research Paper Example

?Running head: Substance abuse Substance Abuse Substance Abuse Introduction Substance abuse is one of the major societal issues afflicting many people – especially those in the younger age group. According to the World Health Organization (2011), substance abuse is related to the “harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs”. These substances can in turn lead to dependence which basically manifests as behavioral, cognitive, and physiological symptoms which then develop after repeated abuse of these substances. Such dependence can often lead to dangerous health consequences and in some cases, death. This paper shall discuss substance abuse and its impact to the human body and the daily functioning of a person. This paper shall also evaluate how the work environment I am currently part of is affected by substance abuse. Possible solutions which can be carried out through social controls will also be discussed. The different social and economic benefits which can be seen after implementation of these social controls will also be discussed. This paper is being conducted in order to establish the different important details which are needed to understand substance abuse. Discussion Substances which are subject to abuse include drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. People often have different reasons for such abuse and more often than not, society pays heavily the price for substance abuse. The impact of this abuse can be seen in the increase in admissions in the hospitals for drug overdose, alcohol poisoning, and other more encompassing incidents like road accidents caused by drunk or drugged drivers. The courts are also often tied up with a long list of crimes where drugs and/or alcohol are involved in their commission. Substances subject of abuse These substances which are considered addictive contain ingredients which produce symptoms of dependence. Tobacco for example contains the addicting substance known as nicotine. Inasmuch as people use tobacco or cigarettes to relieve stress, to improve performance and vigilance, to relieve depression, and to control weight, it also contains thousands of chemicals which impact negatively on our body. Such effects may come in the form of heart disease, lung disease, peptic ulcer, stroke, and lung cancer (WebMd, 2011). Alcohol also contains addictive elements. It is used by people as a “pick me up,” however it can also cause decreased muscle control, can slur speech, and it can decrease inhibitions. It is also attributed as the cause of thousands of car accidents – some of them fatal. Illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and other so-called club drugs (ecstacy, PCP, ketamine, GHB, and similar drugs) are also used to produce various effects, including pleasure sensations, and general feelings of well-being or “high”. It can however cause massive organ damage, as well as cause heart, lung, and kidney problems. Impact on the current work environment In my current work environment, substance abuse impacts in terms of the quality of work given to each task by each employee. For those who suffer from an addiction problem, I noted that their addiction is sometimes so debilitating that it incapacitates them – making them frequent absentees and slackers at work. These workers can also make the workplace a dangerous environment with some of them showing up drunk and disorderly or hung-over (OSH, 2008). In carrying out their duties, their concentration can sometimes be compromised and in the process, they can place their lives, as well as the lives of other co-workers in danger (OSH, 2008). In the area I work in – in the Quality Control division of a cosmetics company, substance abuse affects the quality of work. For those who are alcoholics and drug addicts, I noted that they were often inconsistent in their attendance. They were often absent or late. As a result, the rest of us had to make the necessary adjustments to make up for their absence or their lateness. They were able to accomplish less in the time they entered work so in order to finish our quota and our target work accomplishments, we all had to pitch in. This resulted in more stressful work hours for us. In working in a more stressful environment, we often found it difficult to focus on our tasks and to ensure that the quality of our work is up to par at all times. All in all, substance abuse in our workplace compromises our ability to ensure the quality of the cosmetic products we are examining and evaluating. In the end, this is a dangerous issue for our customers and for the company because our customers may not be getting the quality of the products they are purchasing and our company may not be keeping up with the quality of work it attests in its products. Current social controls 1. Laws Laws are the best social controls which can be implemented for the management of substance abuse. In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act, Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act was passed. This act established legal fronts for preventing the abuse of drugs and other substances. It integrated different laws which manage the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, as chemicals used in production of controlled substances (National Substances Index, 2011). Amendments to this act included the Psychotropic Substances Act of 1978, Controlled Substances Penalties Amendments Act of 1984, Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act of 1988, Domestic Chemical Diversion and Control Act of 1993, and the Federal Analog Act (National Substance Index, 2011). Federal Drug Classifications also specified different classifications for these drugs in terms of their impact and their level of dependence on users. The strict application of these laws can help reduce drug or alcohol related substance abuse. The above enumerated laws are mostly preventive measures. They are meant to deter people’s tendency towards substance abuse. Prevention is still the best way to manage substance abuse. There are various risk factors which are prevalent in our society in relation to substance abuse. In instances when these risk factors are present, “the simultaneous presence of protective factors reduces that likelihood” (Buhler and Kroger, 2006). Preventive measures are important in ensuring that even with risk factors present, the individuals exposed to such risk would be motivated to resist the temptation to imbibe in addictive substances. Laws serve to prevent potential users and substance abusers. Eventually, the fear of punishment and imprisonment would prevent or even stop substance abuse. It is also important to implement the laws against underage drinking and drug use because more often than not young drug users end up persisting in their drug use into their adult years – if no appropriate preventive and rehabilitation programs are implemented for them (Crutchfield, 2000). Some of these laws are meant to regulate the availability of alcohol and other substances to adolescents. Imposing regulations on retail availability is a crucial remedy in managing access to alcohol. In instances when simple sources of alcohol are removed, no other remedies can be wholly effective (Prevention Research Center, 2003). However, undeniably, young adolescents can still gain access to drugs and alcohol through their friends and relatives. In this instance, the regulations and policies for offering and assisting minors in attaining drugs and alcohol must be laid out. Some laws have already been passed in this regard and a more comprehensive coverage of such laws is now needed in order to ensure extensive application. 2. Policies Policies on substance abuse can be based on each state and on each institution. Policies which can be implemented in the workplace are meant to minimize or eliminate the abuse and dependence on alcohol and/or drugs among workers and to assist them in the rehabilitative process which they can participate in. These policies are also meant to improve the employee’s well-being, safety, health, and productivity in the workplace; finally, such policies also help support the national laws which have been passed on substance abuse (Amatole District Municipality, n.d). These policies may include imposition of rehabilitation for individuals who test positive for any drugs or alcohol. Substance abuse policies are important tools for decision-making and action in the workplace. Each policy set forth by each company, school, local government unit, state, or country help to secure clear goals and objectives for the institution and for the implementation of main considerations in the policy development process (Philips, 2006). Such policies also set forth associated liabilities, improve productivity, address security concerns, meet regulatory environment, respond to known issues in the company, and enhance employee morale (Philips, 2006). These policies also help determine who should be involved in the policies. They are meant to consider all individuals who would eventually be impacted by the policy or who would have an impact on the contents. These policies are also meant to establish the specific needs in the workplace. In order to ensure that these policies are complete, three main considerations have to be taken into account, and these are: prevention, early identification and access to assistance, and enforcement (Philips, 2006). Such policies provide more specific terms which can be implemented in more particular settings. They also help implement the broader legal mandates in the international, national, and the local scene. Policies which serve as implementing rules for each law in each school, company, or each locality can also be implemented strictly by the law enforcement authorities and the school and business authorities. 3. Education/training Substance abuse prevention trainings which are integrated into the educational curriculum, as well as other forms of training are also effective and reliable forms of prevention because they teach students in their earliest possible years about the dangers of substance abuse. This education process would arm these students with the proper tools to face the challenge and risk of possible use and abuse of drugs and how to avoid such occurrence in their lives (Johnson, et.al., 1990). The training in relation to substance abuse is more concerned with police officers, school counselors, and other mental health workers who would encounter and deal with individual who potentially or who are already substance abusers. Through adequate training among counselors it is possible to turn the lives of these substance abusers around and avoid any escalation in their behavior (Bickel and DeGrandpre, 1996). With adequate training among law enforcement officers and counselor, it is possible for students and other abusers to enter rehabilitation instead of facing jail time. Jail time without adequate rehabilitation measures can potentially fail to address the issues which contribute to the substance abusers’ problem. But with fully trained counselors and police officers, the proper remedies can be offered and ensured for substance abusers. In the end, they can still contribute positively to society. Social benefits gained from social controls In general, the above remedies if implemented would yield social benefits for both the users and for the rest of society. First and foremost, the user would be able to contribute to society – to rejoin society as a productive citizen (Wilson and Kolander, 2010). For the rest of society, they would be able to use the user’s manpower and skills in the workforce and in general society – for the general betterment of society. In general, these laws and policies are meant to reduce and prevent substance abuse, to rehabilitate the substance abusers, and to ensure that former abusers are able to rejoin society as productive citizens. Economic benefits The above programs can be assessed in terms of their impact on school-age users and abusers. Based on research, school-based prevention programs and policies can potentially reduce cocaine consumption by 7 to 60 kilograms per million dollars spent, with best estimates of 26 kilograms per million dollars (RAND, 1999). Researchers have also estimated the social costs of cocaine use in terms of health, crimes, and other costs, and such benefits were analyzed in terms of costs which were attributed to prevention. The researchers were able to establish that these preventive measures were able to reduce alcohol and cigarette consumption (RAND, 1999). In the end, such reduced usage of these dangerous substances amount to costs saved for each potential abuser and his family. There would be more money saved for each person and less costs incurred by the government for the rehabilitation and possible incarceration of these substance abusers. Moreover, as more productive members of society, they can also contribute financially to the GDP and more importantly to their family and the general betterment of society (Wilson and Kolander, 2010). As these individuals become more productive, their co-workers, school mates and other colleagues would be able to raise and improve their work and school performance too. With safer and more relaxed work and school environments, better productivity can be expected of the citizens. Conclusion The above discussion points out the different forms of substance abuse, as well as their general impact on the physiology and psychology of individuals. Different remedies have been proposed to address this issue and these remedies involve laws, policies, education, and training measures. The strict application of laws is there to deter and prevent the use and abuse of drugs and other substances. These laws also serve to punish those who violate the mandates which pertain to substance abuse. The different policies in place are based on institutions and jurisdictions. These policies are there to help implement the laws which have already been laid out for the people. They also help ensure that each institution has its own policies which address the substance abuse as they occur within the local and institutional setting. In other words, policies are considered mandates which are in aid of legislation. For education and training, these measures are in place in order to ensure that as early as possible, the dangers of substance abuse are taught in schools. Training police officers and counselors in the proper handling of at-risk users and other abusers can also help ensure that the abusers would be handled in the appropriate way and that their potential for rejoining productive society can be ensured. In general these policies, laws, and trainings are socially and economically beneficial for the user and for the society. It helps the users rejoin the society as productive citizens and helps ensure that these users would not be a burden to society or to their families. All in all, the cost of rehabilitation and of incarceration can be spared. References Amatole District Municipality (n.d). Substance abuse policy (Alcohol and Drugs). Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://www.amathole.gov.za/files/documents/280907092814.pdf Anderson, C., Pentz, M., Weber, M., Dwyer, J., Baer, N., MacKinnon, D., & Hansen, W. (1990). Relative Effectiveness of Comprehensive Community Programming for Drug Abuse Prevention With High-Risk and Low-Risk Adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, volume 58 (4), pp. 447—456 Bickel, W. & DeGrandpre, R. (1996). Drug policy and human nature: psychological perspectives on the prevention, management, and treatment of illicit drug abuse. New York: Springer Buhler, A. & Kroger, C. (2006). Prevention of substance abuse. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/html.cfm/index52388EN.html Crutchfield, R. (2000). Crime: reading. New York: Pine Forge Press National Substances Index. (2011). Federal Alcohol Laws. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://nationalsubstanceabuseindex.org/alcohollaws.htm Occupational Health and Safety (2008). Substance Abuse in the Workplace. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/substance.html Philips, E. (2006). Substance Abuse Policy. McCarthy. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://www.mccarthy.ca/pubs/SubstanceAbusePolicy.pdf Prevention Research Center (2003). Preventing Underage Alcohol Access: Essential Elements for Policy, Deterrence and Public Support. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://resources.prev.org/resource_pub_pud.pdf RAND Corporation (2011). The Benefits and Costs of Drug Use Prevention. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://www.rand.org/about/glance.html WebMd. (2011). Substance Abuse. Retrieved 18 April 2011 from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/substance-abuse Wilson, R. Kolander, C. (2010). Drug Abuse Prevention: A School and Community Partnership New Jersey: Jones & Bartlett Learning World Health Organization (2011). Substance Abuse. Retrieved 19 April 2011 from http://www.who.int/topics/substance_abuse/en/ Read More