Drug and Alcohol Abuse - Research Paper Example

Hypothesis Drug abuse causes more losses to the family, employer and society than alcohol abuse. Methodology The quantitative methodology is utilized in determining whether drug abuse has more burden for society than alcohol abuse. Data gathering focused more on published literature such as scientific, official and media documents. Government and reliable websites that provide relevant information are also utilized. Statistical data and studies from existing literature are used to determine the abuse has made a greater scourge on society. Interview or survey from respondents is not made. Thus, numerical computation is not made to determine statistical correlation. Introduction Drug and alcohol abuse can be considered as a plague of modern society. Overuse of drugs and alcohol and their long-term use lead to addiction and dependence. Abuse of these substances can be seen at different age groups, the rich and poor, professional or jobless, street children or students (UNDCP 2). Both drug abuse and alcohol abuse have negative impact upon the individual, the family and society. UNDCP reported that drug use is generally higher among men than women, but a marked increase is observed in women as they join the workforce (United Nations International 7). People use drugs for different reasons. They may take drugs to affect their thinking, feeling or behavior (UNDCP 1). The three classes of drugs are the depressants (cause relaxation and relief, e.g. heroin, barbiturates), stimulants (enhances mental activity, e.g. amphetamines, cocaine, crack), and hallucinogens (causes delusion, euphoria, anxiety, e.g. marijuana, ecstasy, LSD (1). The drugs that cause a change in a person, called psychoactive drugs, include plant and plant extracts (e.g. cocaine from coca bush, heroin from opium poppies, marijuana from cannabis), and synthetic chemicals (e.g. ecstasy, LSD) (1). There are risks identified that would lead a child or adolescent to drug abuse, and they are: unstable temperament, lack of self-control, hostile behavior, lack of attachment within the family, poor social skills, and associating with drug users (Preventing Drug Abuse 1). Children are prone to drug abuse during their transition stage, such as leaving the security of the home to go to school (1). In the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), it was shown that as young as 12 or 13 years old teens are already hooked to drugs (1). This indicates that these adolescents may have started taking drugs at an even earlier age (1). They begin using marijuana and shifted to other drugs while keeping with their tobacco and alcohol abuse (1). Alcohol consumption has been recorded to begin early, even before reaching 12 years old (Burke 564). The US has considered alcohol abuse as a high priority problem (564). Alcohol abuse affects the whole family and the community (564). It affects the hardest the elderly segment of society (566). Around 50 percent of the homeless individuals in the US are alcoholic (566). Besides being the cause of liver cirrhosis, alcohol is also the main cause of diseases and deaths among the Black population, Native Americans and Hispanics (566). People take alcohol for the pleasure that they get from it (Alcohol Addiction Causes pars. 3-4). Excessive drinking changes the brain chemical balance and thus, the pleasure being experienced during the first drink is weaker (par. 4). This makes the person to crave for more alcohol to get the same level of pleasure (par. 4). Alcohol abuse has been tagged by the World Health Organization as the third main cause of disability and death worldwide (WHO Says Alcohol par. 1). WHO reported in “Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health 2011” that 120,000 persons between 15 to 29 years old die annually from alcohol associated causes (par. 2). The risk factors that can lead to alcohol addiction are the following: genetic (parent or grandparent who is alcoholic predisposes a person to be an alcoholic, psychological (depression, low self esteem), social (for social acceptance, peer pressure), age (higher risk for those who start young, e.g.16 years old or younger), gender (men are more prone than women), frequency (constant drinking), and emotional status (used to cope with pain in life) (Burke pars. 8-14). Literature Review Alcohol abuse is the excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages whether occasionally or regularly. Drug abuse, on the other hand, refers to regular or habitual use of mental or mood altering drugs. According to UNDCP, there are around 190 million drug users worldwide with majority of them below 30 years old (1). Cannabis remains the most commonly used drug, while drug intake through injection has increased to 136 countries in 1999 from 80 in 1992 (1). It is surprising that the unemployed in Columbia are the highest users of cocaine by ten times than those employed (1). Heroin and the other opiates are not used much, with opiate users mostly concentrated in some parts of Asia and Europe (3). Overall, drugs have harmful effects upon the health of an individual (4). Marijuana can affect perception, movement coordination, reaction to stimulus, and cognitive development of growing children and teens (4). The estimated loss in economy in 1983 due to drug abuse was $117 billion, of which $92.8 billion resulted from productivity and employment (Burke 566). The health care costs for alcohol-caused diseases and trauma reached $15 billion in 1983 (565). Around 20 to 40 percent of those admitted in the hospital are related to alcohol use, while emergency hospital cases are higher than 50 percent (565). Moreover, alcohol use can cause fetal and birth defects, as well as mental and behavioral abnormalities (565). In 1988, the estimated 6 to 7 million alcoholic workers in the US had increased the cost of production while the profits declined (565). This had also impacted upon the competitiveness of US corporations in the international scene (566). Discussion The types of substance abuses under consideration are defined differently. Alcohol abuse refers to ingesting of excessive alcoholic beverages regularly or even in a single occasion. Alcoholic beverages are legally sold in the market but regulated in that minors are prohibited from drinking them. In drug abuse, the drugs being prohibited are all illegal. They are produced and manufactured illegally, and sold and distributed using underground channels. Marijuana though has some medical use and can be used only for such purposes. Thus, they can be taken under the guidance of a physician. Records indicate that at the age of 12 or 13, children are already using drugs and alcohol. And when they are already addicted to drugs at that age, it means that they have been using drugs earlier. The family has a strong influence upon the behavior and lifestyle of the child. A strong family bonding can deter a child from experimenting on drugs or alcohol. Drug or alcohol abuse among children can occur if there are family members who are drug or alcohol users. Also, if a child succumbs to substance abuse, it may mean that the parents or elders in the family have not provided appropriate or sufficient guidance that led the child astray from good values. Continuous information and educational campaign must be made by the government and the private sector so that the people will be informed that excessive alcohol drinking and drug abuse are not good for one’s health and future. It can be observed that the current strategy for drugs and alcohol are not very effective since people are still dying from accidents caused by drank driving. Law enforcement agencies have a huge role though in apprehending those who attempt to drive while under the influence of liquor or the drug peddlers and manufacturers. Conclusion Both alcohol abuse and drug abuse have considerable damage to health, family and society. Alcohol addiction can cause defect upon an unborn child, damage organs, affect work performance and disrupt social relationships. Alcoholic drinks can be purchased easily and thus, people can ingest them at any time. The recognized damages to the individual and society will manifest if alcohol is taken regularly and for a longer time. One time excessive drinking is already considered alcohol abuse, but this may not have an adverse effect on a person except for the normal effects alcohol has upon the mind and body. The only bad side of this is when the person does some acts while under the influence of alcohol. For instance, driving a car when highly intoxicated can lead to accidents and death. An intoxicated person may be engaged in a fight or other social conflict when under the influence of alcohol. The person may not be able to work the next day due to hangover. However, if a person does not take alcohol in the succeeding days, the negative impact of alcohol will not manifest. Occasional drinking may also not lead to addiction. The individual will return to his or her normal senses once the effect of alcohol wears off. It is addiction and regular drinking that can have a toll upon an individual and society. Drug abuse refers to the constant taking of illegal drugs. Dependence on drugs would not occur in a single use. Thus, a person only becomes dependent on drugs if such are taken for a longer time. The term drug abuse has been changed to drug dependence or substance dependence to include the psychological dependence created in a person, in addition to physical dependence (Iversen par. 2). Different drugs activate different functioning of the brain (par. 4). The chemicals in the drugs that travel to the brain create biological and chemical reactions that can damage the neurons and brain in the long run. A person under the influence of drugs will have a different or distorted perception of reality. He or she may be unable to sleep for days or will be sleeping for a number of days, and thus affect work and productivity. Statistics show that thousands or billions of dollars are lost in both drug abuse and alcohol abuse. They both have an impact upon the health of the substance abuser and upon society. Their damages though cannot be weighed against each other in terms of dollars since figures fluctuate. Both can cause broken families or loss of employment. Alcohol is legally sold and therefore, it can be assumed that the government and regulating agencies know that this substance can have less impact upon individual and society. And even if excessive alcohol is taken at night or on a weekend, and the person just stayed at home and slept, no damage can result to oneself and to the workplace. No body organs can also be damaged with mild drinking. In drug use, even taking drugs in a single instance, without really becoming a drug dependent, can have an effect upon the brain and neurons of the user. The chemicals in the drugs bind with the neurons or the chemicals produced in the brain. The euphoria, hallucination or depression can last for days and weeks. Once hooked with the drugs, the drug dependent will undergo a very difficult process of withdrawal. It has been said that the treatment approaches for drug dependence has not been totally successful (Iversen par. 10). In fact, treating heroin addiction is done with the use of another drug which is methadone, in the same manner that tobacco addiction is treated with nicotine patches (par. 10). Although the drug dependent has successfully withdrawn from the vice through rehabilitation, the damage to the brain may be permanent. This hinders the person from living a normal life again. Basing on this aspect, in addition to the economic and social costs, drug abuse has more negative impact upon the individual and society. Works Cited Alcohol Addiction Causes. Drug Addiction Support. n.d. 3 August 2011. http://www.drug-addiction-support.org/Alcohol-Addiction-Causes.html Burke, T.R. “The Economic Impact of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.” Public Health Reports November-December 1988: 564–68. 3 August 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1478160/ Iversen, Lesley L. “drug abuse.” Answers.com. 2011. 2 August 2011. http://www.answers.com/topic/drug-abuse-1 Preventing Drug Abuse among Children and Adolescents. National Institute of Drug Abuse. n.d. 2 August 2011. http://www.nida.nih.gov/prevention/risk.html UNDCP. Drug Abuse. 1997. 2 August 2011. http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/briefing/abuse/abuse.pdf United Nations International Drug Control Programme. The Social Impact Of Drug Abuse. Position paper for the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen. 6-12 March 1995. 2 August 2011. http://www.unodc.org/pdf/technical_series_1995-03-01_1.pdf WHO Says Alcohol Abuse a Leading Cause of Death, Disability. Voice of America. 5 February 2011. 3 August 2011. http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/health/World-Health-Organization-Says-Alcohol-Abuse-is-an-International-Problem---116281509.html Read More