Efforts of the Government in Fighting Drug Abuse - Research Proposal Example

Effort of the Government in Fighting Drug Abuse by Youths in London Effort of the Government in Fighting Drug Abuse by Youths in London Introduction Illegal drugs for example opium, cocaine and heroin among others had found use in Britain by individuals in the mid nineteenth century. The group that is affected by the abuse of these drugs are the youths. Some drugs like morphine and opium were available in chemists and most pharmacies and herbalists (Wilson 2013, p. 413). The use of illegal drugs unregulated at around 1870 by the introduction of pharmacy act that controlled opium sale in chemists. It required that all purchasers should be recorded when they buy these substance (Keene 1997, p.57). The gender gap of drug using among youths has been reducing since hence raising many questions on the future of the youth. Since that time major policies and act have been implemented by the government and international community to cub all methods that can increase drug abuse in England. It is known all over that wrongly taking drugs is harmful to ones’ health and leads also to drug addiction (Abadinsky 2011, p. 226). Every year, abuse of drug usually costs the health care system of London millions of pounds since over one fifty thousand youth’s medication and treatment. Aim and objectives The study targets to discuss the policies various European countries have implemented to reduce and eliminate drug abuse and among youths. Mostly people come in contact or start to use illegal drugs when they are in their youth stage. Since these are abused, they bring more negative impacts on the lives of these youth. Being the future of the country, the government has come up with regulations and policies to tackle on the spread of illegal drugs among youths. Background and Rationale Study According to Bukoski and Berent Surveys show that as early as sixteen years youths have started to use drugs. The main reasons as suggested by the past researches show that they consume this illegal drug because of curiosity. Young come in contact or start to use illegal drugs when they are in their youth stage. Since these are abused, they bring more negative impacts on the lives of these youth. Being the future of the country, the government has come up with regulations and policies to tackle on the spread of illegal drugs among youths. Pryce suggest that most youths take in drugs because they want to know what will happen to them. Some enjoy using the drugs therefore the effect luring them to continuously use the drug. Secondly, the youth abuse drugs because of peer pressure (Pryce 2012, p.231). They will use the drug because other friends are taking in the drug so that they can fit in the crowd. Thirdly, the United Nations report indicates that youths abuse drugs as emotional reaction. This is caused by situations like stress so that they can release of mental stress and emotions hence being addicted on them. Fourthly, idling and boredom (Bukoski and Sloboda 2003, p.43). In the conventions held previously by international community’s, Most underprivileged youths brought up in suburbs of London are exposed to drugs at a tender age hence getting used to it very early hence being addicted at an early age. Others use drug as an entertainment and enjoyment. The feeling that youths feel after taking in this drug usually they enjoy it. This forces them to take in more when they have free time for them to feel ‘high’ (Evans and Berent 1992, p.63). Lastly, as a way out, most youths view drugs as an escape goat from the daily life as most dealers get a lot of income (Davies 2007, p. 54). This usually affects youths that come from poor and strict families. The Research Methodology It uses secondary materials to justify its finding. The study found out the following Policies set to reduce the use and spread of drugs among youths in London Since 1868 up to date the city of London has seen radical changes in the regulation that govern the medical sector. Rules and policies have been created to reduce the instances of spread and use of illegal drugs (Abadinsky 2011, p. 38). The rules try to solve questions like, who is responsible for the spread of drugs. The source of the drugs, why are the youths being affected of all the people? How the use of illegal drugs can be minimized. Therefore the following are the policies both created within the city and beyond the boundaries. Taking record of clients purchasing psychoactive drugs Drugs that make people fill ‘high’ for example laudanum and opium was to be sold to only patients who were recorded by pharmacists. This act was passed in 1868 as pharmacy Act. It restricted the sale of opium specifically to young people as it was being abused by this group. This saw a reduction in the use of these drugs significantly (Pryce 2012, p.79). In 1908 the same act was modified and included cocaine and cannabis and derivatives that has more than one per cent morphine as part of poisonous schedule (Chasnoff 1986, p.64). The state here aimed control of drug abuse to be self-controlled using pharmacists and medical practitioners rather than government intervention. The 1916 Defence of the Realm Act The army council order banned and made it an offence for any individual to possess, give, sell or prepare cocaine or any other illegal drug. They suggested that only this drug can be supplied on prescription. Therefore they allowed only pharmacists, physicians or veterinary officers to prescribe these drugs (Abadinsky 2011, p. 2). This was also enhanced by Britain involvement in international treaties and it was obliged to follow these order that was also introduced by international drug control committee. The home office took the big central role of initiating and restructuring the restrictions of drug control policy of DORA 40B. 1920 dangerous drug Act and Rolleston report of 1926 This dangerous drug act was passes and modified in 1920 and 1923. The law was a further restriction to medical practitioners and herbalists in relation control of circulation, prescription and distribution of dangerous drugs like cocaine (Nordegren 2002, p. 42). It included penal statues. This was passed in Hague at an international opium convention in which Britain was a member. This Act did not state clearly state prescription of drugs to addicted youths had legal medical implication (Barnard 2007, p 229). The Rolleston report of 1926 gave medical practitioners the right to prescribe controlled to patients with addiction in only defined circumstances. Restriction of prescription of dangerous drugs by doctors permitted by Home office Medical practitioners permitted by Home office were totally banned to prescribe dangerous drugs like heroine and opium (Gallup 2006, p. 27). This was in the second convention in Geneva in 1925. It was due to an increased number of individuals using heroin. In this case new drug treatment centres and rehabilitation medical centres were built up to help the victims that were addicted. A system of notification was also introduced and was used in London. This achieved a lot as the cases of drug abuse among youths declined suddenly. Although other dangerous drugs were introduced by addicts such as LSD and amphetamines they were reduced by prevention of misuse Act 1967 that included custody sentencing for those who were found in possession and causal usual (Coombs, Fry and Lewis 1976, p. 120). The Britain Misuse Drug Act 1971 The united nation convention of narcotic drugs came up with three categories of dangerous drugs. They were divided according to the side effects that they cause if used by youths and the therapeutic value (Mikuriya 1994, p. 241). There included class A which consisted of very dangerous drugs. They included heroin, cocaine and ecstasy. Class B included cannabis, barbiturates that has a powerful sedative and amphetamines which are a speedy effect on the body. Class C had ketamine, GHB and tranquilisers (Verster 2012, p. 122). The act also created an advisory committee that was responsible for the misuse of drugs so as to advice and review plans on how to tackle drug abuse cases by the government. In 1980, drug abuse among youths in rose forcing the English government to re-strategize because it was affecting social and economic problems to addicts. This was evidenced in increased number of patients in medicine facilities and rehabilitation centres. ‘Harm Minimisation’ Policies The policy of ‘harm minimisation’ was enacted because of an increase in the spread of HIV and AIDS (Goodspeed 2002, p.261). It emphasized on awareness by discouraging behaviours like injection or sharing sharp objects that can expose one to transmit viral diseases. It created awareness for individuals to use oral methods if they take drugs if necessary (Nordegren 2002, p. 98). In 1995 the government strategized and abandoned this method and it encouraged illegal drug users and addicts to seek for treatment. The main objective was to move users towards abstinence and to target and achieve a drug free state there by reducing and eliminating criminal instances. Other policies and strategies after 2000 Acts here were developed to emphasise on the need and importance of drug users to search for medical treatment. They also focused to create awareness among youths to the link between drugs and crime (Coombs, Fry and Lewis 1976, p. 44). This was achieved by moving drug treatment away from NHS to be community based policies and voluntary service. In 2008, the major goal was to create awareness on parents to educate their siblings on the consequences of using illegal and dangerous drugs and crimes that will cause (Bennett and Holloway 2005, p. 274). The 2010 strategy was only improved by policies continuing to move away from drug crime related initiatives and they were focused more on the social and economic principles that lead to problematic drug use. They target group was the addicts in rehabilitation centres to recover completely rather than just keeping them in the facility for the rest of their lives (Verster 2012, p.321). This was to be an inspiration to other drug users to reform and create room for other affected young people to be treated. Therefore these policies developed by both the relevant authorities and international community up to date have decided that all possession or selling of illegal dangerous drugs remains to be an illegal activity. Ethical Issues and Bias This includes the societal effects and language used in the study; it also explores the negative effects of drugs generally on the society. Health complication Drug abuse generally affects every organ of the body as we are going to discuss below. It usually causes nausea, abdominal pain and nausea. It weakens the immune system hence exposing the whole body to infections. Furthermore, it leads to cardiovascular conditions varying from heart attacks to abnormal heart vessels (Pryce 2012, p.34). Injections illegal drugs from sharing drugs may cause infections to blood veins and heart valves hence leading to heart complication at a tender age. It affects the liver as it will have to work extra harder hence also leading to liver complications. It may lead to memory loss since continuous drug abuse leads to brain damage, seizures, stroke among others (Mikuriya 1994, p.45). This affects attention capability and decision making which is very important at a tender age since youth encounter confusion and brain damage. Tranquilizers may bring body changes for example steroids can lead to development of breasts in men, sudden fluctuations of appetite that influencing consumption behaviour of a youth. Fluctuations in body temperatures may also lead to health complication (Attawell, George and Page 2004, p. 211). Defects at birth Young women in London use illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy and marijuana. These drugs pose a great threat on the health condition of these expecting women and babies. The effect to the babies expected is that they will be of small size. They may experience abortion symptoms before they are born by their mothers. Birth defects, behavioural and learning problems may be experienced by this infant. Some drugs may be made out of impure substances which may be harmful to both the expecting mother and the child. Expecting mothers who gets involved in drugs are exposed or engage in bad behaviours that put their pregnancy at risk (Gallup 2006, p. 137). For instance they lack proper nutrition or may be infected with transmitted infections. Mental complication Drug abuse through laboratory experiments has an effect on the brain generally irrespective of whether voluntary or involuntary (Nordegren 2002, p. 128). Drugs usually alter youth’s ability to think, make decisions and this can cause compulsive craving, use and seeking. All drugs that are dangerous causes reward circuit brain effect which affects the limbic system. Reflection The government has implemented and reviewed many laws that govern the consequences of involvement with illegal drugs (Keene 1997, p.23). The number of youths in London who is getting involved in drug addiction was increasing posing a lot of question marks on these policies. As we have seen the effects of drugs. Many youths are being exposed to the use of these drugs hence affecting their future and the future of the nation at large (Verster 2012, p.12). The government policies have seen a reduction in number of addicts every year and especially in London. This is going to achieve their goal of a free drug state. Bibliography Abadinsky, H 2011, Drug Use and Abuse: A Comprehensive Introduction. Australia, Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Attawell, K., George, V., & Page, R M 2004, Global Social Problems. Cambridge, Polity. Barnard, M 2007, Drug Addiction And Families. London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Bennett, T., & Holloway, K 2005, Understanding Drugs, Alcohol and Crime. Maidenhead, Open University Press. Bukoski, W., J., & Sloboda, Z 2003, Handbook of Drug Abuse Prevention: Theory, Science, And Practice. New York, Ny [U.A.], Kluwer Acad. /Plenum Publ. Chasnoff, I J1986, Drug Use in Pregnancy: Mother and Child. Lancaster, Mtp Press. Coombs, R., H., Fry, L., J., & Lewis, PG1976, Socialization in Drug Abuse. Cambridge, Mass, Schenkman Pub. Co. Davies, C2007, The Strange Death Of Moral Britain. New Brunswick, Nj [U.A.], Transaction Publishers. Evans, R., L., & Berent, IM 1992, Drug Legalization: For and Against. La Salle, Ill, Open Court. Gallup, AM 2006, The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion 2004. Lanham, Md. [U.A.], Rowman & Littlefield. Goodspeed, M 2002, When Reason Fails: Portraits Of Armies At War: America, Britain, Israel, And The Future. Westport, Conn. [U.A.], Praeger. Keene, J 1997, Drug Misuse Prevention, Harm Minimization, and Treatment. London, Chapman & Hall. Mikuriya, T 1994, Excerpts from the Indian Hemp Commission Report. Last Gasp Of San Francisco. Read More