Etiological Factors That Lead to Alcohol/Substance Abuse - Assignment Example

Section/# Ecological Factors of Substance Abuse The article reviewed for this assignment is en d “Violence Among Urban, Minority, Middle School Youth and Associated Substance Use Risk”. In such a manner, the article clearly indicates that there is an ecological link to the overall level of violence that a young person may be exposed to as compared to the potential for the individual to turn to substance abuse at some point later within their early adult life. This is generally viewed within the article as a coping mechanism; however, there are strong parallels to the other ecological factors that were discussed at some length within chapter 11 of the text book.

Naturally, the article in question did not mention other ecological factors mentioned in the text; such as, stress, peer pressure, and drug availability (Butcher et al., 2014). Nevertheless, the concentration on the ecological impact of violence and how this can be a precursor to drug use and substance abuse was relevantly proven. In effect, the article highlighted the understanding that not all of the ecological factors need be represented in order for the behavior in question to be elicited; instead, it is something of a perfect environmental mix that will ultimately encourage the individual to view drug usage as a potential means of escaping the hardships they may have in their own life.

Furthermore, as a function of correcting the issue, the authors of the article indicate that seeking to address poverty, hardship, and violence within these communities serves as the most effective means of addressing these ecological threats and subsequent substance abuse (Lormand et al., 2013). In terms of a personal perspective with regard to the use of alcohol and recreational drugs, it is the opinion of this particular author that once an individual has reached an age at which society determines they are able to make decisions for themselves, they should be allowed to engage in potentially self-destructive habits; regardless of whether or not the morals of certain individuals might be offended.

In essence, it is proven that alcohol and cigarettes both kill. Yet, society tolerates them as they had been an accepted means of tax revenue for decades. By much the same token, even though hard drugs represent a potential to kill the individual in a relatively short period of time, a free and democratic society must be able to tolerate the choices and decisions that individuals make; providing they do not directly harm another individual. For instance, as alcohol is tolerated by drunk driving is not, so should the use of illegal drugs be tolerated with the exception that an individual under the influence should not be allowed to potentially endanger the lives of others while under the influence of such drugs.

Although this is something of a libertarian point of view, the slippery slope argument against drugs as proven to be entirely false. For the most part, many of the economic hardships that are the result of persistent drug addiction has to do with the fact that drugs are currently illegal and create a situation in which the demand far exceeds the supply; thus driving up its price. If drugs were legal, the price would plummet and many of the hardships associated with hard-core drug usage would not increase – but would in fact decrease.

ReferencesButcher, J. N., Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, S. M. (2014). Abnormal psychology (16th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. ISBN: 9780205965090LORMAND, D. K., MARKHAM, C. M., PESKIN, M. F., BYRD, T. L., ADDY, R. C., BAUMLER, E., & TORTOLERO, S. R. (2013). Violence Among Urban, Minority, Middle School Youth and Associated Substance Use Risk. Journal Of School Health, 83(6), 415-421. doi:10.1111/josh.12045