StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Drug Addiction in the Modern World - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Drug Addiction in the Modern World" discusses that a lot of people do not comprehend how and why other people become drug addicts. It is wrongfully presumed that drug users have no willpower or moral principles and cannot stop using drugs simply by choosing to alter their behavior…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.6% of users find it useful
Drug Addiction in the Modern World
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Drug Addiction in the Modern World"

Drug Abuse Drug Addiction Introduction The world, today, has become surrounded by drug abuse as well as drug addiction. This escalating disorder has become so common, that its truth is based on misconceptions that people have concerning drug abuse as well as addiction. This paper briefly provides an overview of drug abuse as well as addiction, and at the same time looks at the aspects of epidemiology, social problems, pathophysiology, as well as ethical issues that might arise with medical emergency responders. Drug abuse and drug addiction; exactly what does that imply and who is affected by it? There is confusion between drug addiction and abuse. Drug abuse happens when there is the usage of a substance, generally illicit drugs or alcohol, while drug addiction takes place in a broad variety of substances and activities. Addiction can be termed as the compulsive need for usage of substance forming habits, such as alcohol, nicotine and heroin, of which is eventually characterized by obviously physiological signs upon withdrawal, as well as tolerance, widely: insistent compulsive use of known substances that are harmful to the user. Drug addiction is usually not a substance forming habit; it also includes things such as gambling, sex, video gaming, and even internet. All the same, the primary focus of society is still to do with drugs, tobacco and alcohol. Several characteristics of pathophysiology and epidemiology will be discussed together with the social implications that addiction causes as well as any ethical problems that lie with addiction and medical emergency service providers. The addictive behavioral study is relatively new. Science just started to study behavioral addictiveness in the 1930. Prior to this, studies were being carried out by scientist on drug abuse that was plagued by misconception shadows, as well as the nature addiction. But with present day discoveries as well as information on how brain chemicals work and the methods of alteration, there is now a deeper understanding of alcohol and drug addiction. Drug addiction, according to Dr. Dryden-Edwards also known to as chemical dependency or substance reliability, is an illness that is described by a destructive drug abuse pattern that leads to major problems which involve tolerance towards or substance withdrawal and other problems arising from substance use that could have implications to the sufferer, either by school performance, socially or in terms of work. More than 2.5% of humanity suffers from drug addiction (Dryden-Edwards 2). Some of the commonly abused addictive substances are alcohol, anabolic steroids, amphetamines, cannabis, caffeine, ecstasy, cocaine, inhalants, hallucinogens, nicotine, phencyclidine, opiates, sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs, and or hypnotic. Although alcohol and drug addiction is viewed as a mental health issue, there is no one particular determinant cause. However, several people believe that the drug addiction and abuse is a genetic disease of which is a false fact. A person’s environment is the cause for the development of a predisposition dependency drug. Epidemiology The socially associated risk factors of drug addiction and drug abuse encompass the male gender, between the age ranges of 18 and 44 years, heritage of Native American persons, low socioeconomic status as well as the marital status of the unmarried. State statistics reveals that residents from the western U.S are more at risk to substance dependency as well as abuse. While males are very prone to alcoholism development, females seem more vulnerable to alcoholism at fairly lower amounts of alcohol consumption; this is because females have a much lower body mass as compared to males (Dryden-Edwards 3). The combined medical, criminal, economic, as well as the social implications, cost American taxpayer more than half a trillion dollars annually. Each year drug and alcohol abuses contribute to 100,000 American deaths, with tobacco contributes approximately 440,000 deaths annually. Individuals of all ages suffer the damaging consequences of drug as well as alcohol addiction and abuse. Babies can get affected while within the mother’s womb if the mother is to engage in drug or alcohol use, which as a result causes defects in birth as well as slows down the intellectual development in the later years of the child. As for Adolescents, they usually perform poorly in school and usually drop out while they are abusing drugs. Adolescent girls stand the risk of having unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and violence. In addition, parents and adults are also affected, usually by having their cognitive abilities clouded (Friedman 1). With all the vast exposure, the stage has easily been set for the next generation to simply step into the addictive lifestyle. Pathophysiology Drug addiction primarily affects the brain, but also affects the flow of a person’s organ systems. Drugs as well as mind changing substances which can be abused usually target the body’s natural system of reward either willingly or unwillingly causing entire euphoric effects for the drug user. These effects arise from the dopamine, which is a regulated neurotransmitter movement, emotion, cognition, motivation and pleasure feelings. The release of Dopamine is naturally rewarded to the body for natural behaviors as well as initiations for the cycle to repeat the behavior all over. The dopamine neurotransmitter fills the reward system that is often concealed in restricted amounts from routine activities such as sex or eating. The brain perceives this as a life-sustaining action as a result of the activated reward system. On introducing the chemical substance within a person’s system and the euphoric effects are realized, a person’s brain takes note of several significant happening events and teaches itself to do this action repeatedly until it is a habit. The consumption of illicit drugs can cause an individual to impulsively act when the brain’s reasoning system would normally delay or prevent a form of given action. This reasoning system is circumvented, hence leading to the undesired action that can possibly have negative consequences on the drug user’s life. However, several drug effects as well as chemical substances are at times euphoric, and other times the substance causes depression, suicidal thoughts, and paranoia. Continuation of the drug causes the brain to become acclimatized to the surplus of dopamine within the reward system (Nida 15-20). This then leads to a decrease of dopamine release as well as the dopamine receptors numbers within the system itself. In turn, this affects the user’s ability to attain the desired effects of the drug usage. This response from the person’s brain causes the person to try and reactivate the receptors by adding the dosage or amount of the drug in order to attain the same dopamine high. This effect process is referred to as tolerance. Long term drug abuse causes changes to occur to other systems parts within the brain. The neurotransmitter glutamate of which is a part of the reward systems can be changed and hence cause learning the inability. When the brain reaches the maximum level of glutamate, it causes an off balance and the brain tries to compensate, of which as a result affects the drug user’s cognitive ability. Once the brain accustoms to the drug effects, dependence is made and drug abuse cessation causes a result known as withdrawal (Luty 42-46). While most withdrawal signs are very uncomfortable for the drug addict, there are several serious signs such as seizures, strokes, myocardial infarction, delirium tremens, and hallucinations. Social, Ethical issues as well as the impact on emergency medical services (EMS) The results of drug abuse and addiction are very evident in individual social life. The addictions destructive behavior affects every area of their personal life, right from the genesis of the drug abuse. The addictions symptoms from a physical perspective include alteration of sleeping patterns as well as eating habits, which in turn contribute to both weight gain as well as loss. Frequent drug abuse tends to lead to failure in meeting important responsibilities at work, school or even home. Other drug addiction effects include domestic violence, family disintegration, child abuse, employment loss, and failure in school. People with addiction engage in risk taking, and with alterations in the reward system within the brain, the drug users expect positive reactions prior to them taking the substance that would satisfy their needs for the risks they take. Impulse control is difficult when drug choice is available to people with addiction. As a result, this fuels the addiction even more. The effect of the emergency medical service is immense. The calls from addiction range from medical over-dosage to trauma. The emergency medical provider’s obligation in response to overdosed patients requires paramedics to find out how much as well as what the patients took, and what is the correct medication to give in order to reverse the condition that is being experienced by the patient or drug user. With the various emergency responses comes danger, with the possibility of violent outbreaks by the addicts or users. Therefore, paramedics must be aware of their surroundings while handling the patients. In addition, patients who experience withdrawals tend to hallucinate a complete event as well as incorporate the paramedics, thus causing the patient to react violently towards the care provider. Drug addiction is a very critical condition that can be considered as a psychiatric problem, of which needs to be treated with a sure diligence as well as suspicion. Within the realm of the emergency medical service, the response rate of addiction is not considered an emergency condition. The incident will arise if an addict is experiencing withdrawal violent signs or has substance overdose, and the patient would appear in a state of agitation or even unconsciousness. There is no prearranged method in handling a patient that is experiencing problems related to addiction. The key element is in treating the symptoms of the patient. All patients require supplementary oxygen through non re-breathe if tolerance is acceptable. To assist in flushing out a normal saline of infusion, obtaining of intravenous access is a must. Should a patient or addict be in a state of agitation or seizure, administration of a sedative is required, such as versed or valium (Dryden-Edwards 7-8). Caution must be taken when administrating benzodiazepines because of the risks regarding failure or respiratory depression is present. Should a patient experiencing an opiate overdose as well as low breathing, Narcan 0.4 – 2 milligrams must be administered, but caution must be observed when administering the drug of which is done slowly in order for the patient to breathe sufficiently so as to sustain life. Should breathing and airway problems continue then intubation ought to be considered in order to secure the airway of the patient. Quick transport with due concern is suggested in order for the patient to be evaluated so as to have the hospital staff commence detoxification. Conclusion The drug abuse and addiction world is unforgiving and harsh, especially if an addict or user is unwilling to leave it behind. A number of people claim that the addiction is all within the head, and research has verified this notion. The brain effects from a formed learned pattern are similarly rewarded to such activities like drinking or eating. A lot of people do not comprehend as to how and why other people become drug addicts. It is wrongfully presumed that drug users have no willpower or moral principles and cannot stop using drugs simply by choosing to alter their behavior. The reality is, drug addiction and abuse is a complex illness, and quitting it requires lots of good intentions. In actual fact, because drugs alter the brain in ways that raise drug abuse compulsiveness, quitting becomes hard, even for the willing addicts. A lot of drug users also believe that they can control their drug abuse and addiction. Having a drug habit is a costly affair that leads to loss of belongings, money and even self-esteem. Curiosity is what drives some people abuse drugs, while others it is peer pressure, and another group of people become addicts of prescription drugs. While drug abuse normally leads to drug addiction, overcoming drug addiction is no easy task. So the question begs, is this drug abuse or is this drug addiction? These are two completely separate paths that lead to the same depressing outcome. In addition, the consequences of drug abuse as well as drug addiction become noticeable after a given period of time whereby compulsiveness and violence take over, furthermore, the physical toll which includes illness and depression at times could be debilitating. Therefore, the only method to reducing drug abuse, as well as addiction is through educating or sensitizing the public. Avoidance is viewed as the best prevention. Works Cited Dryden-Edwards, Roxanne. Medicinenet.com Drug abuse and addiction, 2014. Web 7 May 2014 Friedman, Richard. nejm.org "The Changing Face of Teenage Drug Abuse -- The Trend toward Prescription Drugs." New England Journal of Medicine 354.14 Apr. 2006: 1448-1450. Web 7 May 2014 Luty, Jason. apt.rcpsych.org "Nicotine addiction and smoking cessation treatments." Advances in Psychiatric Treatment 8 (2002): 42-48. Web 7 May 2014 National Institute on Drug Abuse (Nida). drugabuse.gov Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction, 2010. Web 7 May 2014 Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Drug Abuse / Drug Addiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/sociology/1645272-drug-abuse-drug-addiction
(Drug Abuse / Drug Addiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 Words)
https://studentshare.org/sociology/1645272-drug-abuse-drug-addiction.
“Drug Abuse / Drug Addiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/sociology/1645272-drug-abuse-drug-addiction.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Drug Addiction in the Modern World

Howard Markel and Frederick Crews Argument about Freud's Cocaine Dream

He indicates that the theories and other useful findings could be developed to provide better solution to the human problems, which characterize the modern society.... As a result, Freud's recommendations on its medical use could not offer solution to the patients' problems, but created drug addiction that is not easy to solve (Markel 49).... In addition, the scholars showed that the people with behavioral problems are under the influence of drug addiction might not have sufficient proof, but merely a dream (Markel 266)....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Substance Abuse and Possible Prevention and Treatment Measures

The second part of the program will address the problem of drug addiction and greatly involves the more major percentage of secondary prevention, as well as the tertiary level of prevention.... For the first part of the program, Drug Abuse Prevention would largely involve information dissemination and similar drives to provide people with the negative effects of drug addiction.... The program will cater to both male and female patients, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, and will address the abuse and addiction of any illicit and regulated drug in the United States....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Issue Of Drug Abuse Among Modern Society

The writer of the paper "Issue Of Drug Abuse Among modern Society" discusses the adverse effects of drug abuse, and how if early intervention is sought, the situation can be turned around.... drug abuse is a serious problem as it results in multiple complications.... hellip; The three examples addressed clearly point to the adverse effects of drug abuse, and how if early intervention is sought, the situation can be turned around.... drug abuse is unacceptable as it involves the use of drugs for other reasons, other than those based on medical background, and this depicts irresponsibility on the side of the involved person....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Drug Addiction as a Serious Problem

In line with the sociological imagination perspective, the aim of this paper is to explore the problem of drug addiction and its impact on the society.... Mills (2000) would argue that people lack sociological imagination, hence, they cannot see the link between their private life and the world around them.... According to Mills, if people are not aware of cherished values or threats to such values they experience uneasiness, but if they feel threatened they experience indifference and this is what modern problems pose to individuals and the community (2000, p....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Alcohol Abuse and the Excessive Usage of It

Today in the modern world governments are also taking strong measures to limit the usage of alcohol.... People face different kinds of problems in their life like financial, business, social and health problems.... They try to face these problems and to control stress and mental strain they start using drugs as a prop....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

History of Illegal Drugs in America

Despite the growing power of the opium trade in the late 1800s, “Illegal Drugs” states “[international] controls, domestic law enforcement, and a societal shunning of these much-feared substances combined to largely eliminate” the use of drugs by the outbreak of world War II.... Touring through the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration's online museum exhibit entitled “Illegal Drugs in America: A modern History,” one notices several instances in history where drug use has taken its toll on society at large....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Drugs Addiction in Camden

Correspondingly, this essay has been prepared to analyze the issue of drug addiction in the city of Camden.... Correspondingly, the various social determinants of health in relation to drug addiction has been analyzed in the discussion henceforth for the better understanding of the status of drug addiction in Camden currently.... nbsp;… The Health and Social Care Act was accordingly enacted in the year 2012 with an intention to reduce the drug addiction cases and provide proper medication and treatment facilities to the patients....
12 Pages (3000 words) Term Paper

The Dark Side of Leisure - Pornography, Gambling, and Drug Use

The significance of leisure activities cannot be gainsaid, and as first world countries have become more affluent, the significance of leisure time activities has increased considerably.... The significance of leisure activities cannot be gainsaid, and as first world countries have become more affluent, the significance of leisure time activities has increased considerably (Mason 2003, 58).... The first two activities above; that is, pornography, gambling are in the contemporary world connected with the use of the Internet and also take place offline in different forms....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us