Drugs and Alcohol a Social Problem - Book Report/Review Example

Drug and Alcohol a Social Problem Chapter eight of the book “Social Problems in a Diverse Society” by KendallDiana shows that Americans indulge in alcohol and abuse drugs. The cost, as well as the consequences of the drug dependence and alcoholism, presents a huge burden to the American society. Kendall views alcoholism and drug use as social problems. Through a comprehensive analysis, Kendall indicates that the excessive use of drugs tends to result in mental, physical, and social impairment. Drug dependents cannot maintain a sense of being without a dose of the drugs. Similarly, the alcoholics find it hard to stay without alcohol. The acute drinkers have trouble in controlling the use of alcohol while the chronic alcoholics cannot regulate their drinking habits. Fundamentally, the detrimental effects of alcohol and drugs use not only affect the drunkard and the alcoholic family, but the whole society. The society pays a huge price for high drug and alcohol-related incidences. The negative impacts of alcohol and drug dependence include broken marriages, health issues, and the absence from work. The sociologists employ sociological explanations such as symbolic interactionist, functionalist, and conflict perspectives to explain the drug and alcohol use. Alcohol as a Social Problem Kendall points out that Americans consume wine, liquor, and beer in large quantities annually (166). Approximates indicates that about eight percent of the American population aged over twelve years use alcohol and illegal drugs at least in a month. Although the possession of illegal drugs such as cocaine and marijuana is regulated, the American population tends to use them in huge amounts. Kendall observes that the society makes the licit and illegal drugs available for the consumers. Notably, Kendall argues, “we live in a society that is saturated with both licit and illicit drugs, some that are difficult to obtain while others are available as drugs at the local convenience store” (167). Hence, a section of the members of the society has perpetuated this social problem. The society subjectively views the habits of taking alcohol as harmless and acceptable while disregarding the fact that the substance impairs many people and places burdens on the society, alcoholic, and the immediate family. As Kendall notes, the society compares the implications of the alcohol taking to that of substances such as marijuana to justify its legality (167). Thus, the people’s perceptions validate the actions of the alcoholics. The craving for alcohol is often strong and overpowering, and the implications of alcoholism are dire at the individual and societal level. Notably, alcoholism is not only harmful to the health of the alcoholics, but it has far-reaching implication to the families of these people. The adverse consequences of the health of the alcoholics include, harm to the liver, depressive moods, and alcohol-related impairment of cognitive functioning. In addition, heavy drinking contributes to high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, strokes, and heart failure. Moreover, alcoholism causes alterations in the movement of body parts, loss of appetite, and alters physiological processes in the body. Kendall observes that overuse of alcohol causes mental confusion, reduces people’s ability to view them as worth, and can lead to detrimental effects such as damage of the brain and other parts of the body (168). Thus, alcoholism has psychological, physical, and social effects on alcoholics. At the family level, alcohol dependence is responsible for divorce, violence, misunderstanding, and suicidal tendencies. The family is the foundation of society. Hence, divorce and domestic violence disrupt the basic unit of the society. Divorce can interrupt the social well-being the children. The parents may exhibit aggressive and hostile behavior, which affects the children and immediate family. The alcohol dependents tend to overburden their families. The alcoholics exhibit the patterns of codependency forcing the family members to offer aid, and look for suitable ways to correct the behavior. Arguably, acute and chronic alcoholics have a higher tendency to divorce as opposed to the social drinkers. Kendall’s argument that acute and chronic alcoholics face challenges in controlling their drinking behavior is valid. In effect, the pattern of drinking exhibited by acute and chronic alcoholics is a threat to the stability of the family. In many cases, the aforementioned categories of alcoholics are responsible for escalating statistics of family breakups. In essence, it is worth arguing that alcoholism is a malady that inflicts the Americans and has dire consequences at the individual and family levels. This is the microanalysis of the alcoholism as presented by Kendall. The macro-analysis of alcoholism captures the effects the substance has on the society. Notably, alcoholism depresses economic vitality and burdens the country’s health systems. Absenteeism in the workplaces due to alcoholism has a negative effect on the product. The workout reduces substantially with increased cases of absenteeism. Similarly, the overuse of alcohol compels employers to spend hugely on catering the cost of treatments after alcoholics fall sick. As noted by Kendall, the alcoholics have a propensity to cause accidents in the workplace (170). The workplace injuries are prevalent among the alcohol takers. In essence, the cost implications of managing alcohol-related health cases affect the society as argued by Kendall. Likewise, the heavy drinkers do not have control, especially while driving. The alcoholics account for many accidents in the roads. Kendall has presented comprehensive statistics regarding the accidents that are attributable to alcoholism. Notably, a piece of research indicated that driving under the influence of alcohol accounted for thirty-two percent of the deadly accidents in 2009 (171). The figure is extremely high and calls for a long-lasting solution to remedy this social problem. In essence, the acute and chronic alcoholics affect their families, as well as the society. In turn, the additional costs of managing the alcohol-related injuries and health complications strain the society and the economy of the United States. Tobacco as a Social Problem Tobacco is arguably a social problem, and affects the smokers, as well as the non-smokers. Although the nicotine gives the users a sense of alertness, the effects of smoking are detrimental to the individual health and the wellbeing of non-smokers. Kendall has succeeded to highlight the harmful effects of smoking, and the implications of the behavior in the society. Through tangible estimates, Kendall informs the audience that the pregnant mothers are at a high risk of birthing low-weighted babies. Estimates indicate that sixteen percent of expectant women tend to smoke cigarettes (173). The smoke affects the physical, as well as the mental growth and development of the infants. The biological mechanism of how the smoking crosses the placenta and enters the fetus is well elaborated. In essence, Kendall shows a strong grasp of the tobacco as a social problem. The habit of smoking cigarette in public affects the people’s health regardless of age. From a health perspective, the children exposed to smoking manifest increased risks of middle ear disease, asthma, lower respiratory infections, bacterial meningitis, and wheezes. Similarly, the children can develop other health complications in children exposed to smoking encompass neurobiological and cardiovascular impairments. The non-smokers are victims of second-hand smoking. The passive smoking can aggravate many chronic diseases such as sickle cell anemia. In adults, smoking in public increases the risk of developing lung diseases and cancer. Kendall shows that health problems that emanate from smoking include the cancer of the mouth, lungs, larynx, and esophagus (174). Similarly, smoking puts people at the risk of developing emphysema, bronchitis, cardiovascular disorders, and ulcers. Evidently, the chemicals contained in the tobacco are carcinogens that accelerate the development of lung cancers and persistent irritation. The management of tobacco-related illness such as lung cancer, bronchitis, pneumonia, and cardiovascular diseases is extremely expensive. Families of smokers are overburdened and constrain a lot looking for money to cater for the medical attention for smoking related illness. The inability of the smokers to cover their medical bills becomes a burden to the public health. Thus, public smoking is a social problem and produces substances that irritates the lungs and cause respiratory and terminal illness. The persistence irritation can predispose people to pneumonia and bronchitis. In this respect, the second-hand smoking affects the non-smokers, and thus tobacco qualifies as a social problem in accordance to Kendall’s argument in the book. Kendall notes that the tobacco has a negative implication to the environment. The second-hand smoke contains harmful contents such as carbon dioxide, benzene, and ammonia. The aforementioned gases can affect the eyes, airways, and the nose. However, majority of the gases enter the atmosphere. Kendall argues that approximately seventy-five percentage of the nicotine end up in the air (175). In this regard, non-smokers and the smokers feel the effects of the nicotine as it causes air pollution. Arguably, air pollution from the nicotine is a social problem. The problem extends to all members of the society, regardless of age. It would be costly to cater for the expenses of treating people from the smoke-related illness. The individual’s overspending on the addictive nicotine can affect the families. The vibrant advertisements and promotions by the giant cigarette manufacturers is arguably attributable to the increasing tendencies to smoke. The mode of advertisement and promotion of tobacco product in televisions and social media develops smoking behaviors in youth. Notably, the fancy promotion captions arouse curiosity in youth to experiment tobacco products by smoking. Hence, a good marketing by the tobacco companies serves as a motivator of the smokers to continue purchasing cigarettes in large numbers. Therefore, the society contributes to the startling statistics of people who smoke even at the tender ages. Over-the-counter Drugs The over the counter drugs have become a social problem, although some of the drugs are licit. The people who tend to use prescribed dosages for a long term develop iatrogenic addiction (174). As noted by Kendall, the physicians prescribe the drugs for medical purposes. However, the drug takers overuse the drug for a long time and render it addictive. Similarly, the drug sellers continue to distribute controversial drugs such as Prozac and Ritalin. The over-prescription of the Ritalin and Prozac is a practice that abuses the drugs. Kendall is right by observing that the teens account for the population that abuse drugs. Notably, a huge number of the teenagers tend to consume the licit drugs illegally. The statistics that indicate approximately 2.3 million youths aged between twelve and seventeen years who take drugs on an annual basis is well researched (176). People have a tendency to overuse the common drugs such as sleep aids, ibuprofen, aspirin, and cold medication. Similarly, caffeine has a moderate addiction, and many people enjoy taking coffee, soda, tea, and chocolate (176). One realizes that the drugs sold over the counter have contributed to a social problem after reading Kendall’s book. Marijuana Use and Abuse The use of the controversial marijuana has increased among the youth. Kendall underscores this assertion by invoking startling statistics. Evidently, many marijuana users are aged eighteen to twenty-five years. The numbers of teens in the twelve-seventeen age brackets who use marijuana have doubled (177). It appears that the youths do not understand the adverse effects of abuse of marijuana. Kendall asserts that the marijuana can impair motivation, as well as concentration. Similarly, pregnant women who overuse marijuana endanger the lives of their fetus. The children raised in families that use marijuana have a propensity to develop such habits. Therefore, the behavior is transferable, and thus qualifies as a social problem as argued by Kendall. Stimulant Use and Abuse The primary stimulants overused in the United States include amphetamines and cocaine. The abuse of cocaine is rampant, and approximately twenty-three million Americans aged over twelve years have attempted to use cocaine (179). Kendall brings out an aspect of discrimination against the use of cocaine in the US. Notably, the law enforcement policies appear to be discriminating against race. The policies target the target the minorities such as African-Americans and Latinos who abuse the drugs. This is crucial information to assist in streamlining the policies that fight the substance abuse. The chronic abuse of amphetamine can lead to the drug-related psychosis such as aggressive behavior, hallucinations, and paranoia. This section is extremely informative, and the policy makers should consider formulating policies that treat stimulant abusers equally. Depressants, Narcotics, and Hallucinogens Kendall elaborates well the effects of depressants, narcotics, and hallucinogens in the human body. The high dosage of the depressants leads to sedation, and the users might develop a psychological dependency, as well as physical addiction (180). Similarly, Kendall cautions the narcotics users such as codeine, heroin, and percodan by pointing the side effects of the drugs. Fundamentally, the people who abuse the aforementioned drugs become dependents of the immediate family and society. Sociological Explanation of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Kendall invokes the sociological explanations in chapter one to explain the social perspective of the alcohol use and drug abuse. According to the symbolic interactionist perspective families and peers, tend to influence the drug behavior. Kendall rightly argues that social institutions should fulfill their functions (9; 184). People tend to practice what they learn from the peers. The implication here is that generations tend to transfer the behavior to another generation rendering it a social problem. In effect, spending time with alcoholics and drug abusers exposes one to develop behavior and attitudes that promote drug use. The people in leadership can persuade people to engage in drug abuse. The society has become capitalist and few elite seems to control it (13). The conflict theory holds that the legality and illegality of the drugs are subject to the decisions of those in power. For instance, the changes in the penalties for marijuana abuse underscore the influence of the powerful in the society. Similarly, the corporate interests can advance the use, as well as the abuse of the drugs. The important point that Kendall raises seeks to show how corporations manipulate the nicotine levels to suit the smokers. Prevention and Treatment Programs Kendall completes chapter eight by offering solutions to deal with the alcohol and drug abuse. Notably, the prevention strategy adopts three levels, namely primary, secondary, and tertiary (186). The primary prevention programs are crucial because they seek to thwart the drug problems at the early stages. The program is crucial in crippling the tendencies that promote alcohol and drug abuse. Similarly, secondary prevention level addresses the needs of the people who already consume alcohol and drugs. The intervention mechanism is significant as it limits the extent of the alcohol and drug use. It is noteworthy that the abusers in the programs get to know the strategies to employ in order to embrace responsible consumption of the illicit drugs. In contrast, the tertiary level aims at limiting relapses by the alcoholics and drug abusers in the process of recovering. It appears that Kendall emphasizes on the significance of considering the alcoholics and drug abusers as important members of the society despite their indulgence in licit and illicit drugs. The tailor made prevention and medication programs can help the alcoholics and drug users to recover quickly and live a harmonious life with the rest of the society. The society should take an integral part in correcting behaviors that have the potential of resulting in alcoholism and drug abuse. Work Cited Kendall, Diana. Social Problems in Diverse Society. New York: Pearson, 2012. Print. Read More