Drug Addiction and Substance Abuse in the USA - Essay Example

Introduction Since the middle of the last century Drug and substance abuse has become a dangerous peril that has been undermining the human civilization. It affects the human body as well as human mind. A drug addict lacks the power to distinguish between the right and wrong. Generally there are many social, economic, psychological and medical reasons why a person is grasped by the clutch of this deadly thing. But once a man gets addicted to drug that generates various problems and may even cause the death of the person. It may induce him to commit crimes such as theft, smuggling, gambling even murder. We can find that the drug has been the cause of a constant headache for US as a whole and its different states. Here for example we use the case of Texas. Drug Problem in Texas Texas is the second largest state of USA geographically. So it owns a huge population. In Texas the percentage of persons belonging to the age group of 5 to 18 is 27.6. Due to its size, population and geographical situation Texas has some problems also. The percentage of age group 5 to 18 is 24.6 in USA. The Texas Commission of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA) is the State’s substance abuse authority responsible for ensuring the people of Texas the access towards an efficient and effective substance abuse service. The TCADA’s operating budget for prevention, intervention and treatment services accounted for US$ 175.7 million for the fiscal year 2002 with 85% funding from Federal Substance Abuse Prevention Treatment (SAPT) block grant. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s applied studies have revealed the data of substance dependence of Texas. Almost 7 million adults (48.3%) used alcohol. 3.5 million adults (24.4%) were satiate and 1.0 million (7.2%) were heavy drinkers. An estimated 4% of the populations were alcohol abusers and 2.2% were alcohol dependents. Among all socio demographic groups the age group of 18-25 and those who were bachelors constituted the highest prevalence rate of alcohol usage, abuse and dependence. Black had a significantly lower percentage. The Hispanics had a significantly higher percentage of alcohol dependence than white or black populations. Prevalence rate was more than 60% for college students and those having family income more than $75 thousands. That was 29% for the recipients of Medical or CHIP. (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2007) Among adult people 1.6 million people (11.1%) were estimated to use illicit drugs. Marijuana and Hashish were the most commonly used drugs. 7.3% of people were using these. 4.6% of people were addict of non-medical drug abusing. 2% of people were using other drugs like Heroin, Hallucinogens and inhalants. 16200 people of Texas were subject to the criteria of drug dependence. 93000 people were marked as drug users. The highest past prevalence rates of specific drugs, as well as overall illicit drug use and drug dependence were seen in the age group 18-25 (27.6%) and adults who had never been married (27.0%). An estimated 3.7% of the population in the 18-25 year age group and 4.1% of those who had never been married met the criteria of drug dependence. The rates were lower in other socio demographic groups. The Hispanics were subject to higher drug use than non-Hispanic whites but lower drug dependence. (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2007) Drug Problem in USA The problem of drug and substance has been the cause of constant headache and anxiety of all the conscious people across the globe. The United States has also been facing the problem since the last century. The following set of documents can suffice to explain the vigour of the problem that US faces. In 2003, NHSDUS Survey in USA estimated 1. 0.1% of American had used Heroin once in the previous month. Rate of Lifetime Use was about 1.6%. S.A.M.H.S.A, 2004. 2. Benzodiazepines estimated that about 10% populations of the Europe and US usage. 3. 40% of US population used Cannabis once in their lifetime and 8% were the then users. 4. NSDUH survey at 2003 estimated that 9% of the US population used stimulant agent once in a lifetime and 5% were the regular users. 5. Epidemiology in 2003 reported that 15% of the Americans were the lifetime users of Cocaine and 3% acknowledged the usage of crack derivatives. Usage of these drugs in the past months was 6% and 1% respectively. 6. In the US and Europe misuse of Hallucinogens increased over the period 1988-2003. The proportion of High School Students reporting lifetime Hallucinogens use rose from 7.7% to 36%. Lifetime risk at 2003 was estimated at 14.5%. (Gelder, Harrison and Cowen, 2006, 258-266) In 1991 Robins and Reiger made a study on drug in U.S. Lifetime prevalence rate (percentage) of drug use and abuse and dependence from ECA and MCA studies Drug ECA Study (Men) ECA Study (Women) MCA Study (Men) MCA Study (Women) Use 36.6 25.4 35.8 36.4 Abuse 3.2 2.1 12.5 6.4 Dependence 4.6 2.6 9.2 5.9 Abuse plus Dependence 7.7 4.8 14.6 9.4 (Robins and Regier, 1991; Warner et.al, 1995, 219-229) A report on drug abuse in America at 2001 has generated the following results: We find that at the year 2001, the illicit drug users among the students aged over 12 years the illicit drug users accounted for 15.9 millions. This was 7.1% of the persons aged over 12 years. The percentage of drug users in the population was estimated 6.3% in 1999-2000 that increased to 7.1% in 2000-01. The increase in the usage was found in Marijuana, Cocaine, pain relievers and tranquilizers. A change in NHSDA questions on hallucinogens caused the estimated category of use of drugs from .4 to .6 percent in between the years 2000 and 2001. We can find from the data that the usage of drug varies according to demographic status. The data in our hand helps us to establish a demographic pedagogy of the use and abuse of the illicit drug. The rates and patterns of drug use vary with the age of the person. For example we can say that 3.8% of youths aged 12-13 were identified as illicit drug users in 2001. Like other years in 2001 the drug use was proved to have direct relationship with age. The maximum percentage of drug use was estimated in the age group 18-20, which declined steadily with increase in age over that. So we can say that 18-20 is the peak time of drug use. In the age group 12-17 the drug abuse increased in the time span 2000(9.7%) to 2001(10.8%). But, if we consider the age group 12-13 no change in the percentage of drug use was not found in the period 2000-2001. Same thing can be said for the age group of 16-17. In the age group of 26 or older no significant change was found at the then rate within the time span 2000-2001. It become 4.3% (2000) to 4.5 %( 2001). Generally the rate of illicit drug use varies with educational status. Among the adults over 18 years it was found in 2000 that the college graduates had a lowest percentage of illicit drug use (4.3%). The rate was 7.6% among those who did not finish high school education. This fact is despite the fact that adults who had completed the college degree were more likely to have tasted in their lifetime in comparison with the other group (47.2% vs. 32%). So we find that its education that have generated enough consciousness against drug. The statistical survey says that in the prior years men were more likely to use illicit drugs than their female counterpart (8.7% vs. 5.5%). But the usage of non-medical psychotherapeutics accounted for more or less same for male (2.2%) and female (2.0%). In the time 2000-2001 the usage of illicit drug increased for both male (from7.7to8.7 Percent) and female (from 5.0 to 5.5 percent) aged 12 years or older. Among youths the rate of usage of drug by the boys than that of the girls in the age group 12 to 17(boys 11.4% and girls 10.2%). Although the boys between 12 and 17 had a trend of higher Marijuana use than the girls of same age (8.9% vs. 7.1%)., the girls were more likely to use the non medical psychotherapeutic substances. In the time 2000-2001 the rate of use of illicit drugs increased among boys (from 9.8 to 11.4 percent) but among girls there was no significant change (from 9.5 to 10.2 percent). (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2001) If we consider the major racial groups we find that the rate of illicit drug use in 2001 was 7.2 percent of whites, 6.4 percent among Hispanics, 7.4 percent among blacks. The rate was highest for the Alaskan Indians or Native Alaskan (9.9%) and persons reporting more than one race (12.6 percent). Asians had the lowest rate. Although, as a group Asians accounted the lowest case of illicit drug use, the rate varied among different Asian sub groups. For persons of 12 or above the rate was 1.3% among Chinese, 2.2% of Asian Indians or Filipinos, 3% for Vietnamese, 4.5 percent of Japanese, 5% for Koreans and 5.1% of Pacific Islands except the Native Hawaiians. For ensuring the required size of population this is done on the basis of 2000 and 2001 NHSDA data. When we use the combined data of 2000 and 2001 we fined that the estimated drug use among the 12-17 Hispanic population were 9.2% for Puerto Ricans, 5.8% for Mexicans, 3.7 percent for Cubans and 3.6 percent of central or South American. Among the youths the rate accounted highest for Alaska Indians (23% for combined 2000-2001 data). (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2001) The drug abuse is highly correlated to current employment status. Among the unemployed people of 18 years or above the percentage of drug addiction is 17.1 while that of employed adults is 6.9% for fully employed persons and 9.1% for the people who work in part time basis. Although the percentage of drug user is higher among the unemployed people the maximum of the drug users are employed. The strange fact is that among 13.4 million illicit drug users who are adult 10.2 million (76.4%) are employed either in full time or part time work. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2001) Conclusion From the above study we can find the phenomenon of drug addiction and substance abuse in US as a whole and Texas as a sample state of the US. The extent of drug addiction should be clear to the reader of this article. One thing is clear that in spite of being a highly developed country United States of America has not been spared by the drug traffics. The strange fact is that the rate of addiction of drug and other substances is higher for the students especially in the age group 18-25. It’s a quite alarming signal or a ticking bomb for the sake of man in this country though it is characterized by high per capita income, high level of consumption, high standard of living, better medical facilities etc. The percentage of drug addict is a ticking bomb and that’s why DEA has been established to demolish the problem of drug. The students and youths are the backbone of a country and when the backbone is weakened the future of that country or nation is questioned. That’s why the American Government has been working hard with all machineries to solve the problem of drug addiction. This step of the US public authorities should be applauded and followed by all welfare states so that we can make a world of tomorrow, which will be free of drug problems. That will be the best gift for our future generation on behalf of us. References 1. Gelder, M. Harrison, P. and Cowen, P. (2006) Shorter Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, Oxford University Press. 2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2001) “2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse”, available at: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nhsda/2k1nhsda/vol1/toc.htm (accessed on February 8, 2008) 3. Robins L.N., Regier D.A. (1991) Psychiatric Disorder in America: The Epidemiological Catchments Area Study. New York, The Free Press. 4. Texas Department of State Health Services, (2007) “Substance Abuse Statistics”, available at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/sa/research/statewide-totals/ (accessed on February 8, 2008) 5. Warner, L.A., Kessler, R.C., Hughes, M., Anthony, J.C., Nelson, C.B. (1995). Prevalence and Correlate of Drug Use and Dependence in The United States: Results from National Co morbidity Study. Archives of General Psychiatry-52, 219-229. Read More