Drug and Alcohol Abuse Is a Growing Problem - Essay Example

Running Head: ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE Name Course Lecturer Date Alcohol or Drug Abuse Introduction Drug and alcohol abuse is a growing problem not only in Australia but in other nations as well. Recent studies show that youths at the risk of substance abuse and the statistics are increasing year after year. This behavior has severe and adverse consequences to the individual and the society at large. In many cases, drug use develops to more serious conditions such as physical and psychological addiction which subsequently alienates the individual. Addicts of illicit drugs indulge in risky behaviors such as robbery in order to sustain their addictions. It is for this reasons that there are continuous national and international campaigns aimed at reducing prevalence of drug abuse (Matlan, 1977). Illicit drugs and pregnancy Use of illicit drugs and alcohol during pregnancy pose many risks to the life of the mother and that of the baby. However, there are alarming numbers of women practicing this in many parts of the world. For instance, it is estimated that about 4% of women in USA alone use marijuana during the pregnancy period. Some of the health conditions associated with drug abuse during pregnancy include premature births, withdrawal syndromes in babies, tiny babies and babies with behavioral and learning defects. In addition, the mother might expose the unborn baby to infection since most illicit drugs are prepared using impure substances while these pregnant women become prone to sexually transmitted infections and such conditions as extremely poor nutrition since their priority is to purchase drugs (Wattendorf and muenke, 2005). The purpose of this article therefore is to discuss about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a condition that develops in children born by alcoholic mothers. This condition covers a wide range of health problems that arise due to prenatal alcohol exposure. Such problems include Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), mental, neurological and physical problems. Past research has indicated that about 1% of all the children in the world are born with the condition. The article will further look at some of the effects of FASD on the lives of children. Alcohol in pregnancy can harm babies The West Australian, September, 1, 2011, explains that FASD has become a compulsory outcome of alcohol abuse and misuse. The condition is not only restricted to the disadvantaged and marginalized but it is affecting people from all walks of life. Although the condition affects the entire body system comprising of the physical, neurological and mental aspects, the most evident conditions are those involving the mental capacity such as behavioral, learning and memory difficulties. Raewyn Mutch and Carol Bower are leading a research team at Telethon Institute to find out the extent of damage of the developing brain of unborn babies due to alcohol consumption. Dr. Mutch explains that if the condition is undiagnosed, the self-esteem and school performance of the child are adversely affected since they are oftenly incorrectly considered as stupid or naughty. These children seem to have a very shallow memory because they cannot remember to restrain from something they were earlier warned about. According to Dr. Mutch, misunderstanding of this unique behavior yields secondary effects like anxiety and low self-esteem and consequently they perceive themselves as failures in life. With numbers of alcoholic men and women at child bearing age increasing, it is predicted that the rates of FASD in West Australia will increase from the current 0.6 per 1000 children (AIHW, 2007). These statistics availed by the WA register of developmental anomalies are rather an underestimation considering that Australia has very high rates of alcohol consumption. Following a study conducted by Dr. Mutch and her team, it is quite clear that male partners with drinking problems might subsequently persuade their female counterparts into the same behavior. The health sector is being blamed for derailing the process of doing away with the issue as many professional health practitioners find it difficult to ask pregnant women about their drinking habits during their prenatal clinic care and in so doing those with the problem end up giving birth to defective children (WHO, 2011). Koren et al, (2003) assert that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is closely associated to FASD. It is a developmental pattern of physical and mental defects in the fetus as a result of high levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Although research on the implication of low levels of alcohol have been inconclusive, many doctors recommend that pregnant women should abstain from drinking alcohol as there is no safe level of alcohol during pregnancy. However, it should be noted that the higher the levels, the higher the risk of deforming the fetus. High alcohol doses during the 8th to 10th week affect the development of body parts. At this stage the mid face if being formed hence high dose might cause some parts such as the head and eye openings to be unusually small while other parts like may be missing. High doses during the later stages of pregnancy affect the brain function and not the external appearance. Although FASD has no cure, early screening and diagnosis can improve the long-term outlook of the patient. A child detected to have FASD below the age of 6 years will begin early in life which will help him/her to improved learning, memory and speech capacities and they are less likely to reduced self-esteem or poor school performance (Sokol et al, 2003). THE AUSTRALIAN: Drugs, mental health problems and alcohol lay pathway to prison The topic “drugs, mental health problems and alcohol lay pathway to prison” is very important in trying to understand the link which exists between mental illness, drugs and alcohol. According to Matlan (1977), it is quite observable that within prisons many inmates were forced into unlawfulness behavior due to mental illness as a result of drug and alcohol abuse. The article indicate that half the number of people who entered prison in the month of October and November reported that they were involved in drinking alcohol at high levels which in turn resulted to mental illness (Matlan, 1977). The purpose of this article is to show the connection which exists between mental illness, drug abuse and excessive use of alcohol where the main setting is within a prison environment. Rothman & Stuart (2011) asserts that, the key terms that will be defined within the articles mainly rotate around drug abuse, excessive alcohol consumption and mental illness which are usually observed within a prison environment. Within this paper, the argument defined within this article will unfold by understanding prisoners performed unlawful activities due to mental illness that emerged from drug and alcohol abuse. Further, the article is important to analyze why alcohol and drug abuse resulted to mental illness in prisons as compared to the other population (Rothman & Stuart, 2011). Effects of drug abuse and excessive use of alcohol Ward & Snow (2010) maintains that, research indicates that there is great correlation that exists between drug abuse, excessive consumption of alcohol and mental illness. From the article, there is a clear indicate that most inmate suffered mental illness which resulted from drug or substance abuse thus forcing them to engage in unlawful behavior. The various risks factors that were observed in their drinking patterns were anxiety, depression, stress and low self esteem (Ward & Snow, 2010). According to Matlan (1977), mental illness occurs since drug and alcohol abuse is widely associated with spread and significant brain lesions. Mental illness that is brought about by drug and alcohol abuse is not only brought by direct toxic effects of alcohol or alcohol withdrawal but also from nutritional deficiency, liver damage and electrolyte disturbances which highly contributes to brain damage. Brain development, excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse THE AUSTRALIAN (2011) maintains that, the Health of Australia’s Prisoners and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found out that one in three inmates had not completed year ten at school whereas one in five had been to juvenile indicating that more young people engage in alcohol and drug usage at a tender age. Early involvement in drug abuse and excessive consumption of alcohol impair the normal brain development. Poor brain development result to deficit especially in retrieving both verbal and non verbal information which is more evident with youths with early histories of drug abuse and excessive consumption of alcohol. According to THE AUSTRALIAN (2011), medical records indicate that it is during adolescent is when neurodevelopment occurs. Therefore, when youth engage in binge drinking and substance abuse thy greatly interferes with a crucial stage of development. This is dangerous in their growing up since heavy consumption of alcohol and drug or substance abuse inhibits growth of new brain cell. Martin, P and Singleton, C. (2003) asserts that, it is due to lack of development of new brain cells that academic that are involved in studying prison population estimate that more inmates suffer from traumatic brain injury that had resulted from drug and alcohol abuse as described in the article. AIHW survey in the article further indicated that four in ten prison entrants in the year 2010 reported to have received a blow a head to head injury resulting to mental illness. The blow was received while they were under excessive drug in their blood vessels or alcohol consumption (Martin and Singleton, 2003). Conclusion Evidence by World Health Organization suggests that all countries are equally affected by the menace of drugs and alcohol abuse especially among young people. Evidently, problems associated with abuse of drugs and alcohol are adverse and severe and this is the main reason why WHO among other agencies are working tirelessly to reduce magnitude of the situation. Educating people about the harmful consequences will contribute a lot to the effort. As noted from the articles above, drug use and addiction in many cases develops during the early stages of life hence any efforts to deal with the problem should mostly target adolescents. Governments of all countries should be ready to avail resources needed to fight this battle and ensure that drugs and alcohol education is made compulsory in the school curriculum (WHO, 2011). References AIHW. (2007). Statistics on drug use in Australia 2006. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442467962 Batcheler, A,The West Australian, September 1, 2011. Alcohol in pregnancy can harm babies Retrieved from http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/lifestyle/a/-/lifestyle/10156898/alcohol-in-pregnancy-can-harm-babies/ Koren, G., Nulman, I., Chudley, A. and Loocke, C. (2003). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Canadian Medical Association Journal, volume 169, issue 11 Martin, P and Singleton, C. (2003). "The role of thiamine deficiency in alcoholic brain disease". Alcohol Res Health 27 (2): 134–42. Matlan, G.A. (1977). Craving for Alcohol, Loss of Control and Relapse: A Cognitive Behavioural Analysis. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED151679&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED151679# Rothman, E. F., & Stuart, G. L. (2011). Drinking Style and Dating Violence in a Sample of Urban, Alcohol-Using Youth. Retrieved from http://www.jsad.com/jsad/article/Drinking_Style_and_Dating_Violence_in_a_Sample_of_Urban_AlcoholUsing_Yout/4589.html Sokol, R., Delaney-black, V. and Nordstrom, B. (2003). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Journal of the American Medical Association, volume 290, issue 22, p. 2996-2999 THE AUSTRALIAN (2011). Drugs, mental health problems and alcohol lay pathway to prison. Retrieved from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/drugs-mental-health-problems-and-alcohol-lay-the-pathway-to-prison/story-e6frg8y6-1226154193699 Ward, B.M., & Snow, P.C. (2010). Factors Affecting Parental Supply of Alcohol to Underage Adolescents. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-3362.2010.00228.x/abstract Wattendorf, J and Muenke, M. (2005). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Am Fam Physician. Volume 15, issue 72(2): p. 279-82 World Health Organization Report. (2011). Action needed to reduce health impact of harmful alcohol use. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2011/alcohol_20110211/en/ Read More