Drug Abuse Essay example

Submitted By tonyvandyk
Words: 1044
Pages: 5
Open Document
Anthony
Drug Abuse Research
Health

Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drug addiction is a chronic disease that causes drug seeking behavior and drug use regardless of the fact of the negative consequences to the user and those around them. Even though the first decision to use drugs is intentional, the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self-control and capability to make the correct decisions when faced with choices. There are many reasons for a person to abuse drugs and getting high isn’t always their number 1 priority.
Drug abuse is a very preventable disease. Not all the drugs abused are illegal; some are used for practical purposes in the categories’ of barbiturates, hallucinogens, narcotics, stimulants, and depressants. Though most of these various forms of drugs have specific purposes they can all be abused if not used as directed or if the user of the drugs is not the one prescribed the drug. Though one would think that drugs would mostly be in poor sections of the city in fact drugs are often easily accessible in suburban shopping malls, rural schools, well-to-do private schools, on the job, and business offices.
A teen’s childhood years often play a big role on how the teen views drugs. Sometimes parents with good intentions may give their child a taste of alcohol in order to discourage them from it because of its bad taste. But the child’s first taste of the alcohol can make them feel good. Also when the child has parents that drink alcohol to celebrate or to help them relax after arguing may encourage the use of alcohol in the child’s adult life. For example, when the now adult child is depressed or happy he may now may turn to alcohol as a result of their parent’s actions to escape or to celebrate life.
There are many reasons that people may turn to drugs. Among them are the need to feel accepted by the person’s piers, friends and co-workers. Teens with low self-esteem are easily influenced by their peers. Sometimes the use of alcohol or other drugs can help them feel more comfortable around others. Some people don’t ever have the intention of abusing drugs but when prescribed a drug that benefits them, they may start to increase their dosage without a doctor’s recommendation in order to get a greater effect from the drug. This is considered unintentional drug abuse but as this goes on the dependency on the drug increases, physically and mentally. Repeated drug abuse can lead to an addiction. Addiction is considered a brain disease because it changes the user’s brain structure and how it works. Physically, when someone is addicted to a drug the pathways inside the brain are altered. Some drugs damage the brain more than others making them more addictive. There are many factors that can determine a person’s susceptibility to having a problem with drugs. Addiction seems to generally run in families, so chances are if you have parents that struggle with addiction so will you. Though this is not always the case. Personality has a lot to do with this too; curious people may experiment with drugs which can ultimately lead to an addiction. A stubborn person may just want to rebel against their parents also leading to addiction. Also a very depressed and hurting person may turn to drugs to numb the pain of their life, the drug can only be used as a short term fix because when the high is over their problems will still be present. Although some may think that some races of people are more prone to drug abuse this is not the case, all ethnicities of the world are affected by this problem. There are very few short term positive effects of drug abuse. For one the user can forget about real life and feel a temporary relief from any type of pain the user may be feeling, including relationship issues, depression and low
Show More

Related Documents: Drug Abuse Essay example

Prescription Drug Abuse

Another preventive measure to tackle the issue of prescription drug abuse is the regulation in monitoring the system of prescribers and individuals who receive the prescribing. Right now, the system lacks uniformity and scrutiny in the integration process of prescription medications among patients. This is often the root to overprescribing and wrongful prescriptions. Other than that, the current system needs more control in the management of medications. The government still has a huge gap in identifying…

Words 838 - Pages 4

Drug Abuse Essay

Substance abuse is a condition involving the use of mind altering drugs or products in excessive or reckless use. These substances come in many forms, such as prescription drugs, illicit drugs and probably the most common, alcohol. In the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it was reported that 152 million Americans over the age of 12 used illicit drugs and drink alcohol. Of those 152 million, 23 million need some sort of treatment for substance abuse but only 2.6 million actually receive…

Words 1089 - Pages 5

DRUG ABUSE Essay

many teenagers take drugs? No matter what the race, gender or the age is many teenager are getting addicted to drugs. During high school year many teenagers are trying to figure out who they are in society. Figuring it out “who they are” is not easy. For many teenagers high school years are the worst times. During this time many teenagers try to do anything to cope their problems by taking drugs. The most important social issue studied in grade 9 english class is Drug abuse because it causes depression…

Words 348 - Pages 2

drug abuse Essay

Drug abuse is an issue that is attracting much attention and condemnation in the society. Drugs by simple definition include those in raw or unprocessed and those in finished or processed forms . Frustration in life due to factors like unemployment, disease, marital conflicts, broken home, dropping out from school among others could lead youths to drug taking while lack of stiff penalty for the culprits further goes a long way in encouraging it in the society. When those involved are not detained…

Words 556 - Pages 3

abuse on drugs Essay

other issues. More parents need to talk with their teens about the dangers of abusing Ritalin, Adderall and other prescription drugs, suggests a new study that finds discouraging trends on kids and drug use. When teens were asked about the last substance abuse conversation they had with their parents, just 14 percent said they talked about abusing a prescription drug, said the report released Tuesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org. "For parents, it really comes down to not using the power…

Words 6457 - Pages 26

Essay on Drug Abuse

Krause 1 Drug Abuse People have been using drugs and “home remedies” to cure or lessen the effects of certain things. But then people realized that you have a different feeling when they take them. This leads to addictions and drug abuse. Today there are many drugs that are for the most part easy to get their hands on in this country. One popular drug in the US is marijuana. With some of the states legalizing the use of it, Mary Jane has been put into the national spotlight. The most common way to…

Words 487 - Pages 2

Drug Abuse Essay

Drug abuse in the U.S. has been a reoccurring issue dating back all the way from the 1930’s when marijuana, although not yet perceived as a danger, was still considered a gateway drug for heroin users. In today’s society, marijuana is still considered a social problem due to its increasing popularity, specifically ranging from high school to college students. Needless to say, marijuana is only one of the few narcotics affecting today’s youth. Students today are found abusing not only illegal but…

Words 2036 - Pages 9

Prescription Drug Abuse

average age for first time drug use is 13 ½ years old,” according to an article in the Boston Globe, “Parents Clueless About Kid’s Prescription Drug Abuse, State Survey Finds”.(2011) This is a shocking statistic. Children are often educated through schools, parents and media on the risks of drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamines and other popularized substances. However, prescription drugs are commonly left unnoticed. “Parents are often providing prescription drugs to their kids in an improper…

Words 707 - Pages 3

Prescription Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse Drug overdoses have killed over 112,000 Americans from May 2022 to May 2023. Addiction is a condition where people have a strong need for a substance, this could be alcohol, or drugs. Addiction is considered a disability or disease. Addiction came around in the early 20th century. Adolescence is a sensitive period for substance use. The use of drugs by adolescents has been associated with overestimating normal standards of drug use, specific motivations for drug use, and negative life…

Words 1038 - Pages 5

Drug Abuse Essay

the causes and effects of drug abuse? Many haven’t and the lack of knowledge has ruined many lives. Every year drug abuse has impacted millions of American families worldwide. Drug abuse is simply the over usage of drugs. People who typically abuse drugs are those who are addicted. Well, how does addiction link with drug abuse? The addiction of a drug can become so strategic that it takes over ones life, causing them to use everyday. With this over abundance of drug use the body get comfortable…

Words 311 - Pages 2