...Addiction Requires Treatment Not Punishment Gloria Tooles English 112 Professor James Introduction The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world with a significant portion of those imprisoned are for drug-related crimes. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, between 1987 and 1997, the number of drug violations increased 48.2 percent. Drug addiction is an uncontrollable illness that causes its victim to commit all types of crimes to supply the ongoing urge for drugs. In short, this paper will be an attempt to examine this illness and, at the same time, determine which is better for the individual: punishment or treatment. Opposing arguments are that all drug abusers should be locked-up and the key should be thrown away. The initial law enforcements for drugs, even if no other crime has been committed, has been mandatory prison sentences to cover first time offenders, and harsher sentencing for second and third timers. There is no evidence that enacting tougher penalties will deter the drug problem or decrease the number of crimes being committed. For this matter, despite the fact that society considers drug abuse to be a crime; drug addiction is an illness and not a crime. Drug abusers should be punished for committing a crime in a way to help them with treatment to avoid them from relapse and committing the same old crimes over and over again. Definition of Drug Abuse Drug addiction is a compulsive craving for some type...
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...The Economic Benefits of Addiction Treatment Versus Prison Economics 2302 CRN 11789: Chu Nguyen Fall 2013 Lisa Carpenter The Economic Benefits of Addiction Treatment Versus Prison In 2010, it was estimated that there were 22.6 million Americans that were addicted to illicit drugs. The economic effects of drug addiction are staggering. It affects everything from health care costs to prison costs, to unemployment and social costs. In the past, the solution to drug addiction was to lock up the drug addicts and dealers in prison, get them out of the eye of society and the problem will go away. The prisons became overcrowded and new prisons had to be built to accommodate them. In the 1990’s, states started to implement drug courts and began to address the problem of addiction. By treating the demand (the addiction), the supply, and all of the problems that go along with it will ultimately be greatly reduced. A woman, whom I will call Sarah, became addicted to the pain killer, Vicodin when she had her wisdom teeth out. For years, in order to feed her addiction, Sarah would go from doctor to doctor requesting the medication. Eventually, the addiction became so out of control that she needed more pills than the doctors were willing to prescribe her. At this point, if she just stopped taking the medication she would go into physical withdrawals similar to heroin. To get the quantity of medication she needed on a daily basis, she started calling in to the pharmacy...
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...or injuries among Americans. Abused drugs include Amphetamines, Anabolic steroids, Club drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Inhalants, Marijuana and Prescription drugs. Drug addiction is actually a disease and quitting is more than having a strong will or good intentions. Drugs change the brain which causes quitting to be more difficult even if the abuser is ready to do so because of withdrawals or other symptoms. It has so many negative consequences on the abuser and society. Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States, including productivity and health- and crime-related costs, exceed $600 billion annually. Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States, including productivity and health and crime related costs, surpass $600 billion annually. This includes approximately $193 billion for illicit drugs, (1) $193 billion for tobacco, (2) and $235 billion for alcohol. (3) As bad as these numbers are they don’t fully describe the other prices people pay such as crime, loss of employment, failure in school, domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness and death. It harms unborn babies and destroys families. There are different types of treatment for drug abuse. But the best is to prevent drug abuse in the first place. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, regardless of the harmful consequences to the addicted person and to those...
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...Introduction According to the UN office of drugs and crimes, the global number of illegal drug users is expected to rise up by 25% by 2050. In fact, Drug addiction is a severe problem that is hurting our nation and its prevention has become a must. Many features of life were influenced by this destructive invention and it is expected to make a large mess into the mankind’s future because of its deep penetration among mind blinded people. I am here to tell you about the negative effects of drug addiction on the person and whole society since highlighting this issue may awake many abusers that suffer from this disease. Body I- Drug addiction can lead to severe effects on human’s life. A- The human’s body is influenced by drug abuse. 1- First, people that use drugs heavily have difficulties in inhaling and exhaling processes that are affected by allergic reactions. Also, the cardiovascular activity is affected by the intense use of drugs as it increases the blood pressure and triggers the heart work. 2- Moreover, captagon pills and marijuana are the most common kinds of drug use. These drugs can help the person to become pleased and calm. However, both of them can reduce their memory and trigger their heart beats. B- The brain’s work can be altered by drug abuse 1- The brain is known as the center of the nervous system where its job is to give commands to all the parts of the body even during sleep. So, if drugs enter...
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...Addiction can be defined as an uncontrollable need for or use of a habit-forming substance (“Merriam-Webster”). Addiction is impacted by one’s tolerance and the physiological symptoms that follow when suffering from withdrawal of a substance (“Merriam-Webster”). In our society today, we spend more than $740 billion in relation to crime, lost work productivity, and health care for those who use substances harmfully (“National Institute”). As addiction continues to be a serious problem for many individuals in the US, there continues to be a question: is addiction a disease or a choice made by the own individual (Russell, Davies, & Hunter, 2011)? Disease vs. Choice Addiction as a disease or choice are the most commonly known perspectives to...
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...will show how addiction can change a person so much so they end up in jail. The second and third sections will show the differences between prison and DTAP programs, while the conclusion will summarize the research findings. Rehab Vs. Incarceration Should drug offenders go to rehab or jail? Addiction Addiction has become an open conversation in America. Millions of Americans have been effected by addiction in some way or another. Many people know someone who has been effected by this terrible disease whether it be a parent, partner, sibling or friend or may have been affected themselves. This researcher has seen first-hand what addiction can do to a person. While these people stand on the sidelines watching the person they know and love turn into someone completely unrecognizable. When an addiction starts it may just be using on the weekends, here and there, or as the doctor prescribes. As time ticks on, it becomes twice as many as prescribed and before they know it, it has become every day. Eventually, they have no way to support their habit. Because their life has become such chaos there’s no way they could go to work every day. As a result, addicts turn to stealing, dealing, and even prostitution. Addicts will lie and manipulate anyone that gets in the way of them and their substance of choice. They will do anything for the next high. Family and friends sit by helplessly, hoping they get help, begging and pleading. Already deep in the throes of their disease, they truly...
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...Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics Computer Addiction and Cyber Crime Nick Nykodym The University of Toledo Sonny Ariss The University of Toledo Katarina Kurtz The University of Toledo This research explores the relationship between computer addiction and cyber crime. There is evidence of computer addiction in medical settings, scholarly journals and legal proceedings. Reviewing the history of computer addiction has shown that computer addiction can be related to cyber crime. This paper will define computer addiction, show how various cyber crimes, especially those against businesses and organizations, can be motivated by computer addiction and propose further research on how managers can deal with cyber crime in a business, by recognizing addictive behaviors and computer addiction in their employees. HISTORY OF COMPUTER ADDICTION Computer addiction is an idea that has been in existence for years. Since the 1970s, avid computer programmers and hackers have been called “addicts” by both psychologists and the general public (Reed, 2002, p. 135). In 1976, Weizenbaum wrote about computer programmers who could sit and work at their computer terminals for twenty or thirty hours at a time. This behavior however, was viewed at the time as useful to technology and society. Computers, once seen as huge government machines that only very knowledgeable people could use, transformed into user-friendly tools that could be used by the everyday person. It became more common...
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...they are addictive. Speaking of drugs, people usually relate them to drug abuse, drug addiction and drug-related issues. People do not realize that a number of illicit drugs are actually scientifically proven to be medically useful to treat diseases. There has been numerous of arguments about the legalization of drugs and there is not a solution to this issue yet. There are actually a lot of pros and cons of legalizing drugs which most of the people did not notice of. Drugs may be advantageous in economic perspective by decreasing the...
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...“Prisons versus rehabilitation centers” is an ongoing debate worldwide, and the answer to this question is far from clear. Drug addiction is said to be a brain disease that affects behavior, the brain’s anatomy and chemistry. These brain changes interfere with your ability to think clearly, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs. While under the influence of drugs, some people commit acts that they would not normally do. So does that mean a person addicted to drugs should not be held accountable for their actions? Rehabilitation offers to change a person’s negative lifestyle habits into positive ones, by correcting the behavior of offenders through treatment, education, and counseling. For that first and second time nonviolent, simple drug possession offenders, drug abuse treatment in a rehabilitation canter can be effective. The same cannot be said for a repeat drug offender and a person under the influence of drugs that commits a criminal offense. People are sent to prison for committing crimes. Why should a drug abuser committing crimes be any different? Drug offenders should be held accountable for their actions and sent to prison. Prisons detour recidivism, as well as, provide specialized services and programs to meet the needs of the offender. Drug addiction is a problem in our society, and it is spread in almost every country over the world. People who are addicted feel an overwhelming, uncontrollable dependence for the drug, and will continue...
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...Heroin Addiction Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is usually sold as a white or brown like powder or as a black sticky substance known on the streets as “black tar heroin”. Pure heroin is becoming more common on the streets, but most is cut with other drugs or substances such as sugar, starch or other poisons. Heroin abusers do not often know the actual strength of the drug, or what its contents are and are at risk of overdose or death. It is estimated that 9.2 million people in the world use heroin and first time users have risen from 85000 people in 1970 to 162000 in 2001. HIV and other diseases can be transmitted from abuser to abuser from sharing of needles or other types of injection equipment; about three to four percent of heroin addicts die each year from HIV and AIDS. Heroin, or as known on the streets as “smack”, “H”, “junk” and many others is usually injected, sniffed, snorted or smoked. Intravenous injection provides a heroin abuser with the greatest intensity and most rapid high, producing a drowsy state of relaxation and contentment, taking approximately fifteen to thirty seconds to get that intense high. Injection into the muscle or skin takes about three to five minutes for an abuser to get a high. When heroin is sniffed or smoked, the effects are usually felt within ten to fifteen minutes. Injection is the most used method of heroin users; however researchers have seen a shift in patterns from injection to sniffing...
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...Abigail Denae Lockhart English 101 Dr. Rose November 24, 2014 The Disease of Drug Addiction A major problem in the United States today is the disease of addiction. The disease of addiction is unlike many other diseases, people generally struggle greatly while making an attempt to change for the better. In many cases, the addicts may be clean for a various amount of time, but generally will have a relapse. The media produces tales of inspiration and hope, but also pressure for the addict in various ways. The disease presents various problems with the addict’s behavior, appearance, and attitude. The views of society make it hard for addicts to change, so the addict’s chances of ever being fully clean are slim. Drug addiction is a serious physical and psychological impairment that is very difficult to ever truly recover from. “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences” (Science of Addiction). Since addiction is labeled as a brain disease, the addict’s brain cannot function properly without the drugs. Drug addicts act on their cravings for the drug, and they do not think about the repercussions of the drugs. The high of a drug is like no other, and they keep coming back for more and more. Other than the fact the person is addicted to drugs, there is many different reasons people abuse drugs. One of the many reasons people start doing drugs is to do better at something...
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...11/14/2014 Drug Addiction Treatment in the Criminal Justice System | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Home » Related Topics » Criminal Justice » Drug Addiction Treatment in the Criminal Justice System Drug Addiction Treatment in the Criminal Justice System Revised April 2014 Print Drug Use, Crime, and Incarceration The connection between drug use and crime is well known. Drug use is implicated in at least five types of drug-related offenses: [i] 1. Offenses related to drug possession or sales 2. Offenses directly related to obtaining drugs (e.g., stealing to get money for drugs) 3. Offenses related to a lifestyle that includes association with other offenders or with illicit markets 4. Offenses related to abusive and violent behaviors, including domestic violence and sexual assault 5. Offenses related to driving while intoxicated or under the influence, which can include property damage, accidents, injuries, and fatalities. [ii] Incarceration Drug use and intoxication can impair judgment, resulting in criminal behavior, poor anger management, and violent behavior. Sometimes drug users steal money or property to be able to buy drugs. Often they will commit crimes while “high” on drugs, and many drug users are sent to jail or prison. In 2012, nearly 7 million adults were involved with the criminal justice system (State or Federal prisons, local jails), including nearly 5 million who were under probation or parole supervision. [iii] A 2004 survey by...
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...Marshall COM/156 July 7, 2013 University of Phoenix Ms. Roberts Introduction Even though you may not be the person using alcohol or drugs, or violating the law, you can Certainly be a victim of an alcohol or drug-related crime. In fact, millions of people each year are victims of alcohol or drug related crime, including millions of young people. (NCADD, 2013). Generation after generation have suffer from some form of psychological and physical distress dealing with a love one are a close friend whom may have had an alcohol or drug addiction. Ranging from lied to for no reason, stole from or spending our money to bail them out of jail as well as providing transportation to and from different places. Everyone seem to overlook the matter of the physiology and psychology distress that an addict my cause to different individuals as well as family members. People who use drugs and alcohol are often times attempting to numb disturbing emotional and psychological pain that they don't want to feel (Dayton, 2010). Over the years I have witness several friends allow some type of addiction to take over their daily routine. Fighting a battle within a battle, numbing the pain only to be faced with pain again. Living with addiction often results in cumulative trauma that deeply affects family members. When addicts are using they are, for all intents and purposes, out of their minds. Their behavior mimics that of a variety of psychiatric disorders ranging from manic...
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...The Effects of Drug Addicts in Neighborhoods Is your neighborhood being turned upside down by drug addicts? Do you really understand the effects of drug addiction and how you may be able to help to kick the habit? Taking part in your neighborhood can help to take the drug war at hand. Drug dependency is becoming more than just physically harmful, but is turning neighborhoods and cities upside down with drug dealing, prostitution, and violence. Drug Addiction is not only physically harmful, but can become an expensive habit that is able to destroy a person’s life. According to drugabuse.gov approximately ½ Trillion dollars is spent a year in drug addiction for treatment, health and crimes, Including 181 billion for illicit drugs, 168 billion on tobacco use and 185 billion on alcohol. Alcohol and tobacco are well known to addicts because of the availability. Drug addiction can be physically harmful by destructing your brain and liver. Prescription drugs are considered safe and not physically harmful, but illegal use can cause addicts to overdose, becoming physically harmful. Narconon Drug Rehab states that “Drug addiction is a biological, pathological process that alters the way in which the pleasure center, as well as other parts of the brain functions.” For example, “When cocaine enters the brain, it blocks the dopamine transporter from pumping dopamine back into the transmitting neuron, flooding the synapse with dopamine. This intensifies and prolongs the...
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...are not receiving treatment for their addiction (Smith, 2012). A Survey conducted in 2009 by the National Household Survey team on drug use revealed that the primary reason for not receiving treatment was due to a lack of insurance coverage and the inability to pay privately (Smith, 2012). Locating a treatment center that will accept anyone under the age of 21 is nearly impossible. Addiction treatment options and insurance coverage needs to be more readily available and affordable to teens and their families, as they are at greater risk of developing health related issues, run an increased risk of participating in risky behavior, and finally, the teens, and their families, difficulty dealing with the emotional devastation drug abuse causes. The AACAP (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) has linked numerous problems related to adolescent drug use in adulthood (Wisdom, 2011). Among these are neurological changes that take place in the Central Nervous System with prolonged drug use. The brain atrophies, grey and white matter decrease, and the metabolism of glucose decreases. (Buttner, 2011). Along with these physical changes, there is a higher probability that, as adults, the addict will suffer from depression, memory loss and a decline in their cognitive development (Buttner, 2011). Another physical complication comes with the use of the substance injection drugs, which increases the possibility of contracting deadly diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. This...
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