Free Essay

Drug Use and Abuse

In:

Submitted By lavc94
Words 2124
Pages 9
Sociology 25
Wednesdays 3:30pm

Drug Use and Abuse
I was born in East Los Angeles, and I grew up surrounded by the Mexican culture. Not only were the "fiestas" big, full of joy and love, but there wasn't a party where you wouldn't see a man walking in with a twenty-four of coronas and a bottle of tequila to drink while singing along to the rancheras. The party never stopped until you had a bunch of machos tripping over their own two feet. Words quickly turned into slurs, women endured being disrespected, and fights always broke out. If that wasn't a good enough reason, the party wasn't over until the last drop of beer was taken. Having to grow up surrounded by drunk's made me realize that alcohol wasn't for me.
This is how it always begins, it starts with celebrations like your best friends marriage anniversary, or your son graduating high school. Then it turns into drinking socially and before you know it you're drinking uncontrollably, and you welcome any excuse to drink. That's what I witnessed with my uncle. He started of with a successful life living what every other immigrant can only dream off. He was a web-designer and owned a house. He had a beautiful family who supported him in everything. But suddenly everything seemed to turn upside down.
My family were always close. But just like everybody else I had a favorite uncle. So I spent a lot of time around him. As far as I can remember my uncle never had empty hands. His right hand was always holding a beer, and his left a blunt. No one ever said anything because he always said it was medicated marijuana. Sadly I started noticing changes in him and watched him destroy himself slowly. He started missing work for a few days here and there, until he

ultimately stopped going altogether. He somehow was still making money but he claimed he had picked up a new hobby making shirts. No one doubted him, until one night he never came home.
That one night changed everybody's life forever, especially mine.
I remember watching my mom cry, my grandma struggling to breath between each breath and my aunt losing hope. My uncle never came home, and the reason why was what got me confused. My cousin called 911 to report a missing person, yet to our surprise there was no missing person. My uncle was in jail for distribution of cocaine, and if that wasn’t enough they found over 400 pounds of it hidden in many areas of his truck. I was definetly not going to see him soon, and to make matters worse my mom landed in the hospital due to the news. I became very bitter, my uncle was everything to me and just like that I watched the man I once loved become a complete stranger.
My uncle remains in jail till' this day and I haven't communicated with him. I do have a lot of unanswered questions but I'm afraid to hear from him and be dissappointed. What he did really hurt me. In part I am grateful I was able to experience how drugs and alcohol affected my uncle. Thanks to that I grew up with a different mentality towards drugs an alcohol. While everyone around me experienced with them I tried everything in my power to stay away.
I grew up in North Hollywood in an area where gangs where going head to head to take over. So I watched gangsters walking around, recruiting young kids who felt like they had no family, drugs were being sold anywhere and everywhere. It was always out in the open and everyone pretended to look the other way. But I couldn’t help but pay attention. I only knew so much about drugs and I was one day offered angel dust by an ex boyfriend. I didn't know much about him, I was in middle school and like every other girl just went with the flow. I wasn't aware he was gang related and that he was more than familiar with drugs. Until one day we were

hanging around in front of my house when four guys who were huge jumped us. I ended up hospitalized with a bruised face, broken ribs, and a busted lip. But that did nothing to stop me from continuing to see my boyfriend. I then ended up in the middle of everything. I witnessed drug distributing front and center. Cocaine, angel dust, marijuana, everything. You name it they had it. I watched people do just about anything to get just one hit, just one pill.
Once again I was reminded how drugs affect peoples lives. And the saddest moment was when I realize I was helping them destroy it. These people just like my uncle had family. I no longer wanted to be near a situation that only reminded me of my uncle. I wanted to stay away from drugs, away for good. Unfortunately; I should know better than to expect it to just happen.
When I entered high school I was really excited, I thought I had left everything behind. I joined a health class where we discussed the effects of drugs and alcohol in our body. All this information only helped to enforce my ideas of it and continue to stay away.
But being that East Valley high was a new school there was absolutely no control. There was no amount of safety. There was no security, no punishments, and with no one reinforcing the rules it was easy to get away with anything. You'd find yourself surrounded by a cloud of weed.
They'd hide alcohol in water bottles. You'd see a few peers taking ecstacy in order to pass time.
To top it all of there were several gang rivalry's that ended with fights in just about every corner.
The few teachers available were afraid to find dead bodies where it was least expected due to overdose. While it was blatantly obvious what was going in our school, they didn’t have the funds required to hire new personal so the problems increased and the teachers that were available soon started leaving.
I watched my classmates make a fool out of themselves, dropping out of school. Because they were too busy trying to fit in that they were never paying attention. The saddest part was

that most of them didn’t even do it because they actually wanted too, but because of their friends.
There was always a leader who decided on all the ideas. They believed joining in made them loyal. No one seemed to have thoughts of their own they kind of just went along with whatever their group of friends wanted. I used to walk home from school since I only lived a few blocks away. I'd watch classmates walk into a small store called Big Lots and steal dust cleaners. They'd all inhale it while walking home. I once witnessed a guy faint and hit his head on the sidewalk.
His friends instead of helping, ran. Adults nearby immediately called the police. I kept walking but a part of me wished I would of done more. Once in a while I think about him, and what happened after, because I never saw him at school again. I didn’t want that and it continued to reinforce my believe in staying away from drugs and alcohol. At this point I watched so many people destroy themselves I didn’t want to be a part of it. I wanted a future, and even a simple taste of drugs and alcohol could turn into complete addiction. I didn’t want to be the one to savotage my own future. My classmates thought me the mistakes I didn’t want to personally make. The older I got the more I wanted to learn what made drugs and alcohol so desirable.
My last job was at Marie Callendar's, it was the only place I ever witnessed my coworkers consume alcohol. Being that I was older, I didn't view it as such a bad thing. Alcohol was fun if taken responsibly. I did see many of my coworkers stealing bottles from the bar area and stepping out to the parking lot to drink during working hours. Because there was no cameras anywhere, they never got caught. Their drinking went beyond working hours, after work was over they'd meet up at bars and drink some more while socializing. I tagged along once but it was just too much for me. Besides according to them I couldn't hang. In other words I didn’t drink until I forgot where I lived. They were fun people but just drank way too much than necessary. It was a messy situation, I just hated watching people be drunk and acting completely

different and out of control. Nothing made sense to me, how could being sloppy drunk be so amazing to them? I guess ill never know until I experience it myself and I just didn't want to stoop to that level.
I don’t listen to english music, my preference is spanish; and more than usual they are love songs. If I'm listening to pandora one or two songs involving drugs and narcs will sneak in.
And if I'm driving I don’t bother changing it. When I listen to these type of songs it makes me angry. These songs are written by groups who experience it or are usually based on true stories. I don’t really know the names but what they sing is about the drug violence and the cartels trying to take over Mexico. They also experience the wrath of the cartels. They've been shot at, threatened, hospitalized because of their music. They don’t want anyone writing about what goes on and made into music. When I listened to the song for the first type all I could think of was
"why would anyone risk their families to ear easy money?" I started hating the idea of drug intake even more. Nothing positive seemed to be coming out of it so why would I want to involve myself with it?
It wasn't until I came across the movie Smiley face on youtube that I for some reason felt different towards marijuana. Anna Faris made marijuana seem fun. It got me interested but I still found myself with the idea that maybe marijuana led to harder drugs just like my uncle. At this time I had met so many stoners who were A plus students, had a good future, and used marijuana simply for fun or to help them relax that I was conflicted in my own feelings toward marijuana itself. I did end up personally smoking, and did it more than often. I started when I had trouble sleeping at night and my friend recommended it. It worked and I started falling asleep in no time.
It wasn't until my mom found my weed placed in my drawer that I felt like I had failed her. The dissappointment in her eyes made me feel like what I was doing was heading to the road of

destruction, so I stopped. And just like that I went back to having insomnia. I started smoking again, I knew I wasn’t addicted because I could stop whenever I wanted too. And I did, when I got pregnant with my daughter, I haven't smoked since.
My thoughts on marijuana changed altogether. But I couldn’t change my mind over the other drugs altogether. I didn’t see any positive outcomes out of those, like I did with marijuana.
In a way I feel like an hypocrite, since maybe the users see it as a help the way I felt weed helped me. I did get closer to my catholic religion once I had my kids. And I knew they judged many who were involved with drugs. They always pushed their help, but not in a "it's your choice kind of way." but more of like "you have too, or you're definetly going to hell." That didn't change my way of viewing drugs and alcohol. I did witness alcohol being the number one reason why families fell apart. But at the end of the day others choices couldn’t define me. I learned that the hard way. They could help mold me but not turn me into one of them.
God did help make me into a better person and understand that drugs and alcohol can be negative if I let them. I don’t need any of it to help me live, but I do know that some are good but us as users can easily turn them into something bad by letting them get the best of us.

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Drug Use & Abuse

...The Salvation Army Caribbean Territorial Training College Cadet Joshua Alexander Poyser Topic: Drug Use & Abuse Drug abuse is the excessive and self- damaging use of habit forming drugs/ substances resulting in addiction or dependence and serious physiological and/or psychological harm. Countries and regions across the world have struggled with the use and abuse of drugs within its populace, the Caribbean being no exception. In some instances these practices have led to criminal activities and violence, especially gang- related violence. Drug abuse usually starts with mere experimentation and develops into social exclusion, degradation of family values, greed, stress, and inadequate life and social skills. The consequence of illicit drug use typically extends to crime related instability and insecurity, the creation of health challenges and can even contribute to the spread of diseases such as HIV that impacts both social and economic development. History Since the dawn of history, humans have sought ways to relieve the daily strains of life, bringing forth and making popular the practice of ‘substance abuse’. The ancient people of Mesopotamia as well as those of Ancient Greece, Rome, India, Assyria, Etc. produced beer and opium for recreational uses which was surely a form of drug abuse but was not seen as such as it was socially acceptable at the time. Over the Atlantic, the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans experimented with ‘peyote’, ‘cannabis’ and ‘mescaline’ (all plants...

Words: 1126 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Drug Use and Abuse

...Drug use and abuse is as old as mankind itself. Human beings have always had a desire to eat or drink substances that make them feel relaxed, stimulated, or euphoric. Humans have used drugs of one sort or another for thousands of years. Wine was used at least from the time of the early Egyptians; narcotics from 4000 B.C.; and medicinal use of marijuana has been dated to 2737 BC in China.  As time went by, "home remedies" were discovered and used to alleviate aches, pains and other ailments. Most of these preparations were herbs, roots, mushrooms or fungi. They had to be eaten, drunk, rubbed on the skin, or inhaled to achieve the desired effect.  One of the oldest records of such medicinal recommendations is found in the writings of the Chinese scholar-emperor Shen Nung, who lived in 2735 BC He compiled a book about herbs, a forerunner of the medieval pharmacopoeias that listed all the then-known medications.  He was able to judge the value of some Chinese herbs. For example, he found that Ch'ang Shan was helpful in treating fevers. Such fevers were, and still are, caused by malaria parasites.  South and Central American Indians made many prehistoric discoveries of drug-bearing plants. Mexican Aztecs even recorded their properties in hieroglyphics on rocks, but our knowledge of their studies comes mainly from manuscripts of Spanish monks and medical men attached to the forces of the conquistador Hernan Cortes (1485-1547).  Pre-Columbian Mexicans used many substances...

Words: 1602 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Drug Use and Abuse

...By, T. J. (1964, Aug 30). PELHAM BAY TRIES TO CURB ADDICTION. New York Times (1923-Current File). Retrieved from http://ez.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/docview/115580869?accountid=11724 The main point of this article was to introduce a foundation called Synanon which is a program that expanded in three different regions which was funded to keep teenagers away from the use of narcotics and of course its significant because it was put together in areas such as my neighborhood known as Pelham Bay Park and other areas because these areas specifically have vase amount of teenage narcotic users. This is related to my neighborhood because Pelham Bay is part of my neighborhood and I always knew there was teenagers having use of some drug but not specifically narcotics never had an idea it was that serious. This is important to my paper because from this I could find out the statistics as to how many teenagers are immune to these drugs in the certain amount of time of my residence here. This information didn’t really create an transformation because I had already some kind of idea about drugs being used in my area by teenagers. DERAILMENT TIES UP PELHAM BAY SUBWAY. (1947, Sep 04). New York Times (1923-Current File). Retrieved from http://ez.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/docview/108091371?accountid=11724 The main point of this article is to show how responsibility is a big deal from the MTA employees and its very dependable amongst them to serve the public as we please because everyday there’s work...

Words: 1936 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Substance Abuse

... | |Substance Abuse | |Final Research Paper Substance abuse is characterized as a social problem in numerous parts of America. Substance abuse is defined as a pattern of harmful use of substances for mood-altering purposes (“Drug Abuse”). Drug abuse is the use of illicit drugs or abuse of prescription or over the counter drugs for purposes other than those for which they are indicated or in a manner or in qualities other than directed (“Drug Abuse”). Many people believe that substance abusers, drugs abusers, and addicts should be able to stop taking these substances and drugs if they are willing to change their behavior. What many people do not understand is that substance and drug abuse is a problem that needs to be addressed. It is not as easy as some people think to stop using these substances and drugs. There are several causes for substance abuse. Substance abuse ranges in many different ages from teenagers to elderly. This social problem can affect families and many different individuals. 50% of Americans have a beloved one who is suffering from a substance or drug abuse problem at any given time (“Home”)...

Words: 2860 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Contemporary Issues in Community Development

...CDEV 461: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TOPIC: THE EMERGING TREND OF DRUG ABUSE AND PEDDLING IN EGERTON UNIVERSITY SUBMITED TO: DR. KAMURU MAKAL DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STUDIES. DATE OF SUBMISSION ABSTRACT Drug abuse is one of the top problems confronting the nation today especially among the youth. Incidences of drug and alcohol abuse and related antisocial behavior have tremendously increased in the resent years this has become matter of concern to the government, parents, NGOs and other relevant agencies. The need of drugs and alcohol in universities has birthed entrepreneurs in drug peddling. As a result many of these students want money badly and they are ready to venture in whatever business just so they can make ends meet. Alcohol is the most frequently abused drug followed by bang’ Miraa, tobacco and shisha. Egerton University In access to alcoholic drinks has been made easy due to the close proximity of bars and entertainment joints to the university gates. The factors that contribute to drug abuse and drug peddling include; the gap, association with drug using peers, source of quick cash, parental drug abuse, and antisocial behavior among others. Disadvantages of drug abuse and peddling include; imprisonment, addiction, lack of concentration, death, violence among others. TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents ABSTRACT ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii 1.0INTRODUCTION 1 Background information 1 Trends 2 Statement of the problem 2 Significance...

Words: 2533 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Counselling

...Drug Abuse and Addiction: What's the Difference? Written by Natasha Tracy [pic]While many people use the terms drug abuse and addiction interchangeably, abuse and addiction have separate and distinct meanings. One can abuse drugs without necessarily being addicted to drugs. The drug abuse definition centers more around the way a person uses drugs, while the drug addiction definition includes the use of drugs and also the psychological and physiological effects the drug has on the body. It's important to understand the drug abuse and drug addiction definitions so as to correctly identify problem behaviours seen in loved ones. It's also key to remember that alcohol is also a drug and is included in the definitions of drug abuse and addiction Drug Abuse and Addiction - Drug Tolerance Central to the understanding of drug abuse and addiction is the idea of tolerance. When a person starts using a drug, they typically use a small amount to receive pleasurable effects, or a "high." With time though, drug users find the same amount of drug no longer produces the desired effects and they have to consume more of the drug to attain the same high. This effect is known as tolerance.1 In drug abuse and addiction, creation of tolerance depends on the drug used, the amount that is used and the frequency with which it is used. Drug tolerance can be both psychological and physiological. Drug Abuse Definition The definition of drug abuse does not have drug tolerance as a factor. Rather...

Words: 524 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Brief History of Nigeria’s Counter-Narcotic Efforts the Drug Problem Is as Old as Man. No Society Is Insulated from the Negative Consequences of Illicit Drugs. Many Analysts Are of the Opinion That Apart from the

...[pic]Drug dependence - Overview Alternative Names Drug addiction; Addiction - drug; Dependence on drugs Definition of Drug dependence: Drug dependence means that a person needs a drug to function normally. Abruptly stopping the drug leads to withdrawal symptoms. Drug addiction is the compulsive use of a substance, despite its negative or dangerous effects. A person may have a physical dependence on a substance without having an addiction. For example, certain blood pressure medications do not cause addiction but they can cause physical dependence. Other drugs, such as cocaine, cause addiction without leading to physical dependence. Tolerance to a drug (needing a higher dose to attain the same effect) is usually part of addiction. Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Drug abuse can lead to drug dependence or addiction. People who use drugs for pain relief may become dependent, although this is rare in those who don't have a history of addiction. The exact cause of drug abuse and dependence is not known. However, a person's genes, the action of the drug, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress all can be factors. Peer pressure can lead to drug use or abuse, but at least half of those who become addicted have depression, attention deficit disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental health problem. Children who grow up in an environment of illicit drug use may first see their parents using drugs. This may put them at a...

Words: 6596 - Pages: 27

Premium Essay

Drugs

...Christianity point of view. b) Law of the land. DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. INTRODUCTION. DEFINITION. Drug. 1) A drug is any chemical you take that affects the way your body works. Example: alcohol, caffeine, aspirin, nicotine etc. 2) A drug is a substance which may have medicinal, intoxicating performance when taken by a human body. Drug abuse. 1) It is the use of illegal drugs, the misuse of prescription or over-the-counter drugs for at least a year with negative consequences. 2) Compulsive, excessive and self-damaging use of habit-forming drugs or substances, leading t addiction or dependence, serious physiological injury(e.g. damage of kidney, liver, heart) and/or physiological harm(e.g. dysfunctional behavior patterns, hallucinations, memory loss),or death. Substance abuse. Harmful/hazardous use of psychoactive substances including alcohol and illicit drugs. Substance abuse is also sometimes referred to as drug abuse. Drug and substance abuse has become a disaster and an issue to be addressed urgently worldwide. In Kenya, drug abuse is one of the major problems alongside poverty, corruption and HIV/AIDS. However, whereas the HIV/AIDS prevalence is coming down, drugs and substance abuse is on the increase compounded by lack of a traditional control system and frustration arising from unemployment, idleness and poverty. WHY SUBSTANCE AND DRUG ABUSE IS AN ISSUE OF CONCERN. Since the issue of drug abuse came into existence, a lot of measures to curb its...

Words: 3596 - Pages: 15

Premium Essay

Business Social Responsibility

...Implications Of Drug Abuse Among Undergraduates: A Case Study Of The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Nigeria.     Citation: Kobiowu, S.V.  (2006) The Social And Academic Implications Of Drug Abuse Amonst Undergraduates: A Case Study of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria   International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. 11 (1), 61-68           [pic] Abstract The researcher investigated the incidence of drug misuse among university undergraduates, with particular reference to Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. The study revealed that the academic pursuit of those undergraduates who engage in drug misuse is not unduly jeopardized, and that the abusers do not socialize extraordinarily, contrary to seemingly popular expectation.         [pic]   Introduction The term ‘drug’ in the main, would relate to “any substance that, when taken into a living organism, may modify one or more of its functions”, while abuse’ implies “a particular application of a drug more destructive than constructive for society, or the individual”.   One may be hooked emotionally and psychologically, and may have a physical dependence, where one has a drug addiction problem, whether to a legal or illegal drug, there is a craving for it. The individual wants to use the drug again and again, and if it is stopped, there are usually unpleasant physical reactions.   While it is not everyone who uses drug that becomes...

Words: 4221 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Assignment 3

...Drug Abuse and its Effects Introduction Drug abuse is a malaise that the U.S. has been fighting since a long time and still has a long way to go, whether it is the youth or the elderly, people from all age groups, all ethnicities and races, all regions and religions, seems to be afflicted with the enigma that is drug abuse. Internationally, over 200 million people chomp through some type of illicit drugs. From ordinary bhaang, Cannabis, opium to artificial “designer” drugs like ecstasy or MDMA, barbiturate derivatives, benzodiazepines like alprazolam, diazepam, amphetamines, Phenethylamine and Tryptamine derivatives; different forms of drugs are available for inducing excitation or jubilation. What is Drug Abuse Drug abuse is unprovoked, decorative utilization of any usual or synthetic substance or drug in an unapproved amount for performance augmentation and psychosomatic effect for non-therapeutic, non-medical use by an individual with methods neither approved nor supervised by medical professionals. The society as a whole has been at the suffering end of this habit for a long time. Drug abuse has made such deeper inlays in our lives that there seems to be no end to this menace. Drug abuse is a major public health problem that impacts society on multiple levels. Directly or indirectly, every community is affected by drug abuse and addiction, as is every family. Drugs take a tremendous toll on our society at many levels. People who use drugs incident a wide array...

Words: 3056 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Drug Abuse

...What Is Drug Addiction? Drug addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the drug addict and those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self-control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time create an intense impulse to take drugs. Signs of Substance Use - Topic Overview Signs of Substance Use Guide * Topic Overview * Health Tools * Related Information * Credits The following are some obvious signs that a person may be smokingcigarettes, drinking alcohol, or using other substances. This is not a complete list of signs to look for. If you suspect a particular drug or drugs, get more information on signs of use for those substances. For more information, see Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Cigarettes * A distinctive smell on the breath and clothing * Cigarettes and lighter in his or her possession * Cigarette butts outside a bedroom window or in other odd places around the home Alcohol * Alcoholic beverages missing from the home storage cabinet * Alcohol or mouthwash (used to cover up alcohol) breath orhangover symptoms (nausea, vomiting, or headache), if recently used ...

Words: 4249 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Prescription Drug Abuse

...Rough Draft Turner Comp 2 Is Prescription Drug Abuse an Epidemic? Many people especially the younger generation, ages starting at twelve years old have turned to the abuse of prescription drugs. The most commonly misused prescription drugs are painkillers (opioids), antidepressants, and anxiety medication. People claim addiction is a choice, but according to science addiction is considered a brain disease due to the fact that it alters the brain permanently by changing the structure of the brain itself and how it works. Some say the huge sting made over prescription drug abuse is all over exaggerated and they blame the media. But how can you make the claim that the abuse of prescription drugs isn’t a huge epidemic? The 2010 Nation Survey of Drug use and Health states that 2.4 million Americans have used prescription drugs non medically within the last year with ages 18-25 being the highest of users. Evidence proves that prescription drug abuse is an epidemic in the United States today, and those who disagree rely on blaming the media for falsely portraying the intensity of prescription drug abuse. People often think everything is okay as long as it’s not right in front of their faces, and too many people have turned a blind eye to this dangerous addiction. It is time for people to realize the real issues prescription drug abuse is causing and how quickly it has become such a dangerous epidemic. How did this epidemic spread...

Words: 1918 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Juvenile Drug Abuse

...Juvenile Drug Abuse and Prevention Abstract The appetite for drugs and drug abuse is problematic in the United States. Powder cocaine is the adult recreational drug of choice. The United States is the world’s largest consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean. Pharm parties are the Juveniles’ new trend for getting high. When it comes to our children the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, revealed that more than 2.1 million persons 12 year of age or older used prescription type pain relievers for the first time in 2006. It is the moral obligation of parents, communities, together with law enforcement agencies; educational systems and social organizations to find the programs that will work, engage them and save the children from drug abuse. We know that one way a child learns, is through role modeling. Therefore we as adults should be mindful about what our actions teach them. Juvenile Drug Abuse and Prevention Drug abuse by Juveniles is particularly problematic in the United States. Teenage years are filled with searching, confusion, rebellion, and insecurity. If these are not managed properly, it may lead to problems and inappropriate coping in several ways; one being use and abuse of drugs. Use and abuse are considered to be synonymous by most authors when juveniles are considered. Because juveniles are legally barred from the recreational use of any drug, including alcohol; any use would constitute abuse (Whitehead...

Words: 2865 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Substance Abuse

...Substance Abuse By: Ashley Johnson Introduction People abuse different substance/drugs for many reasons. The toll for this abuse can be seen in our hospitals and emergency departments through direct damage to health by substance abuse and its link to physical trauma. Jails and prisons tally daily the strong connection between crime and drug dependence and abuse. Although use of some drugs such as cocaine has declined, use of other drugs such as heroin and "club drugs" has increased. A drug is any substance that crosses from the bloodstream into the brain and that somehow changes the way the brain is functioning. By this definition, some common substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and even caffeine are considered “drugs.” Drug abuse implies “willful, improper use due to an underlying disorder or quest for hedonistic or immoral please” (N. Miller, 1995). Substance abuse is “harmful use of one or more psychoactive substance” (Abadinsky, 2008). The term substance abuse describes abusive or harmful use of any substance; it also known as a chemical or drug abuse. Drugs can have the wrong effects on people especially when used improperly. Not only does drug abuse harm you but it also breaks up families. Statement of the Problem According to www.medicinenet.com, the term substance abuse describes abusive or harmful use in excess of any substances. A drug is any substance that crosses from the bloodstream into the brain and that somehow changes the way the brain...

Words: 858 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Cross Cultural Psychology

... PSY/400 Substance abuse has been a main stay in our society for years and is seen as a nonproductive way of life. It can lead to dependency with certain drugs. There is a huge range of drugs that can be consumed in various ways such as alcohol by drinking, cocaine by free basing, smoking or snorting. amphetamines, benzodiazepines and opiates comes in pill or powder form and is just as deadly if improperly used. Some of these drugs are illegal in some countries and when improperly used in America can lead to criminal prosecution. If caught in possession of or under the influence of, a harsh penalty will be levied in a mix of monitory compensation as well as prison time. In this paper we will discuss the nature and historical issues of drug abuse accompanied by how it has affected the society in which we live. We will also present two elements or main points to suggest that drug abuse is a losing battle that will take you on a ride you will never forget. We will also justify the use of these elements by connecting them to various motivations of altruistic behavior as identified in social change theory. Our final discussion in this paper will be the implication of intervention and prevention. Public health practitioners such as doctors, psychologist and psychiatrist have undertaken a number of studies into drug abuse from an individual basis to social culture and availability. They have developed phrases...

Words: 1088 - Pages: 5