...Substance Abuse Just like many disease or mental illness, substance abuse does not discriminate. Substance abuse can result from sociocultural, due to stress of environmental factors, social economics and unemployment’s. The use of substance abuse whether it is alcohol, prescription drugs, or other method it is a stress reliever for the abuser, helping them escape. The addiction to substance abuse makes it hard to function and work in the real world because the abuser becomes dependent and develop higher tolerance. Those suffering from substance abuse may have genetic been given through it through an addict mother, or suffering through a life crises of depression, stress and anxiety. Psychological Factors There is several reason one would try drugs that may turn into substance abuse, it could be the mere fact of stress and unemployment, abusing alcohol or substance abuse allows the person to be able to relieve the stress and feel at peace. Substance abuse can result from social economics and surrounds, whether it is something we see on television or dealing with peer pressures of friends, family and coworkers. The void drugs fill in your life will take part of you life making it hard to accomplish any tasks. Effects The effect of substance abuse can result in changes in the brain interfering with the ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, controlling our behavior, and this results in poor work performance. You frequently call out of work, running late, struggles...
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...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...
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... Shelter & Continued Education Program for Alcohol Abusers “Alcohol abuse is one of the most recognized types of addictive personalities among the general population” (Newsweek, 2004). Because it is easily accessible, inexpensive, and casually used, it is available to purchase and consume in all ages due to most convenient stores, grocery stores, and corner liquor stores having alcoholic beverages readily available to purchase. Even though most states have injunctions to sale or distribute to anyone under the age of 21, numerous young adults has been under the influence of alcohol before reaching the legal age to purchase. As a result, many young adults are “suffering from alcoholism and is in need of shelter, nutrition, and continued education (MacGillivray, 2010). In this paper, I will propose a program to provide shelter and continued education for young adults who suffer from alcohol abuse, while analyzing the contributing factors to alcohol abuse in young adults. Since the 1900s, young adults have had access to alcohol from opening a bottle of beer for their tired father – who has just come in from work – to sneaking a sip of alcohol from their uncles can, with no idea of what the future may hold. However, young adults did not have the financial means to consume alcohol as it is more frequent today due to the economic differences over time. As MacGillivray stated, the populous of alcohol abusers grow faster than the general...
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...The Social Problem of Substance Abuse Donna S. West WGU GLT1 Task 2 The Social Problem of Substance Abuse Substance abuse and addiction issues impact individuals, families, and communities in many ways and can be directly connected to costly social, physical, mental, and public health problems. In addition, substance abuse related issues have an overwhelming impact on the criminal justice system. Describe the social problem of Substance Abuse The way substance abuse is defined or understood can be interpreted in many ways, depending on the person or situation it may be related to. In simple terms, abuse is determined when there is a level of dysfunction related to the person's use of drugs or alcohol. One standard definition, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [HHS/SAMHSA], 1994, describes abuse as "the use of a psychoactive drug to such an extent that its effects seriously interfere with health or occupational and social functioning." The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) is standard in the medical and mental health fields for diagnosing both substance abuse and behavioral health disorders. According to the DSM-IV, substance abuse is "a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by" a variety of possible symptoms of impairment (American Psychiatric Association...
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...“Homelessness is a worldwide problem that affects millions. You will find them sleeping on sidewalks, under bridges, on park benches, in cars and in any little cubby hole they can find. You will see women, men, young kids and families” (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). ("The Portland Rescue Mission" ( 2015 ). Retrieved from http://www.portlandrescuemission.org/learn-more/myths-about-homelessness According to ‘the Portland Rescue Mission’ (2015), “The methodology for finding and counting the homeless is imperfect; we simply do not find everyone”. “Why are they all out there? What is Homelessness and what causes it? Homelessness is a very complicated issue that has no social or economic boundary. Mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and economic times affect all ages of the Homeless” (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). 1. Homelessness and Mental Health Mental Illness seems to be one of the leading causes of homelessness. “During my involvement with the homeless, I knew of a women name Frankie. Frankie was a school teacher, had a husband and two children. One night their home burned down with Frankie’s husband and children being lost in the fire. Frankie lost all rational thinking, not understanding why she lived. Frankie had a complete mental breakdown and ended up on the streets of Dallas homeless. This is a case of mental illness being the cause of homelessness. (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015)....
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... | |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...
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...drug abuse is “disproportionately associated with poverty, increased family stress, and neighborhoods plagued by instability, decay, and crime” (Schroeder & Fals-Stewart, 2006, p. 10). However, drug abuse tends to affect people of all socioeconomic status, race, age, and gender. The economic effect of substance abuse is estimated at $414 billion in 2001, and $109.9 billion is drug use (Schneider Institute, 2001). Drug abuse affects the drug user, the family, the job, and the very life of the abuser. The negative effect of drug abuse on family members is serious enough that there are many support groups available to family members of drug addicts. Support groups help family members better understand the drug user and equips the family with the tools necessary to emotionally and financially deal with the drug user. Effects of Drug Abuse on Families Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem Schneider Institute for Health Policy Children of substance abusers are more negatively affected than the parents of children who abuse drugs. Drug abusing parents face legal consequences, including imprisonment, divorce, and their children removed from the family household. Parents who abuse illegal drugs are 59% more likely than non-abusers to have psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, antisocial personality disorders, and depression (SAMHSA, 1999). This shows a clear link between psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. Parents with substance abuse, both...
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...Policies for Substance Abuse During Pregnancy Executive Summary 1. A statement of current policy 2. Reasons for initiation changes 3. Policy options to be considered 4. Pros and cons of each option 5. Recommended course of action 6. Reasoning for selecting that course of action Overview/Background * Statement of purpose – What is the significance of this issue, what is the history, scope – who is impacted by this issue, how is it relevant to social work The phenomenon of substance abuse during pregnancy is one that has stirred much controversy in the last three decades. The significance of this social problem is how to create policies that would address this issue and decrease future instances. The problem in writing a policy that attacks motherhood, health and reproduction rights is whether to respond to it as a criminal act or mental illness. The 1980’s began the widespread concern about substance abuse during pregnancy with the dramatic increase in newborns prenatally exposed to drugs, in particular, primarily crack cocaine. In response to the increased awareness of this problem many states developed policies to address the needs of these infants, however with the lack of federal policy there was no national uniformity or cohesion. This is certainly relevant to social work because of the increase in new cases of substance abusing parents, possible cases of neglect and child maltreatment as well as issues of health insurance and medical...
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...Business Proposal Substance Abuse in the United States has a detrimental impact on society. Some estimates reported by NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) state that the total overall cost in 2012 of substance abuse in the U.S, including productivity, health related costs, and crime related costs are upwards of $600 billion each year (NIDA, 2012). Illicit substances alone exceed $193 billion annually (NIDA, 2012). Illicit substance abuse carries with it significant destruction for the economy and society, including; unemployment, divorce, foster care for children in homes of addicted individuals, domestic abuse, child abuse, overcrowding of prison systems, and the list goes on and on (NIDA, 2012). This business proposal presents a new medication called Probuphine created to assist individuals fighting the battle against opioid addiction. The market structure and elasticity of the product is discussed throughout the proposal, with a specialized focus on the rationale for pricing related to the elasticity or non-elasticity of the product. Marginal cost and marginal revenue are analyzed as the proposal progresses and non-pricing strategies are evaluated to choose which strategy is the optimal choice for the success of the business. Last, the fixed and variable costs associated with the production of the medication are determined and discussed. Many people believe that addiction is something that can be controlled by will power or choices, but in fact, research shows that addiction...
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...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...
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...Alcohol abuse today is the most widespread form of substance abuse in the United States. Alcohol abuse and its associated problems cost society many billions of dollars each year. The 4million people in the US who search for treatment for substance abuse each year, almost 3 million of them are getting help with alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse has become a recognized problem by economist. An economist could approach the problem of alcohol abuse as cost, and how they could translate it into real numbers. Estimates of the economic costs of alcohol abuse attempt to evaluate in economic terms the damage that results from the abuse of alcohol. These costs include expenses on alcohol-related problems and opportunities that are lost because of alcohol. When measuring the cost of alcohol abuse in the U.S. it must understood what makes the assumptions of alcohol abuse logical and to center on the related alcohol abuse. Economist have to think about such things as health services and medical expenses, early death, loss of productivity, and alcohol related crimes. The U.S. economy has lost billions to alcohol-related problems. Drunk driving is a sensitive subject to many people because so many have been affected by this offense. According to reports; Alcohol-related accidents takes the life of someone every 31 minutes and nonfatal injuries someone every two minutes; in 2005 over 16,000 people in the U.S. died in alcohol-related vehicle accidents, which accounts to about 39% of all traffic-related...
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...Alcohol Abuse Byron Williams HCA 430 Special Populations Lynne Trevisan 1 July 2013 Alcohol Abuse Alcoholism is a disease that is creating a heavy burden on society. Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing. It is medically considered a disease, specifically a neurological disorder, and in medicine several other terms are used, specifically "alcohol abuse" and "alcohol dependence" which have more specific definitions. “Every year alcohol is responsible for 1/2 of all murders, accidental deaths, and suicides; 1/3 of all drowning, boating, and aviation deaths; 1/2 of all crimes; and almost 1/2 of all fatal automobile accidents” (Wells, 2000). Alcohol is a potent nonprescription drug sold to anyone over the national legal drinking age, 21 and Substantial evidence exists that both the presence and quality of family ties and the attitudes and practices of families themselves are correlated with individual members’ propensity to drink, smoke, or use drugs. Culture\Ethnicity and Income are two factors that increase vulnerability to alcoholism. In all societies, alcoholic beverages are used as powerful and versatile symbolic tools, to construct and manipulate the social world. In most societies alcohol use is considered a social activity. However in some cultures alcohol use...
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...Impact and Relationship of Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment: Risk and Resiliency Factors What Research Tells Us Martha Morrison Dore, Ph.D. Columbia University School of Social Work 622 West 113th Street New York, New York 10027 212/854-5461 Paper prepared for presentation at the conference entitled “Protecting Children in Substance Abusing Families,” September 28, 1998, sponsored by the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, Minneapolis, MN. Researchers are just beginning to demonstrate empirically what child protective services workers have been observing for nearly two decades now: many, if not most, families who come to the attention of the child welfare system are involved with drugs or alcohol or both. Founded cases of child abuse and neglect have risen exponentially since the mid-1980s, when the crack form of cocaine, a cheap, easily used form of the drug, became widely available. Studies conducted since that time have identified substance abuse as a contributing factor in 40% to 80% of substantiated cases of child maltreatment (Curtis & McCullough, 1993; Magura & Laudet, 1996; Murphy, Jellinek, Quinn, Smith, Poitrast, & Goshko, 1991). Further, studies of substance abusing parents have found child-rearing beliefs and attitudes that heighten risk for child abuse (Williams-Peterson et al., 1994), as well as elevated rates of first-time reports to child protective services (Jaudes & Ekwo, 1995), re-reports...
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...Date: Substance abuse refers to the pattern of continued use, despite adverse consequence. Socio-cultural determinants of substance abuse of substance use imply to social factors that affect the outcome of drug abuse. The group characteristic determines social cultural determinants, and the general beliefs in history of the set community. For instance, smoking was considered fashionable in the early times. Currently, it is prohibited in some communities. The alienations of individuals in new environment trigger people to abuse drugs. Emerging adulthood has been a significant contributor to drug abuse widespread. The youths gain freedom during the transition stage of adolescence to adulthood hence they abuse the drugs without fear of the parents. The exposure to colleges where there is so much freedom and culture of excessive drinking is continuously contributing to widespread use. Students abuse drugs while trying to cope with up with the new environments of studies and trying to fit the new social settings. The significant direct cost is arising from substance abuse results from health care. According to (J Rehm et. al, 2006) “The cost of acute care and psychiatric hospitalization, specialized inpatient treatment, ambulatory care and doctor’s fees, visits to a family doctor and drugs prescribed to treat a substance abuse problem.”9(p.5).Absolute proportional cost is spend according to the attributable ratio. Law enforcement cause of direct cost arising from substance abuse...
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...Child Abuse According to the non-profit organization Prevent Child Abuse New York (PCANY), several factors cause some people to have difficulty meeting the demands of parenthood, leading them to become abusive when they reach a breaking point or don’t know what else to do. These factors include immaturity, unrealistic expectations, emotional problems, economic crisis, lack of parenting knowledge, difficulty in relationships, depression and other mental health problems. When the stress of childcare combines with anxiety from other sources, some parents lack the skills to cope with it in healthy ways. Instead, their tempers get the best of them in times of crisis. The two main causes of child abuse are domestic violence and substance abuse. Children who live in households where violence is present usually end up becoming victims themselves. PCANY reports that 50 to 70 percent of men who abuse their female partners also abuse their children. Substance abuse is another leading cause of child abuse. According to PCANY, drugs or alcohol contribute to 70 percent of cases of child maltreatment, meaning physical abuse or neglect. Kids under 5 are the most susceptible to abuse or neglect by a substance-abusing parent and represent the fastest growing population of foster children. The most obvious effect of child abuse is physical injury to the child. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, physical injuries...
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