...Exam 3 * 5 Policy Alternatives (short answer + know the definition) * 1) Prohibition * 2) Decriminalization * 3) Legalization * 4) Medicalization * 5) Harm Reduction * For Legalization: (short answer) * Policies creating more harm than drugs * Legalize so they don’t have to commit criminal acts * So many people are using it, should be legalized * Failed to reduce use and addiction * Prohibition has negative health consequences * Reduced drug price reduced violence * Crime would decrease less crowded courts and jails * Focus too much on illegal drugs focus on legal drugs * Against Legalization: * Alcohol has history of social acceptance in US * Prohibition is affective against illicit drugs * Legalization of drugs increases consumption increase in overdose and death * How come crack involves higher level of violence than cocaine if less expensive drugs results in less crime? * If legalized more people will start using drugs * Good Country Policies (essay question) * England: * Marijuana is not prescribed for medical use * Prescribe heroin for heroin addicts * Reach out to people to get treatment through the Justice System * When you want help you get help * Portugal: * Jail time replaced with treatment * People caught with small amount sent to a panel ...
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...Alcohol and Drug Addiction Liberty University Abstract This paper is a reflection of addiction in the United States and the statistics that prove addiction is a major issue within the country. Discussed in the paper will be first the primary causes of addiction and risk factors that may lead to an addiction in an individual. Going further into the problem, the cycle of addiction and how to break free of the cycle and an individual’s addiction is talked about. Since there are different drugs that can cause addiction, a breakdown of certain drugs is given. These drugs include alcohol, prescription drugs, heroin, and marijuana. Next, the side effects of drug addiction to the drugs chosen are described in depth as well as the signs that can be viewed in screening for drug addiction. Resources available to drug addiction are touched on and treatment options to explore what can be done if an individual does suffer from drug addiction. Finally, what human service professionals are doing to assist individuals who are addicted and how they can improve on training to ensure that addiction can be caught early enough to make a difference? Introduction to Drug Addiction Addiction is a chronic disease of brain reward, motivation and memory in individuals who submit to any number of different drugs available to them. Such chronic need for the drugs leads to manifestations biologically, psychologically, spiritually and even socially in any given individual (ASAM, 2014). These, however...
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...Article Rebuttal Paper Carrington Ethridge 4/14/2014 Dr. Linda Vallejo Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option? In 1972, the US Congress placed marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act because they considered it to have "no accepted medical use." Since then, 21 US states Nations Capitol have legalized the medical use of marijuana. Supporters of medical marijuana argue that it can be a safe and effective alternative treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions. There are multiple studies from credible sources from prominent medical organizations, major government reports, and the use of marijuana as medicine throughout world history that support this. Non-Supporters of medical marijuana like the FDA argue that it is too dangerous to use as an alternative treatment for various reasons. One example would be that legal drugs make marijuana use redundant. They also say marijuana is addictive, a gate way to use other illegal drugs, interferes with fertility, and other physical and mental illnesses. They say that medical marijuana is used as front for the legalization of a banned substance. I believe medical marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states for alternative treatment. I feel if there is more supportive evidence supporting my beliefs on this topic then there is unsupportive evidence. Plus with man-made drugs they usually have a lot...
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...Legalizing Marijuana, New Social Stigma: The new wave of Acceptance C. LaMour Romine Pittsburg State University Definition of Problem to be studied: This research is a secondary research analysis of the theoretical perspective of the marijuana movement - pertaining to the politic standpoint of marijuana verses cigarettes and scientific medical analysis of marijuana verses cigarettes. This research is meant to explore the multifaceted aspect of marijuana, cigarette trends, and the correlation between their recent waves of popularity. We will explore the historical facts of past tobacco trends to the present marijuana movement including widely held attitudes and beliefs about both substances. The thesis of this research will be to explore the differences between marijuana and cigarettes and social stigmas. Including the shift in popularity between tobacco and marijuana the MJ activist group known as NORML supporting the legalization of cannabis, while anti tobacco organizations have increased to ban cigarette smoke in public places. This research will conceptualize the meanings behind the negative stigmas associated with drugs legal and illegal influence. The problem is a double standard between the political views of marijuana and cigarettes. The political perspectives seem to be focused on public stigmas about the substance(s) rather than deciding drug laws based on medical science. Marijuana and tobacco have a shared...
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...of marijuana is illegal in many countries. However its decriminalization has become one of the most acute for the last 10 years. Specialists if different areas call to revise old norms and legalize possession and cultivation of marijuana. I examined historical, medical, social and financial aspects of the problem and received evidence that legalization is possible and even necessary in today’s world of free morality. It is obvious that the advantages of legal marijuana overweight its harm. 1. The short story of marijuana prohibition Since early times people cultivated marijuana, or cannabis, or hemp, and used it for food. The fiber of young plants was the good raw material for clothes and paper. Cannabis also has a long history of medicinal usage, with evidence dating back to 4,000 B.C. In 19th century tincture of cannabis was the popular medicine. After the prohibition of alcohol beverages in 1919 young people in the USA began to smoke marijuana instead of liquor. In 1937 Harry J. Anslinger, the first Commissioner of the Treasury Department's Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN), inspired the “Marihuana Tax Act”. This act made possession or transfer of hemp illegal. At the USA hemp could be used for medical and industrial purposes only. However some critics noticed that Anslinger’s activity was supported by paper and plastic manufacturers who wanted to exclude hemp from the market. It is interesting, that due to Anslinger’s campaign many people believed that marijuana and...
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...Your Name Professor’s Name Course 22 September 2013 Medical Marijuana – What’s the Problem? While the debate rages across the country about legalizing medical marijuana, or Cannabis (Cannabis comes from the plant Cannabis sativa, and is commonly referred to by the Mexican name “marijuana”), apparently the majority of U.S. residents have already made up their mind about it. According to a 2004 AARP poll, over 72 percent agreed with the statement, “Adults should be allowed to use medical marijuana for medical purposes if a physician recommends it.” Perhaps even more astounding are the results of a 2013 Gallup poll which showed that fifty eight percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana, after both Washington State and Colorado legalized it in November of 2012. Those in favor of the drug claim that it is both an effective and safe treatment for many medical conditions, including; epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, cancer, and more. They point to the long history of the use of marijuana medicinal purposes and back up their claims with studies, reports, and medical data. So, what’s the problem? Why hasn’t medical marijuana been legalized in every state in the Union? Created in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act, an amendment to the Public Health Service Act, was enacted, making the “prevention of, drug abuse and drug dependence; to provide for treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers and drug dependent persons; and to strengthen existing law...
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...Legalization of marijuana A large topic of argument in today’s society is the legalization of marijuana from state to state. A growing trend of marijuana legalization started when it was first allowed to be used for medical purposes in california in 1996. Marijuana has been classified as an illegal substance since the passing of the Marijuana tax act of 1937 and is considered by many to be a gateway drug along with alcohol and tobacco products. A brief history From the 1600’s to the 1890’s the production of hemp(cannabis) was encouraged by the government for use as a material to make rope, sails, and other items that were made from plant fibers. In 1906 the pure food and drug act required and distributors who sold hemp based medicine to be labeled. From the 1930’s and up there has been a “fear” of marijuana because it had been linked to violent crimes; in order to make this common product...
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...textbook. These assignments will be collected. 5. If time allows, students may begin to review all study guides in preparation for upcoming final exam. In order to grasp the ramifications of illegal drug use by public service employees and the necessity of screening for the abuse of such substances by these individuals, it is necessary to have an understanding of how illegal drugs first became a problem in the United States. While substance abuse has challenged society for centuries, the abuse of illegal drugs in the United States dates back to relatively recent history. In America, drug addiction was a problem as far back in time as the original colonies when narcotic and opiate elixirs and treatments were being exported from England. Without any form of government regulation, let alone the medical knowledge necessary to understand the true nature of these substances, it is easy to understand how addiction became a widespread but misunderstood problem. The Revolutionary War brought an abrupt end to the importation of these substances and almost immediately American entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to establish some of the very first businesses peddling these highly addictive substances. These so called...
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...The history about medical marijuana has been found in the Chinese history, which was used in Taiwan for fiber starting more than 10,000 years ago. People of that time, used the seeds of marijuana in the food, and it was natural for them. Later on they found medical properties of the plant. The oldest Chinese surgeon Hua Tua was the first recorded person who used marijuana by mixing it with alcohol, for “anesthesia”. Nowadays in the US society, people have started to use marijuana for recreational purposes, and it is responding to obvious abuse damages of human health. Whether the use of marijuana for recreational use should be legalized or not is still a question that bothers many generations of human society. In my paper, I will be against...
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...CHAPTER 2. A HISTORY OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE IN AMERICA Written by: Tammy L. Anderson To appear in: Harrison, L., Anderson, T., Martin, S., and Robbins, C. Drug and Alcohol Use in Social Context. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing -1- A HISTORY OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL IN THE UNITED STATES Introduction The purpose of this chapter is to review the history of drug use and its social control in the United States so that students can gain an improved and thorough understanding of today’s problems and policies. Our approach to this matter is sociological, i.e., exploring how the interconnection between culture, social institutions, groups, and individuals function to create drug-related phenomena. A sociological approach integrates many kinds of social, cultural, political, and economic factors that manifest themselves in everyday life. While pharmacology helps us comprehend how specific drugs impact brain activity, sociology can inform us about the social roots of drugrelated behaviors which ultimately shape beliefs and behavior and motivate social policy. Therefore, a review of drug use in the U.S. and the social response to it must consider many diverse phenomena. This broader framework will move us beyond domestic borders and into the international community, for the history of drug abuse is an international, socio-political marvel. Another idea warrants mentioning before we begin our history lesson. It centers on the idea that drug use and abuse are socially...
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...Legalization of Marijuana Shirley Pardo Lone Star College Cy-Fair Abstract The legalization of marijuana has become a major issue in the United States. There are many strong arguments both for and against marijuana legalization. Some would argue, its medicinal properties and its effects on the body. Others would argue about its effect on society and how the prohibition ultimately contributes to organized crime. Marijuana is a schedule I drug, and is the most illegal drug used in the United States. The effects of marijuana have been scientifically proven to be less harmful than alcohol, and it’s helpful in a treatment of many different diseases and health issues. National Legalization of Marijuana The marijuana plant or its scientific name cannabis, has been the topic of much debate throughout the history of this country. Many people do not know that it was not the effects of marijuana that originally prompted its banning. It was actually originally, the work of the cotton industry before and after WWII, who lobbied the illegalization because of the plant's mind altering effects. The cotton industry was afraid that hemp, a product of the marihuana plant, would soon overpower the strong hold of cotton since it was a more durable textile that required less work, there is less depletion of the soil, and could be produced virtually anywhere. Since the time it became illegal, it has been grouped with other narcotics as a counterpart. The truth is marijuana has many benefits...
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...Marijuana Madness While researching texts on the Marijuana Reform, I have found a few articles that have been published about the issue with legalizing marijuana. These articles have information on what the federal government may and may not implement with the laws on marijuana. It has been heard in the grapevines that some states have been working numerous of months to craft and enact a regulatory framework for commercial marijuana cultivation and distribution in their states. Though there is a lot of controversy with how the legislature is to address some issues which include: amending currents laws, the impact of legalization on workplace, new regulations, deciding to set standard while driving, integrating the existing medical system into commercial marketing, and taxing on wholesale sales. The ongoing proposal for states on licensing, taxing and regulating the distribution of marijuana may be a never ending story to this law. The state of Colorado placed a signature on Amendment 64 which calls for regulating and taxing marijuana just like alcohol though some legislators remain opposed to legalization. Adults in Colorado will no longer be punished for the simple use and possession of marijuana (Drehle 1). As the Colorado’s Representative Frank McNulty says “Even when Prohibition was repealed, it involved a product that had previously been legal. In this case, we’re really starting from square one” (Weiss 2). Colorado’s Amendment 64 Amendment 64 allows anyone over age...
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...2 Marijuana (also known as weed, pot or grass): 2 Cocaine: 2 Alcoholism 3 LAW AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE MOTHERS 4 THEORIES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE 6 Biological Theories 6 Genetic Factors 6 Metabolic Imbalance 7 THEORECTICAL PERSPECTIVE 8 MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT 10 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 11 EXPECTED RESULTS/TIMEFRAME 12 CONCLUSION 13 REFERENCES 14 PICTURES ILLUSTRATING PREGNANT SUBSTANCE ABUSE WOMEN AND FETUS 15 INTRODUCTION Social problems exist at the door step of every community it has been in existence decades ago and still lives on today. Social problems can be defined as an issue that relates to society’s perception of an individual’s personal life and their behaviour is considered to be out of the norm. Substance abuse has vast becoming an epidemic in today’s society and it is considered as a social problem. Substance abuse is one thing but to see pregnant women abusing these endangering substances is another issue. People use drugs for many different reasons but for a pregnant woman to use drugs she may be mentally ill or depressed. Substance abuse may not have a serious or long-lasting effect on you but the same is not always true for a foetus. Mothers that abuse substances give birth to "drug babies." These children have serious developmental problems. Researches show that using substances legal or illegal during pregnancy has a direct impact on the foetus, whether smoking, consumption of alcohol, or ingesting caffeine. If you use marijuana or cocaine...
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...Causes and Treatments of Addictions Tracy J Lancaster Behavioral Satistics 325 July 29th 2012 Instructor Sasha Flearly Causes and Treatments of Addiction Introduction Addiction is a condition defined by an individual's intense need to consume a particular substance, usually an illicit drug or alcohol. Typically regarded as a disease or medical condition, addiction is seen by many as a form of disability. Addiction is generally diagnosed based on the following criteria: tolerance, withdrawal, and craving. Tolerance refers to the body's ability to metabolize, or tolerate, a certain quantity of a substance prior to reaching the point of intoxication. Withdrawal refers to the agitated behavior, ranging from mild irritability to severe physical illness that many habitual substance users display when they cannot consume their desired substances (Hamid, 2002). Finally, craving refers to a user's physical, and frequently psychological, need to consume a substance in order to offset withdrawal symptoms. People are believed to be addicts when they habitually consume drugs or alcohol, often to the point of intoxication, and when they display signs of withdrawal and craving in the absence of those substances. Recently some scholarship has examined how many behaviors like gambling, sex, and exercise can also be addictive based on these criteria. Thesis Statement Drug Addiction is a relatively recent construct in a social phenomenon. That is, regardless of the use...
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...World and the Natives offered him a gift. It was the gift of tobacco, which would go on to become one of the most commonly used drugs throughout our history. (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008) Drugs are a major problem in American life; however this is not necessarily a new problem. What constitutes a new problem in relation to drugs is the advancements in technologies which chemically create new drugs and modify existing ones. Drugs and the elements which surround them engulf and suffocate millions throughout the world in financial greed, criminal behavior, and uncontrollable addictions. These elements all too often lead to unrecoverable financial debts, instabilities in relationships, incarceration, and death. Many laws have been enacted as a result of the adverse actions and incidents related to drugs. These laws highly regulate the manufacturing of, use, possession, and distribution of drugs. Additionally, there have been strong efforts in attempting to treat those who have been victimized by the ruthless effects of drugs. One form of treatment is through rehabilitation and counseling programs. These programs are offered throughout many cities and in every state. One of those programs, located in California, was researched and concluded with a better understanding as to their mission in treating those affected by addiction. Part I. Interview with a Treatment Option Moderator or...
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