Essays On Drug Abuse

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Essay
Alcohol abuse is a serious problem, driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs is an
even bigger problem that shouldn't be taken lightly. Abusing either one of these substances can
lead to the death of you or the death of someone else or even cause a major change in their life
like Jacqueline's story, her whole life has been changed because of another person's ignorance and
carelessness. Therefore, you should know the facts about drug and alcohol abuse before you do
something you may regret for the rest of your life.
According TO NIDA FOR TEENS: THE SCIENCE BEHIND DRUG ABUSE, drugs are chemicals
or substances that change the way our bodies work. Drugs find their way into your bloodstream,
whether you ingest, inhale or inject...show more content...
That is when he began dealing drugs. He then got caught and now resides in maximum– security jail.
In many cases teens that you may know do end up going to jail because they have become
addicted to the drugs they have been using and they will do anything to buy what they need. At that
point your fellow peers or even friends will begin dealing drugs thinking that it is the quickest
means of receiving money. With the money they receive, it goes towards the drugs they want to
purchase. According to TREATMENT EPISODES DATA SET (TEDS) 1992
–2002, SAMHSA,
2006, Marijuana is addictive. More teens are in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana
dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined. Several teens begin using substances when
they are introduced to marijuana. Marijuana is referred to as a gateway drug, and many teen users
begin using because they are depressed, having family problems, or any other struggles they are
experiencing in their lives. Teens begin smoking marijuana, thinking they are not going to become
addicted. Truth is marijuana use by teenagers who have prior antisocial problems can quickly lead to
addiction. Therefore, if you were to begin using marijuana, you should be aware that you can
become addicted. As stated by NIAAA, UNDERAGE DRINKING: A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH
CHALLENGE, The younger you are when you start drinking, the greater your
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Persuasive Essay On Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is an issue growing exponentially among the citizens of the USA. Drugs abuse is
extremely detrimental to the user and all those who are close to the user. Millions of people use
drugs all across the globe, as a matter of fact, USA is the largest drug market in the world. Major
cities of USA are in the grasp of drug jeopardy, equally important, college and high school students
help sustain this evil. Drug abuse directly impacts an enormous amount of people in the USA. Drugs
such as cannabis, cocaine, and marijuana play a large role in ruining the life of a user. The US
federal government requires the fortification of drug laws in order to preserve the vital well being
of its citizens. Drug abuse is a substantial reason behind increasing chronic disorders and harmful
diseases among the citizens of USA. Drugs penetrate the human body and colossally harm every
single organ. Drug abuse deteriorates the human health, " Use of drugs can contribute to respiratory
infection, impaired memory, and exposure to cancer–causing compounds."(Substance Use Disorder).
Drug abusers are exposed to life threatening diseases only after usage for a short period of time. As
a result, it could cause consequential medical disorders and menacing diseases. Additionally, the
drug abuse not only generates new diseases but also it serves as a paramount source of spreading
harmful diseases. In most cases, abusers tend to share the same injection for getting the

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Among College Students Alcohol and drug abuse has been an active habit
among college students sense the 1960s. The immediate cause of this behavior was the youth's need
to rebel against the overly conservative American society. This rebellion led to a since of freedom
for the young adults, which caused them to continue acting in these unintelligent manners. After a
short period of time, late teens just did not belong if they were not participating in the mischievous
acts. Substance abuse quickly became a way of life for many young adults. As a result, this inapt
behavior still continues today. To first–time college students, acting in a way that parents would
disapprove somehow exhibits breaking from...show more content...
Thus, the college years have developed into a time for finding oneself. Alcohol and drug abuse
provide a means to conceal feelings of insecurity that arise from the students uncertainty of
themselves. Substance abuse acts as a stress reducer through the beginning stages of college. The
most common characteristic of a human being is the necessity to adapt to a given surrounding. This
trait consists of both good and bad aspects. Certain adaptations are positive while others can be
destructive. Many students enter college with extensive education on substance abuse.
Unfortunately, these students receive a hands on lesson from peers that indicates using is
inconsequential. Fraternity parties and dorm room gatherings overcome the students. Some of these
students even disapprove of these social functions at first. However, they quickly become immune to
the atmosphere. The end result is the participation of these once pure students in the conventional
behavior. The facts and statistics are quickly forgotten and washed away. The students who do not
adapt and choose to abstain are immediately labeled negatively. By choosing not to participate in
the universal activity on campus, these students limit their social life. This is a tremendous
sacrifice. College supposedly represents the best years a person's of life. No one wants to miss out
due to being perceived as overwrought and uptight. For this reason,

Substance Abuse and Addiction Essay
Introduction Substance abuse and addiction have become a social problem that afflicts millions
of individuals and disrupts the lives of their families and friends. Just one example reveals the
extent of the problem: in the United States each year, more women and men die of smoking
related lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined (Kola & Kruszynski,
2010). In addition to the personal impact of so much illness and early death, there are dire social
costs: huge expenses for medical and social services; millions of hours lost in the workplace;
elevated rates of crime associated with illicit drugs; and scores of children who are damaged by their
parents' substance abuse behavior (Lee, 2010). This paper will look at...show more content...
However, the "Just Say No" campaign championed by former U.S. First Lady Nancy Reagan in the
1980s did not appear to significantly reduce drug abuse and addiction (Padgett, 2010).
The disease model: This theory states that an individual who abuses drugs requires medical treatment
rather than moral punishment or exhortation. This theory also justifies spending money to research
substance abuse in the same way that money is spent to research other diseases. However, usually
the term disease is reserved for a state in which we can identify an abnormal biochemical or physical
condition. No abnormal biochemical or physical condition has been found in the case of substance
addiction, although mounting evidence suggests that some individuals are genetically predisposed
to addiction more so than others. Nevertheless, this theory continues to appeal to researchers, and an
intensive effort is always being made to identify the physiological "switch" that establishes addiction
after exposure to a drug (Lee, 2010).
The physical dependence model: This theory, sometimes referred to as the withdrawal avoidance
model, is based on the unpleasant withdraw symptoms that can occur when an individual stops
taking a drug that they used rather frequently. The specific withdrawal symptoms depend on the
drug, but they are often the opposite effect produced by the drug itself. For instance, the withdrawal
symptoms of cannabis include irritability,

Persuasive Essay On Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a complex problem in society today. Addiction is a condition that extremely affects
the person's mind and body. Addiction also has wide sweeping effects on that person's social
connection and functioning. Unfortunately, many addicts don't realize the social influence of their
addiction until much of their functioning has greatly deteriorated.
Addiction is a "chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult
to control, despite harmful consequences." The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most
individuals, but frequent drug use can lead to brain alterations that challenge an addicted person's
self–control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain
alterations can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a "relapsing" disease. People
in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased threat for returning to drug use even after years
of not taking the drug. It's common for an individual to relapse, but relapse doesn't mean that
treatment doesn't work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be constant and
should be adjusted based on how the patient answers. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and
modified to fit the patient's changing desires.
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 frequent drug abuse can impair a person's self–discipline and ability
to make sound judgements, and at the same time create an intense impulse to take drugs. It is
because of these alterations in the brain that it is so puzzling for a person to stop abusing drugs.
Luckily, there are treatments that help people to neutralize addiction's powerful disruptive effects
and regain control of their lives. Study shows that combining addiction treatment medications, when
suitable, with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment
approaches that are custom–made to each patient's drug abuse patterns and any concurrent medical,
psychiatric, and social problems can help achieve sustained recovery and a life without drugs. The
alcohol abuse definition is similar

Drug Abuse And Its Effect On Society Essay
Name
Professor
Course
Date
Introduction
A drug is a chemical substance applied into treating, diagnosing and preventing one from disease
infections or a substance that is used by a person to enhance his or her physical and mental state in
the perceived effect. Drugs used for different purposes and their effect depend on which cause for
usage. It causes both positive and negative consequences directly to the user and in the long–run it
affects the whole society or community. Drug addiction is the activity of uncontrollable dependence
on a substance by the user no matter the harm caused by its usage. It is a habit that has been in many
years hard to curb especially among the youths. "We must recognize that substance abuse and
addiction is a disease, not a moral failing or easily abandoned self–indulgence," (Califano, 2008).The
cases of drug abuse have been on the rise over the recent years and resulted in crimes. The cases
have a great effect affected the society in general since the reliable energetic youths have turned to
drug abuse. However, some measures have been initiated to mitigate, curb and treat drug addiction in
the society as outlined in the essay.
Therapies: They are programs designed for offering patients with counseling treatment as a result of
their addicts on drugs in the community. "Most of the programs involve individual or group drug
counseling, or both," (Treatment Approaches For Drug Addiction ). The therapies have been of great
importance as they offer

Essay Drug Abuse and Mental Health
Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder.
When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs
its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when
concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis
for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuse
and the mental illness. It may also be difficult for substance abusers to be accommodated at home
and it may not be tolerated in the community of residents of rehabilitation programs. The author
states, that they end up losing their support systems...show more content...
According to the American Psychiatric Association chronicdrug abuse may occur together with any
mental illness that may include some of the following disorders. "Some common serious mental
disorders associated with chronic drug abuse include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic
depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder,
obsessive–compulsive disorder, post–traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and antisocial
personality disorder" (Center, 2004). Some of these disorders carry with them an increased risk of
drug abuse. Another example of a drug that can cause a mental disorder, is MDMA (3,
4–methylenedioxymethamphetamine) which is commonly known as ecstasy. It produces long term
deficits in serotonin function in the brain, leading to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
In addition, chronic drug abuse by teenagers during a time of development it is a particular concern
because, it can interfere with normal socialization and cognitive development and thus frequently
contributes to the development of mental disorders. Violence has become more prevalent among the
diagnosed population of drugs and mental disorders. Domestic violence and suicide attempts are
more common of the mentally ill who end up incarcerated; there is

Teenagers and Drug Abuse Essay
It has been discovered that most people who struggle with drug addiction began experimenting
with drugs in their teens. Teenage drug abuse is one of the largest problems in society today and
the problem grows and larger every year. Drugs are a pervasive force in our culture today. To
expect kids not to be influenced by the culture of their time is as unrealistic as believing in the
tooth fairy (Bauman 140). Teens may feel pressured by their friends to try drugs, they may have
easy access to drugs, they may use drugs to rebel against their family or society, or they may take an
illegal drug because they are curious about it or the pleasure that it gives them. After interviewing my
teenage cousin whom has been in several altercations...show more content...
My teenage cousin advised me that after she passed the stage of being pressured by her peers to
use drugs and alcohol, she began using it to make her feel better because she was suffering from
depression. Depression is the result of chemical imbalance and environmental influence. Drugs
and alcohol are the most readily available methods of emotional anesthesia, if not on hand; they
would find a substitute (Henican 141). She would use drugs when she would think about her
incarcerated dad that has been in and out of her life from birth. Her family members would try to
encourage her and would often tell her, "If you continue to do the things that you are doing, you
will end up like your dad incarcerated." She rebels against her mother and stepfather when they
try to correct her and discipline her. She doesn't like to follow the rules at home or school and
acts like she doesn't do anything wrong. Something psychologically is really going on with her
mentally, that is one of the side effects that drugs causes. Seeing there is no way out feeling lonely
like no one cares and no prospects for improvement leads to depression. Depression is something
that many teens deal with during their lives. Some teens isolate themselves from their families by
going in their rooms, staying out late, not eating and a bad grade or because of an argument with
parents or friends – they may use more drugs than

Drug Abuse And Deviant Behavior Essay
Introduction
There are many things that can lead up to deviant behavior or activities. One may say that drug
abuse can hinder towards deviant activities. According to NCADD," drugs are implicated in an
estimated 80% of offenses leading to incarceration in the United States" (Wilcox, 2017). This statics
is high number that shows our nation that drugs are huge influence on crime in today's society.
How is it seen? In today's society drugs are now easy access for people to get their hands. Due to
the fact that they easily able to access, this gives young youth a chance of a lifestyle that they
should be taken part in. A scenario in the text book, about a young girl name Sue had easy access
to drugs and alcohol leads to a lifestyle that she would later on regret. It is said that young juvenile
starts have drug use as early at the age of twelve. Sue was seventeen when she first started using
drugs. Another thing that has been contributing to this behavior is legalizing marijuana. In the
recent election this prop was making headlines through the nation. With this prop being approve
this could give even more access for people to retrieve. Marijuana is first step towards even more
dangerous drugs. In the case study, Sue use marijuana and it escalated to more serious and risky
drugs. Drug...show more content...
There is a percent of people who don't have an opinion on people who do drugs and criminal
activities. They believe they chose that life and it's their life to live. Also they believe if the drug
abuse is not affect their life's then they are not bother by it. This may work for some people but
there are other people who are invested in the life before the drug user chose this deviant behavior.
In the case study sue felt like everyone was judging her choice but she had to do so she survive in
this world because lack of support from her

Drug Abuse And Substance Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines drug abuse as, " It becomes drug abuse
when people use illegal drugs or use legal drugs inappropriately." This may include; the repeated
uses of drugs to produce pleasure, alleviates stress, and/or alters or avoids reality. The perception of
addiction and substance abuse has been widely known for many years, but the medical community
has failed to accept and publicly this issue among it own members. Drug abuse by nurses is prevalent
in today society, The American Nurses Association (ANA) estimates that six to eight percent of
nurses use alcohol or drugs in the workplace. To put into perspective, for every ten active working
nurses, one uses alcohol or drugs in the workplace. Other sources claim that nurses generally misuse
drugs and alcohol at a rate of 10–15% as nearly the same rate of the rest of the population.
According to Kenward (2008), only one–third of one percent of all active nurses is penalized each
year for their actions. During the 1970s and 1980s addicted nurses were only offered treatment prior
to disciplinary action. Nurses were not the only one, physicians also did not receive treatment until
after they had been criminally charged. Like the common patient, nurses are constantly facing
personal challenges that test their integrity, moral, and ability to cope with situations. The
accessibility of opioids for nurses is right at the palm of their hands, which makes it easy for a nurse
who has substance abuse

Essay on Adolescent Substance Abuse
Running Header: Substance Abuse
Adolescent Substance Abuse
Dana Sweitzer
Liberty University
Abstract Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem in society. There are many risk factors that
can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. One of the main risk factors is peer pressure. When
adolescents start at a young age there is an increase in health problems, addiction, and over all poor
social outcomes. Parental influence has substantial effect on adolescents because the adolescent sees
their parents and they learn by their example. Media plays a role in the use of drug and alcohol use
among young people. Many school systems have implemented programs that teach adolescents about
the problems of substance abuse that is funded...show more content...
Among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, 9.8 % are estimated to be current users of illicit drugs,
with 4.9 % using drugs other than marijuana. Nearly three quarters of students have started to drink
alcohol and nearly half (47%) have tried using an illicit drug (not including alcohol or tobacco) by
the senior year of high school." (Hassan, Harris, Sherritt, Van Hook, & Brooks, 2009)
Media has a lot to do with adolescent substance abuse. Many times in advertisement, adolescents
see people drinking alcohol and having a great time. Media spends over $25 billion dollars on
advertisement yearly. Many celebrities are seen smoking or drinking alcohol in movies, TV, and on
commercials. This makes adolescents think that drinking, smoking, and taking drugs are cool and
will make them popular. Over 5000 deaths yearly are caused by alcohol consumption. (Strasburger,
2010)
Parental and peer influence plays an important role in adolescent substance abuse. Peer pressure can
influence each adolescent either indirectly or directly. Peer pressure is the most frequently discussed
risk factor. Peer substance abuse is the leading cause of adolescent substance abuse. Parental
influence can be positive or negative. They can have a significant influence on adolescents. Parents
can influence their kids

Drug Abuse Essay
Thesis: Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, is a patterned use of a drug in which the user
consumes the substance in amounts or with methods which are harmful to themselves or others.
Many teens turn to marijuana, prescription drugs, club drugs, alcohol, or other substances as a
means of coping with stress, peer influence, and failure of parents to prevent their children from
making unreasonable decisions.
According to the yearly "Monitoring the Future" survey of high school age teenagers in the United
States, by the time our kids complete high school, a minimum of 40 percent have consumed an illicit
drug and 70 percent have consumed alcohol.
A. Drug addiction is defined as a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes...show more
content...
2. Parental substance abuse interrupts a child's normal development, which places these youngsters at
higher risk for emotional, physical and mental health problems. Because parents who abuse alcohol
or other drugs are more likely to be involved with domestic violence, divorce, unemployment, mental
illness and legal problems, their ability to parent effectively is severely compromised.
III. According to the Mental Health Center of California, more than 8 million children live with
at least one parent who's addicted to alcohol or drugs. A. This number includes 14% of children
younger than 2, 12% aged 6 to 11 years old, and 10% of youth between the ages of 12 and 17. B.
Children of substance abusing parents are at risk for a wide variety of other negative outcomes,
including emotional, social, and behavioral adjustment problems as well as challenges in cognitive
and academic functioning. Risk for poor emotional and behavioral among children living with a
parent who has a substance abuse history are reported among those as young as 2 to 3 years of age.
1. Of these children, approximately 6.3 million lived with a parent who

Types of Drugs and Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is a widespread problem that makes individual drug users the prime victims. But
drugs also affect all of us, wherever we live and whatever we do. Drug abuse can cause serious
physical and mental deterioration. The problem can tear apart the family structure and make it
hard for learning. Difficulties on the job due to drug abuse make it hard for employers to run their
businesses. Stealing form employers or from individuals to get money from for drugs causes pain
and economic loss to the victims. Arrests and jailing of drug users and dealers puts a strain on law
enforcement officials and the criminal justice systems; the cost to taxpayers is enormous. The
millions of dollars spent on illegal drugs in America encourage criminal...show more content...
Nevertheless, they have been found to increase the effect of other drugs tat depress the central
nervous system, including alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates narcotics, sedatives, and tranquilizers.
Two of the main types of antidepressants are Elavil and tofranil.
Anti–anxiety tranquilizers are drugs that have a calming effect on the central nervous system, relieve
anxiety and tension, and sometimes relax the skeletal muscles. The drugs have been shown to have
undesirable side effects and to be habit–forming tranquilizers are especially dangerous as then
intensify the effects of other depressants; tranquilizers can cause coma and even death. Librium and
Valium are two examples of anti–anxiety tranquilizers that produce effects like alcohol barbiturates
are often abused.
Anti–psychotic tranquilizers are a major classification of drugs commonly used to treat serious
psychiatric problems. The drugs, such as Thorazine, are rarely used non–medically, because that
does not produce euphoric effects. Still, the drugs are sometimes preferred to barbiturates as
calming agents because they do not cause physical dependence and even in large doses do not result
in coma.
Cannabis is a general word used to refer to preparation such as hashish, hash oil, and marijuana that
are consumed for their intoxicating effects. The intensity of the reactions depends on such factors as
the potency of the drugs, the mood and expectation of

Drug Abuse On The Workplace Essay
Drug Abuse in the Workplace:
The human resource topic I chose to write my research paper on is "Drug Abuse in the
Workplace". Drug abuse in the workplace is something very common that many of us will
encounter at some point. Alcohol and drug abuse has a major effect on employee absence and lost
productively that leaves a negative working environment. It is important a company addresses the
right guidelines to keep a drug free workplace. Establishing a clear and fair substance abuse policy
and providing frequent drug testing can help with these issues. Drug abuse has proven to be a result
of work related stress; companies that provide employee awareness training help teach employees
how to better manage these issues. Substance Abuse in the workplace in one of the top concerns in
the United States today "Studies show that 73 percent of drug users are employees, costing
American businesses billions of dollars annually in lost production and staffing costs (Walsh)."
These are some of the few topics I will be addressing in my research paper.
In order to understand what effects drugs have on the workplace, you must first understand how
drugs affect the human body. "Most abused drugs directly or indirectly target the brain 's reward
system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of
the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. When
drugs enter the brain, they can

Drug Abuse and Addiction Essay
Drugs affect people in many different ways. One person can take abuse drugs, yet never become
addicted, while another person has one experience and is immediately hooked to that drug. Drug
addiction is defined as a dependence on an illegal drug, or medication. When you are addicted, you
cannot control your drug use despite the fact that you know the consequences. The scary thing is that
drug addiction can cause a major intense craving of drugs. Even though you want to stop, most
people can't do it on their own it is very difficult, and most need therapeutic help. For many people
this is what is going to lead them to their death, or a long term mental/physical disability. Being
addicted will also affect your relationships with friends and...show more content...
For example, some people will get addicted and need to keep relying on the drug. When they are
hooked onto that drug, becoming a drug abuser, that person will start neglecting his or her own
responsibilities and start delving into illegal activities. Not only are they affecting themselves, but
they begin to hurt family members, friends, and the greater society. Because you have lost yourself
too deeply into the drugs, you cannot control yourself; your life basically revolves around the drug.
When experimenting with drugs, you are running a risk factor for developing more serious drug
abuse habits which lead to health and behavioral consequences. It all depends on what drug one is
addicted to, but there is no illegal drug that does not have serious consequences. Taking a
recreational drug causes a surge in levels of dopamine in the brain, which trigger feelings of
pleasure, which is considered getting "stoned." The brain remembers those feelings and wants them
repeated all over again. If you become addicted, the substance takes on the same significance as
other survival behaviors, such as eating and drinking. It also changes one's brain, interfering with
one's ability to think

Argumentative Essay About Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is bad because it spoils people's lives, increases drug access, and has serious
consequences and effects on places the drugs are used. There are drugs everywhere they go, there
is not one single place, that anyone could go to and there is not many person who is not using drugs
or had drugs in their system. Teens between the age of fifteen to eighteen have problems withdrug
addiction; teens who start to use drugs at a young age tend to have a problem with them once they
get older. Eighty percent of the teens who use drugs do not get to graduate high school. The
prevalence of drug use has gone up in the past years due to the people that keep consuming them.
The United States has many programs to help kids with drug abuse because they want the best
for them. Most programs may work, maybe not forever, but temporarily and at least many
teenagers have stopped doing drugs and have rehabilitated themselves. Many teens tend to start
drugs because maybe someone in their family consumes them or the friends they have around
them do. Many times the people they are surrounded with tend to have a big affect on what they
do. Most teenagers go to drugs to help them forget the problems that they have at home. Problems
at home can include their parents fighting, arguing, and eventually splitting up and sometimes
intimacy is not the only problem or the cause of that. Sometimes problems with money can split
people up. Drugs cannot fix any problems going on, it only makes people feel better for a few
hours and after drugs, wear off it can cause a person to be even more depressed than before. Many
high school students use drugs for various reasons. Reasons that high schoolers use drugs are
mainly pointless because they mostly want to fit in with the "cool kids" and that makes some kids
make the wrong choices so that they are not humiliated by the others. In recent years, about 30
percent of seniors in high schools use drugs and about 65 percent of kids in high school that are
sophomores use drugs (Cole 54).
There are many ways to get a hold of drugs; some ways are easy and some ways are hard. Easy ways
to get a hold of drugs are if the drug she want to consume is legal. Some states that have

Psychology of Drug Abuse Essay
Understanding the Psychology of Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is on the rise. While the use of drugs like cocaine and heroin is in a state of decline in
certain parts of the world, prescription drugs abuse is on the rise (UNODC, 2013). Prescription
drugs that were prescribed with the intention to do well are now one of the leading causes of
self–harm. Drug abuse has no gender or social class, it can affect people regardless of social status
and wealth, and now more than ever we need to understand the reason behind the abuse. What
psychological factors could cause an individual to abuse drugs in the first place? In this research
essay, I will discuss how each one of the major school of psychology perspectives could attempt to
explain a...show more content...
A person's inability to ascend a level of needs may cause frustration and succumb to drug abuse as a
mean to increase self–worth, thus creating a false sense of accomplishment and lead to further their
abusive habit. Drug abuse could result in a collapse of the hierarchy as drug abuse can affect a
person at any level.
The second perspective on this question is Psychodynamic Psychology. In a report published by the
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, A Psychodynamic psychologist may approach this problem
by investigating and understanding a drug abuser's past and present behaviour by focusing on the
person's unconscious processes. Therefore, psychologists would focus on the abuser's experience
during childhood or past troubled relationships that may manifests itself later on in life, which then
causes the individual to abuse drugs. The report continues to state "The ingestion of the drug
provides him with the self–esteem which he does not possess. Through the incorporation of the
drug, he supplies for himself the feeling of being accepted and thus of being self–confident; or he
creates the experience of being merged with the source of power that gives him the feeling of being
strong and worthwhile" (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 1999). Self–esteem is an incredible
force that drives us to get up in the morning and face another day. Some individuals are born with an
innate sense of self–confidence and

Informative Essay On Drug Abuse
Drugs are any substance that can be consumed, smoked, injected, inhaled, transdermal, or intranasal
causing a physiological effect when introduced into the body. Physicians use drugs known as
medicines for healthy reasons such as people that suffer from ailments like asthma, cancer, HIV
/AIDS, or etc. However, numerous people use drugs for recreational purposes (legal, controlled, or
illegal) such as prescription drugs, tobacco, caffeine or illicit substances for pleasure, along with
alcohol. These types of recreational drug use range from mild to severe addiction for millions, which
the National Institute on Drugs Abuse would describe as a substance use disorder (SUD). Addiction
is a prevalent and complicated problem that continues in...show more content...
However, The company is better known for producing Aspirin the "drug of the century". "The
chemists who first developed this compound tried it on themselves, found it made them feel "heroic"
and so it was given the brand name heroin" (Doweiko, 2015). Heroin has a long history throughout
the world. Due to the amount of soldiers being wounded in battles they were given opium to relieve
the pain, and consequently addicted to opium, given the nickname "soldier's disease" meaning the
soldiers was either addicted to opium or suffered from withdrawal symptoms of opium use. Heroin
was promoted to counteract numerous soldiers that were addicted to morphine during the 19th
century battles. Heroin was slowly introduced in low doses to help with morphine withdrawals and
long term replacing morphine. However, heroin backfired producing addiction exceptionally quickly
in many. In the 20th century, companies were allowed to display any product without including the
ingredients such as cocaine, morphine, and allowed to mislabel products. The turn of events when
people witnessed a heightened awareness that psychotropic drugs have a great potential for causing
addiction. The abuse of opium and cocaine had reached epidemic proportion in the U.S. Therefore,
the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 passed and companies have to label their ingredients in
products. Later, the Harrison Act of 1914 was passed regulating opium, heroin, and cocaine making
them illegal in the United Stated.

Drug Abuse Essay
Drug Abuse
Drug Abuse is generally defined as the use of a drug with such frequency that the user has physical
or mental harm or it impairs social abilities. The substances that are discussed in this report are
called psychoactive drugs; those drugs that influence or alter the workings of the mind, affect
moods, emotions, feelings, and thinking processes.
Drug Dependence/Addiction
There are three basic characteristics that indicate that the user is dependent on a drug. First, the user
continues to use the drug for an extended period of time. Second, the user finds it difficult to stop
using the drug. They may drop out of school, steal, go to jail, lose their jobs, or leave their families
in order to keep using....show more content...
Effects of Drugs
There are four basic stages that the drug user goes through. In stage one, there are no outward
behavioral changes caused by the use of drugs. The drug use is considered normal. In stage two,
the user actively seeks the euphoric effects of the drug by using it more frequently. A reliable source
of the drug is established. The user may add mid–week use rather than only on weekends or at
parties. In younger users, a general lack of motivation is noticed, along with changes in friends and
lower grades. In stage three, the user is extremely preoccupied with the desire to experience the
effects of the drug. The drug is used daily. There may be thoughts of suicide and/or depression.
There may be family problems or trouble with the law. In the fourth and final stage, the user has
become addicted. They are dependent on the drug just to feel normal. Physical signs are frequent
sore throats, coughing, fatigue, and weight loss. They may be experiencing overdosing and
blackouts more frequently. The user may be engaging in criminal activities in order to obtain money
for the drug. Alcohol
One major drug that physically effects the user is alcohol. It causes damage to the brain, pancreas,
and kidney. It also causes high blood pressure and may heighten the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Other consequences of alcohol abuse are possible alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the

Essay on American Drug Abuse
American Drug Abuse
Our society has found itself directly in the middle of a transcontinental drug surge. An estimated 23
million of the world's population regularly take illicit drugs, and the Drug Enforcement
Administration estimated that 13.6 million of those who habitually used illegal drugs in 1998 were
Americans. Even in our current everyday motions of life and productivity, we have set the path for
self–destruction. "We awake to the kick of caffeine, soothe our nerves with tobacco, ease our tension
headaches with aspirin, wind down the day with alcohol, and swallow an antihistamine to help us
sleep – all perfectly legal, respectable, and even expected ("Drug Abuse" 195)."...show more
content...
This time period of organized crime and prohibition lead to thousands of deaths due to bad alcohol,
and created general contempt among the citizens for the laws of the United States. As a result of our
current prohibition, can you tell where our great nation is headed now? History repeats itself in
numerous ways quite often.
The next solution that one might think of, which has very good intentions but is just not even
close to being a complete solution, is to educate the public and the offenders about drug abuse.
For the most part, it seems unlikely that a reasonably sane individual will become a drug addict, if
he knows in advance what the addiction is going to be like. If education is going to be an effective
deterrent of drug abuse, it must begin during grade school, because one out of every six
13–year–olds has tried marijuana at least once. Our children must be taught the many dangers of
drug abuse and strategies to avoid the abuse of these illicit substances, prior to middle and high
school, where availability and peer pressure can make the use of drugs all too acceptable and
extremely easy to fall for.
Although education is a far cry from being a complete solution, as I said before, it can be very
effective when used in combination with other plausible solutions. For example, the best solution we
have developed and tested is to use education along with punishment, which is the system

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