Impact of Addictions Example Paper

Impact of Addictions Example Paper Impact of Addictions Example Paper 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).Impact of Addictions Example Paper 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… 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).Impact of Addictions Example Paper This paper will look at the different theories used in understanding drug abuse and addiction as well as how it can be prevented and treated. Theories (models) in understanding substance abuse and addiction: older versus newer Any comprehensive theory (model) of substance abuse has to answer several difficult questions: What environmental and social factors in an individual’s life cause them to start abusing a drug? What factors cause them to continue? What physiological mechanisms make a drug rewarding? What is addiction, behaviorally and physiologically, and why is it so hard to quit? These questions can be answered in the major theories (models) that are described below using an integrative approach that addresses the problem of substance abuse When it comes to the topic of technology, most people will readily agree that it has been growing non-stop at a significant pace. About 16 years ago, technologies, such as computers were not a necessity in mainstream life. Since then, technology has progressed and people have become extremely reliable on. In the essay “What’s the Matter with Kids Today?” by Amy Goldwasser, she talks about the positive aspects of the Internet. Although she mainly focuses on the positive she also contradicts herself and mentions some negative aspects. “Twenty-plus years ago, high school students didn’t have the Internet to store their trivia”(Goldwasser 238). Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interest to know that it basically boils down to …show more content… Permalink: https://nursingpaperessays.com/ impact-of-addictions-example-paper / The amount of time a child spends on the computer can affect how well they socialize with people in the real world. Children and teens sometimes interact with one another in person by reiterating what they would say to someone on the Internet.Impact of Addictions Example Paper One can become very lazy and unwilling to do anything physical but sit on the computer because they do not have to leave their house to talk to or see people anymore. Users who spend too much time in cyberspace are typically fleeing problems with relationships or trying to address deep feelings of insecurity or loneliness…and as with other addictions, what at first seems like a pleasurable retreat from pain, gradually becomes a tyrant, interfering with work, family life and normal, healthy contact with other people (Macklin). Macklin’s point is that people have become so dependent Internet that is has strongly effected everyday life. “Even 15-year old boys are sharing some part of their feelings with someone out there”(Goldwasser 237). By stating this Goldwasser demonstrates how dependent teens have become on the Internet. People are beginning to avoid any personal interaction and they are taking their problems to the computer where they will spend hours trying to make themselves feel better. This way of coping could not only be dangerous for ones health but it could be extremely risky. Drug addiction is a social evil. It has been prevalent in society from time immemorial. There are a variety of drugs which are used in various forms. A drug addict becomes a drug dependent. He cannot live without drugs.Impact of Addictions Example Paper It is a form of psychological conditioning that implies a set of mental and behavioral responses to drugs and related stimuli that result from repeated reinforcement produced by the use of drugs. It implies physical, psychological and psychic dependence on the tolerance of a drug with a tendency to take more and more drugs. The World Health Organization has defined drug abuse as a state of periodic, chronic intoxication, detrimental to the individual and to the society, produced by repeated consumption of drugs either natural or synthetic. In other words, the growing urge results in increase of doses. There are a number of causes which lead to drug addiction. These include social, economic, religious, and physiological factors. There is a strong nexus between drug and torn family life. It has been found that broken family structure often forces one to resort to drug. This is because a person faced with such situation chooses drug for its euphoric or mind-altering effect to escape from the immediate situation. This escapism in turn compels the user to go back to the drug to avoid the trouble and it eventually leads to addiction. While it is necessary to face the problem and tackle it, the users more often than not are under the effects of drugs and neglect the situation. It, as a result, worsens giving way to further use of drugs to escape the problem which is already mounted. Thus, addiction and myths of stress relief associated with it makes a vicious cycle.Impact of Addictions Example Paper Sometimes, exposure to drugs in the family or the locality or the school makes one a drug addicts. Usually, children of a drunkard also become a drug addict. The early exposure to drugs immensely contributes to make them drug addicts. Their innocent immature mind is unable to get its negative impact on them. When they are mature, they can understand everything, but are already caught in its vicious trap. The company also plays a prominent role in making one drug addict. ‘Doing drugs’ as a cultural fad among st the youth provokes them to experiment and lures them for addiction. Peer pressure further accentuates the problem. In other words, personality make-up is another factor for drug addiction. Gene structure of a particular person makes him vulnerable for certain kind of addiction. The easy availability of different drugs in the market due to illicit trafficking makes it easier to procure it. This again aggravates the problem. The phenomenon of drug addiction has its roots in an individual’s psychological, physical and social bases. Drugs are addictive as they are taken either to escape from the existing situation or for pleasure-seeking. In a way, drugs become the sole source of gratification for the person who has chosen them as a support system. The person reaches such a physiological state which necessitates the continued use of drug to prevent withdrawals. There are varieties of drugs available today, which include narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens and cannabis, in other words, opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana, b hang, hashish, LSD, mescaline, khat, codeine are different forms of drugs. Alcohol, marijuana, and heroine are the most commonly abused substances. Some drugs like b hang, hashish, tobacco and liquor are cheaper which a man of low-income group can afford while drugs like heroine, LSD, morphine, etc. are highly costly. Only affluent section of society can have accessibility to them. Every drug, including alcohol and tobacco, which is socially acceptable, is harmful for the body as a whole. But the drugs which have a high physical dependence are more dangerous for the health in comparison to others.Impact of Addictions Example Paper As the concentration of alcohol increases in the blood, vision, hearing, smell, taste and muscle coordination’s are affected, resulting in staggering in one’s gait. The mental confusion enhances with even a small quantity of drug intake which is manifested in behavioral changes. Drug dependence hampers memory perception, problem- solving skill and concentration. Besides, a number of symptoms such as increased pulse rate, blood pressure, loss of appetite, insomnia, micro-vascular damage, severe weight loss, psychosis, violent behaviour, poor comprehension and memory, narrow range of attention, irritability, nausea, drowsiness, respiratory depression, impaired health, poor perception of time and distance, decreased interest in achievement-oriented action are associated with it. Long-term alcohol abuse has varied affects on human body. It affects the brain cells irrevocably and often leads to nerve damage. This, in turn, leads to loss of sensation and mobility in limbs. Liver damage resulting in cirrhosis is the most dangerous health hazard caused by drug addiction. Significantly, women are more prone to liver related disease than men. Besides, alcohol taken by pregnant women may cause health problem to babies. The most common effects of alcohol are misjudgment and dis inhibition. It releases the mental balance and puts the inner conscience to sleep so that the individual loses the control over his thought and action. This carefree feeling makes the drinker prone to violence, accidents and crimes. It is very difficult to designate the vulnerability to addiction. Anybody can be addicted to drug anytime in any phase of his life. Peer presence has commonly been identified as a major cause for initial and experimental drug use. The use of psychoactive drugs is widely acknowledged as a facet of people’s lifestyles. It has been generally seen that youth is the most vulnerable lot of drug dependence. When a person during his early adulthood and adolescence is in the look for his self identity, he begins to take drugs under peer pressure. Moreover, it is youth’s curiosity, adventurousness and risk taking mental disposition which attracts him to do something different and experiment with everything new in life.Impact of Addictions Example Paper Family problem has also been attributed to some extent to this problem, particularly in case of tragedy or separation from one or both parents. Often the strained or torn family relation leads one to drug addiction. A person confronting the situation is caught in a feeling of footlessness. He feels free from any kind of accountability. Thus, the fear of the individual against socially unacceptable behaviour decreases in him and he becomes very much vulnerable to drug sometimes, people due to failure and frustration resort to drugs as a means to find solace. When their capabilities and efficiencies are not well-rewarded and not well-recognized, they opt out and seek alternative gratifications in drugs. When the ordinary social fabric is disrupted by several sociology-economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, migration, etc. the problems of drug addiction get chance to flourish.Impact of Addictions Example Paper Undoubtedly, drug addiction is a great sociology-economic and health problem. It is kind of disease which is curable with the help of proper treatment. But for the total recovery of the addict, psychological treatment side by side medical treatment through individual counseling, group therapy, re-education and yoga is of immense help. The planning of treatment must focus on self- exposure and self-help. Unless a person wishes to get rid of this evil, it is very difficult to give it up. Hence, an awareness campaign can serve the purpose. The media, the NGOs, self- help groups and other governmental and non-governmental agencies can play influential role. Besides, our educational curriculum should be so designed that value-based moral education is made a part of it. Since in very early age, more values need to be inculcated in children, they should be taught to develop good hobbies to spend time happily and meaningfully in good company. They need to be taught to develop a useful and constructive work-oriented daily routine in which they do manage some time for social activities. They should be made aware of the vices of addiction.Impact of Addictions Example Paper Get a 10 % discount on an order above $ 100 Use the following coupon code : NURSING10