Nervous System and Drug Use - Essay Example

NERVOUS SYSTEM AND DRUG USE Over the years, college life has faced immense controversy on the kinds of freedom it accords to students. This idea has left millions of students around the globe at the exposure of many previously prohibited materials like drugs. This is because college life gives students the ability to remain independent, unlike at high school where they are under the care of their parents. Campus life involves many students of varied age and varied backgrounds. Influence is a core aspect in this kind of life where by drugs seems to be legal. Many drugs are at the exposure of many students, with universities and colleges registering the highest number of users around the globe. Drugs are prohibited for a reason, mainly because of their negative effect to the health and performances of people. Majoring on the three commonly abused drugs in the world; methamphetamine, cocaine and alcohol. It remains a fact that the abuse of the three is far much below anywhere near an end to abuse. From my point of view, the question at stake remains on the remedy to these drugs in terms. Years of research and campaigns have done little in stopping the rampant use of these drugs. As a student, I am at the exposure of the same drugs with the highest risk possible since most drug addicts do refer to their college times as the commencement of their addiction. Parties are always the order of events with almost any function being characterized with the latter. Though alcohol is at the forefront in terms of use, methamphetamine and cocaine are increasingly catching up at an alarming rate. Obviously, with a mention of increased use, college or campus life is the most affected. This calls for an inner depth study of the three drugs. Alcohol destroys the liver and affects the brain in irreversible conditions. Cocaine causes problems to hefty smokers especially in the respiratory system while methamphetamine is a popular party drug with over seventy thousand users. . Meth, crystal, ice, crank… is the one drug that stops at nothing. It is capable of keeping one high for a constant twelve hours or more; methamphetamine is a super speed drug, three or even four times stronger than cocaine. It is very popular, especially among young college adults in the United States. Costing as cheap as twenty-five dollars for a quarter gram, the drug is swallowed, snorted, smoked and shot straight in the veins by use of needles. The drug originated from the western parts of the United States of America knowing no borders or social class; spreading through Nebraska to the eastern cities. As by 2008, there existed a whole bunch of 25 million users of the drug. For instance, in London, Meth is a popular party drug with over seventy thousand users. That demonstrates how much this drug is nothing near a passing phenomenon. It has and shows no signs of stopping its teeth from sinking into our society. According to police in various states, crime committers are the very victims of the drug. They steal property, assault, murder and always possess needles and fake ids. A quick glance at Portland jail reveals that for every four inmates, one is a meth addict. The victims appear ashamed and always hallucinating. Crosschecking at the digital records office, the pictures immediately reveal that the victims appear older; more like the living dead. Even individuals with strong and tough looks are not to spare, the scenario is a devastating one. They suffer many problems. Meth teeth for instance, set in when the acids and bacteria resulting from meth corrode the gum and the teeth. Imagine ripe fruits falling on a tree; that is the fate of a crank addict’s teeth. This is because the victims rarely brush their teeth nor seek dental attention. The reason is obvious; they only have money to purchase the crystal. The brain on the other hand reacts immediately to meth. It results to euphoria, confidence and an energetic feeling; this is key attraction to the drug. The drug was originally engineered to trick the brain. Making one brave, keeping them awake and even stopping them from eating. This was the technique used by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. Of late the drug has been used in Bangkok and Thailand by working people as a work boost. This is because of the industrial competition in that region. Coming in the form of pills known as yabaha, it is used by construction workers and cab driver to make them work more shifts and stay awake for long, respectively. Its effects resulted to the government banning it to the extent of killing an average of 25 addicts that did not comply a day. Never the less, the drug is still existent in the region. Apparently, meth travels through the bloodstream into the brain. Here, it behaves like dopamine that is responsible for pleasure in our bodies. The impact is four times the natural feeling and lasts for a whole twelve hours! Methamphetamine can be cheaply prepared from legal readily available raw materials. SUDAFE, a common cold medication that comprises of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, is mixed with methyl alcohol from gasoline and ether from spray cans. The result, pseudoephedrine is cocktailed with hydrous ammonia (used by farmers) and meth is made. Apparently, from my understanding, reasoning and point of view, it has come to my attention that methamphetamine; is currently the largest producer, with strong and well-networked super labs. This cheap, long-lasting and readily available drug has every reason to swipe away anything, from adventurous college students to blue color employees in Bangkok. At this point, the main source of controversy sets in with factors orienting to cocaine. This is because more than 2,100,000 people have perished globally so far because of taking alcohol. Comparing with twenty nine thousand deaths from in the United States of America along with the eighty five thousand deaths related to alcohol. It becomes a dilemma since marijuana has not registered any death rates so far this year and in the previous years. Four hundred and thirty five thousand people have died over smoking tobacco. From another perspective, some of these killer drugs like tobacco and alcohol are legal in most countries with marijuana remaining illegal in very few countries. Today, the most controversial issue among the youths is on marijuana use. Scientific arguments on marijuana killing the brain cells are proving this fact wrong. In the United States, most pharmacies are now selling marijuana for medical purposes over the counter. Marijuana is now a proven medical remedy for the good health of cancer and HIV/AIDS victims, since it relives pains and develops appetite among its users. the idea on marijuana use is a ‘behind the scene’ issue in our society today; but at the current dynamic pace, I believe in a few years to come, we are yet to witness a drastic phenomenon from today’s perspective on marijuana. Work cited Read More