Drug Abusers - Research Paper Example

? Drug Abusers Introduction Drug abusers are maladaptive patterned users of drugs who consume drugs in a way not prescribed by a physician or medical professional. Drug abuse has link to mood altering as well as psychological deterrent. This population will take drugs for various reasons that sharply differ from one person to another. The victims enjoy the detachment and euphoria caused by the substance abused and the heightened feeling from the same. Habit or peer pressure lead to an immediate addiction which turns an individual to a dependent. Reasons for substance abuse are dependent on individual’s socioeconomic background. The numbers of persons who take drugs in the world have tremendously increased according to the prediction made by the SAMHSA's National Survey (Leavitt, 2003). The number of young drug abusers is more prevalent as compared to the adults. The research made by the SAMHSA testifies that 22.5 million Americans aged between 17 years and above abuse drugs. However, the number of people aged between twelve and seventeen who abuse drugs were 38 million in the same country. The statistics showed that alcohol, tobacco and marijuana were the most commonly abused drugs in the United States. The country’s statistics have shown that 67 per cent of the high school students take alcohol and 40 percent take marijuana. Background and effects of drug abuse Drugs and drug use have an immemorial feature in humankind and can be located back in the historical times. Drug abuse can be due to peer pressure, childhood lifestyle, and due to parental influence. Illegal drug taking and trafficking are illegal in all the world countries. However, the trade is booming in most of the world. This makes the drug available to the potential user facilitating its abuse. The earliest drug identified was the opium identified in Asia Minor in 5000 B.C. Alcohol is another drug with long history. There are many references regarding the origin of alcohol even in the Old Testament. Strictures against drunkenness are many including the incident recorded in the Genesis of Noah’s drunkenness from alcohol. Most of the drug’s inventions were for medical purposes but this did not hold as people turned to misuse them for personal reasons (Ames & Sussman, 2008). The abuse of drugs started from experimentations in efforts to establish their effectiveness and psychological effect. After recognizing the punitive nature of these drugs, people began to use them for other purposes other than the intended medicinal purpose. Drug abuse is a major cause of problems in public health. It has either direct or indirect effect on the health of an individual. Drug abuse and addiction have an impact on the society’s well being. Drug abuse leads to cancer, heart diseases, HIV and AIDS prevalence, and death in severe cases. All these have a direct effect on the health of the victim and the public health in general. The government directs most of its funds to the drug addicts and the victims that could otherwise have been used in other programs of that benefit the entire society (Slobodan, 2005). Drugged driving has been the cause of the thousands of accidents that occur on the roads and result in deaths of millions of people per year. Drug abusers become violent, hence, engage in crime acts like homicide, theft, and assaults. This can amount to their arrests or conviction over crime levels. Drug using exposes an individual to continued stress. Drug abusers can harm or misuse children leading to advanced maltreatment effects over them. Addiction has adverse effects on the health of the public and the society as well. For example, women addicts give birth to underweight babies and increase its chances to have hyperactivity disorder and child obesity. Child abuse is common on instances where the perpetrators are drug addicts. Incidences of homelessness, crime, education deterioration are common in incidences where drug abuse is common. Drug users are more likely to fail attend and work an event that translates to their sacking or demotion. All these events have one-way relation to the public health and the society whereabouts. Cultural background of drug abusers A cultural trend does exist in the abuse of drugs, especially the alcohol. Drug addiction especially from alcohol revolves around cultural realities of a society. The Asian Americans have treated conglomerate group of minorities who abuse drugs based on cultural background. Some communities share believes regarding the drug abuse. The traditional tribal orientation of the American society has stark dominance to institutional norms. Many American communities believe that treatment of drug complication especially that of alcohol involves spiritual component. Studies have shown that drug abuse and cultural believes are relevant and have connections to adolescence and the general health care (Leavitt, 2003). The current data has an increasing dismal to the abuser population on the relative stability. Constrained in the theory of war on drugs, there are social problems and political campaigns that target drug user and their community relation. Cultural-identity concerned with drug abuse explains the link between the drug abuse phenomenon and the cultural interpretation. Psychological concern of the drug users Substance abuse is independent to the public health concern due to the health related costs to the society. Drugs give a pleasurable experience to the user and make him feel better in case one is having a bad time. However, the feeling ceases after and the user retrieves his normality. Despite the pleasure of using drugs, the drugs have an impact on the mind of the user. They have a dire effect on the form of thinking of an individual and the mood swing of the victim. Most of these drugs have a long lasting effect and can in some cases lead to long-term mental problems. Most of the illegal drugs misused nowadays began as medicinal drugs (Ames & Sussman, 2008). Therefore, most of the discussed drugs are for medicinal purposes but individuals use them without the right prescription. More of drug abuses get influence from media than in a scientific research. Many street drugs mixed with other substances make them more harmful to the user and translate to a greater problem to the same. A same type of drug may have different types of complications or may cause different reactions depending on the user. Commonly, drugs have a withdrawal effect on the user. Withdrawal effect is major when the user fails to get the drug he commonly uses. A withdrawn person feels better when he takes more of the drug or stops to use it completely. Drugs cause mental health problems that are likely to make the victim feel worse (Slobodan, 2005). Some people do take drugs to cope with the symptoms or side effects of prescribed drugs. Drugs cause depression and a suicidal feeling accompanied by hallucination and paranoid delusions. Economic impact of drug abuse Drug abuse has great blame over the wide range of economic degradation. The drug war costs states billions of cash. The economic effect of the drugs can occur in two forms. The first form is the government enforcement policy. Countries spend billions and law enforcement policies that aim at eliminating drug use in the specific countries. Since economics and resources are scarce, they require decisions for their allocation. The money spent on drugs control becomes static. The money, therefore, becomes an increased burden to the taxpayers. Another economic reason of the drug use is the loss of human productivity, low wages, and decreased production due to illnesses and premature deaths of the productive age out of drug abuse. The United States has recorded a constant economic drain due to overspending on the drug matters. It spends millions of dollars in reducing the demand for the illegal drugs. War on drugs has also driven the economy of the country in dilemma as military is being directed towards drug war other than other security matters (Leavitt, 2003). The drug policy of the United States is working to eliminate wasteful redirection of funds by the government of the country. It aims at ending prohibition and refocuses on evidence for health approaches. Health concerns and risk factors of drug abusers Drug abuse has an obvious threat of addiction. Some people continuously use drugs without ever experiencing its negative effects. For others, drug taking can cause wrangles at work place, homes, and feeling of isolation. Drug use comes out of curiosity and spirit of adventure. Other people indulge in drug taking because of peer pressure wanting to have a better feeling. Constant use of illegal drugs can have both physical and mental health concerns. Drugs increase heart and breathing rates as well as blood pressure. They also lower the appetite of the user which can lead to deteriorated health of the same. The user may also have constant sweating, seeing blurred vision, and feeling of dizziness. He may become excited for no good reason or have a feeling of security that does not exist (Berglund , Thelander, & Jonsson, 2006). Drug abusers are at high risk of undergoing effects oncentral nervous system and become dependent on the drug. Parents who are drug abusers have a high risk of having their children as smokers or alcoholics too. Genetic factors play great role in determining this relationship. Children born in a family with history of anti-social behavior are also at risk of indulging in drug abuse. Children who lack proper guidance from parents or lack good parental models have a high probability of joining drug abuse. In addition, children whose friends take drugs are at high risk of taking drugs. Generally, drug abusers are at high risk of contacting HIV and AIDS either through sharing of syringes and/or engaging in irresponsible sexual behaviors. Drug abusers are also at high risk of involving in crime acts like theft in order to raise money for drug purchasing (Ames & Sussman, 2008). Public health nurses Treatment of drug abuse is a considerably important and widespread phenomenon among families. Controlled withdrawal victims should be subject careful medical nursing and supervision. The physicians and the specialists should design methods of handling the individuals that are dependent on drugs. Since the patients with withdrawal symptoms rarely cope with professional advices, the role of nurse remains very critical. Working as a primary care nurse is a challenging task but rewarding as well. Clients, who are drug dependent, present complicated issues to the nurses. They commonly have multiple health needs that require creative resolutions (Slobodan, 2005). Health promotion should be lowered to individuals for the nurses to effectively deal with the clients. Nurses comprise the largest health care profession, thus, they work with more clients than any other specialists. Therefore, they should be well equipped with drug knowledge to effective in job operation. Nurses participate effectively in educating the addicts and substance abusers on the potential effects of the substances they consume. They also act as consultants for any therapeutic complication. Core functions of public health The public health facility has main functions. These are: to monitor the health status and the identity of the community health problems. The policy also has a function of diagnosing the health problems of clients to establish the health hazard of the individual. It also has the duty to evaluate the effectiveness and the quality of the health care services delivered to the clients (Leavitt, 2003). The public health encompasses these policies for the effective handling of individuals who have total dependence over the drugs. It creates health agencies that diagnose and advise the clients effectively. Agencies servicing drug abusers Non-governmental organizations and world unions have directed their attention towards assisting drug addicts to be relieved from their malady. Some organizations that have proved active include: the Centre for Disease and Prevention (CDCP), Drug Abuse Treatment Outcomes Study (DATOS), and the Federal Resources for Education Excellence (FREE). These groups have been very active in organizing educational campaigns to the victims, giving material support, and addressing the special needs of these groups (Slobodan, 2005). These groups have also rallied for establishment of rehabilitation centers that transform lives of the victims. Conclusion Drug consumption has been a major pandemic since times in history up to date. Substance abuse has claimed lives of thousands of persons. The issue is, thus, a global pandemic which requires the efforts of everyone to check it off. Rehabilitation programs are an essential component of reviving the drug addicts and enable them assume normal lives. Mutual help is exceptionally important to this group (Ames & Sussman, 2008). Programs that strive to provide an environment free of substance exceptionally comply with activities of detoxification. Government can draw policies that aim at reducing the harm of alcohol and other drugs. Drivers who drink should be subject to heavy penalty. Child prevention measures are also necessary against their abuse. References Abadinsky, H. (2010). Drug Use and Abuse. A Comprehensive Introduction. New York: Cengage Learning. Ames, S., & Sussman, S. (2008). Drug Abuse: Concepts, Prevention, and Cessation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Berglund, M., Thelander, S., & Jonsson, E. (2006). Treating Alcohol and Drug Abuse: An Evidence Based Review. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Bukoski, W., & Sloboda, Z. (2003). Handbook of Drug Abuse Prevention: Theory, Science, and Practice. New York: Springer. Kolander, C., & Wilson, R. W. (2011). Drug Abuse Prevention. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Leavitt, F. (2003). The Real Drug Abusers. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. Perkinson, R. (2011). The Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Client Workbook. London: SAGE. Sloboda, Z. (2005). Epidemiology of Drug Abuse. New York: Springer. Read More