Social Work and Field Practice: Specialization in Substance Abuse and Its Control - Essay Example

Social Work and Field Practice: Specialization in Substance Abuse and It’s Control al Affiliation INTRODUCTION 1.1. SOCIAL WORK & FIELD PRACTICE The most important formulation that is being carried around our society for its betterment by many organizations is the aspect of social work. The field of practice in social work is what is considered extremely essential when it comes to the differentiation in the outcomes of our society. This does not imply that other aspects of social work are of less significance but it labels the level of this aspect higher. In order to understand the field of practice in social work for the topic of this paper, it is necessary to understand first what practice is. It can be specified that the method of application of various procedures, rules, adjustment and knowledge in a profession is called practice. The ambiguity that lies in various parts of a society is regarding the concept of social work that is provided. People have perplexed ideas and beliefs regarding not only the field of practice in social work, but about the entire scenario that could be gained regarding social work and its formulations. 1.2. ADVANCEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Thus, this perplexity is one of a good nature for this paper, as the core practices and considerations of the same ambiguity have been addressed. According to many people, social work is just a series of complex meetings for health care adjustments, justice manifestations, and prolonged planning. Even though this thought is not wrong, but it is being presented negatively. Hence, as Sehgal (2005) has put this forth, we can elucidate that social change is such a process of growth and development that promotes a change in the society. In the current state of affairs it has come to notice that a large number of problems are originating in our society. Amongst these gigantic issues is the extremely important subject of drug abuse. Hence, if we need to diversify this fast paced chaos, it is necessary for us to target the major issue under deliberation and understand what role our social work system actually plays in making or impacting this issue. This vice affects both females and males of various ages. 1.3. WHAT IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE? Therefore, in order to verify this issue it is necessary that its characterization is presented as well. As it is a fact that a large number of people do not go through the downbeat outcomes of the issue of addiction after they use drugs that are prescribed or recreationally provided with. This is not the case for all the people, as for some people the use of such drugs may result in increased complexities in routines related to work, studies, and relationships. Hence, these complexities and problems turn into the root cause of substance abuse which has been provided by Lowinson (2005) as a neurological problem which results in the consumption and dependence of people on more and more drugs. Drug abuse is an important issue which is targeted by the field of social work and a large number of people are provided with help each year. Substance abuse has also been considered as a situation in which people use substances that affect them negatively and are harmful, such as alcohol and drugs in a manner that is too frequent. 1.3.1 Research Statement This is why when people use drugs in such a manner, their bodies develop a strong desire for its frequent usage and this makes it impossible for them to control its usage. Hence, even though they see its negative effects in and on their bodies, yet continue to use it and consider its usage more important than any other activities of life, the prime and the most pondered upon issue which is being spread like fire all around the researches in contemporary literature is substance abuse, which is why this paper will provide a basis of this issue with reference to its illustration through modern art. Different beliefs are held by different people; similarly various researches show various results. Hence, for the clarification of the causes and the measures for the solution of this issue, all the sides have been provided and presented objectively for the formulation of the readers own opinion. As the viewpoints provided are completely valid and applicable, thus this paper provides a study reference for the elimination or decrease in the problem of substance abuse from the society and improving the public health sector by the social work processions. It has been specified that from one individual to another, there has been found a difference in the defenselessness of the addiction with reference to the medical conditions and diseases that are apprehended. Also, it has been validated that there are a large number of reasons that have been labeled a must for the increase in this problem. Some of the major reasons that are included are role of genes in disease commencement, mental health condition, and environment of the society as well as the family atmosphere. The principles that underline the seriousness of this problem include blocks like spread of drug abuse activity, universal substance abuse education, and the availability of substance replacement options. 2. DISCUSSION Some of the other common issues that are regarded to by the field of social work include poverty, charity work, racism, sexism, homophobia, and age discrimination. Some of the common procedures through which substance abuse has been seen common is smoking, injection of drugs, and addiction to alcohol and many other drugs. In this epoch the views and ideas of the public have been brought under consideration along with professional dealings, by social workers in the field of practice, specifically when it comes to problems like substance abuse. This issue has been specifically worked upon due to the fact that there is a need to understand and verify the diversity of the demonstration of its importance in the different cultures. 2.1. ORGANIZATIONAL WORK It is a fact that social workers are health professionals who are known to be largest allied working group as they come in contact with all sorts of people. When it comes to substance abuse the most common groups that are encountered by social workers include young teenagers, young adults, and grown-ups. In the current era, the aspects of substance abuse issue that social workers specialize in include alcohol abuse, tobacco misuse, and prescription drugs along with other workers specializing in non-specialty settings of the same issue. On a large scale, it has been specified that organizations have started specializing in the non-specialty sector of drug abuse for the fact that they encounter clients integrally as they put forth their problems. Organizations in the form of centers of health, hospitals, welfare services for child care and aged persons, courts, facilities for correction, assistance systems for employees, and practices that are private; are providing the society with help and rally rounds. Organizations are making sure that people shall realize that interventions that are long term for the recognition of the dependence on substances are required by those people who are reliant on drugs and other substances. Many organizations are taking steps to create awareness regarding the chronic nature and relapsing scenery of the issue that is sometimes impossible to eliminate. Thus, organizations are employing more and more social workers in the field of practice as it has been presented that this field delivers more services for addressing this issue and influences it in a manner that is unique. Thus, this population as it becomes defenseless is being targeted by social workers that are in the field of practice and all measures to control this issue are being assessed and formulated. It can be elucidated that in accordance to the National Association of Social Workers (2005), the common procedure which has been observed for addressing this problem is based on steps which include; charging ethical values, examining knowledge, screening and placing workers in the field, planning for treatment and intervention, and advocating and collaborating with other organizations for relating to this problem. 2.2. Review of Literature As presented by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2011a), it can be presented that the issue of substance abuse amongst the young people ranging from ages 12-20 is increasing in the form of alcohol consumption which has its decline in the year 2009, but the problem has been increased since. It has also been formulated that this age group when addressed and enquired, have been at some parts of their lives under the spontaneous influence of alcohol usage. A survey conducted by the same institution in the year 2010 formulated that the trend since 2002 in the usage of alcohol by young people has been increased and it is a major issue as it represents the sudden failure of the control procedures. The study states that in the history of survey that has been conducted since 2002 the rates for smoking have been considered low until now, which again represents the increase in the issue of substance abuse in the current years. It has been expounded by College Board (2009) that the basic steps taken by the institute for social work in accordance to substance abuse include; one on one therapy sessions, therapy sessions for groups, cooperation with people in crisis that are tremendous in nature, formulating sessions with emotional issues, training people facing drug abuse, keeping records for the steps taken, and avoiding any sorts of organizational burnouts. There has been an alarm that the amount by which alcohol is being abused by teenagers is increasing year after year, this is why in accordance to the above provided organizations it has been stated that in this epoch, parents need to be concerned with their child’s prescribed drug usage. Almost 10% out of 100 teens were considered to take drugs that were prescribed to them ten years ago but now the ratio has been increased to 44% of teenage youngsters taking prescribed drugs. Thus the following chart represents this formulation as presented by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2011b). 2.2.1. Current Trends It is a fact that the issue of drug abuse castes a negative effect on people’s lifestyle. The first and foremost aspect that is affected by the issue of drug abuse is the trend of reduced family values, due to increased changes in the society, technology and economy, which is more rapid and fast paced. Thus, people have no or very less feeling for attaching themselves with other people, groups or places. People can easily manage their lives by keeping and maintaining stability in their relationships, their surroundings and expectations that other people have, which keeps more value for children and young adults. When disciplining and controlling children as it comes to their growth and development is not kept stable; in such societies the issue of drug abuse is seen to raise more. This problem is cultural as it plays a vital role in helping people have faith in themselves and realize what problems need to be addressed. Another trend that has been considered responsible for substance abuse is the trending stance of illiteracy and joblessness. People who are educated get jobs and are integrated by backups which help them avoid this problem, but the mainstream support is lacking when they are illiterate and jobless. 3. EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT Therefore, it can be evaluated that the steps taken by social workers through practice are numerous in numbers. As they address this issue which is incurable in this epoch, they try to create more and more awareness in the people. In both the developing and the industrialized world, social workers are working on this issue from heart and soul. It has been gained that the aspects that are being worked upon by the workers include disease control, accident assessments, death rate control, crime control, lowered productivity of drugs, and reporting issues in the required authoritative departments. 3.1 OUTCOMES Hence, it can be originated that the seriousness of the problem has been recognized by organizations and the outcomes that have been gained after the above provided efforts include the recognition of the seriousness of the issue as a social matter, development of indicators for resisting this negative change, information case organizations being developed by both national and international systems, reduction in the cost usage in production of drugs, extension of the plans for development and growth, clarification of ambiguities amongst people regarding social work scenarios, expansion of the knowledge of drug abuse through awareness, effective development of the interventions for this issue, and the success in using tools for verification and control of this problem. 4. CONCLUSION Therefore, it can be concluded that after the above verified evidence and case studies, the importance of the problem and methods to its elimination rotate about the ways a society deals with it and how it lets an individual deal with it. Medical outcomes, the impact on the child, impact on other family members, and long term consequences are the major factors that come out as a result for analysis for an individual to consider before getting oneself in trouble. Thus, through the measures provided above in this paper, this issue can be reduced to some extent and the state of the public health sector can be improved enormously. References College Board. (2009). Career: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers. New York, NY: BigFuture. Lowinson, J.H. (2005). Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins National Association of Social Workers. (2005). Clients with Substance Use Disorders. [Pdf] National Addiction Centre. [Accessed on 22nd March, 2012] Available at National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2011a). InfoFacts: Nationwide Trends. [Online]. Accessed on [23rd March 2012] Available at < http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/nationwide-trends> National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2011b). Monitoring the Future Survey, Overview of Findings 2011. [Online]. Accessed on [22nd March 2012]. Available at Sehgal, A. (2005). Social Work. Delhi, IN: Isha. Read More