Drug Abuse: Effects, Treatment, and Prevention - Essay Example

Drug Abuse: Effects, Treatment, and Prevention The drug and substance abuse is one of the menaces in the society that havepersisted for years due to the various challenges that hinder their eradication. Drug and substance abuse is on the rise in the United States of America and around the world despite numerous efforts to eliminate the issue. Drug abuse is the use of illegal drugs or misuse of various types of over-the-counter medication and prescription drugs. Additionally, intentional inhalation or consumption of other industrial chemicals is also categorized under drug and substance abuse. The majority of drug abusers often do it to alter the normal functioning of the mind, which creates a false feeling. Although drug abusers enjoy the use and false sweet feeling induced by these drugs, the use has adverse effects. Drug abuse leads to addiction, poor health, and mental disorders. Effects of drug abuse are frequently noticed through various symptoms such hallucination, weight loss and irrational decision-making. These effects are detrimental to humans and can lead to losing of life. Although these effects are harmful to users, they are treatable, and the problem of drug abuse is preventable. Though drug abuse problem seems like a lost battle, various treatment plans such as withdrawal, family-based intervention, and rehabilitation can effectively reduce and solve the problem of drug abuse. Consistent abuse of numerous drugs quickly leads to addiction. Addiction is a common problem among abusers of various drugs characterized by a chronic brain disease that makes users constantly crave for drugs and use them despite the harmful effects they pose. An addict cannot stay without using the drugs; whenever the effect is over, they become dysfunctional until they consume the drug or substance. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2012, 6.8% of the total population, which is equivalent to 17.7 million Americans were dependent on alcohol. Drug addiction results from taking numerous recreational drugs that induce various feelings of satisfaction among users. Although drugs are harmful, they help reduce stress and makes users feel pleasant. As a result, the brain notes these feelings and consistently craves for more. This group of people ignores the adverse effects of drug use due to their addiction. As a result, they develop tolerance and withdrawal syndrome. Victims of drug addiction have numerous changes in the brain, which hinders rational decision-making and impairs their judgment. Moreover, the urge for drugs is so high that users are unable to rationalize the amount they use. Consequently, these people use large quantities of drugs and drastically underestimate the power and effects of those substances. Excessive use and abuse drugs and substances have harmful effects on the users such as changes in sleeping patterns. For instance, the majority of people who misuse stimulants such as coffee experience a lack of sleep (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors 172). Conversely, excessive use of some drugs induces sleep and makes the user appear sleepy and fatigued most of the time. The perfect example of such types of drugs is depressants. Depressants induce sleep and make the user feel drowsy and appear fatigued. Consequently, users spend most time of the day sleeping. In addition, other types of drugs such as marijuana and alcohol also affect sleeping patterns among users. They do not have specific effects, and the sleeping pattern solely depends on the users’ reaction to these drugs. Thus, abuse of drugs and substance alter sleeping patterns of abusers. Additionally, drug abuse has adverse effects on lifestyle and relationship of the abusers and other members of the society. Most of the drug addicts prioritize drugs over other important elements in life. As a result, these people neglect their families and friends and lead lonely lives. The family members and friends have no choice, but to watch one of them deteriorate and become miserable. Moreover, the abusers’ behaviors may constrain the relationship between them and their family members. For instance, drug abusers are unable to save their earnings since drugs are expensive and consume a lot of money. Thus, they may deplete the family’s resource to support their addiction thereby plunging the family into poverty. Similarly, drug addicts remain broke, and some of them lead lowly lives without basic needs such as food and clothing. Some also discontinue their interest in various activities such as sports or education. They give up everything and remain committed to using drugs and other substance that alter their thinking and decision-making. In addition, drug abuse results in injuries and other health complications among users. Currently, in the United States of America, most deaths and illness are due to the effects of drug and substance abuse. As a result, reports show that abuse of drugs and other chemicals cause one in four deaths in the country. In addition, the report by National Institute on Drug Abuse states that illicit drugs results in more than 540,000 deaths in the country annually (3). Moreover, drugs addicts are vulnerable to various injuries such as accidents and unintentional harms when they are under the influence of drugs and other substances. Besides, the impact of drug abuse affects almost all body organs of the abusers. These drugs are responsible for interfering with the immune system of the body resulting in vulnerability to dangerous diseases or infections. In addition, drug addicts are susceptible to cardiovascular conditions and abnormal heart rate, which might cause heart attack, seizures, stroke, and widespread brain damage in victims. These are the deadly diseases and the leading causes of deaths in the world. Finally, the effects most drug addicts experience are due to their continued use of dangerous and unnecessary drugs and substances. Similarly, abuse of drugs affects pregnant women thus putting the unborn children in great danger. These substances are responsible for numerous birth defects in the United States. According to reports, almost 4% of pregnant women in the country abuse various drugs. As a result, a large number of unborn children are at a high risk of being born with multiple birth defects. In addition, these drugs also lead to premature births of under-developed and under-weight babies. Moreover, the pregnant women who abuse drugs are also at a high risk of contracting various deadly diseases that can cause death or miscarriage. Although drugs have adverse effects on the body, some of these effects are curable through the right procedures. Many medical practitioners and researchers believe drug addiction can easily be reduced and eventually treated. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, these professionals believe drug withdrawal treatment is the best approach for getting rid of the addiction (2). As a result, victims of drug addiction should first rid their body of drugs they frequently use. However, victims with severe addiction problems should be admitted to various detox clinics in the country. They should be admitted for an extended period to allow drugs leave their system. In additional, spending extended time in the clinic allows staff to provide professional help to the victims. They also help victims cope successfully with withdrawal symptoms that are always challenging. Furthermore, these professionals administer numerous medications to patients as ways of controlling the withdrawal symptoms. Any drug addict who adopts this treatment plan is assured of fruitful results at the end of the process. Moreover, victims of drug abuse should be treated at home. A family-based treatment plan is essential in both preventing and eliminating abuse of drugs in the country. In the case where the victim is a parent, treatment of the mother translates to prevention for the children in that family. Children whose parents receive treatment of drug abuse are less vulnerable to drug-related problems compared to children of untreated drug addicts. Furthermore, the government should adopt rehabilitating criminal offenders to reduce and finally eliminate the problem of drug abuse. This treatment plan is essential to reducing the number of drug abusers in the federal prisons. The reduced number of criminals subjected to rehabilitation programs is responsible is for the increased number of drug and substance addicts in the country. As a result, the government should adopt this plan to ensure a drop in the number of drug users. Treatment of drug addicts and drug-related problems is essential and necessary, but prevention of the use of drugs and substance is the best way to combat this problem in the country. Most of the people in the country are at high risk of abusing the drug and becoming drug addicts. As a result, it essential to educate the public and potential drug abusers on the adverse effects of drugs and other substances. The state should use video or pictures to educate the public and show them the effects of drugs and substance abuse on the various body parts. Furthermore, the state should emphasize on different groups at a high risk of abusing drugs such as youths in the country. This selective intervention strategy is efficient in curbing drug and substance abuse in the country. Additionally, the state should also create various awareness centers and conduct numerous monthly campaigns against drug and substance abuse in the country. Ultimately, the government should also put stringent laws on drugs with lengthy jail terms to discourage drug abusers. Through effective prevention measures, abuse of various drugs and substances in the country are bound to reduce. Similarly, the causes and effects of drug abuse in the country will also reduce. Evidently, the cases of drug abuse in the country pose an enormous threat to the users. Abuse of different number of drugs results in drug addiction. Drugs alter the normal reasoning and decision making of the users. Furthermore, drugs have various health effects that range from reduced immunity of the body to birth defects in newborn. Although drug abuse has adverse effects, addicts can be successfully treated and resume their normal lives. Treatment plans such as family treatment plan and withdrawal are necessary for such addicts in redeeming themselves and becoming a respected member of the society. Nevertheless, the best way to deal with the problem of drug and substance abuse is through prevention. The government and other concerned parties should devise various preventive measures such as awareness and campaign to deal with this problem. Through the right preventive strategies, the country is bound to become a drug-free zone. Works Cited Maisto, Stephen, Mark Galizio, and Gerard Connors. Drug Use and Abuse. Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. The National Institute on Drug Abuse. ‘Drug Facts: Nationwide Trends | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).’ N.P., Jan. 2014. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. . The National Institute on Drug Abuse. ‘Drugs, Brains and Behavior: The Science of Addiction.’ N.P., 2010. 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