substance abuse problem solution essay

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Problem Solution , Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is a widespread problem that affects every society, age group, social class, and family. The consequences of drug addiction can be devastating, including ruined relationships, loss of jobs, financial strain, and crime. Communities and governments spend billions of dollars trying to regulate drug use, treat addicts, and fight drug-related crime. To combat drug abuse, education is key. Children need to be taught about the dangers of drug abuse at home and in school. Families and counselors need to talk to at-risk children. Police departments need more resources to enforce the law and stop dealers. While the problems of drug abuse may seem difficult to eliminate, there are steps that can be taken to weaken the effects of drugs on families and society, and everyone has a role to play in the battle against drug abuse.

Problem Solution Essay

Drug abuse is widespread throughout the world. Every society, age, social class, and family has been affected by drug addiction. The government spends billions of dollars trying to regulate drug use, treat addicts, and battle drug-related crime. Drugs affect nearly everyone and need to be fought better.

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Drug abuse causes many struggles for families and communities. Addicts are often too sick, to function as normal, liable members of a family or of society (“Addiction Science”). For instance, they ruin their relationships with their families and drain resources; especially if they require costly treatment or hospitalization (“Addiction Science”). Addicts can lose their jobs and, have no income to support themselves or anyone depending on them. Children and teens who abuse drugs become more distant from their families and do not have a healthy relationship with them. A second problem of drug abuse is the crimes committed by addicts. Increased police time and effort are needed to fight smuggling and dealing illicit drugs.

Communities continue to fight to find ways to prevent drug abuse and to help rehabilitate addicts. Dealing with drug problems takes up the police departments resources as well as the communities’. Because many cities and communities are struggling financially, adding more police protection, puts a strain on the citizens through taxes. Despite these difficulties, drugs can be fought.

Education is our best hope and effort. Children need to be taught at home and in school about the menace of drug abuse. For example, discussions around the dinner table, family events, and school programs and activities in health classes can give children information to help them stay away from drug use. Families and counselors need to talk to the kids at risk of drug abuse, or any path or decisions that could lead to drug abuse. Another approach to the problem of drug abuse is to increase police resources enforce the law and stop dealers. Statistics show the bigger the drug problem in a community, the bigger its crime rate (“International Statistics”). Even though the cost of adding more police may hurt a community and its citizens financially, protecting its children from drug abuse and cutting down on drug-related crimes is worth it.

Although the problems of drug abuse may seem difficult to eliminate or control, there are steps that can be taken to weaken the effects of drugs on families and on society. Parents, teachers, and communities must take steps to educate children about the harmfulness of drug abuse and need to offer safe, fun activities for children at risk to do to keep them healthy. Also, police departments must be provided with more resources and community support to fight drug-related crimes. If we are to win the war on drugs, everyone must understand that they have a role in the battle and in its success.

Works Cited

“Addiction Science.” National Institute On Drug Abuse. NIH. December 2012. Web. 12 April 2013. “International Statistics.” Foundation For A Drug Free World. 2008. Web. 12 April 2013.

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Introduction

Drug abuse has become a rife thing in most nations across the world. In this case, millions of dollars are being spent every year in order to prevent the abuse of drugs, treat drug addicts as well as prevent crimes related to drug abuse. Despite the fact that drugs tend to pose threats to most nations, their impacts can be combated. This paper presents the problem of drug abuse in society and tries to indicate some of the possible solutions to the same.

The Problem

Drug abuse leads to many problems in most nations and communities. It is vital to note that both medical and psychological impacts are obvious since they can easily be noted among those abusing drugs. In this case, addicts are unable to function as normal individuals in society. Moreover, they are noted to abuse those around them including their family members; hence, they require extensive hospitalization or even expensive treatments. It is evident that drug abuse has been spread across the world regardless of age (Donohew, Howard, & William 13). It is surprising to see that many young people abuse certain hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Drug addicts are highly involved in criminal activities. There is a need to implement relevant policy initiatives in order to fight and prevent dealing as well as smuggling of drugs in the world. Criminal gangs alongside mafia individuals have a tendency to develop their resources in the form of money from drug smuggling and dealing. Cocaine has become one of the most used drugs in the world especially among young people.

Most importantly, it has become evident that some individuals are not able to utilize recreational or even prescription drugs because of negative impacts or addiction. Substance abuse can lead to serious problems in different areas including work, studies, relationships as well as homes hence making people feel abandoned and isolated (O’Farrell and William 27). Moreover, people tend to experiment with different drugs due to many reasons. Most addicts use drugs out of strong curiosity since their peers are doing the same. Others would do it in an attempt to improve their performance. It is important to note that the use of drugs does not necessarily lead to abuse. In addition, there is no specific level or degree of intake that can be considered problematic (Donohew, Howard & William 22). In this case, abuse will depend on an individual; hence it is not related to the amount of drug that one takes or even the frequency of intake. However, drug abuse can lead to many problems in terms of health, economics, and relationships.

Power Question

Drug abuse makes me poses a power problem that should be included in major discussions in order to prevent and control drug abuse across the world. The power question would consider why some users of drugs end up becoming addicted whilst others will continue taking the drugs and are never addicted to them. In other words, why do some drug users become addicted, while others do not? This question is worth considering since some people take drugs during their entire lives and are not addicted to them. The greatest question relates to the causes of the addiction and whether there is a psychological or physiological explanation for the issue.

Possible Solutions

It is fortunate that the menace accompanying drug abuse and addiction can be prevented and controlled. Education can act as the initial solution to the problem. Making young people aware of the dangers of drug abuse and the impacts of the same would be vital at the initial levels of learning. Individuals need to know about the issues related to drug abuse and addiction. This should be taught in schools and through public campaigns in order to caution people across the world. Addressing the issue at the early stages would be effective since children would grow to be aware that drugs have negative consequences whenever they are abused. It would be vital to curb the issue until it aggravates (Donohew, Howard, and William 44).

Another approach would be to use laws and the police in order to prevent and control drug abuse. In this case, nations should develop laws that will help to prevent drug smugglers and dealers from carrying out drug business across the world, especially in their nations. This should start at the national level. The police will be involved in law reinforcement through arresting those involved in drug smuggling and dealing.

The last approach would be to give people jobs and roles in society in order to keep them occupied. This way, they would have little time to think about the use of drugs. This will also reduce drug addiction across the world (O’Farrell & William 34). The lack of jobs makes people depressed and ashamed of themselves; thus, they consider drug use as a way to reduce stress.

The Strongest Solution

The most effective approach to the drug abuse problem would be education that creates awareness across the communities. This would play an important role in reducing and preventing drug abuse since people would be aware of its negative impacts. It is only through education that people regardless of age could be made aware of the dangers of drug intake.

In conclusion, drug abuse has become rampant worldwide hence requiring quick action. It has led to addiction and serious health, economic, and psychological problems across the world. There have been proposed solutions like education, the use of police, and the creation of jobs and roles in communities. Therefore, the matter should be taken seriously since it affects almost every nation in the world.

Works Cited

• Donohew, Lewis, Howard E. Sypher, & William J. Bukoski, eds. Persuasive Communication and Drug Abuse Prevention. Boston, MA: Routledge, 2012. Print.
• O’Farrell, Timothy J., & William Fals-Stewart. Behavioral Couples Therapy for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 2013. Print.
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Problem and Solution: Drug Abuse Essay

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Drug Abuse in the United States

An in-depth exploration into the epidemic of drug abuse that has permeated various parts of American society. This essay sheds light on the underlying causes, the most commonly abused substances, and the socio-economic impact of drug addiction on individuals and the nation as a whole. PapersOwl showcases more free essays that are examples of Addiction topic.

How it works

Drug abuse in the United States has long been a topical issue and persists even today. Many different reasons make people get addicted as well as different levels to which people get dependent on drugs. Opioid use and abuse may start out of curiosity while others take them as prescribed medication for treatment but in the long run, they get addicted. In the United States, many people label Opioid addiction as a health problem rather than drug addiction. The reason could be because the Opioids prescription is by the doctor or because the main targeted demography is the Caucasian.

It does not matter why people begin to use Opioid, the critical thing for those addicted is to get assistance to avoid having their lives ruined. There is a significant loss of life as a result of drug addiction, and proper awareness and prevention strategies need to be in place.

• 1 Overview Paragraph
• 2 Annotated Bibliography

Overview Paragraph

The first part of the paper will be an introduction to focus on drug addiction and the different ways people view drug addictions against the addiction to Opioid. The second section will provide an accurate analysis of the History of drug addiction, why Opioid gets treated as a health issue and why its use and abuse are a type of drug addiction. The history will provide critical information as to how Opioid has taken root to even become an epidemic over time. The third part will focus on the epidemiological finding on the abuse of Opioid through the inclusion of its prevalence, treatment rate and the demographics of Opioid use. The section will seek to take into account the number of the affected people and the specific people in the society who get affected. The fourth section shall provide substantial details on the drug abuse awareness, Opioid awareness and the intervention in place to prevent its abuse. The last part will be the conclusion and recommendation. They will focus on the recommendations from the findings from the research. The conclusion will provide a summary of the paper concerning the thesis.

In this article, the author provides substantial on the federal and Congress efforts and initiatives in place in the quest to deal with the Opioid epidemic. The articles assist in providing insight into a proper thesis putting into consideration the Opioid epidemic and its implications. The article covers the programs, the budget in place and the funding going towards solving the problem of the epidemic. The article is a credible source of information in my paper and helps to analyze the problem to conclude whether the initiatives will go through successfully.

In the journal article, the authors provide an essential illustration of the major opioid analgesic abuse increase and the probable concerns and strategies. The articles provide a broad overview of the problems of substance abuse. The article offers insights on the opioid analgesics that gets used in the acute pain treatment. The source is credible and covers the topical issue of Opioid about substance abuse widely.

Compton, Wilson M., and Nora D. Volkow. “”Abuse of prescription drugs and the risk of addiction.””Drug & Alcohol Dependence83 (2006): S4-S7.

In this article, the authors illustrate the misuse of drugs prescribed and the addiction risks. The article provides crucial insights into Opioid analgesics, how it gets prescribed and how individuals who abuse it turns out to be addicted to Opioid. The article is a credible source of information and covers the area of prescription effectively in the analysis of Opioid and substance abuse. In my paper, it is a central source of information.

In this article, the authors provide an analysis of the greater understanding of the stigma associated with addiction. Overview of the intersectionality with gender and race/ethnicity. I shall provide substantial details as illustrated in the article regarding drug abuse and critical insights on the Opioid use and abuse. The article presents the methodology used, the results and findings deducted in the research and also a well-articulated conclusion. The article provides adequate information regarding the stigma levels and the sections of the society affected. The article is a credible source, and it has quality research work to back up this information.

In this book, the authors provide important details on the relapse prevention in this case for drugs and alcohol problems. The book addresses widely the issue of relapse and also generates critical techniques with a view to prevent and manage the cases of recurrences. The book is a credible source that provides insights and the depth that may even include the addiction, the withdrawals, and recurrences for the people addicted to drugs. The book provides substantial details and accurately covers the relapse prevention.

In this article, the authors provide information regarding the drug law violations and other related crimes. The article provides a review of the risk factors and the long-term course of criminal behavior and addiction. The article provides insights into the impact of the drug addiction on the people especially those convicted or facing the jail term. Also, available in the article is the criminal culpability and drug policy. The article is a credible journal with accurate information regarding Opioid and substance abuse.

Annotated Bibliography

Barlas, Stephen. Congress and Federal Agencies Address Opioid Abuse Epidemic, But Will New Initiatives Be Successful?? Pharmacy and Therapeutics41.8 (2016): 488“491. Print.

Compton, Wilson M., and Nora D. Volkow. “”Major increases in opioid analgesic abuse in the United States: concerns and strategies.””Drug & Alcohol Dependence81.2 (2006): 103-107.

Kulesza, Magdalena, et al. “”Towards a greater understanding of addiction stigma: Intersectionality with race/ethnicity and gender.”” Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 169, 2016, pp. 85-91.

Marlatt, G. Alan, and Dennis M. Donovan, eds.Relapse prevention: Maintenance strategies in the treatment of addictive behaviors. Guilford Press, 2005.

Nordstrom, Benjamin R., and Charles A. Dackis. “”Drugs and Crime.”” The Journal of Psychiatry & Law, vol. 39, no. 4, 2011, pp. 663-687.

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Drug abuse: Problem and solution

IELTS essay Drug abuse: Problem and solution

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The Effects of Substance Abuse Essay

The phenomenon of drug misuse might seem a rather rare occasion that only occurs to individuals from some of the most disadvantaged areas. However, the problem of drug misuse has become a nationwide concern in the U.S. over the past decade (Ashok et al., 2022). Healthcare officials report a 13% prevalence of drug misuse issues in patients above 12in the U.S. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). Due to the drastic change in physical, mental, and social health of people with drug misuse problems, illicit drug use must be actively prevented an addressed by offering people with drug misuse issues rehabilitation options as opposed to incarceration.

Among core consequences of drug abuse, one should mention rapid deterioration of physical health. Remarkably. the failure of specific organs depends on the type of drug misused. For example, active consumption of meth will cause a patient to develop sever decay and rapid loss of teeth (Ashok et al., 2022). In turn, cocaine will damage a patient’s nasopharynx (Ashok et al., 2022). Likewise, drugs have an immediate and detrimental effect on people’s mental health. Specifically, rapid deterioration of one’s cognitive and critical thinking faculties coupled with possible memory loss and the associated issues are to be expected (Ashok et al., 2022). Finally, drug consumption affects one’s social health by forcing one to abandon the established relationships and lose emotional connection with people (Ashok et al., 2022). Therefore, drug misuse has massive ramifications for people’s physical, psychological, and social health.

By providing people with illicit drug use issues rehabilitation options, such as the introduction of strategies for withdrawal and relapse prevention, as well as appropriate CBT strategies, one will be able to address the issue of drug misuse in patients successfully. The proposed approach will allow avoiding multiple adverse changes to patients’ mental, physical, and social health. Therefore, a substantial number of health threats will be prevented.

Ashok, M. K. S., & Jadhav, M. P. A Review on Effect of complication of drug addiction on human health. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews , 2582 , 2992-3010.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Illicit drug use . CDC.org . Web.

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IvyPanda. (2024, January 1). The Effects of Substance Abuse. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-effects-of-substance-abuse/

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Ielts essay # 1160 - youth drug abuse is a serious problem, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, youth drug abuse is a serious problem., what are the possible causes of this behaviour what could be done to control that.

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Ozempic Hurts the Fight Against Eating Disorders

I t’s impossible to escape the soaring popularity of Ozempic and similar drugs these days—daily headlines, celebrity “success” stories, and apparent ease in procuring prescriptions (even Costco sells them now) abound. But the cumulative effect of all of this has many experts in the eating disorder field worried about how this might affect their patients. This makes sense—even for those without eating disorders, these drugs can feel both triggering and enticing. After all, research tells us about 90% of women are dissatisfied with their bodies. This sounds like a quick fix.

Then, I started hearing reports—first anecdotal, then published —that some doctors were prescribing weight loss drugs like Ozempic to their patients with eating disorders. As in, to help treat them.

As a journalist who has extensively researched the harms of eating disorders and the barriers to recovery—and as a woman who had suffered from eating disorders on and off for much of my own life—I thought I must have misunderstood. Yes, we as a society are in the midst of Ozempic Fever—and by “fever,” I’m referring to excitement, rather than a possible side effect of the drug (which it is). Researchers are continuing to find new potential applications for these drugs, initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes. In March, the FDA approved a new indication for the weight-loss drug Wegovy (which has the same active ingredient as Ozempic), allowing it to be used as a treatment to reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke. Ozempic, a diabetes drug, used off-label for weight loss, is also being studied to treat anxiety and depression , polycystic ovary syndrome, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s , and now—eating disorders.

Read More: Ozempic Exposed the Cracks in the Body Positivity Movement

It’s early days and research hasn’t yet caught up with the enthusiasm.  But our cultural misunderstanding of eating disorders, even by well-meaning practitioners, could exacerbate the illnesses for those who suffer from them—and have dire consequences.

The new class of weight loss drugs mimics the body’s GLP-1 hormone , stimulating insulin production, and lowering blood sugar levels, helpful to those with type 2 diabetes. The drugs also curb appetite and slow the speed that food moves into the small intestine—you feel full more quickly and eat less. Many patients without eating disorders who take these drugs, have reported a reduction of “food noise” in their minds—referring to obsessive thoughts and preoccupation with food. (Though, as philosopher Kate Manne wisely posited in a recent New York Times piece , isn’t “food noise,” simply, hunger?)

For folks suffering from binge eating disorder (BED) or bulimia nervosa (BN), a drug that decreases appetite may seem to make sense. Both illnesses are characterized by eating large amounts of food, eating until uncomfortably full, and feeling distress around that (bulimia is distinguished by purging after a binge).

Binge eating often emerges as part of a cycle of restriction—dieting, fasting, or eliminating entire food groups—like carbs, for example. “Many people struggling with BED view the binge episodes as the problem and the restriction as something to strive for,” said Alexis Conason, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of binge eating disorder. “When people with BED take a GLP-1 medication that dampens their appetite, many are excited that they can be ‘better’ at restriction and consume very little throughout the day.” Subsequently, Conason adds, there is a dangerous potential for BED to then morph into anorexia, starving oneself with possibly life-threatening complications.

Eating disorders are complex illnesses that aren’t yet fully understood, even by experts in the field. Underneath the behaviors around food is often an intricate web of trauma, anxiety, and even genetic predisposition, all set against the backdrop of a culture that prizes thinness . Low weight is frequently (incorrectly) conflated with good health, and people in larger bodies are often subjected to bullying, negative stereotypes, and discrimination in the workplace .

Read More: Ozempic Gets the Oprah Treatment in a New TV Special

Emerging research strongly supports that for many, eating disorders are brain-based illnesses and in most cases, there exists a co-morbidity like anxiety, mood disorders, or substance abuse.

“GLP-1’s can’t help someone deal with their stress, anxiety, [and] trauma-history,” said psychologist Cynthia Bulik, one of the world’s leading eating disorder researchers, and Founding Director of the University of North Carolina Center of Excellence of Eating Disorders. “All of that background distress—fundamental distress that might be driving the BED in the first place—is temporarily bypassed by removing the desire to eat.”

Nearly 30 million Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime, but only about 6% of those are medically diagnosed as “underweight,” according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. This means that a person may exhibit all of the diagnostic hallmarks of anorexia, for example, extreme restriction and even malnourishment, but still present as average weight or even overweight. They may even be told by a physician to lose weight, despite the fact that they are already going to dangerous extremes to chase that “goal.”

“We tend to think that everyone in a larger body with an eating disorder must have BED and everyone in a smaller body must have anorexia, but this couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Conason. “So many people with BED seek help in weight loss settings instead of seeking eating disorder treatment; many view the problem as their weight and think they need more help sticking to their diet” when in reality, an end to the restriction would more likely regulate their eating.

It’s much easier to get weight loss treatment than help for an eating disorder. There is no standard of care for eating disorders in this country and treatment is unregulated. While there are some promising, evidenced-based treatments (cognitive behavioral therapy for adults, and family-based treatment for children and teens), they don’t work for everyone. If a person is fortunate to be diagnosed and receive adequate treatment, relapses are common and full recovery can be elusive.

Further, these drugs are often intended to be taken for a person’s entire life. “When they go off the drug, or can’t access it due to supply problems, the urge to binge comes right back and they have not developed any psychological (or) behavioral skills to manage the urge,” Bulik told me. Just like with a diet, any lost weight will likely be regained when a person stops taking the drugs. Weight fluctuations, themselves ,may increase a person’s risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, according to multiple studies.

“The focus on weight and erasing the desire to eat could indeed do harm,” cautioned Bulik. “The potential for abuse is high and will become higher with new preparations that don’t require an injection … Remember, these drugs are ‘for life.’ Stop them, and everything comes rushing back.”

The long-term side effects of GLP-1’s are not yet known. But the harms of eating disorders are: eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness (second only to opioid overdose). People with eating disorders are more likely to attempt suicide, and during COVID-19, emergency room visits and inpatient admissions for eating disorders at pediatric hospitals skyrocketed, particularly for young women. According to the CDC, emergency room visits for 12-17 year old girls who suffer from eating disorders doubled during the pandemic. Those numbers, as shown by recent studies , have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

An even greater concern is that the gaps in comprehensive care for eating disorders invite experimental, potentially harmful treatments and leave patients vulnerable. GLP-1’s may seem like a short-term “fix,” but they won’t graze the deeper issues nor will they diminish the eating disorder crisis in this country. And it is a crisis—every year, eating disorders cost the U.S. more than $65 billion .

I know too well that if a doctor advises their patient with an eating disorder “here’s something to make you eat less” most patients would happily oblige. That’s part of the pathology of the illness. It’s the eating disorder talking. Ideally, it wouldn’t be your doctor’s voice, too.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Drugs — Drugs: Effects and Solutions Explored in Research

Drugs: Effects and Solutions Explored in Research

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Published: Dec 3, 2020

Words: 1959 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

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Introduction, drugs in general, drugs and society, drug abuse solutions.

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