Effective Means of Fighting Drug Abuse and Addiction among the Youth 2
Effective Means of Fighting Drug Abuse and Addiction among the Youth
Kayla R Chapman
University of Charleston
Comm 102-02N- Freshman Writing II
Instructor: Amy Taylor
July 20, 2021
Effective Means of Fighting Drug Abuse and Addiction among the Youths
Introduction
Drug abuse and its associated outcomes affect people from different social-economic backgrounds, both rich and poor, and different geographical regions, both urban and rural. Each passing day more youths are enrolled in the risky behaviors of drug abuse. Cultural, social, and psychological variables have influenced and changed the concept of drug abuse and addiction among youths over the years. Humans have been abusing drugs for many years. In some cultures, the taking of alcohol was common. Now, in the 21st century, science and technology have created new synthetics and drugs. Globally, indulging in drug abuse among youths with physical and mental health issues continues to be a leading dangerous behavior. The outcomes of continued abuse of drugs are a threat to an individual’s health, family, society, and the country’s resources. It has been shown youths involved in drug abuse are at risk of contracting HIV and AIDs, mental illness, being recruited to gangs, and engaging in violence and crimes. Advances in technology and innovations have made it possible to have a well-evidenced treatment that is more effective in treating and reducing the abuse of drugs and addiction. Early interventions should be made to understand youths’ mental health problems and help prevent the impact of such problems, which may lead them to use drugs. Effective treatment programs that have incorporated pharmacotherapy as among the strategies for treating drug addicts are required to address the issue of drug abuse.
Argument Outline
The Outline
Introduction
Practical means of addressing the issue of drug abuse and addiction is by implementing different types of treatment programs that have been researched on and proved to be effective on drug abusers, and also incorporate pharmacotherapy as that will be essential for the efficacy of the whole treatment program.
Body
Solutions and outcomes: Solutions to abuse of drugs and addiction
Types of treatments programs
Pharmacotherapy
Opposing views to the proposed solutions include the theories of drug addiction, which seems to invalidate the strategies of curbing drug addiction that is employed in treatment programs. For instance, the biological theory of drug abuse maintains that individuals’ genetic factors will determine whether an individual will abuse and get addicted to drugs. Also, the personality theory of drug abuse suggests that certain personality traits will make individuals abuse drugs.
Conclusion
Justification (Significance and Audience)
Over the years, the exact physical effects of taking different drugs and their effects on an individual body system have been realized (Beetham et al., 2020). Some of these physical effects first take place in the brain. The brain is altered and changed from its normal functioning while the body’s perception of pleasure is impacted. These physical effects of abusing drugs are because the drugs introduce to the brain such chemicals as dopamine and serotonin repeatedly as an individual continues to take in drugs (Volkow and Nora, 2011). The effect of pleasure by these drugs makes the brain adapt, depend on, and always expecting the induced effect.
Drug addiction also affects babies born to such parents who are addicts. Children born to such mothers may be affected cognitively for all their life (Volkow and Nora, 2011). Mortality statistics also indicate that drug addiction causes one-in-four sudden deaths. Drug addicts are also at a high risk of contracting HIV and Aids, hepatitis, and other illnesses such as heart attack. Respiratory problems starting with breathing problems, emphysema, and lung cancer, are also common among drug addicts. Other health-related problems include kidney and liver damage, especially among alcohol abusers, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pains, brain damage, strokes, and seizures.
Drug abuse has negative consequences extending to families, friends, businesses, and government resources (Mamman et al., 2014). Employees abusing drugs can have a significant economic impact on businesses. Such employees put their colleagues at risk due to impairment caused by substance abuse. Businesses may be affected economically due to these employees stealing products, supplies, and money to afford drugs. Government resources are being used to fight the production of these drugs, and money is used in rehabilitation centers (Yang et al., 2018). Social services towards neglected and abandoned children also cost the government extra resources and the crimes committed by drug addicts.
Once a person is out of a rehabilitation program, there is a need to follow up with them so that they won’t repeat the habits of using drugs and even influence others into doing the same (Yang et al., 2018). There are outpatient treatment programs for people with social support or who have jobs. Group counseling plays an essential role in outpatient treatment. Group counseling reinforces an individual socially and promotes a drug-free lifestyle by discussing drug-related issues with other former addicts (Beetham et al., 2020). Group counseling has positive outcomes, especially when used in combination with individualized drug counseling. Stopping the use of drugs and recovering is the main focus of individualized drug counseling and the social and family relationship. The patient is helped to develop strategies to cope and abstain from drug usage for the long term.
Annotated Bibliography
Mamman, Hamisu, A. T. Othman, and L. H. Lian. (2014). “Adolescent’s and drugs abuse.” Journal of biology, agriculture, and healthcare, 4.1: 5-9.
According to this article, drug abuse theories suggest that some youths use drugs as a psychological crutch or a survival mechanism and are encouraged to continue abusing drugs by several factors. There are reasons which are particular to the individual who is abusing drugs. The social-cultural theory of drug abuse maintains that the social and cultural values being held by people will determine the rate of drug abuse. For instance, some cultures will allow their members to smoke marijuana and consume alcohol. Home environment and family is also an important factor. Children whose parents abuse drugs and alcohol are at risk of abusing drugs later in their lives due to their parents’ influence.
Beetham, T., Saloner, B., Gaye, M., Wakeman, S. E., Frank, R. G., & Barnett, M. L. (2020). Therapies offered at residential addiction treatment programs in the United States. Jama, 324(8), 804-806.
This article is looking into the treatment programs available for drug abusers. Long-term residential treatment is a non-hospital setting that provides addicts with care 24 hours a day. The therapeutic community is the most popular residential treatment. Treatment involves a planned stay of about 6 to 12 months. Treatment involves using different active components, which include residents, social context, and the staff. Psychological and social accountability are the main focus of the treatment, while at the same time development of a sense of responsibility and productivity is emphasized. Short-term residential treatment involves inpatient treatment at the hospital for a short period, followed by outpatient therapy and individual joining a self-help group.
Jabeen, Ifath, et al. (2018). “Drug abuse, addiction, its causes, and treatment.” Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Technology 10.4: 259-265.
This article is looking into effective pharmaceutical forms that can be used to eliminate the craving for drugs in the bodies of drug abusers. Methadone is a medication against withdrawal symptoms and craving for opioids. It has been proven to treat opioid-addicted persons and is available through programs that are licensed to treat individuals through methadone. Nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine gum, nicotine spray, and nicotine patch have been proved to treat tobacco addiction. These formulations prevent a tobacco user from experiencing withdrawal symptoms when quitting tobacco. Alcohol addiction has been proved treatable by taking naltrexone. Receptors that are involved in the effect and craving for alcohol are blocked. Naltrexone also reduces the relapse of using alcohol.
Volkow, Nora D. (2011). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide. Vol. 12. No. 4180. DIANE Publishing
The authors claim that the brain function changes due to long-term abuse of drugs, and the altered functioning of the brain may persist even after quitting using drugs. Most people who are addicted to drugs believe they can stop abusing them independently and without treatment. Some succeed in abstaining from drugs for the long term but many fail. Drug treatment, which is a long-term process, helps addicts stop seeking drugs compulsively and eventually stop using them. The process involves behavioral therapies, medical approaches, or a combination of both. Through treatment, drug use is reduced along with its associated social and health costs.
Yang, Y., Perkins, D. R., & Stearns, A. E. (2018). Barriers and facilitators to treatment engagement among clients in inpatient substance abuse treatment. Qualitative health research, 28(9), 1474-1485.
This article is looking into the barriers of treatment programs, including the available theories of drug addiction and how they seem to be invalidating the efforts being made in the treatment programs to reform drug abusers into a healthy state. The biological theory of drug abuse maintains that individuals’ genetic factors will determine whether an individual will abuse and get addicted to drugs. People with certain genetic factors are more vulnerable and get addicted quickly than others. These biological factors include the expression of individual genes and how the environment affects that expression. Also, there is the learning theory of drug abuse, which maintains that individuals can learn to depend on certain drugs and get addicted. There is a claim learning may be through social, conditional, or instrumental learning. The drug administration method into the body also increases the addictive potential of a drug, primarily through smoking or injecting.