More handpicked essays just for you.
An essay on effects of drug abuse
Long term effects of drug and alcohol abuse
An essay on effects of drug abuse
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
This is a summary taken from “Saying Yes” by Jacob Sullum; Chapter 8; “Body and Soul”. An ever-present theme in Sullum’s book is what he calls “voodoo pharmacology”—the idea, promoted in large part by the government, that certain drugs have the power to hijack people and enslave them in an inescapable prison of craving and compulsion. Sullum seeks to show that this idea is a myth, that only a tiny percentage of illegal-drug users become addicts, whereas the vast majority of people who use illegal drugs live normal, productive, loving lives. The book is filled with valuable insights derived from deconstructing government statistics about drugs and drug use. Sullum shows how even the most vilified drugs, such as heroin and crack cocaine, are
Drug addiction affects millions worldwide, and the harmful stereotypes associated with it have always existed. In Randy Ribays Patron Saints of Nothing, we explore stigmas associated with drug usage, revealing the poverty which leads to addiction and selling, resulting in harmful stereotypes challenged by the experiences and beliefs of Jun. It’s seen that because of the issues in the Philippines around poverty, drugs provide a way for some to deal with pain and hunger. The drug war in the Philippines has killed thousands suspected of drug usage to make the country a "safer" place. Drug addicts fit harmful stereotypes surrounding drugs and get murdered because of it.
For starters, Hari discusses how society over the years has made misconceptions about addiction, because of this addicts have been wrongfully treated, and blame was placed incorrectly. The author goes on to explain two different stories; both being well known about the prescription drug crisis. One being the fact that even the most powerful drugs such as diamorphine hasn’t caused addiction (Hari). In fact, that didn’t make sense to Hari on how powerful drugs were used in extreme medical cases and through prolonged use none became addicted. This is one of the misconceptions about addiction.
Addictive substances rewire the connections in your mind so that you have problems thinking, feeling happy or enjoying life when you quit using. When you stop using, your body basically panics as it loses access to the chemicals that it is used to. This is the main reason why individuals experience withdrawal symptoms
He does a commendable job of avoiding prejudicial tropes of the era and does not demonize the drugs themselves, noting that the drug “was neither diabolical nor divine” (63). By outlining the physical, psychological, and social effects of addiction, Stevenson presents a realistic portrayal of this problem without demonizing the person suffering from addiction, and in couching as a metaphor he successfully avoids exploiting addicts as well. The narrative, especially at the time of its publication, was suspenseful, terrifying, and enthralling, and though these elements may not have aged well as the work seems rather tame by today’s standards, the story of addiction has only increased in
1. “But addiction is another one of those words— dismissive, full of judgment, too encompassing—and while that is to some extent on the mark, a cautionary on many levels” (pg. 8). This section directly relates to the taboo recreation idea of addiction and is one of the reason drugs are considered taboo. Unlike other forms of leisure drugs can affect your body in such a way that you need them and without them you will experience withdrawals.
(Bassil) He adds “Nobody’s saying that every traumatized person becomes addicted. I’m saying that every addicted person was traumatized.” Moreover, usage of substance especially if it turnes to addiction inevitably affected one’s health and social life. Usage of substance might have excessive amount of detrimental effects on users.
It causes people to develop an addiction, leads to overdose, and it causes them to loss of control. Addiction is an unfortunate side effect of using drugs. Many people become addicted to drugs over a course of time. Addiction isn’t something that happens instantly. Addiction does not only affect the person who’s
Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com.proxy151.nclive.org/apps/doc/H1420096909/LitRC?u=ncliverockcc&sid=LitRC&xid=706af6fe. Accessed 11 Feb. 2018. Originally published in The Languages of Addiction, edited by Jane Lilienfeld and Jeffrey Oxford, St. Martin's Press, 1999, pp. 175-192. Tackach, James.
Drugs are substances that trigger temporary changes in the body which may result in such a pleasurable and relaxing effect. Some of the types can slow down the nervous system’s action, while other types can have the exact opposite effect; spurring the nervous system into rapid action. Drugs are connected to cravings or addiction since a person’s body starts yearning for drugs after he or she has taken it for a while. Drugs affect consciousness significantly! They may cause people to hear or see things that aren’t real (hallucinations), experiencing mood swings, or may even distort people’s perceptions.
Addiction and drug abuse is used as a way to escape the harsh problems in society.
One of the problems they face is withdrawal from substance abuse. Many drugs form a dependence within the person that when they go without they hurt mentally and physically. This may cause lashing out and violence towards others because their mind is not clear. Drugs alter a person’s mental state making them react to situations in ways normally they would not. For example, paranoia is one of the symptoms when withdrawing from harder drugs like
The effects of addiction on health can be devastating. Once addiction develops, the brain changes interfere with an individual’s ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive drug craving, seeking and use. 6 Drug abuse can suppress the body’s immune system and is related to risky behaviours, involving the sharing of contaminated syringe, needle or injection paraphernalia and unprotected sex. The combination greatly increases the likelihood of acquiring HIV, hepatitis and many other infectious diseases. 6 Drugs that lead to these diseases are heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.
Addiction is the reliance on a routine. There are many addictive stages. Addiction, as it comes along, becomes a way of life. The persistent use of the substance causes to the user serious physical or psychological problems and dysfunctions in major areas of his or her life. The drug user continues to use substances and the compulsive behavior despite the harmful consequences, and tries to systematically avoid responsibility and reality, while he or she tends to isolate himself/herself from others because of guilt and pain (Angres, & Bettinardi-Angres, 2008).
Drug Addiction : Treatment or Punishment? When a person takes a drug the chemicals affect the brain by interfering with how the neurons send messages. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the structure of Marijuana and Heroin mimic a natural neurotransmitter which tricks the receptors into allowing the drug to activate neurons inside the brain which interferes with messages and leads to abnormalities of behavior. With other drugs such as cocaine there is an abnormally large amount of neurotransmitters released which disrupts communication channels.
