ipl-logo

Substance Abuse In America Essay

2709 Words11 Pages

Substance use in the United States of America, also known as SUD (Substance use Disorder), has been increasing in America for decades now. Tens of millions of adults and adolescents alike are part of the over twenty million Americans who either abuse illicit drugs or alcohol. In this research paper we will look at a few questions related to SUD, including What causes Substance Abuse Disorder? What is considered Substance Abuse Disorder? What communities are affected by Substance Abuse Disorder? We will also take a look at trends on how during the 2020 pandemic lockdown, where most people were made to stay home and how drug and alcohol use exponentially trended up compared to other times in the past decades. Another point of interest in this …show more content…

It affects millions of people each year and has a significant impact on society as a whole. Substance abuse can refer to the use of illegal drugs, the misuse of prescription medications, or the overuse of alcohol. In many cases, substance abuse can lead to addiction, which can be difficult to overcome without professional help.According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 19.7 million Americans aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder in 2017. This number includes 14.5 million people who had an alcohol use disorder and 7.5 million people who had an illicit drug use disorder. The most commonly abused drugs in the United States include marijuana, prescription opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine.Substance abuse can have a wide range of negative effects on an individual's health and well-being. It can increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and health problems such as liver disease, heart disease, and mental health disorders. Substance abuse can also lead to social and economic problems, such as job loss, financial difficulties, and relationship issues.Addressing substance abuse in the United States requires a multifaceted approach. This includes increasing access to treatment and support services for those struggling with addiction, reducing the availability of illegal drugs and prescription medications, and promoting education and awareness about the risks of substance …show more content…

However, the impact of substance use disorder can vary across different populations due to various factors such as socio-economic conditions, access to healthcare, cultural factors, and prevalence rates. It's important to recognize that substance use disorder does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or social status. That being said, there are certain communities that have been identified as being more susceptible to the effects of substance use disorder. These

Show More
Related

Proposal Essay About Addiction

736 Words | 3 Pages

It can also contribute to crime and other social problems, as people turn to illegal activities to support their addiction. In addition, addiction can have a ripple effect

Read More

Substance Abuse In The Other Wes Moore

774 Words | 4 Pages

Drug Addiction Imagine a life where someone is controlled by something that doesn't have a pulse, controlled by a substance that they can see ruining their life but for some reason they can't control the outcome. Substance abuse costs the health care system about $11 billion, with overall costs reaching $193 billion. That $11 Billion dollars could go to treating the addiction rather than treating the outcome, and instead of locking up low level drug offenders, we as a society should help them through their difficult time. And according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 27 million Americans, or 10.2% of the American population over the age of 12 reported using illicit drugs in 2014. 10% of our society is

Read More

Analysis Of No Longer Bound

555 Words | 3 Pages

Drug addiction ruins lives. Not only does drug addiction ruin the life of the person addicted, but also affects the lives of the friends and family close to that person. According to the American Addiction Center, over 7 million Americans struggled with substance abuse in 2014. Drug addiction can cause short and long term health issues, mental and social behavioral issues, and can cause people to lose their job.

Read More

Drinking Age In America

934 Words | 4 Pages

The amount of illegal activity such as assaults result from many people not respecting and not knowing their limits when it comes to drinking may be stopped by lowering the age as discussed in the previous paragraph. But the amount of theft and people in jail has skyrocketed due to the unreasonable law. There may also be more use of other more harmful drugs due to the unavailability of alcohol such as marijuana and even more harmful street drugs like heroin. This is supported by Mary Cary, a reputable persuasive writer, who states “While first-time use of illegal street drugs such as heroin by young people increased from 90,000 users in 2006 to 156,000 in 2012” (Cary par. 6).

Read More

Substance Abuse In Canada Essay

1049 Words | 5 Pages

In Canada ” approximately 21% of the population (about 6 million people) will experience a substance use disorder or addiction at some point in their lifetime. “. (Moore, Jim. 2022). With the increase of availability of illegal drugs on the street in Canada, larger percentages of the population are at risk for substance abuse and addiction. This number steadily grows as we let the issue continue, as the rise of drugs produces a snowball effect, endangering more lives at it grows.

Read More

The Decriminalization Of Drugs In The United States

1077 Words | 5 Pages

Thus, vast efforts have been made to regulate the alleged drug problem through various avenues. For example, programs have been created to steer

Read More

Substance Use Vs Incarceration Essay

758 Words | 4 Pages

Housing becomes a struggle if you have a criminal record, landlord will tend to not rent to you. Landlords are often charged less fees to not rent to people with a criminal record. This will force addicts to return to communities that have higher drug and crime rates. It’s almost impossible for addicts to stay sober and away from a life of crime when forced back into that environment. It seems that we set addicts up for failure when we give them treatment and turn around and send them back into the situation that got them to begin

Read More

Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA)

992 Words | 4 Pages

Introduction Substance use and abuse has far reaching implications for all of society, and has significant effects on the global burden of disease. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) has indicated that substance use disorders (SUD) may have a formidable effect on the health of individuals, families, and communities (SAMSHA, 2016). Whiteford, Ferrari, Degenhardt, Feigin, and Vos (2015) stated, “Mental, neurological, and substance use disorders are a leading cause of the disease burden worldwide, substantially contributing to health loss across the lifespan” (p. 8). Reasons for the prevalence of substance abuse are multi-factorial. Those who use, or abuse, frequently suffer from a multitude of other problems, such as physical diseases, mental disorders, and dysfunctional familial, social, and financial

Read More

Asian American Substance Abuse Essay

2022 Words | 9 Pages

Understanding the specific limitations that come with different cultural backgrounds is important in understanding the reasons why people fall into substance abuse or why people can’t leave substance use. For college students especially the implication of substance abuse is damaging to their mental and physical well-being and detrimental to academic performance. Along with family expectations and cultural norms, students dealing with substance abuse aren’t able to find a safe place to seek help causing more stress and difficulties. The limitations have also been opposed institutionally by diminishing the statistics of Asian Americans dealing with substance abuse into one category unable to see the real population of people in need. Prevention programs must be instilled to educate and help Asian parents with resources to increase awareness and encourage open discussion so that students that need help can seek help and others can be educated regarding substance abuse.

Read More

Sociological Perspectives On Substance Abuse

1015 Words | 5 Pages

Those with the highest social standards financially, culturally or just socially in general are perceived as the most powerful and influential. Most crime shown in the media consists of minority groups which sometimes illegal substances are a factor. An example of a social-conflict theory influence on substance abuse is in the work force that includes the bourgeoisie versus the lower class proletariats. In the 19th century, there was a cultural hegemony in the work force between the white bourgeoisie and the minority proletariats. Lots of alcohol and tobacco were consumed by these white capitalists and today is socially acceptable.

Read More

Satire Essay On War On Drugs

1020 Words | 5 Pages

Despite the government's “best” efforts, drug use and addiction rates continue to rise, and the criminalization of drug

Read More

Cbt And Substance Abuse Essay

1546 Words | 7 Pages

Substance abuse, defined as excessive use of a drug in a way that is detrimental to self, society, or both, is a widespread and controversial topic in the united states of America, as well as in the world as a whole. In addition to the clear harm that substance abuse inflicts on those that suffer from it, it can also cause serious arguments between members of different political parties who would otherwise get along. As far as policies go, the republican party tends to view substance abuse as a personal failing, and focus on police presence and increased punishments to decrease the frequency of drug use. In contrast, the democratic party tends to frame substance abuse as a matter of a lack of treatment options and focus on treating those suffering

Read More

Drug Trafficking In Venezuela

556 Words | 3 Pages

Substance abuse is proven to cause a weakened immune system, a greater risk of heart attacks, nausea, liver failure, seizures, strokes, permanent brain damage, and/or cause mental confusion. About 200,000 people die from drug abuse each year. Unfortunately, substance abuse is becoming popular in many more countries such as: Italy, the US, Mexico, Brazil, and Russia. Italy is becoming known for its drug trafficking of marijuana. 69 percent of teenagers in Italy are known to use alcohol.

Read More

Causes and Effects of Drug Abuse

1028 Words | 5 Pages

Drug abuse is caused by psychological, genetic as well as environmental factors and can have significant damaging effects on health. Psychological factors are associated with the development of drug abuse. Drug abuse often occurs

Read More

Cause And Effect Essay On Drug Addiction

1251 Words | 6 Pages

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).

Read More

More about Substance Abuse In America Essay

Related Topics

Open Document