The Issue Of Substance Abuse Essay - 2075 Words

It is well known that any form of substance use can be fatal, but so can a lot of other things: choking, accidents, health issues, and sheer bad luck. However, there is something special about substance abuse - fatalities from substance use are considered preventable. Take deaths associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, lung cancer brought on by smoking, or heart attacks associated with cocaine use. A person could die in a car crash, from lung cancer, or a heart attack without ever touching alcohol, cigarettes, or cocaine respectively. However, there is an increase in death associated with these items. The most curious part of this is the legal versus illegal categorization of substances. According to the Center for Disease Control, tobacco is considered the leading cause of preventable death (CDC, 2016). Yet, not only is it legal, a person in the U.S. can purchase cigarettes as young as 18, which is three years earlier than the legal age to drink alcohol. This knowled ge leads to questions about addiction and prevalence of substance use. Besides being readily available and highly addictive, are there other factors in the use and abuse of legal substances and are they good indicators of illicit drug use? There is clear evidence to support that children, adolescents, and adults learn and emulate what they see on television. The American Academy of Pediatrics has done research and come to the conclusion that â€Å"the causes of adolescent substance use areShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Drug And Substance Abuse2269 Words   |  10 PagesDrug and substance abuse has become prevalent in the contemporary society. Today many people abuse drugs because of the exposure they receive from the internet. Smoking of tobacco and its products has been legalized in the American soil despite its hazardous health impacts. However, the various group argues that smoking of tobacco should be eliminated because of the unhealthy related issues it triggers while smokers c laim that it is their right to smoke. The society has a duty to protect young generationsRead MoreChildhood Health Issues And Substance Abuse1052 Words   |  5 PagesBarbara, Bill and Jean are voluntarily attending family therapy to address some of the past and current issues presented in the family system of the Fordham’s. Barbara presents with a past of growing up in a family of mental health issues, substance abuse and dependency. Bill presents with a similar past of family history of mental health issues and substance abuse. Jean is the product of two parents who are undifferentiated meaning they are too emotionally involved with his or her own familyRead MoreEthical Issues Of Nurses With Substance Abuse Disorder2444 Words   |  10 PagesEthical Issues that the Nurse, Employer, and society encounter when dealing with a nurse that is an addict Diane Jennette University of West Florida Abstract The responsibility of regulating nursing practice that ensures public safety, health and welfare and accountability to the public for proper governance falls on the State Boards of Nursing (BONs). Substance abuse is the most common disease that affects healthcare workers (Darbro, 2009). The disease of substance abuse disorderRead MoreThe Issue Of Substance Abuse Within Indigenous Communities909 Words   |  4 PagesThe issue of substance abuse within Indigenous communities is a key contributor for their over-representation in the YJS. For instance, results from the 2002 NATSISS (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey) has indicated the likelihood of being charged for a criminal offence is 3 in 5 for high-risk alcohol users, in comparison to 1 in 4 for non-consumers (Weatherburn et al. 2006, p8). Moreover, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey has found that IY were more likely thanRead MoreWhy Pregnant Substance Abuse Should Be Treated As A Major Issue1 441 Words   |  6 PagesThere are many reasons why pregnant substance abuse should be treated as a major issue. The effects of substance abuse on the mother, fetus, and the overall pregnancy can range from none to extremely harmful. Women who use drugs during their pregnancy commonly give birth to â€Å"crack babies† or â€Å"drug babies†. These babies can have developmental disabilities or other birth defects. The mother may give birth to a premature infant, underweight infant, or even have a stillborn birth. The drug use of a pregnantRead MoreSubstance Abuse Is A Significant Public Health Issue Across The United States1835 Words   |  8 PagesSubstance abuse is a significant public health issue across the United States today, especially regarding our nation’s youth. The United States consistently continues to have the highest levels of substance use among all other developed countries and has remained third in regards to alcohol consumption (CDC, 2013). D espite leading the world with drug research, illegal drug policy, and one of the highest legal drinking age mandates, the U.S has the highest rates of illegal drug use and abuse, especiallyRead MoreSubstance abuse remains a prominent issue affecting men, women and adolescences young as â€Å"age 11.†600 Words   |  3 PagesSubstance abuse remains a prominent issue affecting men, women and adolescences young as â€Å"age 11.† (William 2014) Substance abuse is an â€Å"excessive use of a potentially addictive substance, especially one that may modify body functions, such as alcohol and drugs. Also called chemical abuse.† (Houghton 2011) In the case of 17- year old Mr. Favel, he models the behavioral theory, which is based through conditioning with the interaction in the environment. Based on the environmental stimuli willRead MoreThe Abuse Of Drugs And Alcohol1365 Words   |  6 PagesThe abuse of drugs and alcohol has been a known issue over past decades. The media paints the picture that alcohol and drug use is fun and the only way to have a good time. While alcohol in moderation is fine, many people find themselves going over board and abusing it. Elicit drugs like cocaine and heroin are highly addictive and have several adverse effects. People find themselves depressed and anxious so they ultimately try to use these drugs to mask the pain instead of getting help for theirRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Addiction : A Meta Analysis1711 Words   |  7 Pagesprimarily dependent of substance tends to affect an individual both physically and psychologically. When reformed, dependency settles in where abuser may have trouble living everyday life without substance sustaining abuser to tolerate the remainder of the day. In the journal article Deficits in Behavioral Inhibition in Substance Abuse and Addiction: A meta-analysis authors Smith, Mattick, Jamadar, Iredale stated â€Å"The results are generally consistent with the view that substan ce use disorders and addictionlikeRead MorePreventing Substance Abuse940 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Preventing substance abuse involves developing numerous strategic partnerships. Substance abuse is a multidisciplinary issue, and requires a correspondingly multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach. The strategy for drug abuse prevention must begin with segmenting the market, or analyzing the needs of the community. Is the greatest proportion of abusers in the community youth? If so, what kinds of drugs are most commonly used in the community? Are seniors in the community abusing prescription