Abby is a 32-years-old Caucasian-American single mother with six kids.
Patterns of Substance Use and Addictive Behaviours
She is addicted to alcohol, marijuana, methamphetamines, and cocaine. Her weekly spending on addictive substances is between 250 and 500 dollars. The first encounter with drugs was in her early childhood, when Abby was six years old.
Level of Dependence
The amounts of money Abby spends weekly on fulfilling her addictive desires and her long history of drug usage imply that she has an addiction problem. In addition, her household is unclean, and the children are often hungry, which is another indicator of a developed addiction (Faulkner & Faulkner, 2019).
Family Background and Social support
When Abby was little, her parents sold drugs, which was the main source of their primary income. Eventually, Abby’s father was sentenced to 45 years of imprisonment, and her mother began to live on the streets as a homeless person. Such an experience during her childhood could trigger her addictive behaviors. She also had a grandmother who helped Abby with the children before they were removed from Abby’s care. Currently, Abby receives social support in the form of money and food. After the investigation by Child Protected Services, she is enrolled in mandatory parenting and financial classes, substance abuse treatment, and other relevant programs.
Vocational and Financial Background Information
It is known that Abby supplied the family from at least three sources: the social support, her 70-year-old boyfriend, and the work at a strip club.
Relation of Addiction to Health Problems. There is no clear evidence of her physical health problems.
Mental Health Challenges
It can be assumed that Abby has developed mental issues resulting from substance abuse. The most obvious one is represented through her neglect of the children and household. Additionally, anxiety and depression disorders usually follow substance abuse (Faulkner & Faulkner, 2019).
State of Change
The mandatory social healthcare procedures and the loss of her parental rights can potentially influence Abby to improve her life and make better decisions in the future.
Reference
Faulkner, C. A. & Faulkner, S. (2019). Addictions counseling: A competency-based approach. Oxford University Press.
Lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly known as LCD in the streets of most states and countries worldwide, was first discovered by a Swiss scientist named Albert Hofmann in the 1930s. During the cold war, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) conducted experiments using LCD and other drugs to enhance mind control and information gathering (Agasarov et al., 2021). In 1938 Albert Hofmann conducted research in conjunction with the Swiss chemical company using chemicals found in ergot, a fungus that grows naturally on rye and other grains. However, he never noticed the hallucinogenic effect of the drug.
In 1943 he accidentally ingested a small portion of and perceived extraordinary shapes with an intense, kaleidoscopic display of colors. On April 19, 1943, he took a large amount of the drug dose and rode home from work on a bicycle. He encountered his first intentional trip about the second world war experience with a restriction that made automobile travels off-limits. Later in the 1960s, the drug became a symbol of counterculture and was eventually classified as a hallucinogen that could be used for recreational purposes at the rave parties. Years later 19th day of April is celebrated by some recreational LCD users and is termed the Bicycle day.
Currently, in most streets of the United States and in some countries, LCD is found in different forms and of various sizes. This form includes blotter paper that is LCD soaked in an absorbent sheet of paper in a colorful design and cut into small tablets, thin squares of gelatins commonly known as window panes, tablet form known as microdots or capsules, sugar cubes, and lastly, pure liquid form which is highly potent.
Problems of Drugs in Society
In modern society, most people suffer various forms of addictions with no exception of LCD drugs that post significant and adverse effects on an individual and the community. The problems are not only depicted in the area of concentration but also in the suburbs that are out of the stereotypical view of intoxication of the drug. The use of LCD mainly causes a lot of social, economic, and public health complications. Most addicts cannot take responsibility because they are unreliable financially and in terms of work output. Moreover, the drug dealers mostly are residents of the poor society and therefore prop up the illicit drug market hence imposing more problems for the neighborhoods.
Furthermore, in the urban areas, the impacts are still experienced. Most LCD victims have portrayed an inability to take family responsibilities, risk getting arrested, and have other illegal problems (Curran et al., 2018). This problem has affected individuals and society. Besides, there have been increased deaths due to carelessness resulting from drivers who have flashback experiences after using the drug. Other deaths have resulted from excess intoxication of the drug in the body organs, especially the brain, thus increasing blood pressure and eventual death. This leads to communal development retardation due to reduced wages and the workforce.
There are several problems revolving around the usage of LCD and LCD addicts in society, as depicted by the research data of central and south America on the abuse of the drug. Most problems are financial and social-based that affect the families and the society. Most communities with many addicts experience retard economic development due to the reduced work output and lack of skills to enhance the development process. Most victims indulge in excessive drug usage, thus preventing them from being reliable. Besides, the victim society encounters the loss of most potential community members.
LCD Mechanism and Adverse Health Effects of The Drug
Taking a small LCD drug of less than two salt grains is enough to create the visual effect and the hallucination as perceived. The drug uses the serotonin receptors in the brain to produce a variety of mind and mental effects such as hallucination, delusion, impaired sense of time, distorted sense such as touch, sight, panic, and anxiety. The LCD traits bind themselves to the receptors creating manipulation and increasing or reducing the serotonin output. The affected receptors include sensory perception, sensory input, sexuality, muscle control, and self-regulation, thus affecting the brain’s normal functioning.
Health Effects of Taking Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LCD)
Research depicts that most patients intoxicated by LCD in small amounts experience short-term effects. At the same time, those who have been under excess intoxication of the drug for a long time portray both the short-term and long-term effects. The short-term effects of using LCD include hallucination, euphoria, feeling of detachment, delusion, impaired sense of time, and distorted senses such as touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Other short-term effects include panic, anxiety, depression, fear of losing control, loss of appetite, insomnia, failure in body temperature regulations, tremors, dilated pupils, and cardiac symptoms.
The long term effects, on the other hand, include permanent hallucination, psychosis, mania, depression, lack of motivation, lack of interest, difficulty in making yourself understood, lack of enjoyment in previously enjoyable things, irritated thinking and behaviors, panic attacks, mood swings, tolerance to the drug, flashback, and generalized anxiety. The most common factor is the flashback, when LCD is stored in the spinal fluid and travels back to the brain after some time, thus causing similar feelings, hallucinations, and sensations as per the original trip. According to the National Library of Medicine, flashback comes during stress and mental agitation.
Psychological and Physiological Effects Of LCD
Taking of LCD causes psychological effects such as anxiety, a fight or fight disorder described when an individual perceives danger and is depicted by the following physical and mental symptoms, rapid heart rate, excessive worrying, sweating, restlessness, tension, and insomnia. Another psychological effect is shame and guilt encountered from the stigmatization of LCD addicts; a negative feedback loop also is a result of LCD addiction. Besides, depression is evidenced by hopelessness, lack of motivation, weight gain or loss, loss of interest, and suicidal ideation. Lastly, there is a loss of interest in everyday attractive things.
The physiological effects are those that tamper with the standard working system of the body as a result of intoxication of the drug. This effect includes insomnia, where the victim of LCD experiences sleepless nights due to drug intoxication. Another effect is psychosis/confusion. LCD has an increased risk of hallucination and psychosis—impulsive control and compulsive behaviors where patients experience immense sexual urges and intense urges to spend money (Tirri et al., 2022). The most portrayed physiological effects are depression and suicidality. Other effects include Dyskinesia, neuropathy, cardiovascular ischemic events, melanoma, and glaucoma.
Solutions to Adverse Health Effects Associated With LCD
The united states of America, in conjunction with some non-governmental organizations, has tried to curb the abuse of LCD drugs through different ways such as restricting the dosage and providing easy access to naloxone. This has enabled meaningful usage of the drug is only a prescribed manner by physicians (Family et al., 2022). Naloxone also helps in reducing respiratory problems caused by the drug. Identification and crackdown of prescribers who provide excess dosage or large quantities of the LCD drug, the government has also employed radio stations and social media to educate citizens on the adverse effects of LCD. The government has also established and implemented medical guidelines for treating health problems associated with LCD effects.
Besides, the US authority has also started sanctions on all drug dealers who supply LCD drugs, especially in the poorer communities, to reduce the supply and educate doctors on the best methods of treating addiction. The government has also set aside funds to help build and maintain rehabilitation centers to help regulate the rate of addiction in society. The US urgencies have also aided in the solution making through promoting and paying for medication to the addicts in their treatments. The government has also invested in labor-intensive jobs to help keep most youths busy, thus preventing easy indulgence in LCD usage.
Treatment of LCD Addiction
The treatment of LCD addicts can be made through intervention as endorsed by The Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which is essential short counseling. However, in some cases, the technique is used for individuals showing more serious usage of LCD. Another treatment technique used is community treatment and family training, or CRAFT which The American Psychological Association describes as increasing an individual’s compliance with substance abuse treatment by properly engaging family and community (Nutt, 2022). There are also inpatients’ and outpatients’ medicines that can help by carrying out different therapy series.
The treatment of LCD addicts can also be made possible through rehabilitation of the victims and using the recovery process where the victim is prevented from using the drug and taught how to resume living a healthy and productive life without the influence of the drug. However, a permanent cure can’t be done just like other diseases, as asthma treatment is always not an efficient form of medication.
The treatment of LCD addicts can also be enhanced by rehabilitating the victims, which involves restricted and monitored movements and behaviors (Blue Cross, 2020). Unfortunately, this also affects the follow-ups on the victims’ food while in the center. However, according to research, most addicts are evidenced to resume taking LCD after leaving the rehabilitation center if not given further follow up that were previously made in the rehab.
Recommendation on Drug Education
The government should intensify the war against drug dealers, especially those involved in supplying LCD drugs and other forms. Besides, different governments should come together and launch a massive campaign against the drug and educate youths on the adverse effects of its usage of the drug. Furthermore, the world Health Organization (WHO) should keep track of records of victims, especially children, to analyze the fluctuations in LCD addiction and develop ways to help reduce the rate of addiction. On the other hand, the youths should also be educated and exposed to various methods of keeping themselves busy by involving in labor-intensive jobs to avoid bad influences that may lead to addiction.
This document is vital to most youths and affected individuals as it provides exposure to the adverse effects of LCD, how it affects the community directly, and those out of the stereotypical view of the drug influence. Besides, the paper also provides the best way to curb addiction, the treatment of the drug, and its efficiency and, therefore, should be considered essential by most youths and the entire society.
References
Agasarov, L. G., Apkhanova, T. V., Sergeev, V. N., Fesun, A. D., Krukova, M. M., Vasilyeva, V. A.,… & Yakovlev, M. Y. (2021). Nutraceutical correction in the complex non-drug treatment of metabolic syndrome. Voprosy Kurortologii, Fizioterapii, i Lechebnoi Fizicheskoi Kultury, 98(4), 25-31.
Curran, H. V., Nutt, D., & de Wit, H. (2018). Psychedelics and related drugs: Therapeutic possibilities, mechanisms and regulation. Psychopharmacology, 235(2), 373-375.
Family, N., Hendricks, P. S., Williams, L. T., Luke, D., Krediet, E., Maillet, E. L., & Raz, S. (2022). Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and subjective effects of 50, 75, and 100 µg LSD in healthy participants within a novel intervention paradigm: A proof-of-concept study. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 36(3), 321-336.
Chemical addiction, likewise referred to as addiction, is among the major causes of death worldwide. Addiction not merely poses a risk to mental well-being and the physical of the person but additionally damages sociable ties. A short introduction to the heart of chemical dependency and present statistical prices offers a sustainable time frame for arguing that probably the most widely used medicines are tobacco and alcohol.
The drug problems in the Country have become getting a destructive influence on the country’s socio-economic condition. Addiction is a persistent brain condition related to the uncontrolled and recurrent misuse of 1 or maybe more chemical substances (U.S. Department of Human and Health Services, 2016). A person is identified as having substance dependence in case he or maybe she makes use of medicines of the quantity, frequency, or maybe fashion which inflicts the individual or maybe the environment of theirs. When coping with substance abuse, people and their families of theirs should tackle problems including declining mental and physical well-being, declining efficiency, rising crime, and child neglect rates (HHS, 2016). Put simply, the scope of the issues regarding chemical dependency stretches past the social group close to the aggressor, which influences the country’s worldwide stability.
Statistics / Most Common Abused Substance
Alcohol is among the most popular medicines on the planet nowadays. The World Health Organization’s (WHO, 2016) estimations show that approximately 2.3 billion individuals frequently consume alcohol. In the United States, particularly, over fifty % of the public presently drinks (WHO, 2016). While only some individuals who make use of alcohol develop an addiction, HHS (2016) found that an individual in 10 functioning adults dies every year from drug misuse. Based on Who estimates (2016), the quantity of individuals that die of alcoholism annually is 3 million in America. This particular mortality rate is above that brought on by diabetes, tuberculosis, and HIV (WHO, 2016). Earlier outcomes on the severity of alcoholic beverages dependence are dependent on Peacock et al. (2018), which shows that an individual in 5 adults pursues higher episodic use within one month. In this particular context, substantial episodic consumption describes cases of one-day alcohol abuse, that results in Visalia, more frequently recognized as a “hangover,” the following day.
The scope of the damaging effects of alcohol abuse on the well-being of the person is astounding. WHO (2016) argues that almost a quarter of all alcoholics suffer from cardiovascular and digestive diseases, while a sixth produces cancers that are related to substance abuse. Additionally, approximately fifty % of individuals with this particular substance dependence experience psychological disabilities along with other non-communicable diseases. The disastrous consequences of alcohol abuse on an individual’s immediate action are demanded by health to avoid chemical dependence.
Another drug commonly abused around the planet and in the Country is tobacco. Peacock et al. (2018) found that approximately 1 in 7 adults smokes cigarettes one day. Based on Russell, nicotine dependence is growing therefore quickly that there’s a seventy % chance that people who have smoked 2 or maybe 3 times continue using tobacco for the following forty years (cited in DiFranza, 2015). DiFranza (2015) argues that the severity of withdrawal symptoms is identical for non-regular and regular cigarette smokers, which means that there is a heightened risk of acquiring tobacco dependency after first efforts.
Health problems regarding smoking are no less valuable than those connected with alcohol abuse. Peacock et al. (2018) pointed out this substance dependence contains the greatest complete burden for ailments among alcohol, illicit drug dependence, and nicotine. Particularly, nicotine dependence accounts for 170 million DALY, followed by illicit drugs and alcohol, with eighty-five and twenty-seven million people affected, respectively (Peacock et al., 2018). According to Peacock (2018), daily smoking results in an increased risk of cancers, and cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. To reduce the number of normal cigarette smokers, federal institutions must reinforce tobacco distribution policies and continue educating individuals about the dangerous effects of nicotine.
Sociocultural Determinants of Substance Abuse
Based on the WHO’s data (2016), socio-cultural determinants of health are the issues that are linked to culture and society, which affect health. Consequently, it’s doable to identify the attributes which determine the mental, social, economic, cultural, and ethnic elements which give the improvement of health-related issues, i.e. risk factors. The procedure for public health advancement might differ from family to loved ones, but there’s a consensus that households have patterns that are common, factors and traits which distinguish them from various other communities, enabling them to recognize the associations among health and also the planet. For instance, health and poverty could be connected to ideas for example injustice, whether every family has a worldwide idea of poverty. Consequently, socio-cultural variables enable us to learn the systems of safety in specific, environmental risk situations and communities (Walsh, 2016).
The abuse and use of psychoactive drugs are linked to different social factors. Therefore, governments have developed techniques to resolve this issue through actions and policies, which can have a beneficial effect on the most susceptible populations through promotion and prevention of intake for consumers, society, and families (Walsh, 2016).
In light of the above, several experiments have determined the public with the greatest level of vulnerability are probably the youngest public groups, without a family guide, with lower education, with criminal records as well as issues in producing a working relationship, along with substantial exposure when producing parents, close friends as well as authority references related to psychoactive drug use. Likewise, community elements are identified as related to the shortage of state energy as well as the lack, violence, poverty, and investment of educational and cultural policies to improve support networks which could stop this particular population from participating in the usage of psychoactive things (Walsh, 2016).
Nevertheless, socio-cultural risk factors might advertise drug abuse based on the presence of safety elements, it should additionally be mentioned that, based on age, the socio-cultural determinants which encourage drug use will vary. Because of this, throughout childhood, the family nucleus is commonly the main protective factor against the usage of psychoactive substances, consequently, the very first risk element is related to the lack of family ties, kid abandonment support networks, too, throughout adolescence cultural strain is common among the primary socio-cultural determinants which place this particular public in danger of acquiring patterns of drug-related utilize; likewise, at this particular point, the family is still the primary safety elements, decreasing the effect of the couple’s green impact on material use (Walsh, 2016). On the flip side, in adulthood, issues are connected with issues like poverty as well as work troubles, and these’re several of the most popular socio-cultural aspects among addicts. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be forgotten that in adulthood, a lot of psychological issues are mirrored, which therefore impact the balance as well as a selection of adults (Craig, 2017).
Models of Addiction
About addiction versions, you will find various versions which present an unbiased method of substance use in addition to abuse in the common population.
The biopsychosocial item suggests the presence of natural variables, connected with the vulnerability of topics to the improvement of actions regarding dependency on particular medicines, physiological functioning, biological sex, for example, hereditary load… Moreover, an individual can have mental variables, which include variables connected to the vulnerability of improper interpersonal skills, impulsive personality traits, the medical heritage of nervousness, predisposition to stress and depression, presence of undiagnosed psychopathological disorders, and other issues. Additionally, biopsychosocial predisposition explains the presence of interpersonal variables, such as dysfunctional family environment and green factors, for instance, interpersonal behaviors that normalize substance use and promote misconceptions of drug use (Craig, 2017).
Natural models suggest an immediate connection between disease and addiction; thus state that there’s a hereditary predisposition that raises susceptibility to drug dependence. Self-medication; is based on this particular unit, as an attempt to reduce the symptoms created by psychological problems or maybe personality disorders, making the drug a help. Lastly, the exhibition; talks about the dependency created by the effect of medications as fortifying stimulating reinvigorating areas (Craig, 2017).
Mental models suggest that there’s a connection between social learning and substance abuse; they influence the behaviors of these symbolic, important and emotional personalities during childhood; as well as think that substance abuse might be the consequence of an adjustment procedure, as being a defense mechanism against conflict circumstances which create relatives or sociable problems (Craig, 2017).
Lastly, sociological airers connect the parental control type with the effects of the shortage of affection of parents or caregivers, which eventually reflect badly provided community behaviors that proportionately boost the danger of drug use of topics. And also the type of confidence; indicates that low self-esteem is an explosive factor and a precipitating, as self-esteem is improved by the household, but when the household hasn’t met the expectations of the weak topic as well as the topic is subjected to a poisonous atmosphere, the chance of drug use increases (Craig, 2017).
Dynamics of Addiction
Regarding the characteristics of addiction, in the 1960s, psychoanalytic psychology gained from the job of numerous experts thinking about diluting the idea of habit-forming disorders. It was among the first fashion thinking about assisting especially to highlight addicting dynamics, providing healthcare professionals a range of views regarded as “views” (Cohen, 2015).
One reason for the characteristics of addiction that are currently worn by health experts is the fact that created by Dodes in the 1990s. This particular writer implies that addicts are especially susceptible, narcissistic, and also possess a strong inclination to feel overburdened feelings of helplessness or helplessness. The writer argues that impotence/impotence will be the reason behind the characteristics of addiction, serving as something to alleviate upheaval and permit the subject matter to stay away from being confronted with trauma. Additionally, Dodes argues that this explanation is often utilized in therapy to help the patient feel the energy to withstand the thoughts of helplessness or impotence. Finally, the signs of addiction might be best defined by narcissistic anger (Cohen, 2015).
Originating from a neurological point of view, research has determined that there’s a sensitivity of main mind receptors for enjoyment with many abused drugs. Today, these neurological studies enable researchers and practitioners to understand the neurotransmitters linked with these receptors, which are hypersensitive to the activation mechanisms connected with pleasure throughout addiction, recurrent thoughts about a substance, and withdrawal symptoms that accompany drug use. Maldonado et al. (1997) examined these facilities using animal models with self-administered medications; and, consequently, have shown the relevance of the degeneration of the mesolimbic method which treats dopamine discharges, in the addicting dynamics for drug use (Cohen, 2015).
Interventions and Treatments Approaches
Dependence on chemical substances as well as drugs has complicated processes as well as dimensions; producing highly effective therapy is challenging. Treatment programs that are successful often incorporate a mix of non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical approaches. Generally, interventions to decrease chemical dependence incorporate all of the support systems of the affected person, and the household as well as address methods to preserve working, change harmful lifestyles and also enhance the patient’s strengths (Dole, Kreek, and Nyswander, 2015).
Dependency is a disease; thus, pharmaceutical interventions are usually used. For long-range opioid recovery treatment, methadone therapy is frequently employed (Arndt & McLellan, 2017). Methadone is a long-range synthetic agonist drug that will help minimize cravings preventing withdrawal symptoms in individuals with opioid additions. Methadone is utilized for treating addiction; though it ended up that additionally, it brings about addiction. Nevertheless, side effects and side effects are with a lot fewer problems than opioid additions. It is essential to administer methadone maintenance therapy under medical supervision.
Naltrexone, as well as buprenorphine, will also be 2 drugs utilized for treating the addition. Nevertheless, Naltrexone doesn’t assist with withdrawal cravings or maybe symptoms; rather, it eliminates the level that the individual would usually have when shooting opioids. Naltrexone is administered to help patients avoid relapses, but to minimize the risk of substance dependency created by this drug, the patient should not use opioids for at least seven to ten days before taking naltrexone (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). Behavioral treatments are suggested with pharmaceutical treatment methods or may be administered by themselves. Behavioral treatments help encourage the individual to get involved in medication treatment as well as treatment to provide coping methods and look for answers to handle wants. The behavioral treatment aids in enhancing communication, improving relationships, and teaching parenting skills (Dole, Kreek, & Nyswander, 2015).
Some other considerations are crucial in treatment alternatives. Different treatment programs use a range of approaches for families and individuals. Unique treatment can offer good strengthening methods, contend with emotional turmoil, and address issues with self-image. Family therapy incorporates community strengthening and helps to strengthen family dynamics. These therapies promote a healthy lifestyle, help control family ties, improve communication between their patients and family members, and address ways of returning to a normal life after the treatment.
Lastly, people must likewise be examined for some other health issues which usually happen along with additions: example, HIV, depression, financial or legal struggles, pregnancy, divorce, and custody disputes (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). Patients are typically screened for psychoactive drugs, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers after hospitalization. Various other critical considerations consist of a holistic approach to adding on therapy. Most treatment programs include meditation, teaching patients relaxation techniques, and prayers. An alternative method of including therapy is recognized to be complementary to health treatment and could work.
References
Cohen, R. (2015). The characteristics of dependency in the medical scenario. Psychodynamics of Addiction,53 71. Web.
Craig, R. J. (2017). Determinants of Addiction: Environmental, Psychological, and Biological Factors. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment,4(2), 119. Web.
DiFranza, J. R. (2015). An introduction to tobacco addiction for tobacco regulators. Tobacco Regulatory Science, one (1),10 23. Web.
Dole, Vice President; Nyswander, M.; and also Kreek, M.J. (2015). Drug blockade. Archives of Internal Medicine. Web.
McLellan, A.T.; Arndt, I.O.; The consequences of psychosocial providers on drug therapy. The Journal of the American Medical Association; 269(15): 1953 1959, 1993.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. The science of addiction and drug abuse. National Institute n Drug Abuse (NIDA). Substance Abuse Administration along with N.D, Mental Health Services. 2014. Web.
Peacock, J., Rehm, M., Hickman, S., Colledge, S., Larney, J., Leung, A.,,.. Degenhardt, L. (2018). Worldwide Statistics on Alcohol, Illicit Drug Use and tobacco: State Report 2017. Dependence, 113(10), 1905 1926. Web.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Overview and introduction of the article. In Facing addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s report on alcohol, health, and drugs. Web.
Walsh, R. (2016). Sociocultural perspectives on substance abuse problems. American Journal of Psychiatry,149(12). Web.
World Health Organization. (2018). Community Alcohol and Health Status Report 2018. Geneva: World Health Organization.
In his TED talk, Johann Hari discusses is the topic of addiction and how it is often misunderstood in the daily lives of people. While it is generally believed that addiction is caused by physical reliance on a particular substance, the man says that due to a variety of reasons, this assertion is not true. Drug addiction and the problems related to it are much more a product of people’s environment, their surroundings, and the lives they lead. The ability of a person to live within a thriving environment and find a company is extremely crucial to not developing an addiction or recovering from one. In the man’s eyes, a real response to addiction is not sobriety but the connection to other people. The notion of the collection as being important to treating addiction or counteracting it entirely rests on the important positive social interaction plays in the lives of any individual. In my opinion, Johann’s assessment is entirely correct, as the ability of people to interact with each other, talk, and make connections is much more important than one might think initially. Only by creating positive relationships with other people, working as a community at facilitating the right kinds of behavior, and disincentivizing drug use, we can collectively reduce the severity of the problem without resorting to punishment or restriction. Social conditions of a person determine their ability and likelihood of being addicted to harmful substances, change therefore lies in mending these conditions and making them the most suitable for human wellbeing and prosperity.
Drug use can be understood as a way for people to escape their current life conditions and feel better without making any changes to their lifestyle or circumstances. By stimulating the pleasure nerves in the brain and losing a sense of reality, one can for a short while enjoy an ability to not be in a distressing environment or make an otherwise harsh life a little bit more bearable (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2021). This effect of drugs is the main reason they’re often abused by poor people, who might not have the ability to gain money or support from others around them and have to rely on temporary solutions to live on. In this case, drug use can be either the result of extreme hardship or social isolation that does not allow people to feel connected to others and leaves them to solve their problems by themselves. Human beings as social creatures crave contact, crave the ability to relate to others. It is one of the main sources of dopamine, and other pleasure hormones, which are essential for a person to feel joy in their life (Smith, 2017). Without the ability to connect with others, however, people’s brain functions and social skills deteriorate, making them more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors and act to their detriment (The risks of social isolation). If speaking about recovery from addiction, the human company is also extremely important. A large support network of people that love you, wish you the best, and support you in your heart times is what can give people the strength to overcome their problems, find either urge to improve or the ability to take first steps towards the road of becoming better (Kaufman & M., 2005). Human connection is the core need of any person, especially if they are the trick is self-destructive tendencies and cannot further improve their living conditions. That is why drug addiction needs to be destigmatized and better accepted as something in need of social support (Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change 2016). Ostracizing vulnerable groups from society and denying them the help they need in a situation like that is extremely dangerous and cannot lead to two good outcomes for treating addiction.
References
National Academies Press. (2016). Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Evidence for Stigma Change.
Kaufman, E., & M., Y. M. R. (2005). Substance abuse treatment and family therapy. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
Regardless of the number of cigarettes, cigarettes, or pipes consumed per day, smoking always gives rise to many diseases and promotes evolution or directly stimulates the development of diseases, weakening the body’s defense reactions. The general availability of this only exacerbates this problem. The community studied for this study is Hialeah, Miami-Dade, Florida. It is home to 255,805 people living in both urban and suburban areas of the region. The region is 48.4% male and 51.6% female. 35.1% of the study sample have an education level equal to a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 13.2% live in poverty. These sociologically significant characteristics are necessary for understanding the emergence of the problem of tobacco abuse and for a more detailed analysis.
Problem Description
The problem analyzed in the presentation is related to the increased risk of tobacco use among adults associated with nicotine dependence. It is increasingly concentrated on the poorer sections of society with weak regulation in this area and relies on young people. Scientists have found that tobacco use among young people has increased due to widespread unemployment (9.5%). In addition, the availability of tobacco products, which everyone can purchase with the achievement of the age of consumption of tobacco and alcohol products, can purchase them. Tobacco use is the most common problem in the county, accounting for about 24%.
SBIRT Description
SBIRT is an evidence-based approach to identifying patients who use alcohol and other drugs at dangerous levels. The goal of SBIRT is to reduce and prevent associated health effects, illness, accidents, and injuries (SBIRT). Screening can quickly assess the severity of substance use and determine the appropriate level of treatment. The brief intervention aims to increase understanding and awareness of substance use. Referral to treatment provides those needing more extensive treatment access to specialist care.
The Use of SBIRT
SBIRT components include universal screening for unhealthy use and willingness to quit smoking. For those with a positive screening result, further evaluation is needed to determine the level of risk (Bhad, 2019). The brief intervention focuses on patient understanding and awareness and increasing motivation for healthy behavior change. Referral to treatment helps facilitate access to addiction assessment and treatment. A referral is usually given to only about 5% of screened people.
Example of SBIRT
The most common example of SBIRT for tobacco dependence is the Fagerstrom test (Bhad, 2019). It defines nicotine dependence and assesses the severity of both smoking and smokeless tobacco use. In addition, the National Behavioral Health Network provides advice on improving the prevention of tobacco use among young people (Leveraging SBIRT, 2020).
Outcomes
The NBHT explains the SBIRT step-by-step process for assessing and addressing substance use as part of the Youth Tobacco Cessation Program (Leveraging SBIRT, 2020). The network allows anyone to learn about SBIRT and how to use it for youth. It helps to explore screening and youth engagement strategies through a sensitive, evidence-based approach. In the future, they can positively impact the intersection of tobacco, youth mental health, and psychological trauma.
Community Resource
The resources of the analyzed community allow access to public health centers. The problem arises only in their number since this can become difficult due to a long trip to the institutions. However, it can be an effective public support in the fight against tobacco addiction.
Acceptability: Collaboration with health care providers adds value to both the program and facilities.
Availability for each resource: a wide variety of medical facilities.
No need for self-organization of the process.
Pharmacies, hospitals, and other institutions providing health services combine the basic principles of a community resource. Their large number makes them more accessible and trustworthy, as they are part of everyday life.
Impact of Substance Use on the Audience
Critical components of successful tobacco cessation (remissions) are a combination of health education, behavioral support, and medication (Agerwala & McCance-Katz, 2021). Therefore, the role of resources is vital in specialized help in the fight against addiction.
SBIRT Intervention Impact Patient Health
Screening many people provides an opportunity to attract those who need treatment. People reported improvements in general health, mental health, employment, housing, and decreased criminal activity. The use of motivational enhancement therapy to increase the involvement of resident physicians in substance abuse education is being explored. The developed models of human behavior reduce adults’ excessive consumption of tobacco products.
Conclusion
In Miami-Dade County, Florida, a quarter of the population is addicted to tobacco. In most cases, addiction is caused by people’s standard of living, as studies show that people in developed regions are less prone to addiction. The list of medical services may include the SBIRT model for dealing with addiction.
SBIRT is an effective and flexible way to prevent tobacco dependence. Given social difficulties, the model helps different segments of the population cope with the problem. SBIRT has been adopted by several healthcare institutions and made available for use by many healthcare professionals.
Originally, clonidine was employed in cases where blood pressure was to be reduced. Basically, clonidine works on the central nervous system resulting in a significant reduction in the number of withdrawal symptoms that are associated with different addictive habits like smoking (Gourlay, Stead, & Benowitz 2004). Researchers have recently begun an investigation on the addictive nature of clonidine. Recent results reveal that clonidine is currently being abused, but in a combination with other drugs, that is, it is being abused due to a lack of other opiate maintenance drugs like methadone, which are deemed difficult to acquire (Melnikova 2012). By definition, addiction refers to a case where one is physically or psychologically enslaved to a given practice, or to any kind of habit-forming substance to an extent that the cessation of such habit leads to great trauma to such an individual (Angres & Bettinardi 2008). The addict’s body tends to adjust so as to incorporate the substance in its normal functioning, a condition where one becomes psychologically dependent on the drug (Rogge & Taft 2009). On the other hand, clonidine is a sympatholytic drug that is employed in the treatment of disorders such as anxiety, ADHD and high blood pressure, usually categorized as a2 adrenergic agonist (Volkow et al. 2005). Another point worth noting is that clonidine does not have any addictive effects on its own, although its combination with other potent substances has proved to be abusive (Guha 2012).
Turning to addiction interventions, the addict’s body may simply react towards abstaining from the substances that are addictive (withdrawal) (Crommelin, Sindelar & Meibohm 2008). However, this process might result in undesired body reactions. For instance, there is a high possibility of occurrence of hormonal and/or chemical imbalance due to failure to re-introduce former substances (Williams 2012). Lastly, significant psychological stress could occur if the substances that the body was used to are not available (Golan et al. 2011).
There are a number of therapeutic methods of curbing addiction, one of them being methadone maintenance (Golan et al. 2011). With this approach, a drug is administered in a clinical locale where there is full supervision (Golan et al. 2011). This process leads to a slow but steady increase in levels of brain opiate whereas the high feeling is not produced at all. The drug then remains in the system for a reasonably long time so as to prevent the addicts from re-using the addictive substance (American Society for Addiction Medicine, 2012).
Pharmacodynamics
According to Gourlay, Stead, & Benowitz (2004), clonidine is seen to have high specificity for a2 receptors that are presynaptic, located in the vasomotor center in the stem of the brain. As soon as it gets to the brain, it reacts by binding on the a2 receptors, a process that leads to a reduction in the levels of presynaptic calcium (American Society for Addiction Medicine 2012). This as well hinders norepinephrine release and thus achieves a general reduction in sympathetic tone. More still, clonidine produces antihypertensive impacts as a result of agonism on the imidazoline receptors. This action tends to facilitate actions such as sympathy-inhibitory so as to lower the levels of blood pressure (Marstrand et al. 2010).
As a treatment model of ADHD, clonidine directly raises the PFC’s noradrenergic tone by binding to postsynaptic receptors (the kind of receptors known as adrenergic a2A), whereas, indirectly, the locus coeruleus’ norepinephrine input is raised (Rossi 2013).
Rossi also suggests that clonidine, which is an imidazoline-offshoot and hypotensive agent, tends to cross the barrier on the blood-brain towards the hypothalamus and prompts a significant reduction in the addict’s or patient’s blood pressure (American Society for Addiction Medicine 2012). The process occurs as this drug is able to arouse alpha-adrenoceptors (otherwise known as a2 receptors) in the stem of the patient’s brain. As a result, the existing sympathetic outflow is completely minimized from the central nervous system. As an adjunct treatment of severe pain caused by cancer, clonidine is administered in form of an epidural infusion (Rossi 2013). This is a case where the present opiate analgesic is unable to completely suppress such pain. Thus, since clonidine helps to reduce the sympathetic tones, it is an appropriate drug that can help withdraw most addicts from several substances, although it is associated with several side effects (Golan et al. 2011).
Another alternative, as per the American Society for Addiction Medicine, is one that deeply stimulates the addicts’ brains. In this approach, the DBS procedure is made to target a number of brain parts, PFC being the major one. In a similar manner, clonidine is seen to work this way. It targets most receptors like a2 and a2A of such brain parts, binds on them and inhibits the release of norepinephrine and thus a general reduction in sympathetic tone is achieved (Angres & Bettinardi 2008).
Pharmacokinetics
Starting with addiction, most of the addicts’ bodies usually find recreational value in the abused drugs. According to a report by WHO on nicotine addiction, most of the physiological functions of their bodies adapt to such substances and thus cause them to be completely dependent on such substances to do any kind of activity.
With clonidine, its overdose may lead to a patient experiencing difficulties in breathing, feeling dizzy, cold, extreme/unusual tiredness and pinpoint eye pupils (Marstrand et al. 2010). Patients may also experience potassium loss, an incident that is portrayed through increased thirst, mental changes, dryness of the mouth, nausea, pain of the muscles and weak pulse. With excessive sodium loss, patients may react by exhibiting confusion, muscle cramps, seizures and irritability (Williams 2012).
General discussion and conclusion
As substantiated above, clonidine indeed lacks any recreational value, unless it is combined with other potent drugs (Angres & Bettinardi 2008). Thus, this is the best method that could be used to withdraw most of the substance addicts from the drugs they are abusing. In most cases, clinical trials are taken as indicators of the appropriateness of a given drug. Unfortunately, continuous use of the same approved drug over a long period of time will reveal that it has some effects, some of which could be very harmful. Although the medical industry contends that clonidine has no recreational value, most addicts are combining it with the potent substances after they fail to acquire the appropriate drugs to suppress their high feelings (Crommelin, Sindelar & Meibohm 2008).
Furthermore, there are a number of side effects that accompany clonidine treatment. Some of these include drowsiness (or low blood pressure), dizziness and dry mouth. Also, withdrawal from the usage of clonidine is likely to result in a risk of rebound high blood pressure. This occurs after a swift rise in diastolic BPs, a process that causes insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, palpitation, pain, agitation, and tremor, increased heart rate, nausea and increased muscle pain.
Moreover, there is fairy tangible evidence that when individuals are exposed to a given treatment, they respond differently. Individuals’ response to given drugs is generally affected by factors like the environment.
Therefore, despite the fact that clonidine can be employed in the treatment of several addictive effects like those of alcohol, it can be addictive when combined with other potent drugs. Thus, any kind of drug is likely to have an addictive effect if the users will misuse it (Marstrand et al. 2010).
Reference List
Angres, DH & Bettinardi, K 2008, “The Disease of addiction: origins, treatment and recovery”, Dis Mon, vol.54, no.10, pp. 696-721.
Crommelin, D J, Sindelar, R D & Meibohm, B 2008. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications, 3rd edn, Informa Healthcare New York, US.
Golan, D, Tashjian, A. H., Armstrong, E J & Armstrong, 2011, Principles of pharmacology: the pathophysiologic basis of drug therapy, 3rd edn, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
Gourlay, SG, Stead, LF & Benowitz, N 2004, “Clonidine for Smoking Cessation”, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol.1, no. 3, p.58.
Guha, M 2012, “Hedgehog Inhibitor Gets Landmark Skin Cancer Approval, But Questions Remain for Wider Potential,” Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, vol.11, no.4, pp. 257-258.
Marstrand, T T, Borup, R, Willer, A, Borregaard, N, Sandelin, A, & Porse, B T, Theilgaard-Melnikova, I 2012, “From the analyst’s couch: Rare diseases and orphan drugs”, Nature Reviews DrugDiscovery, vol.11, no. 1, pp. 267-268.
Rogge, M. C. & Taft, DR 2009, Preclinical Drug Development, 2nd edn, Informa Healthcare, New York.
Rossi, S 2013, Australian Medicines Handbook, The Australian Medicines Handbook Unit Trust, Adelaide.
Williams, DA 2012, Foye’s Principles of Medicinal Chemistry, 7th edn, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia.
American Society for Addiction Medicine. (2012). Definition of addiction. Web.
Volkow, ND, Wang, GJ, Ma, Y, Fowler, JS, Wong, C, Ding, YS, Hitzemann, R, Swanson, JM & Kalivas, P 2005, “Activation of orbital and medial prefrontal cortex by methylphenidate in cocaine addicted-subjects but not in controls: relevance to addiction”, Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 25, no. 15, pp. 3932-3939.
Tobacco addiction can cause significant harm to the human body and health. It is necessary to treat the symptoms of smoking to combat it and the psychological force of the habit. Scientists have identified a gene in the standard DNA strand that increases the likelihood of developing nicotine addiction and, as a result, lung cancer. However, it has also been proven that, in general, smoking has causal roots in human genetics, with different percentages of the message affecting, respectively, the start of smoking, the duration of the experience, and the possibility of stopping.
Tobacco smoking in nature is harmful since a person becomes a carrier of smoke, which creates unfavorable conditions for nearby people and the atmosphere. The reasons lie in the chemical element nicotine, which causes addiction since, after the act of smoking, the production of dopamine increases, and adrenaline is released.
Current legislation cuts down on the possible smoking areas for people, creating a supportive environment in public places. Therefore, a person who smokes in families negatively affects their future offspring and their health, but the constant smell of smoke at home can be the result of passive smoking of the whole family. It can cause family quarrels and disunity, so human services workers will need more profound work, including talking with all family members.
When physical addiction is allowed, it is needed to apply the strength of doctors and medicine. At the stage of psychological dependence, smoking can be stopped on its own if the person has willpower. Smoking initiation is usually socially related and begins in adolescence or college and is often associated with community adaptations and a fear of appearing weak after giving up cigarettes.
The Human Services profession presupposes a set of ethical standards that are common to many healthcare institutions. These standards and norms call for a respectful attitude toward the addicted person, protecting his personal space, taking into account cultural characteristics, not imposing his views and visions, and, finally, being respectful regardless of his social status or other possible differences.
Sources
The discovery of a specific gene that affects the predisposition to the smoking process may help scientists get closer to answering how to prevent it. In addition, the paper provides information on which nationalities are more prone to smoking due to the specific properties of this gene, which allows health improvement activities to be carried out more precisely (RTI International, 2017).
Previous research has given impetus to the search for the genetic background of nicotine addiction. The rich information about DNA structure can find such correspondences that affect this aspect, which has not yet been applied in practice or even voiced in theory (Lee et al., 2018).
Passive smoking is one of the crucial issues that need to be dealt with in this article. The influence of a smoker on the family, and on others, is barely noticeable, but it can lead to negative consequences (Kondo et al., 2019).
Nicotine addiction manifests itself individually for each person. However, there are different kinds of trends in different countries, nations, and ages. The impact of the current pandemic situation has also played a role in changing the behavior of nicotine addicts (Yang & Ma, 2021).
Possible treatments are still being sought, and various methods are being used. In this work, cognitive bias modification was analyzed, which showed relatively low results in the general sample. However, this technique can also help a person fight against smoking (Boffo et al., 2019).
Programs, like human or community services, contain a particular set of standards and norms that must be used in the profession regardless of addiction and those attitudes that are characteristic only of tobacco addiction. Experience with these standards is just as important as the medical factors behind this nicotine addiction (Weiss de Souza et al., 2020).
References
Boffo, M., Zerhouni, O., Gronau, Q. F., van Beek, R. J., Nikolaou, K., Marsman, M., & Wiers, R. W. (2019). Cognitive bias modification for behavior change in alcohol and smoking addiction: Bayesian meta-analysis of individual participant data. Neuropsychology Review, 29(1), 52-78.
Kondo, K., Ohfuji, S., Watanabe, K., Yamagami, H., Fukushima, W., Ito, K., & Japanese Case-Control Study Group for Crohn’s disease. (2019). The association between environmental factors and the development of Crohn’s disease with focusing on passive smoking: a multicenter case-control study in Japan. PloS one, 14(6), e0216429.
Lee, S. H., Ahn, W. Y., Seweryn, M., & Sadee, W. (2018). Combined genetic influence of the nicotinic receptor gene cluster CHRNA5/A3/B4 on nicotine dependence. BMC genomics, 19(1), 1-11.
RTI International. (2017). Gene that influences nicotine dependence identified: Discovery creates the possibility for new research in addiction treatment. ScienceDaily. Web.
Weiss de Souza, I. C., Kozasa, E. H., Bowen, S., Richter, K. P., Sartes, L. M. A., Colugnati, F. A. B., & Noto, A. R. (2020). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based relapse prevention program as an adjunct to the standard treatment for smoking: a pragmatic design pilot study. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 22(9), 1605-1613.
Yang, H., & Ma, J. (2021). How the COVID-19 pandemic impacts tobacco addiction: Changes in smoking behavior and associations with well-being. Addictive Behaviors, 119, 106917.
One thing that is difficult to understand about modern society is why people hate smartphones, especially when children and teenagers are involved. It seems to be common knowledge that being too attached to one’s phone is bad for mental and physical health, and the dangers may be greater for the younger generation. What is challenging to comprehend is why, for instance, at family gatherings, all grandparents, aunts, and uncles get practically enraged when they see a child with a phone. Regardless of whether the kid is playing a game, watching YouTube, or checking the time, the grown-ups will ALWAYS begin saying that children are not interested in anything but their phones. Yet, when youths ask for attention, their parents often simply hand them a phone or a tablet for distraction! However, more adults ignore kids because the former cannot let go of their phones, whether at home, at the store, or on a playground. Society needs to stop constantly criticizing children for using their phones because such behavior is a result of adults’ obsession with the device.
Some problems that continue to rage due to society condemning minors for spending time on the phone revolve around the increased gap between people from distinct eras. The youths are attached to their phones because there is nothing wrong with the younger generation but because grown-ups are teaching kids to use the phone in any situation. Parents give children their smartphones so that the latter would stop crying or disturbing the former. Adults use the phone to take photos of kids or call and text while interacting with youths. Consequently, minors learn that the phone is quite important for a person’s everyday life and are likely to associate using the device with adulthood. Accordingly, children may become discreet due to not understanding why they are being criticized for something their role models, grown-ups, regularly do. Relationships between different generations may improve if adults spent more quality time with kids and provided them with emotional support instead of blaming new technologies.
Considering that children adopt the behavior of their parents, babysitters, and other caregivers, one should examine why people use their phones in front of minors. For example, Ashley Jones, a lifestyle blogger on Romper, shares that she used to give her sons her phone so they would not scream in her face. Moreover, she writes that babies and toddlers learn about the importance of the device by viewing grown-ups (Jones). It is crucial for children to be able to entertain themselves, yet one can argue that giving minors the phone from an early age teaches them that the device can and should replace human relations. Furthermore, in a recent discussion regarding parental use of the phone, user @delavenue, a stay-at-home mother, wrote that the gadget is her only source of socialization and mental stimulation. Accordingly, adults need new technologies and show their children the gadget’s significance.
Many individuals may disagree with the above debate and say that youths use the phone more often than other generations. Due to various reasons, such as provoking titles of news articles, society, especially older people, is used to thinking that children are addicted to their gadgets (Wilson). Nonetheless, Baby Boomers spend almost as much time as Millennials utilizing the phone, and the representatives of both eras employ the device mostly to scroll on Facebook and Instagram (Roberts). While the public seems to enjoy criticizing kids for being attached to their smartphones, people tend to overlook the issue among grown-ups.
Although some people may agree that everyone spends considerable time on the phone, many may argue that the influence of the gadget is more important. For instance, I have questioned my parents and grandparents about why they disliked seeing minors using their smartphones. My family members practically unanimously said that they were concerned with how the phone affects one’s health, specific eyesight and mental soundness. Notably, my grandfather was upset that children nowadays rarely play outside and do not have sufficient human interactions because of new technologies. I then asked my relatives whether they thought that kids’ attachment to their phones was related to seeing their parents use the device, and I did not receive a precise answer. My grandparents did not quite understand the connection I had made. My parents stated that adults cannot avoid utilizing the phone because they need to call and text someone or need to do something while the children are playing. Overall, I have determined that my family believes that youths are vulnerable to the negative effects of the phone but is not certain about the causes of phone addiction.
Society tends to condemn children for spending time on their phones, yet the older population overlooks their own obsession with the gadget, which may result in the growth of the generation gap. Despite presenting some harm to one’s well-being, the smartphone is useful in the modern world. Therefore, the public needs to reflect on the outcomes of continuously criticizing minors and concentrate on more healthy ways to control phone use.
My chosen topic integrates the welfare of veterans of recent wars, such as conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the prescription of opioids for trauma, general mental well-being, and adaptation to civilian and even academic life. Recent studies have shown trends of opioid-related overdoses, which are especially prevalent in Afghanistan/Iraq-era veterans (Mahoney et al., 2021). Physiological, psychological, and structural factors that could impact these incidents are unclear, but many behaviors can be mapped to precipitate such cases of overdose or other alarming trends in the welfare of veterans. Veterans are susceptible to opioid misuse due to a myriad of possible mental disorders, often including comorbid PTSD and opioid use disorder (Bennett et al., 2017). In the worst cases, some studies have suspected misuse of opioids in relation to mental health conditions with suicide ideations (Drews, 2020). It would be best to utilize research data to formulate a literature review to address the correlation between opioid prescriptions and mental well-being in veterans that partake in university-level education. As such, the research question will ask how opioid overdose or misuse correlates with opioid prescriptions for pain management in Afghanistan and Iraq veterans who have re-entered society through the academic sphere?
Possible journals should correlate with both the military, social science, and medical aspects of the topic. One of the journals could be the Military Medicine journal which takes a more medical approach to military-related issues, which would be essential in understanding the physical effects of opioids (Oxford Academic, 2021). The Journal of Veteran Studies aims to sustain research, facilitate collaborations, and narrow culture gaps in relation to veteran research (Virginia Tech Publishing, 2021). A recent study depicts how much of an influential factor opioid use is for veterans with chronic pain management and posttraumatic stress disorder (Saadoun et al., 2021). PTG can be observed in another system-wide review in which quantitative data is collected concerning ex-personnel and mental, social, and physical well-being (Mark et al., 2018).
References
Bennett, A. S., Elliott, L., Golub, A., Wolfson-Stofko, B., & Guarino, H. (2017). Opioid-Involved Overdose Among Male Afghanistan/Iraq-Era U.S. Military Veterans: A Multidimensional Perspective. Substance Use & Misuse, 52(13), 1701-1711.
Drews, N. (2020). The Association Between Opioid Prescriptions and Suicidal Ideation in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Yale University.
Mahoney, C. T., Moshier, S. J., Keane, T. M., & Marx, B. P. (2021). Heightened healthcare utilization & risk of mental disorders among Veterans with comorbid opioid use disorder & posttraumatic stress disorder. Addictive Behaviors, 112.
Mark, K. M., Stevelink, S. A., Choi, J., & Fear, N. T. (2018). Post-traumatic growth in the military: a systematic review. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 72, 904-915.
Oxford Academic. (2021). About this journal. Military Medicine.
Saadoun, M., Bauer, M. R., Sayko Adams, R., Highland, K. B., & Larson, M. J. (2021). Opioid and Nonpharmacologic Treatments Among Soldiers With Chronic Pain and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychiatric Services, 72(3), 264-272.
Virginia Tech Publishing. (2021). About this Journal. Journal of Veteran Studies.
Injecting rooms have drawn sharp criticism as well as support from society. The idea of establishing injecting rooms is a relatively new one around the globe as there are not so many of them in the world. This essay examines the idea of governments setting up injecting rooms. Drawing proofs from various researches and making logical and philosophical arguments, this essay aims at discouraging governments from setting up injecting rooms. The essay will show that injecting rooms will actually cause more harm to society that the perceived benefits they are likely to bring.
Criticism against Injecting Rooms
Vague arguments and researches
Supporters of injecting rooms claim that injecting rooms are beneficial to the society and that the ones which are in existence have saved many lives especially from the dangers of drug overdosing (Moore 2011). Power (2010) narrated the story of Lotte a regular user of Sydney’s supervised injecting room. Power (2010) claimed that she overdosed once and passed out: “She’d injected in a hurry, in a car, concerned that police were close by. The heroin was too strong and she passed out” (p. 1). Power (2010) went on to argue that injecting rooms have saved the lives of many drug users most of whom are marginalized and stigmatized.
It is as much as Power’s arguments have some sense, it is important that some facts are pointed out. The story on Lotte injecting herself hurriedly in car because the cops were around does not make sense as she should have simply moved to an isolated place. It makes more sense for the marginalised to use rehabilitation centers than to rush to injecting rooms for more drugs. With rehabilitation centres, drug users have more chances to improve their lives.
It has emerged that some of the studies carried out to show that injecting rooms are saving lives of drug users have in some cases been carried out in an unprofessional manner. Glaring errors have been pointed out in such reports and this has gravely cast doubts on the significance of injecting rooms. Mangham (2007) offered a sharp critique on Canada’s Insite Injection Site reports and indeed proved that evaluations made by this facility were unreliable. In another instance, Pike et al. (2011) showed that an article titled “Reduction in overdose mortality after the opening of North America’s first medically supervised safer injecting facility: a retrospective population-based study” published in The Lancet failed to take into account various important aspects which have changed the results of the study. Though the article argued that Vancouver’s Insite Supervised Injection Facility had led to a decrease in overdose deaths by 35 percent, Pike et al. (2011) have argued that “the article contains serious errors which make that claim unsustainable” (p. 1).
Promotion of wrong values and drug addiction
Injecting rooms provide a safe place for drug users where they can feel at home. These facilities help the drug users to use their drugs freely without any feeling of insecurity or even guilt. According to the Drug Advisory Council of Australia (2010), most of the drug users who use injecting rooms are not referred to rehabilitation centers but rather are put on drug maintenance programs. Engaging in such kinds of behaviors towards drugs user compromises the fact that drug abuse is wrong. It is further a gesture that one is accepted and encouraged to engage in drug use. Logically, with such kind of treatment, it will be very hard for drug abusers to quit abusing drugs. It is also very obvious that injection rooms are promoting drug addiction by the fact that they make it very hard for drug abusers to stop abusing drugs.
Luring people to drug use
Promotion of injection rooms will finally lead to acceptance of drug abuse in the society. Injection rooms make one feel that drug can be abused in a safe manner without affecting one’s health or causing death. This is what the promoters of injecting rooms are trying to do by showing statistics and arguing that these facilities have decreased the number of deaths that would have resulted from drug overdoses. Such sentiments will make the youth vulnerable to drug abuse as they will view the injecting rooms as their safe-havens.
Conclusion
Opposing injecting rooms does not imply that the problem of drug abuse is not acknowledged. It is true that some of the drug abusers die due to overdoses. The main objective in opposing the setting up of injecting rooms is to discourage continued drug use. There is no point in arguing that drug users at one point become ready to stop using drugs. This is because a continued abuse of a drug makes it proportionally harder to stop thus if one cannot stop at the present, it becomes harder to stop in the future. This is logically the reason why setting up injecting rooms is a bad idea as they encourage drug abusers to continue in the habit and this eventually makes it harder for them to quit. Government should therefore discourage the idea of setting up injecting rooms. Funds and efforts should instead be channeled to drug rehabilitation centers.
References
Drug Advisory Council of Australia 2010, Injecting Rooms Are Not The Answer, Web.
Mangham, C 2007, A Critique of Canada’s INSITE Injection and its Parent Philosophy: Implication and Recommendations for Policy Planning, Web.