Currently, people around the globe have access to a wider range of substances than ever was available to the mankind. While some substances are prescribed by healthcare practitioners to relieve pain or combat virus, others are purchased illegally for recreational purposes. The endless stream of drugs, obtainable to the individuals with little or no restrictions, poses a serious inquiry. The question is as follows – is drug use a curse or a blessing of the twenty-first century?
Attributable to environmental, social, and cultural factors, research behind drug use fails to explain why some people tend to abuse substances while others can control themselves when it comes to developing addictions. Essentially, addiction does not develop overnight rather being a consequence of using drugs with habit-forming characteristics. Therefore, there is no absolute answer to the everlasting dilemma of using drugs, and two sides need to be evaluated separately.
Benefits of Using Drugs
When assessing the advantages of using pharmaceutical drugs, it is essential to consider the severity of health conditions existing. Advanced pharmaceutical drugs allow to decrease or completely eliminate the suffering of people, minimizing their physical pain (Earp et al. 136). Apart from serving as painkillers, medical substances frequently prevent individuals from getting diseases. Vaccines, immune modulating drugs, and vitamin supplements constitute only a small portion of such substances. For example, cases of smallpox were almost annihilated with the introduction of Fleming’s vaccination in 1800. Similarly to polio, a life-threatening illness leading to permanent paralysis, which was eradicated with the help of vaccines.
Medical drugs also allow people with incurable diseases to live longer and more comfortably. With the use of daily treatments, patients with diabetes, HIV, and depression substantially improve their quality of life, reducing symptoms and pain associated with them (Earp et al. 146). Antibiotics are vital for the treatment of bacterial infections, while marijuana is effective for cancer patients. Consequently, the aforementioned advantages of using drugs advocate for the positive side of the discussion.
Drawbacks of Drug Use
At its core, drug use is not harmful to people, bringing a variety of benefits to patients suffering from severe diseases. Yet, the problem arises when individuals start confusing drug use with abuse. A clear line should be drawn between consuming prescribed medical substances to treat a health condition and taking drugs without medical assistance (Earp et al. 136). The three major clusters of the issue should be addressed:
recreational drugs;
prescription drugs;
unethical healthcare treatment.
First, abuse of recreational drugs is prevalent among common people due to the availability and accessibility of the so-called street substances. Reasons why individuals decide to take drugs vary depending on their ultimate goal. For instance, heroin and cocaine lead to euphorical feelings; LSD causes hallucinations; Marijuana relaxes and induces good mood. Abuse of recreational drugs is likely to result in loss of employment, crime, divorce, lower performance at school, and other consequences discussed later (Earp et al. 137). Second, Abuse of prescription drugs occurs when patients decide to present misleading information to the doctors in order to obtain necessary drugs.
One of the most commonly abused prescribed substance is marijuana. As people are seeking to use medical characteristics of cannabis to induce mood without the corresponding health condition, the addiction appears quick to develop (Earp et al. 147). Third, unethical healthcare practices constitute another cluster of drug abuse. When doctors refuse to seek causes for the real diagnosis of the person and prescribe a painkiller to ease the symptoms, patients are likely to grow the addiction to the substance consumed.
All the aforementioned constituents of drug abuse may have similar negative effects on the individual’s wellness. People facing drug abuse are more likely to engage in delinquency and commit crimes than those refusing to take substances (Earp et al. 141). While there is no proven causal relationship between drug addiction and felony, the established positive correlation suggests that individuals abusing drugs often fall under the influence of negative peer groups (Earp et al. 142).
Such adverse impact of the peers is the primary reason for higher crime rates among the addicts. With the loss of judgement and independence, addicts can find it difficult to combat stress, irritability, and anxiety, searching for alternative sources to restore the lost feeling of control over one’s life. In this case, violence and behavioral misconduct appear as accessible options.
Drug addiction oftentimes results in distorted social interaction with friends, colleagues, and family members. There is an observed tendency for drug users to distant themselves from their significant others which leads to psychological, financial, and emotional crisis of the social units (Earp et al. 138). Substance abuse impairs judgment and decreases decision-making ability, contributing to the feelings of hostility and aggression (Earp et al. 139).
Furthermore, drug abusers may alienate themselves from peers, disengaging from the usual community events. Other psychosocial dysfunctions prevalent among drug addicts include but are not limited to apathy, withdrawal, and depression, proving that people who abuse substances are more susceptible to mental problems (Earp et al. 140). In this case, mental impairments range from personality disorders to learning disabilities, as individuals struggle to maintain healthy psychomotor skills and memory capacity.
Apart from distorted social interaction, drug addiction is closely associated with the decline in the academic or professional performance. One explanation behind such finding is that drug abusers are subject to absenting from work-related activities. Another reason is cognitive and behavioral problems induced by alcohol and drug addiction that interfere with the academic performance (Earp et al. 142).
For example, drug abuse has harmful effects on the patient’s perception skills, concentration, and motor function that is one of the reasons why driving under the influence of substances is so dangerous. Behavioral problems associated with drug addiction are closely linked to the lack of judgment and controlled impulse among the substance abusers (Earp et al. 142). Adverse behavioral patterns vary from sharing used needless to engaging into non-consensual sexual activities with a high risk of getting STD.
Conclusion
It is evident that drugs are strongly beneficial for people suffering from severe illnesses. Minimizing pains, decreasing the risk of obtaining contagious disease, and treating existing conditions are few of the advantages of medical substances. Yet, the issue arises as drugs in harmful doses remain highly accessible for common people to purchase. Damaging to health, substances can also have negative consequences on the person’s social interactions, resulting in job losses, imprisonment, and toxic relationships. When making an informed decision to consume drugs, an individual should be able to find a balance between medical drugs that save lives and abused substances that substantially decrease life quality.
References
Earp, Brian D., et al. “Addiction, Identity, Morality.” AJOB Empirical Bioethics, vol. 10, no. 2, 2019, pp. 136–153. Web.
Drugs have been known to humanity for many years, but at the same time, not only adults resorted to pleasure through illegal substances. Drug abuse and dependence on medication remains a severe problem for the adolescent segment of the population. Nevertheless, many families are convinced that this threat does not extend to their children and continues to ignore the qualitative change in the teenager’s lifestyle, appearance, and social circle. Scientific research shows that the development factors for adolescent drug abuse are not limited to a set of three to five causes, but are usually linked to the integration of destructive environmental conditions. This research essay is aimed at discussing the causes underlying teenage drug addiction.
Reasons for Adolescent Addiction
There is a grave misconception among parents that if they do not tell their child about drugs as early as possible, they will ignore them in the future because they will remain unaware. In fact, this situation is not uncommon, and it is the lack of information from adults that often causes the first experience of drug use. On the other hand, adolescents often turn to psychoactive drugs in order to get relaxation, pleasure, and a state of euphoria: 46.4% of the adolescents in the sample offered to them had a history of drug use (22). This result makes it possible to understand how serious the problem of teenage drug addiction is.
In general, it is worth pointing out that the pathological state’s general development includes three categories — biological, social, and psychological. The biological factors include hereditary peculiarities of neurotransmitter exchange in the brain, which contribute to rapid addiction and rapid formation of attraction. At the same time, a considerable layer of factors is connected with the psychological features of the teenager’s personality. Davila and Jonathan are convinced that child abuse, domestic violence, is becoming a severe reason for a child to develop a drug use culture (1). While some researchers emphasize social factors, others conclude that statistical regularities are depending on gender, ethnicity, and culture (McCuish 448). Moreover, Spooner points out that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to explaining drug dependence, specifying that scientific results are influenced by sample bias (467). Ultimately, all causes above, taken together, can lead to addiction.
The structure of narcotic drugs used and their effect on conscious and motor activities can be considered one of the factors contributing to drug dependence. It is worth understanding that as long as heavy synthetic drugs cause radical degradation of consciousness, lungs and legal drugs produce fewer tangible effects. Thus, some members of the teenage audience turn to lung drugs, as they understand that it will not cause severe damage to their health. Another problem is an addiction to approved drugs, which, according to Charles Grassley, tended to rise sharply. Inadequate and unmeasured consumption of drugs can be a step towards the decision to use more substantial forms of drugs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it should be noted that adolescent drug addiction is a severe medical and social problem in modern society and has become an epidemic in recent decades. The causes of drug use at this age are threefold: biological, psychological, and social. Although much research has been done on this issue, each scientific intervention forms a specific sample that directly influences the outcome. Thus, it is only possible to generalize the study of general factors, but each case of drug dependence should be taken individually.
Works Cited
Davila, Marissa, and Jonathan G. Tubman. “Gender, Maltreatment and Psychiatric Symptoms Among Adolescents in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment.” Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2019, pp. 1-12.
Grassley, Chuck. “Grassley Targets Prescription Drug Abuse in Ongoing Battle to Keep Kids Drug Free.” Chuck Grassley, 2007, Web.
McCuish, Evan C. “Substance Use Profiles Among Juvenile Offenders: A Lifestyles Theoretical Perspective.” Journal of Drug Issues, vol. 47, no. 3, 2017, pp. 448-466.
Paul, Anthea et al. “Teens, Drugs, & Vegas: Toxicological Surveillance of Illicit Prescription and Illegal Drug Abuse in Adolescents (12–17 years) Using Post-Mortem Data in Clark County, Nevada from 2005 to 2015.” Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, vol. 58, 2018, pp. 20-24.
Spooner, Catherine. “Causes and Correlates of Adolescent Drug Abuse and Implications for Treatment.” Drug and Alcohol Review, vol. 18, no. 4, 1999, pp. 453-475.
Prevention programs are essential in tackling any challenge before it arises to avoid the cost of handling that problem in the long run. One of the most influential prevention programs against drug abuse in America is Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE). Types of prevention strategies include primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies, with each focusing on a stage of the drug abuse menace.
DARE
DARE focuses on eliminating violence alongside drug abuse amongst youths through the impaction of knowledge and skills vital for this purpose. This program focuses on handling peer pressure among youths, a crucial cause of drug abuse in the country. It is a school-based program implemented by more than 8,600 law-enforcement institutions across the nation (Papirom, 2019). The program is grounded in elementary schools and attempts to impact children early in life, teaching them that growth is about resisting peer pressure. The program also emphasizes personal decision-making and positivity in facing life challenges.
Effectiveness
The program has achieved massive success due to the approach of selecting informed designers. DARE was designed by educators and has been taught by specially trained officers. The program is also grounded on sound research, which offers the critical elements vital to handling the scourge of drug abuse (Papirom, 2019). These fundamental principles are accurate information, survival and decision-making expertise, and positive substitutes for drug abuse.
Conclusion
A major challenge to the program was its implementation, with the main executors being police officers. The image of the police service within the country is not that of reformers but instead, one of punishment enforcement. This was crucial in causing the development of public hysteria and mistrust amongst the public. Additionally, the program’s timing was during massive drug raids by the government and massive arrests for the suspects, striking paranoia within the public who imagined it was an undercover program.
For along time now, drug and alcohol abuse in the society has been a problem that affects the youth and the society at large. The youth in the society get engaged in abusing substances that they feel all help them forget their problems. This paper highlights the problems of drug abuse and alcohol drinking among the youth in the society.
Alcohol is a substance that contains some elements that are bring about physical and psychological changes to an individual. Being a depressant, alcohol affects the nervous system altering the emotions and perceptions of individuals. Many teenager abuse alcohol and other drug substances due to curiosity, the need to feel good and to fit in their different groups. Drinking alcohol should not be encouraged because it usually affects the health of the youth.
It puts their health at a risk. Drinking youth are more likely to engage in irresponsible sexual activities that may result in unexpected pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Additionally, teenagers who drink are more likely to get fat while complicating further their health conditions. Moreover, the youth drinking are at a risk of engaging in criminal activities hence being arrested (Cartwright 133).
According to the Australian Psychological Society, a drug can be a substance that brings about physical or psychological changes to an individual (2). Youngsters in the in the community take stuffs to increase enjoyment or decrease the sensational or physical pain. Some of the abused drugs by the youth in the society include marijuana, alcohol, heroine and cocaine.
The dangers of drug abuse are the chronic intoxication of the youth that is detrimental to their societies. Much intake of drugs leads to addiction that is indicated by the desire to take the drugs that cannot be resisted.
The effect of alcohol and other hard drugs are direct on the central nervous system. Alcohol and drug abuse is linked to societal practices like, partying, societal events, entertainment, and spirituality. The Australian Psychological Society argues that the choice of a substance is influenced by the particular needs of the substance user (3).
However, the effects of drug abuse differ from one individual to another. The abuse of drugs becomes a social problem whenever the users fail to meet some social responsibilities at home, work, or school. This is usually the effect when the substances are used more than they are normally taken. Additionally, when the use of substances is addictive, it leads to social problems (Cartwright 135).
Conclusion
Drug and alcohol abuse among the youth in the society should be discouraged and voided at all costs. The youth are affected and the society is affected. The productive young men and women cannot perform their social duties. One way in which the abuse of drugs and alcohol can be avoided in the society is through engaging the youth in various productive activities. This will reduce their idle time while keeping them busy (Cartwright 134).
They will not have enough time for drinking. Additionally, they will have fewer problems to worry about. They should also be educated and warned about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse both to their health and to the society. Since alcohol and substance abuse is related to increased crime in the society, its reduction will lead to reduced crime rates and economic growth.
Works Cited
The Australian Psychological Society. Alcohol, and Other Drugs. Australian Psychological society. Web.
Cartwright, William. Costs of Drug Abuse to the Society. The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 1999. 2, 133-134.
Illicit drug use is a major social problem with significant impacts on both the social and economic aspects of any country. The dramatic improvements in communication and technology coupled with global economic liberalization have contributed to growth of international trade.
At the same time, the social and political environment has led to improved trade environment attracting substantial investments in many nations. The recent liberalization of trade means that goods, human labor, and capital can freely move across national borders with minimal restrictions.
This has resulted to a good macroeconomic environment for growth of legitimate international trade (Reuter, & Kleiman, 1986, p.19). However, the liberalization of trade has also provided an opportunity for organized gangs to engage in drug trafficking on a global scale.
Cartels, consisting of drug producers and traffickers, produce illicit drugs, usually in developing countries, and distribute them into different countries gaining huge profits. The proceeds from drug trafficking are then invested in strategic financial centers as legitimate investments giving good investment returns to the drug traffickers.
This has only contributed to widening the economic inequality gap affecting the economic growth of a country. Trade in illicit drugs affects the global economy as well as the socio-political aspects of citizens.
Economic Impacts of Illicit Drug Trafficking
Drug trafficking is a major global concern due to the substantial impacts it has on the economies of many countries. While drug trafficking may have immense “benefits” to drug traffickers and cartels, it however, causes considerable consequences on the health and financial systems of a country (Saffer, & Chaloupka, 1995, p.12). In particular, countries that have less stringent anti-trafficking laws tend to experience substantial social and political consequences.
This arises because much of the profits obtained from drug trafficking is invested in industrialized nations with the developing countries, which are often the source of these drugs, experiencing less investments (Reuter, & Kleiman,1986, p.21). As a result, a number of producer developing countries are experiencing stagnated economic growth.
Drug trafficking contributes to drug abuse in the society. Countries allocate substantial resources to fight illicit drug trafficking through various law enforcement agencies. In addition, resources are allocated to healthcare to fight drug-related illnesses (Hanson, Venturelli, & Fleckenstein, 2009, p.51). A country’s economy suffers as labor productivity declines because of illnesses and drug-related deaths. Drug trafficking also contributes to increased drug-related crime affecting security and regional stability.
Drug abuse is rampant particularly among youths in the age group of 18-35 who constitute the majority of the working population. Drug abuse among youthful population reduces their chances of finding gainful employment. It also affects their work performance, if employed, which results to dismissals.
According to Lawrence and Vinod, unemployment in both developed and developing countries is partly attributed to substance abuse (1993, p.117). In addition, the prices of illicit drugs are not regulated dependent only on the associated risks during production and trafficking; this means that the illicit drug industry generates substantial income that affects the economy of countries.
The drug income obtained by traffickers in producer countries is often used to import illegal luxury goods from other countries, which affects the price levels of local products. In producer countries, people neglect the production of essential commodities as they embark on illicit drug production. This also affects prices of essential commodities. Drug trafficking also increases income inequality as only few people in drug cartels get the drug profits as the drug farmers get comparatively less profits.
Social Impacts of Drug Trafficking and Abuse
While the family and community play a significant role in reducing substance abuse among the youth, parental drug abuse strains most family relationships. Peer influence especially among the youth also contributes to drug abuse. Family factors including parental absence and parental use of illicit drugs also lead to drug abuse.
In addition, drug abuse produces many negative impacts on the health of individuals affecting their productivity (Hanson et al., 2009, p.53). Addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine affect the general health of the users with diseases such as HIV/AIDS being prevalent in drug injectors. This in turn affects the productivity of the general population, which adversely affects the economy of a country.
Environmental damage is increased by drug trafficking particularly in producer countries as forests are cleared for drug farming. Processing of the illicit drugs also releases dangerous chemicals into the environment (Hanson et al., 2009, p.57). Improper disposal of wastes resulting from processing of cocaine and heroin affects the environment. Drug trafficking also contributes to increased criminal activities that affect the security of citizens.
Drug addiction contributes to increased robbery and prostitution as the addicts seek for money to finance their drug use. Consequently, many resources are allocated to law enforcement officers to fight these drug-related vices at the expense of the other sectors of the economy.
Conclusion
Drug trafficking is major concern because of its socio-economic and political implications. Illicit drug money, once it enters an economy, it affects the political systems, the civil society, and the productivity of a country contributing to social disintegration and collapse of democratic governance. In addition, drug abuse affects the health and the productivity of human resource of a country, which in turn affects its economic growth and development.
Reference List
Hanson, G., Venturelli, P., & Fleckenstein, A. (2009). Drugs and Society. London: Johns and Bardon Publishers.
Lawrence, S., & Vinod, T. (1993). Recent lessons of development. Research Observer, 2(1), 117.
Reuter, P., & Kleiman, M. (1986). Risk and prices: an economic analysis of drug Enforcement. Crime and Justice: An Annual Review of Research, 7(3), 19-21.
Saffer, H., & Chaloupka, F. (1995). The Demand for Illicit Drugs. National Bureau of Economic Research, 6, 9-14.
There are many approaches to defining deviant behavior and singling out its root causes. Some scholars argue that people’s biological features are at the core of aberrant conduct, whereas others consider the social impact to play a critical role. Based on these differing ideas, researchers defend their positions on why people break the law in various situations. The present paper aims at supporting a social deviance position and analyzing one of the core topics related to deviance. Specifically, Merton’s (1938) argument of deviance will be defended, and the theme of drug abuse will be discussed.
The Social Deviance Position
The position taken is the agreement with Merton’s statement about the causes of deviance in society. Particularly, Merton (1938) argues that deviance occurs when the abilities of society’s members to achieve socially acceptable goals are not equal. According to Merton (1938), two elements are constituting the social and cultural structure: cultural goals and institutional norms. The first element makes up the frame of aspirational reference composed of interests and aims in the cultural dimension that presuppose different levels of sentiment and prestige (Merton, 1938). The second element is responsible for controlling and regulating the acceptable modes of gaining the purposes from the first one.
The rationale behind agreeing with the argument is that the scholar offered a viable typology of deviance, which explains that individuals can become criminals if they cannot achieve the socially accepted values by legal means. This position can be related to drug abuse in the following way. People buying drugs have rejected the culturally acceptable norm of leading a healthy lifestyle. However, at the same time, they share the cultural value of receiving pleasure or pain relief (depending on what their purpose in using drugs is). Hence, according to Merton’s (1938) theory, deviant behavior can be manifested by following one norm but rejecting the other one in an attempt to gain the first.
The social deviance definition emerging from the selected position involves the compensation of institutionalized behavior by socialized rewards. Merton (1938) argues that it is necessary to arrange the distribution of roles in society in such a way that each position within the distributive structure should have an equal number of positive incentives and status obligations. Thus, deviant behavior may be considered as a sign of dissociation between the aspirations defined by cultural norms and the means expected by the social system. The disproportionate emphasis on objectives is the primary concern of the selected deviance position.
Examples Supporting the Position
Merton’s major goal is to emphasize the disruption of the social structure and prove that it can affect deviance (“Social disorganization,” 2020). The scholar distinguishes between five types of adjustment and adaptation: conformity, ritualism, innovation, retreatism, and rebellion. According to Merton, social structure is a social deviance theory due to its potential to indicate the divergence between social stability and behavioral limitations (“Social disorganization,” 2020). Depending on a person’s social activity, one can change the activity’s type (Merton, 1938). Specific emphasis in Merton’s (1938) theory is given to the problem of wealth accumulation as an indicator of success in American society. Hence, basically, people demonstrating deviant behavior know the institutional regulations, but they cannot always secure emotional support to follow these rules.
The most prominent example in support of Merton’s argument in relation to drug abuse is that cultural and social circumstances play a crucial role in defining people’s desire to engage in drug use. As Eckersley (2005) remarks, cultural expectations of a person, such as an ethnicity, social status, or race, can affect the way people are accepted in society. Frequently, when an individual notice that he or she is not welcome in the social group they would like to belong to, they resort to any means possible to make others find them acceptable. Culture formulates the main assumptions of the people’s way of living (Eckersley, 2005). Furthermore, Eckersley (2005) points out that some aspects of modern Western culture and society constitute a crucial social impact on people’s drug abuse choices, which is currently underestimated. Therefore, in an attempt to meet the norm necessary for joining the society, one can practice deviant behavior.
Another example of drug abuse being a social deviance problem is also related to peer pressure and the need to accommodate. As Schulden et al. (2009) report, drug abuse is a phenomenon most frequently occurring in young people. There is a growing recognition of the drug abuse problem among American teenagers. This population group is vulnerable to various social factors, acceptance being the most important of them. Hence, to gain the goal of being an equal member of some social group, a young person may engage in anomie. Schulden et al. (2009) also note the significance of viewing the problem not only at a macro level but also at a micro-level. Specifically, there are some youth groups that suffer from greater negative impacts, such as Hispanics and Blacks. These young people tend to overuse marijuana rather than other types of drugs (Schulden et al., 2009). However, no matter what substance is being misused, the problem remains, and its connection to social life’s regulations cannot be denied.
Media sources share the opinions expressed in research studies concerning drug abuse as a social problem. O’Leary (2019) singles out five socio-cultural factors that are likely to cultivate addiction. These factors can be analyzed from the point of view of Merton’s (1938) theory. Firstly, the bonding experience, which can be gained by drug use, is viewed by O’Leary (2019) as a crucial social factor promoting addiction. Here, one can trace the connection with Merton’s (1938) theory in that to gain a socially positive outcome (become a part of a group), young people engage in deviant behavior (abuse drugs). Another factor is the relief from stress, which one can get with the help of drugs (O’Leary, 2019). Here, the positive norm followed by an individual is the desire to feel well and function properly. On the other side, this goal is gained by means of rejecting the norm of the legal use of drugs.
The next example is similar to the one discussed by Schulden et al. (2009). O’Leary (2019) remarks that the desire to feel the sense of community can push people to anomie. Thus, the person endeavors to follow the norm of conforming to a social group, but to do so, he or she defies the need to consume only legal substances. Further, the allure of rebelling can also ignite people’s desire to abuse drugs (O’Leary, 2019). In this case, the desired positive norm is to express one’s freedom and exercise one’s rights. Meanwhile, the need to follow the rules of social behavior (avoiding drugs and not threatening anyone by one’s conduct) is rejected.
Finally, O’Leary (2019) also draws attention to such a socio-cultural factor as lifestyle appeal. According to the author, some people may consider the lifestyle of a drug abuser as glamorous and highly attractive. In a situation like this, a person strives to obtain better living conditions, which is a normal intention (Merton, 1938). What is abnormal, though, is that to gain the desired lifestyle, people become addicts. What is more, drug abuse is frequently associated with criminal behavior (“Why drug addiction is a social problem,” n.d.; Zembroski, 2011). Therefore, the outcomes of drug abuse can be manifested not only in social and cultural spheres but also in a legal one.
Reasons for Disagreeing with the Other Position
The selected position contradicts the view expressed by Durkheim, who argues that the existence of social solidarity should prevent people from anomie (“Social disorganization,” 2020). Durkheim’s approach states that people are not likely to break the rules if they share the same views (Adrian, 2003). It is impossible to agree with such an argument since even if all society members know what is right, it does not mean they will never do wrong. For example, if a young student knows that abusing drugs is illegal, he will still do it if the group of his peers persistently lure him into trying.
Conclusion
Merton’s (1938) argument of deviance states that a person tends to break the rules when he or she does not have an opportunity to gain some socially acceptable goal legally. This argument seems fair in various socio-cultural situations, but it especially concerns the problem of drug abuse. There are many reasons why people might start abusing drugs, but most of them are related to the need for being accepted and recognized. It is not possible to agree with Durkheim’s position since numerous examples indicate that even if all members of society know the rules, they will not break them.
References
Adrian, M. (2003). How can sociological theory help our understanding of addictions? Substance Use & Misuse, 38(10), 1385–1423. Web.
Eckersley, R. (2005). “Cultural fraud”: The role of culture in drug abuse. Drug and Alcohol Review, 24(2), 157–163. Web.
Merton, R. K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672–682. Web.
Schulden, J. D., Thomas, Y. F., & Compton, W. M. (2009). Substance abuse in the United States: Findings from recent epidemiologic studies. Current Psychiatry Reports, 11(5), 353–359. Web.
Modern American society is influenced by various internal and external factors that cause serious mental and physical interference with people’s lives. The most common triggers are both licit and illicit drugs and stress factors. Dependence on different substances has become not only a major issue within the country but a significant part of the American mass culture. The most vulnerable social group in terms of drug abuse in adolescents and college students who can be easily influenced by public opinion and peer pressure.
Many specialists today are aimed at combating this issue with the help of various prevention strategies. According to Levinthal (2014), there are two groups of factors that influence an individual’s patterns of drug behavior. The first group is connected with risk factors that make a person more likely to abuse drugs, while preventative factors help decrease this probability. When specialists deal with preventative factors, they pay attention to both mental and physical ways to resist the drug. The physical aspect includes medication treatment that helps drug abusers withdraw without severe implications.
The mental aspect, on the other hand, encourages people to experience moral support from close ones, or the ones who once experienced drug addiction on their own. The symbiosis of these procedures is exceptionally efficient in terms of the drug rehabilitation process when a person is provided with medications and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, the cost of such treatment is quite frequently too high for abusers and their families. In your opinion, how the prices could be decreased to become more affordable? Are addiction centers that provide free help as efficient as the fee-based ones?
Reference
Levinthal, C. F. (2014). Drugs, behavior, and modern society (8th ed.). London, United Kingdom: Pearson Education.
Social and health issues that take part during the formation of human identity have negative consequences on the individual’s further development. Thus, teenage drug abuse presents a severe danger to an individual’s health in adulthood. The problem of teenage drug abuse inflicts a threat to the future society and health state of the overall population in the United States. This essay will discuss the core reasons and consequences of teenage drug abuse and propose a possible solution based on the collected information.
There are several reasons for teenage drug abuse in the United States. As teenagers are influenced by high concertation of hormones, some of the core reasons for teenage drug abuse are specific to the age category, implying that those reasons are not connected to adult drug abuse. Moreover, teenagers are more influenced by external factors such as social connections and media. One of the core reasons for teenage drug abuse is the willingness to be accepted and validated in a social circle of individuals who already use drugs. In teenagers’ perception, drugs are often used in media as an attribute of cool characters, so they frequently try to fit in with the cool image, unaware of the consequences of drug use. In addition, current teenagers often experience depression and helplessness from being unable to control their lives or social rejection from excessive social media involvement and resort to drug abuse to feel better.
The consequences of teenage drug abuse include development and widespread poor morals, increased danger from sexual activity-related problems, such as STDs and unplanned pregnancy, dangerous driving, and poor performance in school. Even though some minor consequences of episodic drug abuse could be solved, threats like impaired driving present a significant danger to the population. Development and widespread of poor morals will also negatively affect the development of society as poor morals suggest an increased number of crime commitments among adolescents. With the current issues in the prison system, such as difficulties in offenders’ re-entry into the society, the teenagers’ future will be negatively affected in cases of crime commission.
Despite the complex character of the issues imposed by teenage drug abuse, one primary measure could solve the issue or partially improve the current state. The significant difference between teenage drug abuse and drug abuse among adults is parental participation in teenagers’ lives. Increasing the level of parental awareness on the issue of teenage drug abuse and providing them with necessary information could positively influence the situation. Providing parents with helpful information such as red flags in teenager’s behavior, and current state of drug involvement in the local area/school would help the parents establish connection with the teenager. The connection will provide an opportunity for a dialogue on the topic of drug use and its consequences. Moreover, active parental participation in teenagers’ activities would help prevent other issues, such as dangerous and harmful connections or violent tendencies.
In conclusion, this essay explored the issue of teenage drug abuse in the United States through the aspects of core reasons and consequences. Based on the collected information, teenagers are more subjected to drug abuse due to their social interactions and the high risk of depression tendencies. The increased parental participation in teenagers’ lives is the primary solution to the problem. Parents should express concerns about the child’s social circle and activities outside the home. Increasing parental awareness on the problem and providing opportunities for parent-teenager dialogue on the issue of drug abuse will positively influence the current state of teenage drug abuse in the United States.
Peer pressure is a feeling that emerges from the individual need for approval and acceptance of equal rights. This behavioural pattern begins at in early age and continues although life to adulthood but it is at peak during adolescent stage.
The teenagers are in the process of declining the parental guidance since they need their freedom and at the same time are trying to win the support and acceptance from their fellow work groups such as friends or classmates. Their strong struggle to exist as part of a group thus increases the urgency for independence need for finding an identity. The quest for approval within their peer groups motivates the adolescent behaviour.
Although peer pressure is a negative influence over personality, it can be a positive force supporting the decision making procedures and helping teenagers to settle for the best option in tough situations. When one accepts to put up with negative peer pressure, they end up giving up the personal trusts and values thus the pressure becomes a form of a negative force.
Thesis Statement
“Does peer pressure affect the decision to use and abuse of drugs?” This paper is an analysis of the effect of peer pressure to the usage of drugs and its possibilities as well as implication to future addictions. It is an analysis of the behavioural patterns and lastly it analyzes the available perspectives into controlling the vice.
Objective/significance of the study
The main objective of the paper focuses on causes of drug abuse among the youth whose main determinant is peer pressure and evaluates the developmental problems associated with this type of vice. Another significance of the study focuses on the global approach towards curbing the vice and creating public awareness over drug usage and abuse.
The paper also forms an analysis over issue of other probable cause in the subject matter. Are people utilizing the appropriate measures to get rid of the vice? The analysis of what determines addictions. Lastly, it addresses the issue of utilizing the new professional suggested measures to getting rid of this common phenomenon.
The procedure of the study
The literature reviews will enable better understanding of the topic. Preparation of the research proposal over the chosen topic enhances and quantifies the research as a study topic and prepares for respondents.
Information collected tabulates and ranks the findings to broad areas and helps to narrow the scope to the objectives of the study analysis. The analysis then draws the conclusion from generally analyzed data in the literature review.
Purpose of the study
The main purpose of this study is to evaluate drugs use and abuse among the youth and offer suggestions from the research on ways of reducing or eliminating this social problem.
Literature review
Insinuations for understanding behaviour
In most cases, it would be invariable to have a linkage between development of the brain and the behaviours emulated by adolescents. Scientifically the argument over the link indicates that under high emotional or intense peer pressure, there are some conditions at the maturing front part of the brain that necessitate devastating inexplicable performance leading to poor decision making such as use of drugs. (Santrock, 2006)
The adolescents have the ability and rationale to differentiate between the right and wrong. This is an indication that the brain has the capacity to demonstrate some mental ability to decision making, but the teenager acts in opposition to this expectation.
According to Nestler and Malenka, (2004) the brains of a teenager is under some less optimal control mechanisms and thus under higher probability to act from guts or instincts in submitting to the option of taking drugs when confronted with stressful or emotional strains. Under such conditions, they are not able to be thankful for any instantaneous outcomes for their accomplishments.
Compared to adults, on average, the adolescents are more impetuous, insistent, volatile emotionally, high risk takers, proactive and reactive to strain or stress and are susceptible to peer pressure. (Nestler and Malenka, 2004) They focus on the short time payoffs, which they over estimate to a point of underrating any long-term consequences that may be involved. They are prone to overlooking the alternative course of actions.
The developing brain and drug abuse
Young people are often curious about drugs and thus the common definition of the adolescence stage being a time of experimenting and seeking novelty. The survey conducted in the U.S. indicates that the use of drugs such as tobacco and alcohol is a common phenomenon among the youths before they hit the legal requirement age for the use. (Johnson et al., 2006)
The survey also indicated that at least half or more of the teenagers try out the drugs during the adolescent stage and nearly all have tried before reaching the legal age. Today the youth show higher rates of or percentage of alcohol problems as opposed to the older age groups. (Spear, 2002)
Vulnerability of adolescents to drug abuse
The adolescent brain may be more vulnerable to social discomforts due to sensitivity to alcohol effects. These social effects can bring about pleasurable social experiences during alcohol abuse such as contributing to the feeling of less shyness than the expectations. (Spear, 2002)
The effects are enormous compared to the same alcoholic effects on an adult. In the studies of adolescents indicated by Erk (2004), characteristically, adolescents are able to get through two or three times more alcohol than the adults because their intoxication effects are much higher.
They have a diminished sensitivity to intoxication due to the high metabolic rates. The hormones also play a vital role in the drug abuse. The adolescents have novelty to seek and promote competitiveness socially. The production of hormones promotes abuse because of the original occurrence of peer pressure for the individual to seek social approval from the peer friends. (Erk, 2004)
Human growth and development
During their life spans, human beings expectation to grow and change socially, emotionally, behaviourally, physically and cognitively is very important. Through analysis of some developmental life-span stages, there is a possibility of determining disorders or crisis such as drug abuse affecting adolescents.
The counsellors are in a position to know what kind of behavioural pattern to expect from children, adolescents, adults thus the ability to suggest the developmental concerns and appropriate actions to take. In line with Erk writing, (2004) there are some expectations regarding differences in physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural patterns with regard to individual age bracket.
The adolescents face many challenges relating to their transition from childhood to adulthood. The physical changes on their bodies is inevitable, they also have the pressure from the need to make decisions, the feel the need to explore their sexuality and deal with novel emotional feelings concern with uncertain and impulsive activities. (Stantrock, 2006) These transitional issues of the adolescents require critical concerns in the counselling procedures.
On this context, the issues of identity crisis, self-esteem and development emotionally are some key considerations during counselling procedures. Their appearance to others is an important issue because they believe to own unique problems and all the public attention focuses particularly upon them. They face the challenges of discovering their identity in terms of vocation, relationship, sexuality, gender, life interests, personality and culture/ethnicity. (Santrock, 2006)
The hormonal changes are the emotional changes experienced by adolescents. Moodiness and impetuousness brings about these changes. Peer pressure, conflicts, the need to find self-belonging and the desire for freedom especially from the parents causes the emotional stress. This is the main logic behind the importance of an “identity, self esteem and emotional development” for an adolescent. (Santrock, 2006)
Root cause of drugs use and possible solutions
Human beings have to make decisions every now and then based on the challenge at hand. There are many different reasons why people use drugs or alcohol, probably to relax, have fun, find rest, forget problems, and mostly to emulate friends. The youth mostly engage in drugs because they know someone who does the same and is successful. They fancy the lives of others and thus mimic their style in the aim of trying to find their personal styles.
Peer pressure means the external or internal anxiety people feel to be like others. Peer pressure is a fine act as long as it serves the role of determining the right character in a person or the outlook that people would wish to talk about or emulate. This is arguably the reason why the Americans teenagers mimic the same lifestyles ad have similar talking style.
The reason for discussing peer pressure is the problems it causes. People in a groups act differently and do some weird activities they would probably not do on their own. This is an identity of a group as opposed to that of an individual. The control placed on these behaviours can easily crumple before the achievement of that valued need.
Peer pressure is more often hard to resist because it is equally very hard to notice. The wisest decision one would make is to have a personal pull or reflection of life and be aware of the pressure by understanding the achievement or aims of participating. According to Erk, (2004) personal choices are very important even when the pressure from the peer groups is irresistible.
The strongest predictor of drug use during adolescence is the peer influence. The peer initiate the use, provides the drugs and models the use and abuse behaviors and attitudes towards them. Studies have indicated that peers are more likely to give in to drug usage if they were from single parent families or stepparent homes. (Johnson et al 2006) The peer pressure and drug models relates to drug use and abuse.
Another critical interpreter of drugs use and abuse is early on commencements by the user. The abusers whose initiation into drug usage occurs at an age lower than fourteen years have a higher tendency of abusing and misusing drugs in future beside the likelihood of influencing others compared to their counterparts who began usage in high schools or collages. There is a common trend of noticing drug use and abuse during the school or college years and a continual peak of the vice even after collage.
This is a strong indication of future problems among the teenagers. They face a huge challenge of increased maturity and changes of the lifestyle that that easily leads to unemployment, marriage related problems such as marital conflicts, and reduced cessation of drug use. The existence or of social settings where the drug abuse existed before is a suggested sign that the trend may stay and if the teenagers had stopped to use, then the trendy easily resumes.
Peer pressure on use of drugs on a teenager leads to addiction or continual usage thus a trend that causes solitary usage. In most instances, the pressure occurs mainly during some social events and the probability is continual usage during such periods but when solitary use occurs, then the addict has greater future problems related to chronic addiction and isolation from the rest or even communication problems that may lead to mental complications.
At the low levels, involvement in drug usage and abuse comes from peer pressure, availability of the drugs and other social, family or environmental risk factors. In line with Erk, (2004) “the escalation or maintenance of high level of usage often results from biological, psychological, and psychiatric characteristics of an individual.” There are also chances of inherited characteristics causing more vulnerability to drugs that are available in the home settings.
The psychological and psychiatric traits may also be traits inherited form abusing parents. The vulnerability of drug usage highly depends on the characteristics of the user as opposed to the characteristic of the drug. The maladjustment on the social and psychological characteristics is what mainly characterizes precedence to the first usage. The behaviors of a child at a young age can equally show the serious drug usage.
What cause addiction?
The properties that lead to addiction are not present at psychoactive drug usage. The teens who are deceived to using but fellow peers only does so for a while and have low probability of becoming addicts. The psychologically involved youths, the experimental tasks also do not easily leads to advanced future consequences but the emotionally and psychologically involved youths easily become addicts.
Conclusion
Social settings can give the impression that drug usage is under control but a closer look at the phenomenon indicates that everyday a teenager is starting to use and becomes addicted to the vice.
Possibly the pressure involved among the peer groups is great for most of them to resist unless there is an intervention by the authorities and manly the parents. (Erk, 2004) Today most of the parents are full-time employees probably looking for the overtime and better remuneration in support of the family. They may be trying to workout one area while the other collapses.
The biggest problem in majority of the minds lies on the reason why the teens continually use the drugs. The most probable answer is within the family setting. They are emulating their parents who are their first role models; they embrace the social settings where they meet friends who deceive them to try out the common drugs such as tobacco or alcohol and the solitary use due to stress.
Whichever the case, parents are the most effective cure to the vice. It is the parental responsibility and not the tutor or teacher’s responsibility to face the problem and talk out with the teenagers on the dangers involved before things are out of hand.
Their temporary rebellion against the parents can easily lead to the repercussions thus leading to the catastrophic impacts. The early interventions by the parents whenever they note change of behavior are the best procedure to cubing the vice. The strength of character that assists the child to resists the negative influences directly connects to the parental roles of guidance.
References
Erk, R. (2004). Counseling treatment for children and adolescents with DSM-TR disorders. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Person Prentice Hall.
Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., & Bachman, J. G. (2006). Monitoring the Future national Survey results on drug use, 1975-2005. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Nestler, E. J., and Malenka, R. C. (2004). The addicted brain. Scientific American Journal, 290 (3), 78-85.
Santrock, J. (2006). Life-span development (10th Ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill
Spear, L. P. (2002). Alcohol’s effects on adolescents. Journal of Alcohol Health and Research World, Vol 26(4), Pp. 287-291.
Drug abuse will be mitigated by creating awareness in society
Operationalized dependent variable: There are various definitions attributed to drug abuse based on the perspective from which the vice is viewed. Drug abuse, also known as substance abuse, can be defined as the sequence of injurious use of any drug or substance that alters the mood of an individual.
It can also be referred to the use of prohibited drugs or misuse of prescription. This refers to the misuse of drugs bought over the counter for objectives other than those that were intended or in a way or a quantity that exceeds the recommended levels (Abadinsky, 2011).
Operationalized independent variable: Society has been defined by sociologists as individuals who interact and share common cultural bonds. Such cultural bonds may be racial or ethnic, pegged on gender, or as a result of shared common values, activities, and beliefs.
A normal society is comprised of different generations of individuals that include children, the youths, and the adult generation. The youth age group encompasses individuals aged from 16 to 35 years. This will be the main focus of the study, as the young people are greatly affected when it comes to the drug abuse menace (Rossides, 1993).
Operationalized effect: The creation of public awareness is intended to educate the youths on the possible health and legal consequences that they face in light of using and abusing illicit drugs.
Creation of awareness is meant to help the young individuals in society to make informed choices before engaging in acts that may constitute drug abuse. As doctors explain, prevention is better than cure (Lowinson, 2005).
The operationalized hypothesis
In spite of the many intervention approaches employed in the fight against the drug abuse menace, the most effective approach has been observed to be the creation of awareness amongst the youths. In virtually all societies, the youths are the most affected by drug abuse.
This project is going to carry out a public awareness campaign with the aim of educating the young people on the hazards related to the vice of drug and substance abuse. This study intends to come up with programs through which the youths will be educated and counseled on the effects and risks involved in the use of illicit drugs.
The awareness campaign is going to target hospitals and rehabilitation centers that receive or deal with cases of drug abuse. The study is also going to target local educational institutions as they provide a platform through which the young people can be reached.
The study will include integration of drug abuse in the curriculum of the existing educational facilities subject to approval by the relevant educational authorities (Hanson, Venturelli & Fleckenstein, 2009).
This study intends to seek assistance from the local law enforcement agencies to shed light and educate the youths on the legal implications if charged with drug abuse. Such programs will help the youths to accustom themselves with knowledge about the effects of drug abuse and the health and legal consequences (Milkman & Wanberg, 2005).
References
Abadinsky, H. (2011). Drug use and abuse: A comprehensive introduction. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Hanson, G., Venturelli, P. J., & Fleckenstein, A. E. (2009). Drugs and society. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Lowinson, J. H. (2005). Substance abuse: A comprehensive textbook. Philadelphia, Penns: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Milkman, H. B., & Wanberg, K. W. (2005). Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment for adolescents: The provider’s guide : pathways to self-discovery and change. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications.
Rossides, D. W. (1993). American society: An introduction to macrosociology. Dix Hills, N.Y: General Hall.