Drugs Have Negative Effects on Society Research Paper (Research Paper Sample)

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Problem: Drugs have negative effects on society.
Audience: General public
Purpose: Inform and persuade.
Thesis statement: There are several negative effects drugs have on our communities, such as health problems, drug-related crime, and poor relationships with others.
Introduction
When an individual has a problem associated with drugs, then they have a disease that has the potential of hurting their families. There are individual who are addicted to drugs but never believe that they are either out of control or even sick. Consequently, they do not seek treatment.They neither see the problems they cause those around them nor themselves. Moreover, there are other who are aware of the problem but lack the know how to ask for help because they may be confused and upset.
Background Information
There has been a significant increase in the use of the illicit drug in the US. Stich (30) reports and illuminates that approximately twenty-five million American in 2013 above the age of twelve older, a well as, 9.4% of the population has been involved in the use of illicit drugs. The number is an increase from the survey that was conducted in 2002.
Among all the prohibited substances, marijuana use has been on the rise. The rise is associated with a recent history which has been characterized by slanderous claims concerning the substance. In fact, truths and facts have surfaced, and they have been heavily criticized because of stereotypical views and perception of individuals including the smokers. The information in the American public about marijuana has been relatively skewed because of years of misinformation and propaganda that private interests for personal gains. However, there are several negative effects drugs have on our communities, such as health problems, drug-related crime, and poor relationships with others.
General health Problems and symptoms associated with drug use
There are numerous sign and symptoms that individuals can exhibit they illuminate the signs and symptoms of drug use. The addiction risk including how fast an individual become dependant on these drugs vary from one substance to the other. Experimental use of these drugs especially in social settings accounts to mot case of how individuals begin their journey to the world of drugs. Stich (35) highlights the numerous symptom of drug addiction. For an instant, the regular feeling of having to use drugs either on a daily basis or many times a day is an indication of addiction. The intense urge often determines the frequency with which addicts indulge in substance abuse. However, with time these individuals usually need more of the substances to have the same effect. The other behavior of the addicts is to ensure that supply of the drugs is maintained and at times they tend to spend on them despite their inability to afford. They focus most of their energy and time either using the illicit substances or getting them. Additionally, they often neither meet work responsibilities nor obligations nor at the time cut themselves from recreational or social activities. Furthermore, it is common for the addicts engage in activities such as stealing with the aim of getting the drugs. Besides, when they are under the influence of the drugs, they tend to do other risky activities such driving. The final symptoms are associated with the failing attempts to put a stop to the practice. In fact, they often exhibit experimental withdrawal symptoms (MAYO CLINIC Para 3).
To recognize that a family member uses drugs always look at the indicators such as problems at work or school, issues associated with physical health such as lack of motivation and energy, neglected appearance about grooming, behavioral changes and how they spend money. The users of cannabis containing substances usually have some sense of feeling high or euphoria, red eyes, decreased coordination, increased heart rate, and blood pressure, slowed time for reaction, and paranoid thinking (MAYO CLINIC Para 3)
The use of benzodiazepine and barbiturates, on the other hand, has symptoms such as drowsiness, depression, memory problems, slurred speech, and concentration problems among others (MAYO CLINIC Para 4).
Drug effects on the brain: Drug Abuse Hurts Brains
The use of all drugs often affects or hurts the brains. It explains why they make people feel low, high or slow them besides making them see things that do not exist. Some of these substances can hurt the brain of the users and affect not only how the body feels but also how they act. They are the problems that sometimes last for rest of the lives of the users or affect them just for a little while (NIH Para 3).
Some of the substances make the moods of person to change quickly. They may get angry, feel sad, or feel scared for no apparent reasons. There are cases where the addicts may overreact to the problem perceived to be little. Besides, they make individuals act crazily. Sometimes the users may hear or see the things that are not there. Moreover, they might have the feeling that other want to hurt them and as a result, they may be violent. According to……, some of these drugs make it quite difficult for an individual to pay attention, think clearly or even remember things. They hurt the ability of a person to enjoy things. For an instant, when one becomes an addict those things or activities that would make them feel happy such as watching a movie and visiting friends may no longer make them happy (NIH Para 5).
Most individuals with drug problems usually have related mental problems such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and antisocial personality disorder. The problem of drugs can worsen the mental health issue just as the mental health problem having the potential of worsening drug problem. Individuals with both problems require treatment for both for them to become better (NIH Para 5).
Blood transmitted diseases of drug use
According to CDC (2016), the use of injection drug is a channel known for the transmission of blood-borne infection such as hepatitis B and C and HIV. Moreover, the use of prohibited drugs is related to the increased rates of STDs and TB.
The research from CDC (2015) illuminates that approximately 7% of the new diagnosis of HIV in 2012 were from injection during drug use. The diseases highlighted above can easily spread when the drug addicts share drug equipment and needles. The blood that is infected may be drawn into a syringe, and then the next user of the syringe injects it along with the drug. There are also other ways of administering the drugs. However, there are more risks associated with injection. It is because it bypasses the natural filtering mechanisms of the body against bacteria and diseases. The addicts tend to prefer injection methods because they consider that its effect are quick (CDC Para 4).
Drug Related Crime
Spiess & Fallow (Para 4) explain that there are ways through which drugs are related to crime. The most direct ones are associated with the possession, use, distribution, and manufactured of heroin, cocaine, amphetamines, and marijuana which are classified or rather faceted as illegal. Their relation to crime also emanates from the effects they have on the behavior of the users such as the generation of violence, as well as, other illegal activities associated with drug trafficking. Spiess & Fallow (Para 5) add that offense related to drugs and the lifestyles of using drugs significantly contribute to the crime problem in the US. There are drug users who commit offenses to obtain money so as to fund their addiction habits which have led to some individuals to be incarcerated for robbery. Moreover, Spiess & Fallow (Para 6) assert that the number of individuals arrested while committing their offense under the influence of the drugs is quite a number in the prisons and correctional facilities.
Drug Addiction Treatment
According to NIH (Para 8), treatment provides the best alternative that can be employed in the disruption of the use of drugs or even the cycle for criminal offenders with substance abuse problem in the criminal justice. The correctional facilities such a jails should be places where individuals are capable of getting the help that they need hence the offenders have the leverage of asking for available treatment. When offenders who are addicted to using these substances are not treated, then their chances of relapsing into the use of the drug, as well as, criminal behavior are high. Besides, treatment can reduce cost related to crime, incarceration, and lost productivity as a result of drug use (NIH Par 9). In fact, there are several ways through which the treatment can be integrated into the setting of the criminal justice. These treatments are part of the conditions stipulated for probation, drug courts that marry judicial sanctions and monitoring with treatment. After the treatments have been offered in the prisons, after discharge, they should be followed by community-based treatment. Finally, treatment under probation or parole can also be effective.
Violence
Abadinsky (11) provides insight concerning robbery and organized crimes associated with drug abuse. They illuminate the cases of incarceration of individuals who are drug addicts getting involved in both organized crimes and armed robbery. The addicts are often driven by the need to have money that they can use to fund their addiction habits. In most cases, these persons are usually unproductive, and since they cannot fend for their needs especially buying the drugs to quench their urge, they usually turn to violent means through providing them with the leverage of obtaining drugs. Abadinsky (11) highlights that several cases where the offenses of individuals in prisons or jails are related to...