Drug Abuse During The United States Essay - 2112 Words

One of the fastest growing epidemics in the United States is prescription drug abuse as reported by the DEA (Partnership for Drug Free Kids, 2013). All ages are guilty of abuse of medications, however, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2016) reports young adults abuse these prescription drugs at the highest rates compared to all other age groups. The NIDA reports misuse and abuse is highest among opioid pain relievers, ADHD stimulants, and anti-anxiety drugs (NIDA, 2016). The use of these prescription drugs to treat a variety of physical and mental health issues is quickly becoming a top conservative treatment option. While pharmaceutical companies make extreme amounts of profit off of these physical and mental issues, young adults are increasingly taking on the consequences of addiction and overdose. Important interventions must be taken to prevent such abuse, interventions that effectively address the risk factors for the abuse of prescription drugs. An important risk factor is that these medications are easily obtainable. â€Å"The reason for this fast-growing drug problem and serious public health concern is that prescription medications have become more widely available and easier to obtain; it is an issue of concern worldwide, for the United States and many other countries, including Israel† (Isralowitz, 2012, p.446). Other risk factors include free or low cost of these drugs when obtained from family or friends, over commercialized medications, social pressure,Show MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay On Abortion924 Words   |  4 Pages Substance abuse with pregnant women is a situation that is being ignored in the United States. There are many pregnant woman in the United States who are abusing illegal substances without any prosecution. Allowing these women to do so ca uses major defects on the babies and the mothers get no serious punishment for their actions. This issue is similar to the argument on whether abortion should be legal or not, because both situations can kill the baby while it’s still in the womb. Women who useRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse And Prescription Drugs Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesMost people are familiar with prescription medications; almost everyone has taken them at one point or another during their lifetime. Not all prescription drugs are addicting, but a large number of them are. Prescription drug abuse is a disease that has become a major problem in the United States, which affects over six-million Americans. Prescription drug abuse not only affects the individual, but can additionally have far-reaching consequences that affect family, personal health, employmentRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Its Effects On The United States1050 Words   |  5 Pagesthen later on in around 4000 B.C. narcotics were used , but during the 19th century is when the active substances in drugs were found. Many of these substances were given over the counter and weren t regulated, which meant that people could easily obtain substances such as morphine, cocaine, landuam, and many others. During the early 1900s, an estimate of about 250,000 people were abusing a substance within the United States. Substance abuse is a serious problem which can affect one s physical andRead MoreThe War on Drugs1350 Words   |  6 Pages For several years the United States of America has been struggling with the problem of drug addiction of its citizens. This has led the federal government to take measures to restrain the problem of addiction in the United States. However, after observing these measures, such as the ‘War on Drugs’ and its consequences, scholars now question the effectiveness of the drug policy implemented. Some scholars even argue that the War on Drugs has been more harmful to American citizens than helpful. AlsoRead MoreSubstance Abuse Is A Brain Disease766 Words   |  4 PagesFindings Substance Abuse is a brain disease While the choice to use alcohol and drugs is initially voluntary, alcohol and/or drug addiction arises because the normal functioning of the brain is impaired so that alcoholism and drug addiction become a â€Å"chronic relapsing disease of the brain† (National Institute of Drug Abuse, Drugs, Brains and Behavior. The Science of Addiction. 2014, 5). Drugs impact the pathways of the brain by flooding the circuit with dopamine, which disturbs and distorts normalRead MoreDrug Abuse Prevention And Control888 Words   |  4 PagesOn Thursday June 17, 1971, United States President Richard Nixon gave a press conference to publicize the publication of the special message that was given to Congress on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control. During this he declared drug abuse public enemy number one (Nixon, 1971). In the message to Congress Nixon states that the United States should dedicate more federal resources to â€Å"the prevention of new addicts, and the rehabilitation of those who are addicted† (Nixon, 1971). This part didRead MoreLegalization Of Prostitution : The United States From The Beginning Of English Settlements1542 Words   |  7 PagesProstitution has underlyingly lingered in the history of the United States from the beginning of English settlements. In the industrial times, five percent of the population of women working were prostitutes. During the migration to the West, prostitutes were the majority- if not the only women in boom towns. Not until 1875, were there any laws officially banning prostitution. The Page law was created when Chinese immigrant women become prostitutes or second wives to European men. The law bannedRead MoreThe Legalization Of Illegal Drugs1262 Words   |  6 PagesBefore President Richard Nixon declared drug abuse as America’s number one public enemy in 1971, the United States already had a long history of combating the use of illegal drugs. The first of its kind was the legislation that passed in San Fra ncisco in 1875. This newly passed legislation banned the smoking of opium. However, this legislation seemed to be racially motivated. San Francisco citizens believed that Chinese men who resided in the community, and who were highly regarded as opium smokersRead MoreCauses and Effects of the Controlled Substances Act of 19701653 Words   |  7 PagesIn 1970 the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) was put into place by the Congress of the United States Government. This Act, Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, is the federal U.S. drug policy which regulates the possession, use, manufacturing and importation of certain controlled substances. The substances controlled under this act fall under various classifications. These classifications are known as schedules. The legislation created 5 schedules with differentRead MoreAnti Drug Use And Abuse1413 Words   |  6 Pagestwentieth century was filled with illegal drug use and abuse among people from all w alks of life including the rich and famous to the humble housewife and everyone in between. The type of drugs that were popular changed during the century and in return the views on them from society changed with them. Legislation had to continually be updated in order to keep up with the times as well. In the 1952 Dwight Eisenhower was elected President of the United States and his administration started to really