Drug Abuse And Reprocussions Thereof Essay Research

Drug Abuse And Reprocussions Thereof Essay, Research Paper

Facing everyday problemsin these recent years many people turn to drugs as an escape from the existance they hold. Drug use has rapidly increased in the last twenty years and has become a national crises. More people are experementing with different drugs at a younger age. Due to the rapid increase in drug abuse our government has looked to rehab as an alternative to jail.

When a person thinks of a drug abuser one usually pictures a person that looks like thay had just jumped out of a garbage bin. What most people do not realize is that most drug offenders are the people one spends a lot of time with. Everyday humans are abusing drugs without anyone recognizing their illness (Phillips 22). Many symptoms of drug abuse are easily recognisable. Weight loss or malnutrition are the most common, resulting when the drug abuser uses their money to pay for drugs rather than food. Exhaustion is associated with the end f a recent drug binge. Fever is caused when a stimulant or a hallucinogen increases the drug users metabolic rate. A skin flush usually accompanys the fever. Gooseflesh and sweating are associated with withdrawl and rashes, dilated pupils, and a runny nose are usually correlate with any drug use (Cohen 308-309). Along with these symptoms come the various different reprocussions affiliating themselves with each different drug taken. These results range from headaches to death. With all the possible side effects one may wonder why people think drugs are worth all the trouble they are.

Most people start out doing drugs to feel good or to fit in. Early users had easy access to medicine that made them physically dependent on that drug and others used drugs as an only escape from a hopeless existance (Compton.s 275). Teenagers experiment with drugs to find out about the world thay live in for themselves, to prove their self worth, and to experience as much as possible. They want to try something daring to prove their oun fearlessness, to have fun, act older, or to be accepted (Phillips 22). In the 1950.smore people af all classes and occupations began to use mood changing drugs both legally and illegally (Compton.s 275). These drugs were used to induce sleep and relaxation. Other drugs gave the user a feeling on exileration. Whether the drug was used to help the user sleep or the get the person high, they all effect the person.s nervous system and cause an emotional change (275). People experimented with different drugs to gain the good, well-centered feeling that is associted with getting high. The problem presented with this effect is that when the drug wears off the person is left with the same problems concerning their life as when they took the drug. This causes many users to take more of the drug to further escape the harsh reality of thier life. This taking and wearing off of the drug creates in the person a psychological dependancy to the drug which causes that person to want to do anything in their ability to get the drug and make that drug a part of their life (275).

The most common drugs experimented with at the young ages of eight to fifteen are tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. These drugs are commonly called the gateway drugs and are considered the easiest to obtain. Most young people get started taking drugs with older friends who offered the drugs to them. With their desperete attempt to fit in these adolescent teenagers will take the drug without giving any thought to the effects on the body. Drug abuse has a great impact on the growth rate of an young human being. Because the body and mind of a young person has not reached full maturity, taking drugs will inhibit the natural growth of both. The younger the person the easier it is for them to become addicted. Drug use also stops all mental growth until the drugs are stopped (Phillips 9-11). The body of a young person also builds a tolerence to drugs faster and needs more of the drug to satisfy the cravings more often (Phillips 9). Many drugs are available on today.s drug market that entice teens and young adults to use and escape from reality.

Some commonly abused drugs are: narcotics, barbiturates, stimulants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steriods (Compton.s 276-277). Narcotics are usually used in pain killers but, as in most cases, can be turned into heroin. With the use of this drug pain free people will experience lightheadedness and nausea. Other people will have the impression that all their worries are far away. These fanticies are usually followed by a stupor and then by a sever depression. Heroin is especially dangerous because, unlike other narcotics that are used for medicinal purposes, it is not subject to quality controls. The treatment of a person addicted to narcotics is rehabilitation that includes the use of a synthetic narcotic drug methadone. Though this drug is highly addictive if taken under supervision it will prevent the withdrawal syndrome caused from trying to quit a drug (Compton.s 276).

Barbiturates, commonly called .downers. are medicinally prescribed for insomnia and tension. These drugs loosen muscles and relax the mind. Though having a highly respectable medicinal use if these drugs are abused they will lead to sever depression. In this depression is is easy for the user to forget how much he or she has already taken of the drug therefore making the possibility of an overdose high. Th