The Problem Of Substance Abuse Essay - 779 Words

The biggest social problem in my community that has the biggest impact on the future of the children, in my opinion, would have to be the incredible amount of substance abuse that occurs in a town with a population of only (approx.) 1,400 people. I say this because this problem isn’t something that only a couple of the citizens suffer from and it doesn’t just happen behind closed doors. A surprising amount of people in this community are openly addicted to one drug or another and that is not including the possible others who are extremely good at hiding it. It is pretty easy to spot the ones who don’t mind letting others know that they are intoxicated, even in public, as they walk around with dazed expressions, slurred speech, impaired motor functions and are sometimes hostile for no reason. They are the ones who you see randomly roaming around the local grocery store, gas station or restaurant in plain sight of (sometimes) their own children and any other family that happens to be near them. I consider this to be the biggest social problem because I firmly believe it is causing an exponential amount of harm to the children of the community. The things these individuals abuse are not as â€Å"harmless† as marijuana but are more dangerous drugs, namely prescription pills and/or methamphetamine and some kids are having to witness the wrath of these substances in one form or another every day. I’ve always been told a child’s mind is like a sponge, they will absorb everything theyShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Substance Abuse1379 Words   |  6 Pagesdo anything to satisfy their personal need(Whelan et al., 2013). In this paper I will be focusing on a 26 year old women named Aimee Parry and her addiction to fentanyl. According to Larm et. al, (2015) substance abuse is defined as an overindulgence in or dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or drugs. I will be applying the following three theories of dru g use to this intervention case, the Gateway, Biogenetic theory, and Merton s strain theory. Firstly, the Gateway theoryRead MoreThe Problem Of Substance Abuse942 Words   |  4 Pagesdetermine potential disorders that may be the root to a problem. Though at times a client may seek counseling with a known substance abuse issue there are more cases where a client is oblivious to the potential contribution that substance abuse has on the problem that help is sought for. Understood that substance dependency is nondiscriminatory to age, gender, race or creed, a therapist approaches the matter with the client knowing that a problem is recognized and there is a hope for a solution beingRead MoreThe Problem With Substance Abuse1482 Words   |  6 Pagesworking publically to support specific causes, address problems, actively participating in politics and lobbying for a cause/ belief. Vocally working to support individual patients needs or rights, and working to educate the public regarding the cause. Nurses should be observant of patient’s behaviors and sensitive to pat ient’s communication cues. (Felicilda-Reynaldo, 2015) Substance abuse patients most often deny or downplay that they have a problem. The patient has to be honest with themselves and theyRead MoreThe Problem Of Substance Abuse2107 Words   |  9 Pages Substance abuse is a contributing factor and very often a result of homelessness. Homeless youth are at greater risk for addiction and addicted youth are at greater risk of being homeless. According to a study by Peterson et.al. (2006). Homelessness and addiction have many correlations. The financial, social, physical, and psychological effects are profound. Financially, it is very difficult to support a household and a habit. Many homeless people choose to spend what meager funds they acquire onRead MoreSubstance Abuse Is Not A New Problem894 Words   |  4 PagesSubstance Abuse Drug abuse is not a new problem, it has been happening for the longest time, abusing drugs has always been an interesting topic to me because I have never been able to grasp the concept of why addicts start or continue when it is clearly obvious that it has negative effects on the human body. It is a popular conception of common sense, but is false. Drug abusers sometimes are not educated enough to know the damages or the addict truly believes they are not addicted. This topic sparksRead MoreThe Problem Of Substance Abuse And Addiction752 Words   |  4 Pagescocaine was used medicinally as an analgesic and Freud himself was also researching other uses for this substance until he learned its addictive qualities. Even after he stopped promoting cocaine publically and considered this simply a chapter in his life, his usage did not stop entirely as he continued to use for various expressed reasons. Even in the background of this very subject substance abuse and addiction can be seen wh ether through research for the greater good that went bad or just addictionRead MoreThe Problem Of Elderly Substance Abuse1490 Words   |  6 PagesPeople are often surprised to learn that elderly people abuse drugs and alcohol at extremely high rates. In fact, elderly substance abuse has become something of an unknown epidemic in the country, impacting an ever-increasing number of people. Sadly, this problem is often ignored or misunderstood and elderly people with addictions rarely get the help they need. Hopefully this problem changes for the good before it changes for the bad. Until then, it s worth knowing more about it, including theRead MoreSubstance Abuse : A Social Problem1608 Words   |  7 Pagessocial problems, some common issues that come up relate to the environment, discrimination, poverty, healthcare, and more. While these issues are important and must be addressed, we must also take substance abuse into consideration because it is all too often neglected. According to the World Health Organization, substance abuse â€Å"refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs† (Substance). Individuals who become victims of substance abuse becomeRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Mental Health Problems877 Words   |  4 PagesFINAL PROJECT 2 Introduction Substance abuse and mental health problems are serious issues in our society. These problems appear to be associated, so it is necessary to look at both and how they interact (Ramchand). Substance abuse can bring about or exacerbate existing mental health problems, including suicidal ideation and attempts. Medical professionals cannot begin to resolve the issue of substance abuse related suicidal ideation or attempts unless they have an effective solutionRead MoreProblems With Sexual Health And Substance Abuse1452 Words   |  6 PagesProblems with sexual health and substance abuse are prevalent in the New York City area. ). â€Å"Reproductive and sexual health covers a broad range of health needs from adolescence forward, including the reproductive system, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and fertility. Untreated STDs can lead to serious long-term health consequences† (Healthy people 2020, 2015. An estimated 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs ) are diagnosed each year in the United States; almost half of