The Effects Of Drug Abuse On American Soil Essay - 1539 Words

In a day and age where there is no clear or apparent bad guy, the United States battles an elusive foe on our home soil. The current epidemic of drug abuse claims the lives of thousands of Americans without any discrimination or bias. The decades old â€Å"war on drugs† has done little to hinder the devastating carnage of widespread drug abuse decimating today’s youth. This affliction hits home for almost all of us to at least some extent. The enemy is known, we as a country however have yet to devise an accurate plan to defeat it. This paper delves into the current polysubstance dependence epidemic waging war on American soil. It elaborates and discusses the evolution of American drug consumption and the impact felt by American families. Furthermore, possible root causes and predisposing factors are considered. Conclusively, this paper touches on current avenues of treatment and intervention while suggesting alternative approaches to combatting this affliction. Introduction â€Å"Substance Dependence: A maladaptive pattern of substance abuse, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) America today is a modernized, dynamic entity indicative of a country in distress. Our economy is struggling with marginal signs of improvement. Our international relations reveal indications of turbulence and strain. The current healthcare system has proven to be not only inefficient, but harmful to those who contribute theShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Crack Cocaine Epidemic of the Mid 1980s1382 Words   |  6 Pageshistory of the United States which was excited by controversies, social issues, and drug abuse. The topic of this statement is fueled by the growing abuse of cocaine in the mid 1980s. I shall discuss the effects of the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid 1980s from a cultural and social stand point because on that decade this country moved to the rhythms and the pace of this uncanny drug. Cocaine took its told on American society by in the 1980s; it ravaged with every social group, race, class, etc. ItRead MoreThe War on Drugs1350 Words   |  6 Pagesstruggling 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. Also, scholars claim that the drug policy has had severe consequencesRead MoreEssay On Uphill Battle987 Words   |  4 Pagesmilitary threat, and an unstable environment, the United States is on the forefront of an uphill battle. Americans face so many issues; however, the most pressing of those issues are North Korean violence, dangerous environmental conditions, and th e rapidly increasing drug epidemic. With North Koreans greatly expanding military capabilities, environmental issues that threaten our natural habitat, and a drug epidemic causing harm to thousands of people each year the United States is faced with major issuesRead MoreSubstance Abuse1320 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom substance abuse, drugs and alcohol. â€Å"People abuse substances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. The toll for this abuse can be seen in our hospitals and emergency departments through direct damage to health by substance abuse and its link to physical trauma. Jails and prisons tally daily the strong connection between crime and drug dependence and abuse. Although use of some drugs such as cocaineRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1672 Words   |  7 Pagesmarijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others (ukcia.org, (n.d), para. 1). Since this time, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 has spawned more strict laws that have many unintended side effects. After many decades, effective federal propaganda has won public support for these laws. Only recently, U.S. citizens have started to question why marijuana is illegal. I feel that it would be beneficia l to discard these laws and beliefs of the pastRead MoreMarijuana Essay1535 Words   |  7 PagesAdministrative Law Judge Francis L. Young. Between 9 and 17 million Americans are occasional users of marijuana and about 3 million are daily users. As many as 40 million have tried the drug for many different reasons such as experimentation and peer pressure (Schleichert 40). Much of Americas youth is experimenting with the drug and between 1991 and 1994 the amount of eighth graders that used the drug increased two-fold. Marijuana effects each person based on many different factors including heredityRead MoreThe Ethics Of Legalization Of Marijuana1506 Words   |  7 PagesAccording to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, in 2010, the average prison sentence for inmates incarcerated for marijuana abuses is 36.8 months. With 757,969 individuals incarcerated for marijuana abuse, at $21,006 a pop, that is $15,921,896,814 to keep these individuals imprisoned for one year. At this rate, over the course of 36.8 months, $44,765,690,442 would have to be spent by the American taxpayer to feed, clothe, shelter, offer medical, dental and psychiatric care, maintain, transport, and educate theseRead More Legalize The Weed Essay1240 Words   |  5 Pages Tobacco and alcohol are both used, and abused for the same reasons, but with many more negative side effects than pot. quot;Governments surveys indicate more than 70 million Americans have smoked marijuana at some point in their lives, and that 18-20 million have smoked during the last yearquot; (Rose, 1). Marijuana has no solid negative effects, and quot;the U.S National Institute of Drug Abuses bureau of mortality statistics report that per year there are zero deaths caused by marijuana.Read MoreHow Can Sustainable Agriculture Be Better For Americans Vs. Industrial Agriculture?1481 Words   |  6 PagesLisandra de Oliveira Torres AP Seminar Ms. Glennie/ Mr. Fellowes 19 November 2015 How can sustainable agriculture be better for Americans compared to industrial agriculture? Sustainable agriculture is the idea to agriculture that prioritize in fabricating food in a manner that does not demean nature and does not threaten human or animal s health. Sustainable agriculture provides high quality produce without diminishing resources and natural systems that productivity rely on. A study by the UniversityRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuan Marijuana1743 Words   |  7 Pagesthe ban of marijuana, the economical impact prohibition has on America, the effects of cannabis use on the brain and the physical structure, marijuana for medical purpose, and how legalization of marijuana would have a positive influence on America. Although I defend the legalization of marijuana I do not endorse the legalization of other Schedule I drugs, FN1 therefore this paper is not about the legalization of all drugs. THE LONG HISTORY OF MARIJUANA: Cannabis, as most people