Drug addiction is a psychological and physical disorder that affects the brain of an individual. It is caused by dependence on drugs, alcohol, and specific behaviors. Addiction alters the brain of the person from liking something to wanting it. After developing addiction, the victim continues with the compulsive behavior regardless of whether they risk their lives or not. Despite the awareness of addiction’s impacts on their lives, they find it challenging to stop independently (Islam and Hossain 145). This essay discusses alcohol and drug addiction, focusing on how people become drug addicts or alcoholics and the consequences of this public health problem for the individual, their family, and society. This paper argues that alcohol and drug addiction are caused by an individual, family, and environmental factors. It can lead to serious physical, social, and mental health problems and economic strain on individuals and society.
Several individual-specific factors may cause a person to become addicted to alcohol or drugs. Research shows that individual factors such as genetics, chronic pain, and medical conditions like bipolar, anxiety, and depression significantly influence the risk of addiction (Islam and Hossain 144). Therefore, in some people, biological factors and mental health problems may be the underlying reasons for using and getting addicted to illicit substances.
Furthermore, environmental factors such as peer pressure may play a significant role in building an addiction. The kind of friends a person interacts with may influence them to start experimenting with recreational drugs, which leads to craving. The risk of dependence becomes real when peers encourage such behaviors or are incentivized by being praised or respected. Social groups may shape how a person thinks, behaves, or perceives reality (Sattler et al. 418). In some scenarios, the public stigma associated with such groups may discourage those who try to change their addictive behaviors (Sattler et al. 412). To avoid this, addicts will have to change their social environment and interact with other sober people who will help them recover from the addictive behavior.
Another reason why people get addicted to drugs is living in a dysfunctional family. Islam and Hossain explain that people raised by parents who use drugs are at a higher risk of engaging in the same act (143). Family members may pass these behaviors to their children because they act as the primary socialization agents. Moreover, poverty, exposure to domestic violence, and lack of proper guidance from parents can significantly impact the occurrence of substance abuse and addiction. For example, children raised by parents who drink excessively are likely to start taking alcohol at a tender age.
Alcohol and drug addiction can cause severe consequences for the victims, their families, and society at large. This problem destroys family relationships affecting the strong bond between parents and their children (Bachi et al. 37). The mutual satisfaction between couples is affected by heavy drinking. Children raised in such families may struggle to get basic needs such as education, food, and shelter as their parents have less time to look after them. Family members of the victims suffer from anxiety and depression. In addition to this, domestic violence and abuse are widespread in families with a history of alcoholism and substance abuse. Some spouses and children are exposed to physical and mental abuse (Sattler et al. 424). Moreover, addiction can lead to financial strain because some addicts spend the money meant for paying food, bills, and other essential services on liquor and drugs.
Moreover, addiction may cause health problems such as cardiovascular, kidney, and liver diseases leading to loss of life. Drug and alcohol abuse enhances the risk of getting infected with HIV/AIDs because of a higher tendency to engage in unsafe sexual behaviors (Deren et al. 94). For pregnant women, drug abuse during pregnancy can affect the fetus and the child’s development. Addiction and alcoholism contribute to violence and criminal activities such as theft and robbery to buy drugs. Furthermore, addiction may lead to absenteeism, accidents in jobs, job dissatisfaction, and even dismissal. Substance abuse deteriorates mental and physical health and well-being.
Lastly, addicts have a significant impact on society. First and foremost, one of the consequences of addiction to society is the loss of family. Individuals with addictive habits lose their loved ones because of their behavior. In most cases, they are subjected to domestic violence, abuse, and financial struggles. During this period, children may be separated from their homes and placed under state custody, which is very expensive for the community (Islam and Hossain 149). Addicted parents prioritize looking for illicit drugs for themselves before looking for the child’s welfare.
In conclusion, the actual cause of substance abuse remains unknown as researchers and practitioners have documented numerous potential risk factors. It is still unclear why some people can abuse substances and quit easily while others become slaves to drugs despite unbearable consequences. Nevertheless, research shows that individual, family, and community factors have a role in addiction development. If left unaddressed, addiction problems can have devastating consequences on the addicts, their families, and society.
Works Cited
Deren, Sherry, et al. “Substance use among older people living with HIV: Challenges for health care providers.” Frontiers in public health, vol. 7, 2019, pp. 94. Frontiers in Public Health, Web.
Islam, Azizul, and Md Faruque Hossain. “Drug abuse and its impact on Bangladesh.” International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, vol. 9, no. 11, 2017, pp. 143-156. ResearchGate, Web.
Sattler, Sebastian, et al. “Public stigma toward people with drug addiction: A factorial survey.” Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, vol. 78, no. 3, 2017, pp. 415-425. Rutgers, Web.