What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Drugs? Essay Introduction
A drug is a substance containing a chemical with the ability to change the normal biological processes and functions. It is used in medicine to correct or cure diseases and socially as a psychological stimulant to enhance pleasure. Drug addiction is a tendency of utilizing one or more psychologically active substances that are liable to enhance a mental or physical (and at times both) dependency. This phenomenon is characterized by repeated and uncontrolled use of addictive drugs. The most commonly used addictive drugs in the world include cannabis, heroin, meth, alcohol, and cigarettes among others.
The historical evolution of drug addiction is important. It helps to seek to establish appropriate redress to mitigate the underlying misconception and myths that demonize drug addiction.
Factors that cause drug addiction are equally significant and therefore should be understood. This study also seeks to examine the advantages and disadvantages of drug addiction and thereafter establish a solid convincing position about drug addiction.
Disadvantages and Advantages of Drug Addiction: Essay Main Body
Drug addiction casualties may experience tolerance or withdrawal symptoms when they cease utilizing the substance. Tolerance symptoms refer to a situation developed after attaining a specific amount of addictive substance over some time to satisfy the desired effect. While withdrawal is another part of addiction symptoms that is reflected by unpleasant physical reactions as a result of decreased or termination of the use of drugs. Withdrawal effects range from nausea, muscle aches, fever, concentration problems, insomnia, anxiety, and unpleasant dreams among others. (Drug Rehab 2002)
The utilization of addictive drugs is dated back from time immemorial. Man used to have the desire, still have the desire, and will continue to have a desire to drink or eat substances that make them stimulated, relaxed, and euphoric. The use of wine can be associated with the early Egyptians, while the origin of narcotic use is believed to be as early as 4000 BC. In 2327 BC in China Marijuana was used for medical purposes, as time advanced the use of drugs diversified. The means of consumption during the olden days were through eating, drinking, rubbing on the skin, or inhalation to achieve the desired result. These means of consumption are still used to date with new methods of consumption such as injection being introduced.
Several early discoveries of drug-bearing plants by South American Indians were a boost in the use of addictive substances. Some of the discoveries contained alkaloids of worldwide importance. This has become a modern drug. It included cocaine and quinine. Cocaine is believed to have a higher potential for addiction.
The cocaine addict, therefore, increased rapidly during this time. Between 1856-1939, it is documented that an Austrian psychoanalyst – Sigmund Freud – treated many deeply disturbed cocaine addicts (Drug Rahad 2002) Thereafter, pharmacologists like Carl Koller, paid tribute to the fact and crowned it by introducing cocaine as a local anesthetic into surgical procedures.
In the 19th century, particularly during the American Civil war, the use of substances such as morphine, laudanum, cocaine was not regulated or controlled. They were widely prescribed by physicians for numerous kinds of ailments.
The drugs were sold as a patent medicine.
These types of drugs were commonly used in the United States of America. In Asian Continent, recreational drugs such as opium were widely consumed. During this period there was a noticeable spread of drug consumption in the west. It is reported that by the early 19th century; there were 250,000 drug addicts in the United States of America (Drug Rehab 2002)
The utilization of drugs has faced some challenges. Culturally the use of drugs such as marijuana was no widely accepted. However, drugs like alcohol were widely used during the cultural celebration. This is evident, particularly in the African continent.
Caffeine is also widely accepted by many communities. Even though marijuana is termed illegal by many cultures, it has continued to sail in historical popularity.
The use of drugs has faced the strong arm of the law. In 1875, there was an increased abuse of drugs in the United States of America. To address this problem, legal measures were institutionalized to ensure control of the use of addictive drugs. This led to outlawing the use of opium particularly in San Francisco. The first law on drugs was the pure food and Drug Act of 1906. This law required companies to appropriately label the patent medicines containing opium and other drugs. Formulation of drug-related regulation continued. In 1914, Harrison Narcotic Act was formulated. This restricted the sale of substances such as opiates or cocaine to licensed practitioners only. This was followed by a total ban on heroin (Drug Rehab 2002)
The development of these regulations has adversely affected the historical advancement of the utilization of addictive drugs. It has continued to suffer major blows especially in the corridors of justice.
Judges in supreme courts have subsequently outlawed any prescription of any narcotic to addicts. To make the matters worse, many doctors who violated the Supreme Court decision were jailed. By the 1920s, the use of narcotics and cocaine declined drastically.
Other than culture and government regulation, religion has also hindered the development and spread of the addictive drug. Many faith-based organizations term the use of drugs particularly those taken for pleasure like marijuana as a sin. Man is highly affiliated with a religion. He always desires and aspires to be righteous before God.
The confession against drug abuse in church condemns many. Others have opted to withdraw their commitment to the church since they find it difficult to cease using addictive drugs. For example, Christian perceives drug addicts as morally irresponsible and thus a disgrace to God. They are therefore unacceptable in the house of God.
These religious actions that demonize the use of drugs hinder its wide consumption.
Drug addiction is attributed to many factors. Even though culture condemns the use of certain types of drugs, it is widely believed that it has influenced its members to use drugs. All over the world, culture sets an environment that leads to use adoption of behavioral attitudes. For instance, the use of alcohol is embedded in most cultures.
Culture is authoritative it, therefore, dictates the prevailing attitude in the community. For example, “American culture in general views ethanol-containing beverages as sexy, mature, sophisticated, facilitating socializing and enhancing status” (Hanson, Venturi & Annette 2005, p, 228). In Italy and France, alcohol is viewed as a virtual component during celebrations. Thus alcohol drinking occurs frequently while eating with members of a family.
Culture is categorical in promoting the use of certain drugs. It sets regulation that governs drinking and also provides meaning for use of addictive drugs within the community. These aspects that culture serves promote the use of such addictive drugs. For instance, the traditional culture of Italian and Jews accepts moderate drinking in the family during meals. Thus Italian use wine as food, while the Jew uses a ritual attachment on the use of alcohol.
In Scandinavian, Nations are considerably separated from work. Culture continues to permit the drinking lifestyle by providing meaning to drinking.
“The first notable work on ceremonial use and ethnic drinking practices was undertaken by Bales in 1946 who attempted to explain the different rates of drinking between Jews (low) and Irish (high) in terms of symbolic and ceremonial meanings. For Jews, drinking had familiar and sacramental significance, whereas for the Irish it represented male convivial bonding. “(Hanson, Venturi & Annette 2005) Currently, the Irish, have continued with the culture of heavy drinking to live and continue their stereotype of heavy drinking culture.
All over the world, many people believe that drug is management support over life’s serious emotional, medical and physical problems. Medications are critical to the treatment of diseases.
However, excessive use of such drugs is dangerous. For example, drug addiction originates from such unrealistic expectations. It is not always addicting. Also, it is not a guarantee that an individual who follows a doctor’s prescription to the letter, will always avoid being addicted to drugs. Apart from medicinal drugs other forms of drugs are meant to serve social and psychological reasons or Euphoria.
People, therefore, continue to utilize drugs for a search of pleasure and maintain of good feeling: relieve stress and anxiety; helps individual to forget the problems and avoid or postpone worries; for relation; fulfill religious or mystical occurrences and to relieve pain and some symptoms of illness (Hanson, Venturi & Annette 2005 p, 37)
Peer influence is a major cause of drug addiction, particularly among the youths.
Many persons have turned to drugs since they want to fit within the social identity of their peers. It is believed that peer pressure is always powerful during the early age of adolescence and the late stage.
Consequently, these individuals do perceive taking drugs as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood.
Alcohol use and other drug consumption levels among students are on the rise. It is estimated that college students drink approximately 4 billion cans of beer annually. (Hanson, Venturi & Annette 2005)
Drug addiction is linked to the demand of the brain. Human addiction constitutes of substances such as the neurotransmitter dopamine whose levels increase rapidly with continuous intake of nicotine. This results in a pleasurable sensational feeling experienced by many smokers thus keeping their desire for more tobacco. High Nicotine pharmacokinetic properties also enhance the potential of addiction.
Tobacco utilization produces a rapid distribution of nicotine to the brain with drug levels peaking within 10 seconds of inhalation. However, the acute effect of nicotine dissipates in few minutes as do the associated feeling reward which causes the pleasant, pleasurable effect and prevents withdrawal. Other tobacco ingredients apart from nicotine react with monoamine oxidize (MAO) enzyme responsible for the breakdown of dopamine. A low level of MAO in the body may lead to an increased level of dopamine, thus increasing smoking desire. Recently, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has shown that acetaldehyde – tobacco production – reinforces nicotine properties, particularly to adolescent age structures thereby increasing the desire for more.
Effects of drug addiction are diverse. Many people in the world suffer due to the dangers of smoking by being passive or active smokers. Cigarette smoking has massive effects on the life of pregnant women. It has been reported that many mothers have lost their pregnancies as a result of smoking. Smokers experience health complications. Tobacco contains carcinogen which damages important genes that control the growth of cells thus causing abnormal growth. Carbon monoxide in drugs particularly cigarettes combines with hemoglobin in red blood cells. This adversely affects the oxygen circulation in the body and may result in suffocation.
Global warming is also attributed to the increased use of tobacco in the world.
The human body is vulnerable to the detritus effects of drug addiction. Heavy consumption of drugs alters the functional processes of the body. This is because drugs contain chemical compositions that are harmful to the harmonious functioning of the body organs. For example, alcohol alters the health normative through the following mechanisms: effect of alcohol oxidation on intermediary metabolism; effects mediated by toxic breakdown products such as acetaldehydes; effects due to coexistent malnutrition; and that are secondary consequences of alcohol-induced organ injury per se (Ammerman et al 1999) this health problem ranges from liver complication, pancreas effects, heart problems gastrointestinal effects and respiratory complication among others.
The world’s population survival is being threatened by the wide impact of drug abuse.
Drub abuse has claimed a greater number of individuals through deaths and physical deformities. It is approximated that during the coming decades about 60 million premature deaths will have been caused by smoking.
According to Peto et al 1994, “The worldwide annual mortality attributed to smoking alone will increase from 2 million a year to 10 million a year by 2010. “ (Ammerman et all 1999)
The use of drugs affects young children within a household. Children in most instances look to their parents as the best role model. They will always desire and aspire to be a duplicate of their parents. The young generation, therefore, does inherit the habit of drug utilization from their parent at a very tender age. Having developed this culture from their childhood, withdrawing at a later date is never easy. “The positive modeling of drugs and active encouragement of siblings to initiate drug use is part of the dynamic that leads other siblings into using drugs.” (Bernard, 2006, p, 135) These children who are addicted to drugs early always behave violently and very aggressively.
Other than child abuse, addiction to drugs affects individual mental functioning.
The person cannot, therefore, make rational decisions concerning their life. This has encouraged a promiscuous lifestyle and victims have ended up contracting deadly diseases such as HIV/Aids. Others have failed to undertake their family responsibility. Consequently, their families have continued to sleep with an empty stomach, poor clothing and health condition and worse their children dropping out of school.
These impacts are disheartened.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Drugs: Essay Conclusion
Drug addiction is not necessarily bad as its effects reflect. The problem is that many people have taken to irresponsible and immoral approaches to drinking and therefore have continued to cause havoc to the moral principles of drinking. The result they are after is fun and joy. However, we do appreciate that drug addiction affects human health.
The individual should therefore cease excessive drinking. They should therefore adopt responsible means of drinking for us to maximize the potential benefit such as pleasure that comes from the use of drugs. The government thus has a role to promote healthy means of utilizing addictive drugs.
Reference
Ammerman, Robert T. Ammerman, Pegy J, & Ott Ralph B. Tarter (1999) Prevention and social impact of Drug and alcohol Rotledge.
Bernard Marina (2006) Drug Addiction and families: The impact of drugs. Jessica Kingsley.
Cigarette Addiction. Web.
Drug addiction Definition: Web.
Glen R. Hanson, Peter J. Ventruri, Annette (2005), Drug and Society. Jones & Bartlett. Web.