Community Service Personal Reflection: Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is a widespread, uncontrolled problem in the United States. Drugs can be misused in a variety of ways by individuals from all over. In fact, the situation is simply detrimental in many countries, as citizens die from drug abuse every day. Drug addiction has always been an issue which expands extensively, but the worst of it appears throughout our society today. Every community has their own problems, though some worse than others.
In the community where I live, the biggest difficulty I have noticed is in indeed drug abuse. The small community where I am from is considered one of the worst counties in Indiana to live in, because drug addiction is so atrocious. Although there is no single cause of drug addiction, I believe it stems from the result of poor social conditions, environmental factors, genetics, psychological components, mental illness, unemployment, poverty, etc. If an individual is raised in an environment where parents, siblings, or other family members use drugs, they comprehend that kind of behavior as acceptable. Those who have grown up without the feeling of affection and security may also become more likely to develop addiction. Frequently, traumatic mishaps during someone’s childhood, such as physical or sexual assault, also play a major part in addiction. Individuals who have developed a mental illness also have a high risk of obtaining an addiction. Through their eyes, that individual utilizing the drugs may feel as if the drug is giving them alleviation. Hereditary qualities also impact whether somebody winds up dependent on drugs or not. When they begin utilizing drugs, the speed at which an addiction begins could be impacted by genetic traits. Additionally, these acquired characteristics decide how gradually or rapidly someone builds up an addiction.
In my opinion, the community as a whole can be affected by an individuals decision to use drugs. Violent crimes are related with drug utilization, and it is typical for someone to manipulate drugs and/or alcohol before conducting a crime. In addition, drug use in the work environment can also cause issues that have an extreme impact. Several consequences include loss of productivity, theft, low job performance, frequent tardiness and/or absence, an increase in conflicts, difficulty performing duties, etc. Although the community can be impacted in such a major way, I think the user himself is the most affected.
Drug abuse can affect a person financially, ruin relationships, family, school or work, your physical health, and your emotional and mental health. Because users spend so much money on drugs, addicts often find themselves struggling financially. Not only that, but if caught illegally they will also be spending money on court fees and/or any fines they may receive. Family and friend relationships could also be affected, because they may lose trust in the user, or just try to avoid them entirely. In addition, the users recreation and leisure time can also be impacted, because it is easy for them to lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, and spend more time with their addiction. This also interferes with or restrains an individual from accomplishing his/her goals or achieving their dreams in life. The longer an addiction continues, the more pressure and tension is put on that individual. Long-term drug abuse impacts the mind, which in result makes it almost impossible for the user to quit abusing. Mental problems could stem from these mind changes, such as depression or anxiety. These constant brain changes regularly trigger changes in social and emotional conduct as well, incorporating a possible buildup of aggressiveness, feelings of seclusion, and depression. In addition, utilization weakens memory, and affects how an individual learns and comprehends things. But, the most serious and important long-term impact of drug utilization is death.
Although it is not easy, it is possible for drug addiction to be treated. Because it is considered a chronic illness, users are unable to just quit using drugs and be considered cured. Substance abuse is a significant social issue which needs to be handled as a public health problem, rather than criminalized. When and if possible, addicts should be urged to get help before their behavior goes too far and they commit crimes. Though, treatment has to be able to help the user permanently quit drugs, and stay drug free. The sooner an individual looks for help for their drug addiction, the higher the possibility they have of gaining control of their life. I believe that with extensive treatment and consistent love and support from the addicts family and friends, drug abuse could be conquered.
After doing my research, I’ve learned that my view of the topic is still the same, for the most part. I was able to gain more knowledge about certain aspects that I did not fully understand, and was also able to learn a few more things about addiction which I was not aware of before. For example, I did not know that individuals who use/abuse drugs are at a higher risk for obtaining viral infections, such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis. In addition, I also was able to learn why the chance of an individual becoming addicted to drugs is higher if they are exposed to them earlier in life. I chose the sources I did because they were able to provide me with extra knowledge about drug addiction, and answer some of the questions I still had lurking in the back of my head. I found each article to be exceptionally informative, as every author was exceedingly descriptive and gave numerous examples, which I believe helped me comprehend parts of the text better.
In conclusion, I still find my topic to be very intriguing. I believe that I have actually become more interested in this topic, because I have learned so much about drug addiction that I did not know of before, and I believe there is still an abundance of knowledge out there that I could discover. Drug abuse is a consequential health and social issue which should be researched and resolved before it gets even worse.
