Drug and Alcohol Abuse – A World-Wide Problem
If you were to survey different countries around the world, you would probably find that a very high number of them have a big problem with drug and alcohol abuse. The abuse of drugs and alcohol is nothing new, however it seems to have reached epic proportions in the past 50 years. A new range of illicit drugs have especially caused many problems and have left people everywhere wondering if anything can be done to rectify the problem. In our country, there is definitely a problem with drug and alcohol abuse. It is something that has crept into all cities, all towns and all neighborhoods, and people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds are falling victim to the lure of these substances. It seems that there is always some sort of drug or alcohol abuse campaign going on, however the results, to our eye, do not tend to be very effective.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Illicit Drugs and Their Dangers
Illicit drug use has seen a sharp rise in recent years. Since the 1980s the incidents of drug abuse have risen, and the addition of new drugs on the scene have made things worse. Heroin and other opiates have been a problem for many years, with heroin especially being a deadly and out of control drug. Heroin users tend to be anti-social and will often turn to crimes such as theft and prostitution in order to fund their habit. Similarly, cocaine has been a problem for many years, although it hit a big popularity in the 1980s. Extended heroin or cocaine use has extreme effects on the body. Long term drug users often have an emaciated look, and on the inside their vital organs are often faring little better. Addictions to these drugs, left untreated, will usually result in death.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse – The New Drugs on the Block
In recent years there have been two notable additions to the drug scene that are causing serious concern – ecstasy and crystal meth. Ecstasy is listed as a “party drug” and is used by people in a similar way to alcohol – to socialize on a night out. It is a drug that gives the user extended energy and a happy or “ecstatic” feeling. The dangers of ecstasy are not fully known, however it does not seem to be as addictive as other drugs, and there have been very few reports of death from taking ecstasy. Crystal meth, on the other hand, is a frightening drug that is causing problems all across the world. Crystal meth is relatively cheap to make and can be made using simple ingredients. Due to this, it has become prevalent in the drug world. This is a drug that is highly addictive and very damaging to the body. Studies have shown that this drug literally eats holes in a users brain. The full extent of the damage of this new drug is not yet known, but it is a very frightening substance that has the possibility of becoming a big problem in our world.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Alcohol is Dangerous Too
With all the talk of illicit drugs out there, it can be easy to forget alcohol, a legal drug. However, just because this substance is legal does not mean that it is safe. If consumed in moderation alcohol is generally not very damaging, although technically it is harming the body even in small doses, apart from red wine which has been shown to have medicinal qualities. It is when alcohol is consumed to excess that it becomes a problem. Like illicit drugs, alcohol can be very damaging both physically and psychologically when it is being abused. Addiction to alcohol is a very real problem that needs to be given the attention it deserves.
Drug and Alcohol Abuse – Prescription Drugs
Another legal drug that can be problematic is the prescription drug. These are legal and can be helpful to people in their prescribed doses, however often people form an addiction to these drugs and feel the need to take them after their prescribed doses are up. In particular, people tend to have a problem with anti-depressant and pain medication. This type of medication covers up emotions, and so a psychological addiction is typical in people with a predilection towards addiction. The abuse of prescription drugs is often seen as something that is less dangerous or less important than illicit drug abuse, however this is a view that should be changed. The abuse of prescription drugs is something that is growing, and it definitely poses dangers for users. There is the possibility of overdosing on prescription drugs just as with illicit drugs, and these drugs can ruin lives just like any other addictive substance.