Drug Addiction Essay example - 1423 Words

According to mayoclinic.org, a drug addiction is a dependence on an illegal drug or a medication. When addicted, the person may not be able to control their drug use and they may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Drug addiction can cause an intense craving for the drug. In 2012, an estimated 23.9 million Americans aged 12 or older had used an illicit drug or abused a psychotherapeutic medication. Drug addiction is a serious problem that can affect the persons body and mind, there are many factors that lead to addiction, and simple treatments to help an addict recover and keep away from relapsing. There are two types of addictions: psychological and physical. When a person is psychologically addicted they believe that†¦show more content†¦There are four major groups of illicit drugs. The first of many, stimulants, which includes cocaine, can make you feel irritable, very aggressive, and nervous (Nagle 26). When seen in movies or television, a person who uses cocaine may appear to look jumpy and extremely nervous. Cocaine was used as a stimulant for depressed or lethargic patients; it was also used as a cure for morphine addiction (Henderson 13). Before it was known to be addictive itself cocaine was wildly popular for its medical value. So well-known, Coca-Cola used it as one of their main ingredients in their â€Å"relaxation drink.† â€Å"By the end of the 19th century it had become clear that cocaine was addictive† (Henderson 13). After many years of suspicion that it was addictive it had finally became clear that cocaine was highly addictive and caus ed many serious problems. Unlike stimulants, depressants slow down the central nervous system. Prescribed drugs such as Valium and Xanax help people relax or sleep. â€Å"Taken in larger doses, a person can feel as if they were drunk† (Nagle 27). This proves that even drugs prescribed by a doctor arent difficult to become addicted to. According to Nagle, its pretty easy to get hooked on to depressants (Nagle 27). Depressants are some of the most common of addictive drugs. The next group, hallucinogens, can be extremely deadly. Hallucinogens, better known as psychedelics affectShow MoreRelatedDrug Addiction : Drugs And Heroin Addiction1130 Words   |  5 PagesThe arguments for whether or not to prescribe heroin to treat heroin addictions are controversial. Henden and Baeroe (2015) state both sides of the arguments being that some believe â€Å"it is in the nature of heroin addiction for individuals to lose their ability to resist their desire for heroin,† which knowing the nature of chemical dependency, heroin addicts would not refuse any heroin, so it still possibly an invalid consent to research participation as they did not have a free choice to reallyRead MoreDrug Addiction : Drugs And Drugs Essay744 Words   |  3 PagesWhen people first hear the word drug, they think of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. They also think about the user and sometimes why they use. One thing that is overlooked by the public is the treatment programs that are available to drug users. There is a stigma in our society around drug use that is very negative. Many believe that people that do drugs do them just to do them and even if this is true in some cases, no one wakes up one morning and decides that today is the dayRead MoreDrug Addictions802 Words   |  4 Pagesof the states, is facing drug problems. This state is considered one of the deadliest drug epidemics in American history. There are two types of drugs mentioned in the article. One of them is opioid. An opioid is a substitute for morphine and widely used. According to the statistics, 500 people had died from an overdose in 2005. In 2013, the numbers soared from 500 deaths to 2,700. Another drug(s) is known as synthetic opioids. Fentanyl and Carfentanil are the two drugs mention by Phil Plummer,Read MoreDrug Addiction3845 Words   |  16 PagesDrug Addiction (Focus of the Study: â€Å"Shabungan† at Brgy. Victoria Reyes, Dasmarià ±as, Cavite) Group No. Cuenca, Ma. Kristina B. Enon, Jane Loraine S. Tuban, Julie An Pelisco, Marvelous Salcedo, Yvette Laganzo, Ma. Riellyn Mae Austria, Gerald Mateo, Alyssa INTRODUCTION: Drug Addiction is a chronic disease affecting the brain, and just about everyone is different. It was also a condition that characterized by compulsive drug intake, craving and seeking despite what majority of societyRead MoreAddiction : Drugs And Addiction947 Words   |  4 Pages Addiction is a problem that’s very prevalent in our society. Considering that drugs and alcohol are being introduced to kids in middle school, this isn’t that surprising. We as a society constantly bombarded with talks about the â€Å"war on drugs† and addiction. There are constant conversations about what should and shouldn’t be legal and what addiction really means. Is addiction in the head, or is it something a person chooses? Should we help or punish people with addictions. Everyone has opinion,Read MoreDrug Dependence And Addiction : Drugs1231 Words   |  5 Pagesobvious assumption that drugs have an effect on the mind, but what exactly goes on and how do these substanc es affect your brain and change your state of consciousness? This is the question that interested me and brought me to want to write about this certain topic. Drugs alter the way people think, feel, and behave by disrupting neurotransmission, the process of communication between brain cells. Over the past few decades, studies have established that drug dependence and addiction are features of anRead MoreDrug Addiction and Drugs1219 Words   |  5 PagesDrugs Addiction Miami Beach Senior High Ashley Gonzalez Ms. Cooper/Mr.Sussman English II-Period Three 06 March 2013 Drugs Addiction Topic and Thesis Statement Miami Beach Senior High Topic: Drugs Thesis Statement: In an examination of drugs I will discuss causes of this disease/or social dilemma. I will also discuss the effect of drugs on individuals, families and society. Read MoreDrug Dependence And Addiction : Drugs1231 Words   |  5 Pagesobvious assumption that drugs have an effect on the mind, but what exactly goes on and how do these substances affect your brain and change your state of consciousness? This is the question that interested me and brought me to want to write about this certain topic. Drugs alter the way people think, feel, and behave by disrupting neurotransmission, the process of communication between brain cells. Over the past few decades, studies have established that drug dependence and addiction are features of anRead MoreThe Drug Of Drug Addiction Essay1270 Words   |  6 Pagesmy older brother struggle with drug addiction has taught me more in my life than anything else. He was a smart kid with a good head on his shoulders.   As he grew older he made some unwise choices with regard to substance abuse that quickly turned into a full blown addiction lasting over five years and landed him in and out of four different rehabs.   He was striving to get clean, but every time he took one step forward he fell three steps back.   Taylor entered Drug Court, after finding himself inRead MoreDrug Addiction : Drugs And Drugs1017 Words   |  5 Pages In today’s society, it is now normal to know somebody who has a drug addiction especially to opiates. A dr ug addiction is a mental disorder that the person can no longer control their actions. The person addicted to the drug will no longer care about the outcome of their actions as long as they can get that high they are seeking. **from textbook pg. 303** â€Å"Opioids are classified as narcotics- strongly addictive drugs that have pain relieving and sleep-inducing properties. Opioids include both naturally