Impact of drug addiction on society

Although drug abuse may seem like an uncontrollable addiction, every day someone tries drugs for the first time and becomes addicted. If we know that drugs are not good for us, then why do we continue to insist on getting involved in them? The problem for children and adolescents today lies in the fact that many parents work full-time. We no longer live in a country where only one parent goes to work in the morning. Instead, we now have to fight against both working parents (sometimes two full-time jobs). So, if so — who is looking after the children? Certainly. 

It starts clean enough. A child or teenager sits alone with friends in a private home or after school hours when suddenly someone is producing a pack of cigarettes. Soon, the cigarettes were transferred and everyone took a drag. A question arises “Why do teenagers sense the desire to use narcotics or liquor ?” Possibly the reply lies in the proof that in numerous examples kids notice their parents performing stuff that they should not do, such as drinking liquor or smoking in front of them. 

The situation is the same for many young people when they are faced with the decision to take drugs/alcohol from parties. It is the parent’s (but not the school’s) responsibility to sit down with his child and talk face-to-face about the natural dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

There is a reason why there are age limits where you are legally allowed to buy cigarettes and alcohol. However, despite this fact, children still find spaces and ways to surround themselves.

For some, the temporary rebellion against their parents may prove disastrous. Every year, children get involved in drugs. Some join gangs and others learn a far more serious lesson when accidental drug overdose leads to premature death. 

Schools have tried to take action to end drug abuse among the youth by providing compulsory classes on the dangers of drug abuse but the problem remains. In the end, the only thing that seems to reduce drug use and alcohol abuse is early intervention by parents who not only care for their children but also care enough to talk to them about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Eventually, there will come a point in a child’s life where what their parents say to them will not carry almost as much weight. If we can help even one child not only to know the difference between right and wrong but also to help them develop the confidence and strength of character to resist drug and alcohol abuse, then we will be truly successful. Until then, all we can do is continue as clear examples of how mature adults should behave and hope for the best. 

Substance abuse and mental illness go hand in hand as drug addicts are twice as likely to experience mood swings and anxiety compared to normal people, and vice versa. According to the 2019 National Drug Abuse and Health Survey (NSDUH), 24.5 percent (or 61.2 million adults) aged 18 or over suffer from any mental illness (AMI) or substance abuse disorder (SUD). In addition, 16.8 percent (or 42 million people) suffer from AMI but no SUD. 

Occurrence: A coincidence or morel 

The high incidence of drug-related disorders associated with psychiatric disorders does not represent a causal association between the two. 

Moreover, it does not show any sequence at the beginning of the problem, simply because many things can contribute to SUDs and AMI, most of which are independent. 

For example, it is important to see if symptoms have progressed to a certain level (with DSM) to ensure the diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder. However, subclinical symptoms can also lead to drug use. Although it is always difficult to say what comes first between AMIs and SUDs. Still. There are three possibilities. 

Drug use can lead to mental illness: Drug or substance abuse can have an effect that causes one or more symptoms of mental illness in the user. Evidence supporting that may come from a well-known association between the increased risk of mental illness and marijuana in some users. 

Mental Illness Leading to Drug Abuse: Researchers have been discussing the potential role of psychiatric disorders in drug use. People who report obvious, mild, or depressive disorders are at risk of using drugs as a treatment. Gradually, as a person feels more powerful in drug use, they become dependent on it, which leads to addiction. 

Specific factors: Certain factors include genetic predisposition, cerebral palsy, or previous exposure to stress or trauma, which can lead to AMIs and SUDs. 

All three of these conditions can manifest themselves (at different levels of different people) in making AMI and SUD cases co-occurring. 

Exploring common features :

Genetics has a role to play in both, AMI and SUD. Genetic factors may be the most common link between these two conditions, which are known to contribute to the development of addiction and 

other mental illnesses. According to researchers, genetics contribute 40-60 percent of a person’s risk of addiction. At the same time, genes can also indirectly influence the development of the SUD by altering a person’s response to stress or a person’s tendency to develop risk-taking and innovative approaches. 

Similar brain regions are involved. It can be more than coincidental that in the case of both SUD and AMI, the same areas of the brain are affected. For example, addictive substances and mental illnesses such as depression and other mental illnesses affect dopamine, a chemical that carries messages from one neuron to another. 

This combination of brain areas affected by AMI and SUDs may indicate that there may be some brain changes that can be caused by any of these and affect another. 

A report published in the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that mental illness and changes in brain function often increase a person’s tendency to use substances by reducing awareness of their negative effects, increasing their positive effects, or relieving side effects caused by mental disorders. 

Getting mentally healthy is about timely treatment 

Various behavioral therapies are effective in treating comorbid conditions. However, it is important to look at other related factors such as the age of the patients and the specific medications used among other things while continuing with planned treatment. 

Keeping all these points in mind, it’s the need of an hour to overcome this extreme situation. We all should have to stand by this evil in society and take an appropriate step for well-being. Always remember that faith and belief are the essential elements that can change the whole world. All we need to do is to take the first step with a belief to eradicate this sin from our society.

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