The Pros And Cons Of Drug Addiction

Superior Essays
Two paths: One choice
Drug addiction has been a very controversial topic in America for a long time now, it is debated on whether or not we should classify this appalling habit as a choice or as an illness. Several individuals are exposed to drug abuse daily and an excessive amount of people in society live with the elected consequences of this terrible addiction. Not only does this issue affect the abuser, but also the immediate relatives and peers surrounding the abuser. Lives are stolen, children are taken away from mothers and fathers, families are divided, millions of dollars are vanished before eyes, and shedding of tears becomes a daily routine. These are only minimal examples of what substance abuse can cause in countless lives. Drug
…show more content…
Negative actions taking place within a household towards a person, or even around them typically lead to the choice of selecting drugs (National par 3). Unhealthy eating, minimal to no exercise, and destructive “daily” factors may all also trigger drug addiction (National par 3). Loneliness and addiction often clash, making addicts feel like nobody else understands their pain (Doyle par 1). Several people try drugs only in order to gain “friends” and escape the sadness of feeling lonely (Blair par 8). Many teenagers are also intimidated by stepping into adulthood and they fear the thought of having to take on so much responsibility (Blair par …show more content…
A person’s quality and joy of life come directly from the choices that they make through a series of time. Choosing drugs in order to protect from sadness, low self esteem, or in order to “fit in” only bring along more issues and difficulties in the long term effects. No matter the situation or conflict someone may be caught up in, substance abuse is always a personal decision, and it is an individual’s choice on which route they would like to take to satiate their needs. Whichever path it may be that a person decides to walk down, it is crucial to remember that selecting drug addiction is always a distinctive decision one can avoid, or decide to take measure

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Addicted America: The Struggle to Cure Every year, approximately $600 billion dollars is spent on illegal drugs. All of that money could match Bill Gate’s fortune 7 times. While there are thousands becoming addicted each day, about 200,000 addicts will die each year of an overdose. Drug addiction is becoming a bigger problem as each day passes by. Treatment plans for this epidemic continue to fail.…

    • 539 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When trying to navigate life while caught up in the world of drug addiction, there are many land mines that lie in one's path. Society takes a dim view of people who abuse substances, particularly illegal substances such as heroin and meth. Even the stigma of alcoholism is viewed as a sign of weakness and serves as a red flag for anyone who comes in contact with a person who suffers from the disease. The Secrecy of Addiction People who abuse substances often do so in private to avoid being found out.…

    • 485 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Drugs In The 1970's

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In exchange of the shaming and oppressive nature of our current drug policies, I advocate for a system which encourages the user to receive appropriate rehabilitation. Approaching the use of drugs through both a temperance and disease view, I believe reallocating funds into programs which approaches drug abuse as a curable disease, not simply a moral wrong. The temperance view of drugs recognizes drugs as addictive substances which are hazards to the public and thus focuses on targeting the root of addiction, such as drug dealers and smugglers (Fraser, Moore, & Keane, 2014). The disease concept understands drug abuse as a treatable disease which neither the user nor the supplier is responsible for; thus, supporters of the disease concept’s understanding of drug abuse, such as President Clinton, advocates for drug treatment and rehabilitation (Fraser et al., 2014). Thus, on these principles, I believe we can combat drug use in a more just and impactful way.…

    • 993 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    First, death and addiction affected thousands, now millions of people of all ages are experiencing and witnessing the horrors of addiction. This self-inflicted crisis is only beginning to boom, as it reaches more and…

    • 1330 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Some have this harsh idea that addiction is a choice and that fighting for the lives of addicts is useless. Others may think that it’s redundant because the dependence rates will never reach “zero.” I, however, will argue that addiction is a disease, and addicts are still human, and therefore it is important to fight for freedom from addiction. The fact that addiction is a disease is exactly why opioid addiction will never completely go away. However, if a proper system is intact to immediately help anyone who may become addicted, the illegal market for opioid pain relievers and heroin will diminish, and opioids will be back into the hands of pharmacies instead of on the streets targeting innocent…

    • 1947 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The criminalization of addiction to drugs and alcohol has impacted society on various levels. Rather than treating addiction as a disease of the brain it is treated as a moral ineptitude that deserves punishment. It is estimated that the United States government spends $51 million a year on drug related arrests and imprisonment (Sledge, 2013). A paradigm shift on how society views addiction and treatment is needed to truly help those suffering from this disease. I would like to consider what a society who has had this paradigm shift would look like, and how it would impact the lives of those affected by addiction.…

    • 613 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    How Recreational Drugs Have Impacted America’s Culture and Society As Edgar Allen Poe once said, “ I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so many indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom.” The American writer’s quote provides insight to why drug use is prevalent in American society. Originally, most individuals takes part in drug use as a distraction, numbing the pain that lies in other aspects of their life.…

    • 1549 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Satire On Drugs

    • 816 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Drug abuse is a major problem in America, and it ruins many lives daily. Injecting, inhaling, and ingesting are some ways drugs enter the body. Using a drug a lot can develop an addiction. An addiction can destroy relationships, health, and families. Drugs can damage people’s health like their memory, judgement, and self-control.…

    • 816 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Biological, Social and Cognitive Aspects of Drug Use and Addiction Numerous studies have been conducted on the three foundational aspects of human motivation in regard to drug use and addiction. While each of the three aspects have their own results, they tie into each other overall. A study from Bechara & Damasio (2002) indicated substance dependent individuals develop a propensity to become antisocial.…

    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Being able to reproduce and bring new life to earth is a blessing many persons continue to adore. A baby’s first step, first word, and first smile are only a few of an abundance of ‘firsts’ parents look forward to recording or scribbling down in their infant’s baby book. The sullen reality is not all ‘firsts’ are going to aspire great success. Drug abuse is a very serious issue in the United States. According to Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, “teenagers work at refining a sense of self by testing roles and then integrating them to form a single identity” (Meyers 144).…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Other things like peer pressure can factor into someone abusing the use of drugs. According to Dr. Lundberg, peer pressure is the “...single biggest contributing factor to drug abuse risk…” When trying to fit in people may do things that can ultimately affect their lives in the long run, and by using drugs there is the chance of addiction. Tracing back substance abuse problems to community is contrasted by environmental factors causing mental…

    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Drug use and abuse has been a major concern to the society for a long a time. There are myths and facts about drug abuse. Many people have been having misconception on the truth about drug abuse. This has led to many people, both old and young, to continue abusing drugs and substances. With drug abuse becoming more common in our society, many scholars have been trying to explain reasons that make people, especially young people abuse drugs.…

    • 1147 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Other information like treatments and motivation will not fit research needs on the topic drug abuse on society. The date of publication for this article was in 2015 and it is very recent, making it a reliable source timewise. It is up to date with today 's information and will aid in giving reliable and credible information that is not bias to a timeliness extent. This source met all more research needs and more because it explains all impacts of drug abuse on…

    • 1811 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    V. For years drugs have been categorized as a poor personal decision, if the addiction persists then it is only because the person the person chooses to. But it’s just the brain defect - An addict should be able to make the decision to quit just as they made the decision to start taking the drugs. - Since a person chooses not to quit then the consequence of jail is deserved. Jail, Drug Court, or Rehab is the three most likely options. VI.…

    • 732 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In current society, this quest for happiness and satisfaction is reflected on one predominant characteristic that inhibits many members of society: instant gratification. Evidently, instant gratification offers people the feeling of having some control over their lives, but this isn’t always the case. One blatant example that arises from this obsessive seeking of pleasure is reflected on the problem of drug addiction. According to "DrugFacts-Nationwide Trends”, illicit drug use in the United States has been increasing; “in 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans aged 12 or older—9.4 percent of the population—had used an illicit drug in the past month.” This number has increased from 8.3 percent in 2002 and on this current trajectory, it will only continue to increase.…

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays