However, some people may use such drugs to escape from the complicated issues in their lives. As a result, they face more negative effects because using drugs to cope with problems makes existing issues worse and even causes new questions to arise. Applying prevention and treatment programs may serve as a successful drug intervention and solve the issue of drug addiction that is one of the largest health problems in the United States, leading to financial costs, as well as damaging human physical, psychological, and behavioral health.
Background on Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is often defined as the compulsive ongoing nature of using legal and illegal drugs despite their psychological and physical harm to the individual and the society. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (2016a) defined addiction as a chronic brain disease characterized by the compulsive seeking and the use of drugs despite their harmful consequences. As drugs change the human brain, the researchers consider drug addiction a brain illness because any drugs influence the structure and the work of the brain, which later can lead to harmful and self-destructive individual behavior. Thus, drug addiction occurs in cases where people cannot control their urge to take drugs even despite knowing that they may have negative effects on personal health.
Statistics on Drug Addiction
The use of drugs is considered one of the most expensive health issues in the United States. Addiction to illegal and prescription drugs, alcohol, and nicotine costs American population 700 billion dollars a year and leads to lost productivity and increased crime rates (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2011). In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were 40,000 deaths of the unintentional drug overdose in the United States, which was 118% more than in 1999 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016a). Besides, every year, 22,000 persons die from prescription drug abuse (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016). This number of deaths is higher than the statistics on painkiller overdoses, which is 15,000 deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Thus, drug abuse and addiction is a public health epidemic that necessitates an urgent application of specific intervention and treatment programs to decrease its rates.
Work of Drugs in the Human Brain
Addiction is presented as a complex disorder in which the compulsive seeking and the use of drugs influence the human brain. Although different drugs produce various physical effects, all of them share one common characteristic: the repeated use of drugs can change the way the human brain functions. The recreational drug use causes a sudden quick increase in the levels of hormone dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is present in the brain and regulates emotion, motivation, cognition, movement, and feelings of pleasure (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016a). The overstimulation of this system produces the effects of euphoria sought by a drug user. The brain of such an individual remembers these euphoric feelings and requires the repetition of this behavior. When a person becomes addicted, the drugs are of the same importance as other survival behaviors like drinking and eating. As a result, changes in the human brain caused by the substance abuse obstruct the person’s ability to perform good judgment, think independently and clearly, control personal behavior, and feel adequately without drugs. Uncontrolled desire to use drugs becomes more important than family, career, health, and well-being. The urge to take them is so strong that an individual finds multiple ways to deny drug addiction.
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction
Different drugs have various physical and psychological effects on the human health. However, the signs and symptoms of their addiction are similar in most cases. First, an addicted person builds up a drug tolerance (Robinson, Smith, Saisan, Shubin, n.d.). It means that individuals use more drugs to experience the same effects they attained with lesser amounts. Some people take drugs to avoid withdrawal symptoms. In case such individuals live a long time without drugs, they experience insomnia, nausea, depression, anxiety, shaking, and sweating. Another symptom of drug addiction is taking drugs more often than it is planned. A person even wants to refuse to take them but feels powerless. When someone’s life revolves around using drugs, it is also a sign of addiction. Such persons spend most of their time taking drugs, thinking about them, finding the ways to have new doses of them, as well as recovering from the influence they have on human health. People who refuse the activities that earlier brought them joy and happiness such as sports, hobbies, and social networking because of taking drugs also refer to addicts. Finally, continuing drug use despite its harmful impact on personal health is a serious symptom of addiction. Such people do not usually notice the problems their addiction cause such as depression, infections, and paranoia; thus, they do not want to stop this process.
It is a common characteristic of drug abusers to conceal their symptoms that reflect the problems caused by drug addiction. Among physical warning signs of abusing drugs other people often notice the deterioration of physical appearance, slurred speech, tremors, impaired coordination, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, sudden loss or gain of weight, or bloodshot eyes (Robinson et al., n.d.). Lowered performance at studies or work, unexplained financial needs, sudden changes in hobbies or friends, and frequent troubles relating to illegal activities are the most common behavioral signs of abusing drugs. Drug abusers also show psychological signs. They experience sudden mood changes, irritability, angriness, unusual agitation, hyperactivity, lack of motivation in doing usual things, anxiety, fear, and paranoia. Experiencing any of these signs or symptoms means that an individual needs help to overcome drug addiction.
Personal Opinion on the Issue
Considering the background, statistics, warning signs and symptoms, as well as the influence of drug abuse on the work of the human brain, I am convinced that drug addiction is a large public health epidemic across the globe and in the United States, in particular. Thousands of people die every year because of the unintentional drug overdose. Other people take them as painkillers without following strictly their instructions. The society needs new laws to prevent abuse of drugs prescribed by health care practitioners. Furthermore, it is important to develop and apply prevention and treatment programs to help addicted individuals overcome this issue. Implementing such ideas into action will reduce the rates of addicted individuals, healthcare costs spent on drugs, crime rates, and deaths.
Treatments for Drug Addiction
When a person chooses to start treatment of drug addiction through special programs, therapies, or self-directed treatment approaches, the support from family, friends, healthcare providers, counselors, and therapists is essential to reach long-term effects. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (2016b) recommends such steps of successful treatment as detoxification, behavioral counseling, medications, treatment of possible mental health problems, and long-term follow-up to prevent relapse. New medications funded by this institute are a great perspective to ensure a healthier future for Americans and the world around. Immunotherapies include products introduced into the human body to stimulate the immune response through active or passive immunization. The aim of developing such medication is to counteract the impact of cocaine, nicotine, methamphetamine, and phencyclidine. Sustained-release formulations include a slow release of medications that counteract the influence of illicit drugs. Discussed medications are time-limited treatments that have long-term effects.
Conclusion
Drug addiction is a serious health issue in the United States. In addition to high healthcare costs and the effect on the work of the brain, it also leads to the loss of productivity, as well as increased crime and death rates. Addicted individuals experience certain physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. Researchers developed new medications such as immunotherapies and sustained-release formulations to help people overcome this health problem. Although they are time-limited treatments, these therapies have long-term effects on their patients.
This article was written by expository essay writing service writer - Mary Gold.
