Drug Abuse

Question: Describe about the Reasons for Drug Abuse and Contemporary research to deal with Drug abuse? Answer: Introduction The use of mood-altering drugs by human beings has been in effect since thousands of years. Evidently, people have been using different types of mood altering drugs primarily since these kinds of drugs tend to produce immediate rushes to the nerves or more precisely to the neurotransmitter and brain chemical called the dopamine (BuÃÅ'ˆhler and KroÃÅ'ˆger, 2008). This brain chemical when is released in the brain brings out the pleasures of euphoria in those people. They tend to experience a high under such circumstances. Reasons for Drug Abuse There can be a number of reasons for people to resort to mood altering drugs. Among those reasons four of the very common reasons have been identified and have been discussed below. One of the primary reasons for people to take the assistance of these mood altering substances is anxiety and stress. In the contemporary world, there are a number of reasons that lead to anxiety, stress and depressions. In order to ease their suffering generally they take the help of these mood altering substances (Bukoski, 1997). It must be noted that metal illness is one such burden that usually it compels people to go to any extent to relieve them from the pain and sufferings. With the help of drugs they tend to temporarily relieve themselves from the mental pain and make them feel normal or even much better than ever before. Any person who experiences mental illness generally goes through a lot of trauma and it is a very scary experience. Further in most cases they are also afraid of confronting a doctor or any close family member regarding this matter and alternatively take drugs (Espejo, 2002). The second most common reason for taking mod altering substances is peer pressure. In most cases, teens get influenced when they see their other family members or friends or their role models use drugs and after observing them they to think that they should also follow their footsteps (Caulkins, 2002). Most teens and young adults think that drugs and alcohols can be handled by them and they get more inspired when they see others doing the same thing. Also they get encouraged by the different references of drugs being made in entertainment and music. These references add to the thinking that it normal to take the help of drugs (Sloboda and Bukoski, 2006). Further those people who have a family history of drugs generally are more inclined to develop drug addiction (Henderson, 2005). When any drug has been prescribed by the doctor most individuals tend to rationalize the use on that basis. The most risky part of this rationalization is that in most cases these lead to the mix of drugs o r overdose of the medication leading to harmful side-effects or dependency on the drugs. The last common factor for use of these kinds of mood altering substances is the desire to experiment. Most teens and adults after gaining knowledge on this area of drugs have a tendency to practically experience it. Generally once they experience it they get addicted to it (Neuroscience education for health profession undergraduates in a call-center for drug abuse prevention, 2008). Usually people continue to use this type of drugs and they get addicted to it very soon once they get addicted to these mood altering substances they find it extremely difficult to get rid of such substances. Recreational Drugs Recreational drugs are those kinds of chemical substances which are generally taken to enjoy one in leisure hours and they are not taken for any medical reasons. Some of the common recreational drugs are alcohol, caffeine or tobacco. The recreational drugs are in most cases taken mainly to provide pleasure and temporarily improve the way of life. Nonetheless, most recreational drugs lead to a number of adverse health effects along with various social crimes and problems. Most of the times these recreational drugs tend to induce people to conduct such acts which are illegal in the eye of law (Kumpfer, 2002). Measures to divert teenagers from Recreational Drug abuse Recreational drugs can be extremely dangerous especially for the teens and the young adults. Hence it is necessary to divert the teenagers from the use of such drugs. Some of the easiest methods to deal with this issue are to first listen to the opinions of the teens and answer the questions that they have regarding drug and its abuse (Aue, 2006). It is important to encourage them to talk more and more on this issue in order to clear their views. Later, it is essential to discuss different reasons so that they do not abuse drugs. Further, it is important to avoid such talks that might scare them. Also it is essential to stress o how the use of drugs would affect their physical well being and have adverse effects on sports, health, appearances, etc. Next, it is important to emphasis on the messages given out in the media (Bosworth, 1998). There are a number of television programs which propagate the idea to stop drug abuse. Further discussions should be made to resist the peer pressure that most teens face. A brainstorming session should be carried out with the teens so that they do not in future get influenced on watching their friends or role models doing drugs. Contemporary research to deal with Drug abuse The contemporary times have witnessed a great deal of research in this area of drug abuse. Medical research has come up with different types of treatment in order to deal with drug abuse of teenagers. Some of the different research base treatments are Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Group, Individualized and Family Therapy, Vocational Readiness Training, Crisis Intervention and Socialization and Recreational Activities (Langwith, 2007). These treatments are generally carried out in rehabilitation centers in order to assist people to be free from drug abuse. Conclusion One particular thing needs to be noted here is that in most cases the reasons of drug abuse for teens as well as adults are more or less similar. However, there are some reasons that are more common with the adults than with the teens and vice versa (Mass, 1998). Reasons such as succumbing to drug abuse due to painful memories or as a result of any injuries are more common in the case of adults than in children. Hence, drug abuse is a menace in the society and every individual should do their bit to remove this from the society. References Aue, P. (2006).Teen drug abuse. Detroit: Thomson/Gale. Bosworth, K. (1998). 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