Drug Addiction
Winter 2016
Homework
Summary of article/show: The article on “Anatomy of Addiction: How Heroin and Opioids Hijack the Brain”, by Jack Rodolico emphasizes the trend of drug addiction and its effects on the human psyche. It rules out the perception prevailing amongst the current and future generations regarding drug addiction being safe and can only be fun and joyous. Masses are getting addict that can be subjected to the instinct to finding cheaper substitutes for painkillers.
What effects are caused by the drugs? Drugs are mostly antidepressants affecting the individuals directly showing symptoms that include slurred speech, shallow breathing, coordination issues along with pupil dilation (The Effects of Drug Abuse, 2016). An addict is prone to losing self-esteem and identity without any motivation and willingness as anger and resentment rises. The adversity is then faced by the entire surroundings and society.
What biology topic does this article/show reference? Drug addiction has always been the concern with respect to the human society irrespective of the age groups being affected. This article discusses several aspects of the drug addiction. The statistics from the National Institute of Drug Abuse reveals that approximately 2.5 million Americans are addicted to opioids and heroin drugs (Rodolico, 2016). Drug addiction not only affects the individual but do so to the entire society and surroundings. It is a hot topic to deal with since a long time and needs faster surveillance and education.
How does this article/show affect you personally? The article on drug addiction has influenced me regarding the current status of the problem in our society. Drugs are found in many types and are easy to subject an individual to fall its prey. They are targeted towards the nervous system making the individual helpless at times when his/ her own body loses the willpower to control them over the demand caused by their own self for this fleeting numbness. It has no specific cause or effect but can be attributed to an individual’s condition which later on comes to a common ground of being addicted! It has no age or sex bar. Irony lies in the fact that each one of us is aware of the ill effects by such antidepressants and the grasp they cause through addiction but still the cases never cease. Today’s call is to search for plausible solutions to make an individual’s inner self as sturdy as a rock that bounce back the temptation the drugs develop.
How will this current news affect future generations? Drug addiction is a precursor to several evils prevailing in our society. Increased crime rates, child neglect and child abuse are some of them (Hoffman & Goldfrank, 1990). Another important affliction to the society is the spread of the HIV virus by intravenous drug abusers. Not only do they infect the society with the deadly virus, but they also threaten its affliction to future generations through their children. This factor is of primary concern. Child neglect and child abuse, also have the potential to create a generation of a kind of ‘darkened’ personality, resulting in the making of a nuisance to the society. Children, whose parents make these deadly drugs at home, expose them to harmful chemicals, thus inducing short and long term health consequences in them (The Impacts of Drugs on Society, 2006).
The evils of drug addiction touch people at different stages, in every walk of life. It is a misconception to think that only one individual is affected by drug addiction. It definitely affects the entire society; thus making it more of a responsibility of each and every individual to do what he can for the drug abusers around him. Not only would he be helping the affected, but he would also be benefitting the whole society.
References
Hoffman & Goldfrank. (1990). Pub Med. The Impact of Drug Abuse and Addiction on Society.
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-abuse-addiction
http://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs11/18862/impact.htm#Top
http://www.projectknow.com/research/effects-of-drug-abuse/
National Drug Intelligence Centre. (2006). National Drug Threat Assessment 2006: The Impact of Drugs on Society. Retrieved from www.justice.gov.com
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Drug Facts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction. Retrieved from www.drugabuse.com
Project Know. (2016). The Effects of Drug Abuse. Retrieved from projectknow.com
Retrieved from ncbi.com http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2201515/
Rodolico, J. (2016). Anatomy of Addiction: How Heroin and Opioids Hijack the Brain. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org.
