Abstract
In this essay, an emphasis is given on the problems that come with the situation of drug abuse, such as the increase of criminal activity, the spreading of diseases, both by dangerous behaviors, like the needle sharing, and by sexual contact as sexual favors, or promiscuity.
Special attention is given to heroine as being plausible as the most harmful for society, not only because of its relation with the problems discussed earlier, but also because of, within the disease spreading one, being especially severe in terms of potential needle sharing situations that many times infect users with HIV, being the infection passed on in an epidemic way through sexual contact related to prostitution and promiscuity without the proper protection, medical follow-up, or even knowledge. This big danger can be observed on real life situations, like in prostitution, as stated, and in Third World countries, especially vulnerable to this situation.
Keywords: drugs, abuse, diseases, crime, sexual, HIV, disregard.
Drug abuse is related to many sociological problems. Some of the worldly known ones are: the crime increase it produces, because of drug addicts’ need to have the financial means to support their addiction, which quickly becomes so severe, it makes them look to no means to achieve their goal; thus, crime arises as an easy solution for the money problem, to quickly have the necessary to buy some more drug; also, there are serious health problems that come with drug abuse, being one of the most dangerous the HIV, or also Hepatitis B and STD’s, for example, because of needle sharing when drug addicts get to the injecting phase, doing that between them, not aware or caring if the other person has any health problem, liver damage because of the drugs or promiscuous sexual behavior, both related to the high that drugs bring, or to selling sexual favors; finally, another one is related to negligence of the drug addicts towards their family, which is especially dangerous when speaking of women that have children, who many times are abandoned or/and can even be exposed to dangerous situations and environments, which are obviously always present where drugs are bought, traded and consumed.
One drug that seems to be particularly harmful to society is heroine. The reason why this drug can be seen as the most harmful is the fact that, to the related criminal activity increase, sexual trading for doses, body damage it directly causes and severe dependence, because of its anti-anxiety and analgesic action that rapidly makes people incapable of coping with their own life situations without it, one can add the really serious problem related to its intravenous consume; being quickly consumed intravenously, the immediate consequence is the need for syringes and needles, which for drug addicts is not always available in sterile conditions (nor are they willing, many times, to go to pharmacies to get them), so that the needle sharing that is associated in general causes the spreading of serious venal diseases, like HIV, both by that needle sharing between users and by sexual contact that can happen with other people, who will face the huge risk of being infected, becoming an epidemic event.
Two real world examples of this situation can be seen on: street prostitutes, being a large percentage of them selling sexual favors to have the needed money to get another dose of heroin. These prostitutes many times do not take the precautions necessary not to infect the people that search for their services, like using condoms and enroll on frequent medical exams to be healthy; also, being addicted to heroine and injecting it, they are exposed to the needle sharing situation and, obviously, many times infected with diseases, both from the needle sharing and sexual contact with infected people, which they pass on, infecting other people; also, in Third World Countries, where getting money is many times essential for providing with the necessary means for survival, drug dealers find an easy target to sell drugs and have locals to pass them, in exchange for money for their families. Together with this trading and passing of drugs, the locals also use the drugs and, in a country where the resources are below the bare minimal, sterile needles and syringes are even less likely to be used and the needle sharing situation is the most frequent, perpetuating the infection of more and more people from these countries with those serious diseases.
Conclusion
After evaluating all this information, one can easily see that drug abuse is intricately involved with social important problems, such as crime, violence, prostitution, promiscuity and negligence.
Heroin seems to be one of the biggest contributors for this, which becomes even more serious given its potential of epidemic spreading of diseases, one of which is HIV. This situation is observed in many real world situations, such as in prostitution activity and Third World countries’ bigger vulnerability.
References
Baasher, Taha. Problems with Drugs. Retrieved from http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+21-30/Footsteps+23/Problems+with+drugs.htm
