Substance Abuse A Social Problem - 1608 Words

When discussing social problems, some common issues that come up relate to the environment, discrimination, poverty, healthcare, and more. While these issues are important and must be addressed, we must also take substance abuse into consideration because it is all too often neglected. According to the World Health Organization, substance abuse â€Å"refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs† (Substance). Individuals who become victims of substance abuse become dependent on and overindulge in substances such as drugs and alcohol. The outside forces in our world today influence behaviors including substance abuse, ultimately displaying the connection between social structure and an†¦show more content†¦A lot of the time, people born into a particular social class typically stay in the same social class for the rest of their life. The National Council on Drug Abuse reports that if an individual comes from an i mpoverished background, they are more likely to â€Å"abuse drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with the dangerous environment she lives in, [as] a way to deal with her financial stresses or a way to cope with physical or emotional abuse.† (Smith). Furthermore, in impoverished neighborhoods, it is easier for people to access substances such as drugs and alcohol. This is typically because people sell substances with the goal that someday they will overcome poverty (Smith). In addition to growing up in impoverished areas, the household one grows up in is also a sociological cause of substance abuse. HealthyPlace.com, a mental health site, states that parental abuse and neglect are large contributions to substance abuse (Tracy). These factors are out of the individual’s control and as a result, adolescents and preadolescents may attempt to gain their attention or escape the reality they live in by using drugs or alcohol. The environment one is raised in plays a significant role in the sociological causes of substance abuse. While those from a lower socioeconomic background may turn to substances to escape the neglect and abuse they face, teenagers from higher socioeconomic backgrounds abuse substances as a solution orShow MoreRelatedDetrimental Social Problems: Substance Abuse Essays1197 Words   |  5 PagesSubstance abuse is one of the most detrimental social problems found in all societies. It has been the leading cause for generational breakdowns of families and communities, and is probably the most controversial social problem when developing corrective solutions. Substance abuse can be defined as the chemical dependence, or pattern of usage of both legal and illegal substances, that has adverse physical, psychological, and psychomotor effects on the human body. The use of substances does not alwaysRead MoreSubstance Abuse And Addiction : Critical Health, Social And Economic Problems816 Words   |  4 Pages Specific Aims. Substance abuse and addiction are critical health, social and economic problems in Maine and the United States. The estimated economic cost of substance abuse in Maine for 2012 was $1.18 billion. The number of individuals receiving treatment was up 20% over 2011 and prescription overdose deaths have tripled in the last decade. Thus, we are in desperate need of alternative treatments for substance abuse and addiction, as well as full implementation of effective prevention programsRead MoreSubstance Abuse903 Words   |  4 PagesSubstance Abuse Substance Abuse is a problem for social workers around the country no matter where you go. 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Despite the various and complex reasons that cause the parents or parental guardians to abuse substances, it is their children who suffer thus, significantly affecting the parent/parental guardian and child bonding relationshipRead MoreEffects Of Parental Addiction On Children1457 Words   |  6 PagesON CHILDREN Alexis Holcomb The cost of alcohol and substance abuse in the United States reaches heights of four hundred eighty four billion dollars per year (â€Å"Magnitude†). That’s about seven hundred eighty times the amount it cost to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted diseases in the year 2000 (Chesson). The sole purpose of this is not to persuade you one way or the other on this topic. Nor is the purpose to apologize for this social issue. The purpose of this writing is to employ data showingRead MoreSubstance Abuse : An Individual s Life1608 Words   |  7 PagesSubstance abuse can be very detrimental to an individual’s life. According to the World Health Organization, substance abuse is defined as, â€Å"the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs† (2015). It does not matter what type of substance a person abuses, any one of them can alter one’s perception, judgement, and physical control, which leads a person bei ng destructive in the future. If a person is fully dependent on a substance, by the time they withdrawRead MoreSubstance Abuse Among Older Adults Essay1317 Words   |  6 PagesI was surprised to hear that substance abuse is a growing epidemic among our elderly because when I think of the elderly I don’t think falling over on the floor drunk or sitting at a bar knocking drinks back. It really is an â€Å"invisible epidemic†. It was shocking to hear that because of insufficient knowledge, health care providers often overlook substance abuse among older adults and fail to diagnose them correctly. â€Å"Symptoms of substance abuse in older individuals sometimes mimic symptoms of other