Drug Abuse And The Brain: Article Analysis

The Genetics Science Learning Center at the University of Utah states that the use of marijuana and alcohol causes immediate changes to your brain. This article states, “What is considered now, a legal drug, varies between cultures and changes over time, however, the definition of drug abuse remains relatively constant, and regardless of which substance is ingested, the excessive and inappropriate use of a substance resulting in physical, psychological, or social harm is called drug abuse” (“Drug abuse,” 2001). The author Sayette talks about, “The ingredients in the substances of marijuana trick your brain cells into releasing huge amounts of dopamine, which in end results for a pleasurable feeling, that some people say it gives them, in addition,
alcohol has been consumed by people in all parts of the world for thousands of years, and most people who routinely consume alcohol generally do not develop drinking problems” (“Sayette, M. A.,” 2007). He also explains, “Nevertheless, the millions of people who do develop problems associated with alcohol create enormous social, economic and medical costs to society” (“Sayette, M. A,” 2007). Later, Sayette explains, “Although the term ‘alcoholism’ is used widely in both the lay and professional communities, its lack of specificity and moralistic overtones have led to use of alternative terms such as ‘alcohol abuse’ and ‘alcohol dependence’ in recent diagnostic formulations” (“Sayette, M. A.” 2007). However, in another article it talks about, “Drug and alcohol abuse results in chemical dependency causes the substance that’s being abused to become the sole focus of an addict’s life” (“Drug abuse,” 2001). There are five main contributes to drug and alcohol addiction runs in the family, presence of psychological problems, a personality prone to risky behaviors, peer pressure, and lack of healthy coping mechanism and life skills.
The same article lets everyone know, “Drugs cause problems for individuals, families, communities, and institutions. The abuse of legal substances, like alcohol and tobacco, and the use of illegal substances, such as marijuana or cocaine, can be costly for society” (“Drug abuse,” 2001). “The over-consumption of alcohol is a leading cause of automobile accidents and is highly correlated with family violence” (“Drug abuse,” 2001). Later, it explains, “Some illegal drug abusers commit crimes to support their drug habit leading to an increase in the rate of violent and nonviolent crime in drug ridden communities” (“Drug abuse,” 2001). The article explains, “Drug abuse can affect a variety of social institutions by contributing to work place absenteeism, work-related accidents, and poor work performance.” (“Drug abuse,” 2001). Finally, the article explains, “Last, excessive use of drugs can cause illness and death costing society billions of dollars in health care and lowered productivity” (“Drug abuse,” 2001). Some believe, genes carry information in your body that makes you who you are and what you look like, in addition, when you have “faults” in your genes, which means, you are born the way you are, and these “faults” can be passed on to your offspring. This new article, talks about, “The addict’s ancestors might have faced social, environmental, and behavioral factors that influences the propensity towards the directions of the drug and alcohol abuse, however, if a family member’s addiction is unpleasant, it may have been seen by the offspring and turn off the offspring, into not becoming like the addict” (“Violence and drug use in the workplace,” 2012).
Later it explains, “The addict’s family members probably often worry and wonder what makes them so addicted to the use of drugs and alcohol if they are not addicted themselves, the advancement of certain circumstances, and predispositions push some towards substance abuse” (“Violence and drug use in the workplace,” 2012). Most of the world, has a family member, that seems to be addicted to alcohol. That family member has been drinking every single day since anyone can remember. This man wakes up drinking, going to the liquor store constantly in the evening. Researched to another article that explains, “There are three patterns to misuse of alcohol, that leads to physical, mental, social and occupational problems. Taken to excess, alcohol causes much mental and physical harm, not just to the individual imbibing it, but often to their family, friends, community and work colleagues” (“Alcohol,” 2010). In this article, it states that “alcohol depresses the central nervous
system and messes with the mental and physical functioning of the brain. Even if it just a small amount of alcohol.” Thus, the article lets me know that, “Drunkenness causes slurred speech, muddled thinking, amnesia, drowsiness, erectile impotence, poor coordination and dulled reactions, thereby making driving or operating machinery especially dangerous” (“Alcohol,” 2010). The same article, tells us about the patterns stating, “the first pattern may lead to mainly physical problems such as gastritis, peptic ulcer, liver disease, heart disease and impotence” (“Alcohol,” 2010). Which already happened to my biological father. “The second is most common among young men and usually leads to mainly social and occupational problems, such as, getting into fights, jeopardizing personal relationships, overspending on alcohol at weekends, and missing days off work because of hangovers” (“Alcohol,” 2010). Which my father has been through, considering all the drunken stories he had told me, over the years. Lastly, this article states, “The third pattern is alcohol dependence, and is the most serious, and can severely disrupt health and social stability” (“Alcohol,” 2010). Per this article, “Many researchers consider alcohol dependence to be an illness that runs in families, with a genetic component which is probably passed on as a vulnerable personality, but it is hard to disentangle genetic, environmental and social factors in such families. In the UK, there are estimated to be around a million-people suffering from alcohol dependence and a similar number who have difficulty controlling their consumption” (“Alcohol,” 2010). If everyone reads this should see how it runs in the family, because everyone knows, or has brothers, sisters, and even cousins who are addicted. Just had a cousin who recently passed away from being addicted to alcohol, and the article has explained so much to me.
Peer pressure is a big problem in youth, and researched article, and it tells everyone about how, “Initial, or trial, use of alcohol and drugs is likely to occur in youths who have already participated in other minor deviant activities; those who choose a high level of peer group involvement; and those who have seen both parent and peer use. (Huba, Wingard, and Bentler) found that prior behavior is a much stronger predictor of intended drug behavior than is either expressed interest or desire” (“Worth Bolton L,” 2013). This should let everyone know that, the teen sees that his friends or his parents doing drugs, or alcohol, and thinks it’s cool, so he/she will want to try it out, not because he/she wants too. Later, the article states, “Initial research suggested that drug use precedes other forms of juvenile delinquent behavior, but more recent studies indicate that delinquent subgroups establish group acceptance of continued alcohol and drug use beyond the level of what could be considered normal adolescent experimentation and curiosity” (“Worth Bolton, L,” 2013).
Abuse of alcohol and drugs affect your life skills, Seems, like there are people in the world that, are addicted to drugs, and think that everything is okay, but it is not or at least that is what this new article states, “Difficulties arising in certain areas of a user's life are of more importance to researchers and treatment professionals than other areas for identification of a drug abuse problem.
The following are types of problems that signify drug abuse: impairment meeting major responsibilities in life, such as those regarding school, work, or home; difficulties with the law and social behavior; and aggravation of physical/medical conditions due to drug use” (“Dodgen, C. E,” 2004). It makes them not want to handle what is important in life, because they want that feeling that the drugs or alcohol gives to them. From experience, everyone has seen or even knows a person, that is like
this.
What can anyone say? There are five main contributes to drug and alcohol addiction runs in the family, presence of psychological problems, a personality prone to risky behaviors, peer pressure, and lack of healthy coping mechanism and life skills. Everyone with an addiction can overcome it. Everyone loves a good time, and these substances help us, what we call a great time, a “turn up,” however, it is how you control it, and must have a strong mind to say when it is time to do it,