Incarceration vs. Treatment
Kimberly Lombardi
Professor Ford
English Comp 1- Spring 2012, E84
Research Paper
16 April 2012
The Path of Addiction
Abstract:
What exactly is addiction and why do people struggle so much with it? The cause of drug addiction is debated among many people. There is no single cause. Addiction is serious. It should not be taken lightly. Many people are addicts or at least know someone who is or may be an addict. I believe addicts themselves and the people who care about them should be more educated about what addiction really is. What are the risk factors, the symptoms, the withdrawal symptoms and treatment options? I have answered these questions in hopes of helping other addicts. Drug addiction is considered a progressive disease that if left untreated can result in death. When we become addicted we have lost control of the desire and need for the substance. This loss of control causes us to become consumed by the desire and the need for the substance. Addiction produces changes in the brain that cause our behavior to change. This change in behavior is what leads to the loss of control. “This is not something that develops overnight for any individual. Generally there is a series of steps that individuals go through from experimentation and occasional use to the actual loss of control.” (HBO). The progression of this disease has no specific time frame. It differs from person to person. Regardless of time, addiction follows the same path. We become addicted, our disease progresses, and either we get help and recover or we take one of the following options: jail, institution, or death. Drug addiction affects many people; men and women of all ages, races and backgrounds. Statistics show drug addiction to be two to three times higher in men than in women and highest among ages 15 to 24 (Handforth). The cause of drug addiction is different in every individual. There are certain risk factors that can predispose a person to becoming addicted to drugs.
Professor Ford
English Comp 1- Spring 2012, E84
Research Paper
16 April 2012
The Path of Addiction
Abstract:
What exactly is addiction and why do people struggle so much with it? The cause of drug addiction is debated among many people. There is no single cause. Addiction is serious. It should not be taken lightly. Many people are addicts or at least know someone who is or may be an addict. I believe addicts themselves and the people who care about them should be more educated about what addiction really is. What are the risk factors, the symptoms, the withdrawal symptoms and treatment options? I have answered these questions in hopes of helping other addicts. Drug addiction is considered a progressive disease that if left untreated can result in death. When we become addicted we have lost control of the desire and need for the substance. This loss of control causes us to become consumed by the desire and the need for the substance. Addiction produces changes in the brain that cause our behavior to change. This change in behavior is what leads to the loss of control. “This is not something that develops overnight for any individual. Generally there is a series of steps that individuals go through from experimentation and occasional use to the actual loss of control.” (HBO). The progression of this disease has no specific time frame. It differs from person to person. Regardless of time, addiction follows the same path. We become addicted, our disease progresses, and either we get help and recover or we take one of the following options: jail, institution, or death. Drug addiction affects many people; men and women of all ages, races and backgrounds. Statistics show drug addiction to be two to three times higher in men than in women and highest among ages 15 to 24 (Handforth). The cause of drug addiction is different in every individual. There are certain risk factors that can predispose a person to becoming addicted to drugs.
Bibliography: “Addiction.” Wikipedia. 12 April 2012. Web. 15 April 2012 Alphose, Marlene. “Effects of Drugs on the Body.” Buzzle. 12 Dec 2011. Web. 17 April 2012. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health(CAMH). Addiction: An Information Guide. University of Toronto. 15 Aug 2011. Web. 15 April 2012. HBO “What is Addiction.” HBO Addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Web. 15 April 2012. Handforth, James. “What Does Drug Addiction Have to do With Your Body.” EzineArticles. 03 Nov 2009. Web. 17 April 2012 Melemis, Dr. Steven, “Withdrawal.” AddictionandRecovery. 26 March 2012. Web. April 16 2012. Landry, Min J. Understanding Drugs of Abuse: The Process of Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery. Washington, DC. American Psychiatric Press. 1994. Print. Volkow, M.D., Nora D. “Drug Abuse.” National Institute on Drug Addiction (NIDA). May 2003. Web. 26 March 2012. WebMD. “Drug Abuse and Addiction.” MedicineNet.com. WebMD Network. 24 September 2009. Web. 31 March 2012.