Increase in Drug Addiction and Overdose

The increase in drug use has become a concern for every nation. This article discusses the social issues associated with drug addiction and the role of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, in addressing this problem.

Running head: INCREASE IN DRUG ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE
INCREASE IN DRUG ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE
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The increase in drug use has become a concern for every nation. The problem of drug
addiction is now one of the most profound social issues as it is associated with other social issues
of the society such as poverty and crime (Spector & Kitsuse, 2017). It is important that the
concern is taken with acute consideration by the individuals and groups who work on this sector.
Apart from the assigned organizations and institute, healthcare sector is one of the institutions
that can work and contribute towards this specific social issue. The reason drug use have become
increasingly popular is mainly due to the realization to responsibility that everyone possess. It is
certainly not a problem that is encountered in every house however that does not make it a
problem only for selective groups.
According to the principle of common good, the social conditions that permit people to
reach their full human potential and to realize their human dignity. The three essential elements
of the common good are respect for the person, the social wellbeing and development of the
group and peace and security (McCann, 2014). Therefore, as per the principle of common good
one must act with their full potential to realize their human dignity. Therefore, even though drug
use is not an individual problem, everyone must take the responsibility of the issue. For the fact,
that realizing the responsibility will be a global beneficial by developing a peaceful secure
society. The common good will be reached when everyone work together to eliminate this
problem and improve the wellbeing of the every person in the society. Priority is given to
elimination of drug use by involving collaboration in order to promote common good.
According to Baumeister, RBratslavsk and Muraven (2018), people take drugs as
consuming drugs can produce an intense feeling of pleasure which is followed by other effects
such as feeling of power, self, confidence and increased energy. People who have social anxiety,
depression and stress often take drugs to feel better. Therefore, it is mainly to overcome a fear

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and feel the pleasure people take drugs that one can overcome when they are helped by other
people of the society. This is the aim of common good that can be achieved through working
together not only in one community but also globally.
As a nursing student, it becomes an opportunity to work towards this problem. A nurse
must have a positive attitude towards the problem, a person with drug addiction. A nurse’s
profession is designed in a way that helps give them the knowledge and skill to work on issues in
better ways.
Community: According to Sercu, Ayala and Bracke (2015), addiction is stigmatized in
the society and even nurses are to some extent are susceptible to the same way. Therefore, the
first way nurses can contribute and take responsibility is to work in breaking the stigma
associated with the addiction. As a student of nursing, it is important to eliminate the judgmental
thinking in order to help the patients and their family. Since nurses are seen as skilled, trained
and professionals in healthcare people rely on them for professional information. Therefore,
nurses can always work in enhancing the community knowledge in regard to drug use. Breaking
the stigma revolving around the addiction can help in breaking the problem and helping people
addicted to drugs. Replacing the negative attitudes with evidence-based interventions to treat
people with addiction is the key to help people achieving their highest level of health possible.
Locally: education of all care providers about the nature of and treatment for addiction is
one of the best ways nurses can help in this aspect. A nurse being professional and dealing with
patients of drug use can provide real life example in spreading awareness among the people that
begins mostly from the local areas. Addressing and recognizing addiction as a disease is
important as people may find it irrelevant for it has a feel good effect and it is used as a fun

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factor. As a student of nursing, one can do research and intervention in the surroundings. This
will help in finding out the number of population that are currently using drugs and are at risk.
This initiative will prevent people from getting into addiction in the local communities. A nurse
can spread awareness and manifest the real case studies that have been come across by the nurse.
This will have a clear picture of the consequences of addiction. Also, nurses can provide face to
face counseling on the ways family can be aware of their children in becoming aware of their
children’s behavior in regard to drug addiction. They can help families to know about the issues
and help them making it a comfortable discussion topic in the family in order to avoid such
situations in the family (Hoeve, Jansen & Roodbol, 2014).
Globally: on the global level, as a nurse one can approach the board for conducting
international campaigns for educating the crowd or population in regard to drug addiction.
Acknowledging addiction as an illness internationally is important in order to get the attention of
the related organization and the population. Through the contribution of every organization,
group and individual people will certainly understand the intensity of the problem. A person with
addiction can recover if the person is provided with proper care and treatment. While people are
given proper treatment they are often not privileged to have healthy environment. Therefore, to
create an environment that helps the people with addiction and people with addiction history are
helped recovering. Through this nurses not only share the responsibility but also helps other in
realizing there responsibility of common good.

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References:
Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., & Muraven, M. (2018). Ego depletion: Is the active self a
limited resource?. In Self-Regulation and Self-Control (pp. 24-52). Routledge.
Dawkins, C. E. (2014). The principle of good faith: Toward substantive stakeholder
engagement. Journal of Business Ethics, 121(2), 283-295.
Hoeve, Y. T., Jansen, G., & Roodbol, P. (2014). The nursing profession: public image, self‐
concept and professional identity. A discussion paper. Journal of Advanced
Nursing, 70(2), 295-309.
McCann, D. P. (2014). Who is responsible for the common good? Catholic social teaching and
the praxis of subsidiarity. In The common good: Chinese and American perspectives(pp.
261-289). Springer, Dordrecht.
Sercu, C., Ayala, R. A., & Bracke, P. (2015). How does stigma influence mental health nursing
identities? An ethnographic study of the meaning of stigma for nursing role identities in
two Belgian Psychiatric Hospitals. International journal of Nursing studies, 52(1), 307-
316.
Spector, M., & Kitsuse, J. I. (2017). Constructing social problems. Routledge.