Substance Use and Society

This document explores the impact of substance use on society, including the history of drug use, attitudes towards drug use among the public and the government, and the link between music and drugs. It also discusses the reasons why people take drugs, prevalent rates of drug use, and different models of drug use. The document concludes with a discussion on the challenges faced in reducing drug use.

Substance Use and
Society

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Multitude of proposed reasons why people take drugs....................................................................1
Drug history.....................................................................................................................................2
Attitude to drug use among the public.............................................................................................3
Attitude towards drug by the government.......................................................................................4
Drug misuse and dependency..........................................................................................................4
Link between music and drug..........................................................................................................4
Prevalent rates what do the trends suggest......................................................................................4
Models of drug use...........................................................................................................................5
Normalisation theory..............................................................................................................5
Disease model.........................................................................................................................5
Psychological model...............................................................................................................5
Challenge made to this model..........................................................................................................6
Global and historical perspective intoxicant use is a norm..............................................................7
Initial exposure to drug....................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Introduction and drug history
Over the years, humans effectively utilised drugs where Wine was utilised from the early
Egyptians times. From 4000 BC, narcotics were started consumed by individual. On the other
hand, in China marijuana was started taken into consideration from 2737 BC. But not until the
19th cent. AD were the active substances in drugs extracted (Ettorre, 2016). Including this, it has
also been analysed that there was a particular time when number of substances that were
identified like cocaine, morphine, laudanum and more were prescribed by physicians as
medication. From the starting of 1900s, it was identified that there was an estimation of 250,000
individuals were found who got addicted to drugs in United States (Borges, et. al., 2016). On the
other hand, curiosity and social pressure is being considered as crucial reason of why people has
started taking drugs. In present context, it is said that in all over the world teens are specifically
going through number of risks and the reason that came in front i.e. pressure from peer is very
much strong. Teens are more likely than adults to act in risky or daring ways to impress their
friends and show their independence from parents and social rules.
Multitude of proposed reasons why people take drugs
RECREATIONAL DRUG USE: Recreational drug use consists of psychoactive
elements that directly gets induce within human's body and delivers pleasure through developing
unconsciousness (Prevalence – drugs, 2019).
SELF MEDICATION: If it is talked about self-medication then this is said to be one of
the crucial elements, which aid in inducing a human behaviour where number of individuals
considers number of substances that directly affects self-administer treatment.
REILIGION AND CULTURAL ATTITUDES: This type of attitude is specifically
helpful for public health officials to be familiar with these differences, so that they know which
segments of the population have a greater need for alcohol and drug treatment and prevention
services.
ANCIENT MEDICINAL USE: Increasing numbers of people have been choosing herbal
medicines or products to improve their health conditions, either alone or in combination with
others.
1

FOR COURAGE IN SOCIAL FUNCTION: Social courage means not conforming to
the expectations of others, being willing to show the addictiveness towards drugs and so on
towards oneself, which means risking social disapproval or punishment.
There are a few reasons that came in front why people basically started taking drugs like
genetic vulnerability, cultural attitudes, financial incentives, personality, self-medication,
loneliness and one step at a time and all of these are described in a detailed manner. Due to
genetic vulnerability, pupil of drug addicts or alcoholics can be considered as individuals that are
basically at huge risk because they mainly get future problems in relation to alcohol as it shows
high levels of impulsivity. Including this, if it is talked about cultural attitudes, then this is also
said to be the reason why people take drugs (Prevalence – drugs, 2019). This can be understood
with a good example of students where they drink more alcohol and takes drug on campuses
because it is holding a strong drinking culture. Another crucial reason that came in front is
Personality, where impulsivity is said to be one of the crucial personality traits which majorly
being considered as a reason or a risk factor that creates individuals to start taking drugs.
Considering the above mentioned report, it is interpreted that opiate is considered as one
of the type of drug, which raised age-standardised mortality rates in relation to deaths. Along
with this, if it is talked about heroin and morphine then these are considered to be the second
element, which became as a crucial reason, which raised mortality rate of United Kingdom.
2

Lastly, methadone has showed that number of individuals within England and Wales from 1993
to 2017 has consumed less then the other drugs. Along with this, considering the information it is
said that from the age 16 to 24, the use of cannabis and heroine is excessive in nature, because
over the years suppliers of these elements has gone high, which increased the number of drug
takers within Wales and England.
Attitude to drug use among the public
Based on the study, attitude of public towards drug use has never been positive. This
could be understood with a number of factors like in Ireland, around 88% of the crimes took
place due to use of drugs. Apart from that, around 87% mainly agreed that the availability of
illegal drugs poses a great threat to young people nowadays. Two-thirds (66%) agreed that
alcohol abuse causes more problems in society than drug abuse (Gossop, 2017).
Including this, if it is talked about the prevalence rate, that has been examined then
Global Burden of Disease has brought major global study in relation to all the risk factors that
are available in relation to death along with the diseases that has been published among medical
journal named as The Lancet. Including this, the journal has presented that estimation of all the
numbers that are linked with deaths is directly attributed towards number of risk factors and all
of these has been mentioned among the investigation that has been performed by medical
researchers.
Attitude towards drug by the government
If it is talked about government's attitude towards drug then this could be understood
considering Britain, where their parliament has developed an effective policy based on the
investigation done on police, teachers, peers and parents. Basically, police mainly achieved a
community-wide approach towards use of drugs. On the other hand, teachers have also did not
made their focus over integration done based on drug education within the National Curriculum.
Lastly, peers along with the parents has kept their focus over two different approaches and these
are needs of targeted audience along with the recruited influential towards different subjects
linked with substance use. If it is talked about the policy of prohibition and abstinence within
United Kingdom then it is specifically introduced considering the Crime and Disorder Act 1998,
which has helped and enabled the courts to order offenders to enter treatment or face alternative
punishment (usually imprisonment) for their crime.
3

Link between music and drug
Over the years, drug has not only carried impact over general public but on superstars as
well. It has been found that there are number of styles that came in front, which directly linked
the music and drugs. This could be understood with a good example of Amy Winehouse whose
death's cause was alcohol poisoning.
Prevalent rates what do the trends suggest
Based on the information given by UNODC, where there is an estimation that came in
front where that somewhere 3.5% to 5.7% of the matured people ranged in between 15-64 or in
the range of 155 and 250 million individuals, had utilized illegal substances at any rate once in
the earlier year. Cannabis clients include the biggest number of unlawful medication clients
(129-190 million individuals).
Models of drug use
In present time, there are number of models that came in front and some of these are
presented underneath:
Disease model
Disease model is said to be one of the crucial one that is being utilised where an animal
or cells displaying all or some of the pathological processes. Considering this model, it is said
that a disease could effectively be tested where treatment is done based on number of
approaches.
Psychological model
Physiological theory is a considered as an approach which will help determining the
dependence of drugs. This theory states that drugs addition is based on the behaviour of a person
such as obsessiveness, compulsive or impulsive behaviour of a person and so on. Physiological
theory is classified into different parts or model such as behavioural model, cognitive theory,
behavioural tendency of a person that is personality theory (Mansha and et. al., 2017).
On the other hand, there are some of crucial theories of addiction that can be considered
as relatable in context of drugs addiction. This is where, the primal theory that came in front and
which can be utilised in relation to drugs addiction then i.e. Cognitive theory of addiction. Based
on this theory it can be said that addictive behaviours are chosen over healthy behaviours due to
our expectations. This could be understood with a good example of an individual who is a drug
4

addict and having the age of 30. Basically, his belonging and upbringing took place in a house
where his parents were also used to take drugs and addicted to it. Here, the mindset of the person
was built in this way, where he also started taking drugs due to adaptive behaviour. Therefore, it
can easily be understood based on the critical analysis is that addictive behaviour directly stays
connected with healthy behaviour and depressed mindset because, if the person's upbringing
would have gone particularly in a positive manner, then he would have not get addicted to drugs
(Keltner and Kowalski, 2018).
Another theory that can be taken into consideration is Sociological theory of drug
addiction, where any type of satisfactory theory has specifically attempted towards the account
in relation to the overall fact, which specifically has repeated that administration of opiates
sometimes is followed by addition and sometimes is not. Here, if it is talked about the drug
addiction then particularly there are different number of effects that are specifically appeared to
be individual's belief along with the knowledge that are directly being supplied to the person
from the different elements like culture, atmosphere, environment of the house and so on.
Including this, it is said that if an individual directly fails among these elements then it
specifically realized that there are ample number of connections that are present among distress
along with the opiate that he or she is taking.
Including this, while considering the disease model there are number of theories that can
be taken into consideration to reduce the use of drugs. But, in present situation cognitive theory
of addiction is best fitting, because addictive behaviours are chosen over healthy behaviours,
which can be utilised against the addictiveness that individuals carries in relation to drugs.
Basically with the help of Disease Model and Cognitive theory of addiction would shift the
interest of individuals that are willing to stop the dependency on drugs.
Strengths: Major strength that came in front of utilising the theory and model is that, it
would lead to conduct the in-depth research, which will directly help in understanding the
attitude to drug use. With the help of this, appropriate decisions could easily be made right on
time based on the implementation of Cognitive theory of addiction within the Disease Model.
Weaknesses: Primal weakness that came in front is that this theory if enclosed with
Disease Model, it will only lead to help those individuals who are looking forward to quit drugs.
But, it cannot help those who do not have self control over addiction of cognitive theory.
5

Mostly, many psychologists has considered this as the fact that until and unless a drug
addictive has not made appropriate decision like to leave drugs, till then the drug use cannot be
minimised.
Challenge made to this model
The disease model has been taken into consideration to show the different challenges,
that can be faced while reducing the drug use within United Kingdom. Specifically, there are
number of challenges that came in front and these are: explanation of consciousness, ideas
without borders, evidence synthesis, Bayesian, statistical inference, multiple sources along with
the epidemics.
Explanation of consciousness: This is one of the primal most challenge that came in
front, which majorly affects the model, because explanation of consciousness is not an easy task
to perform.
Ideas without border: Another challenge is that, people actually don't know that what
exact steps are required to be taken in order to implement the change, that is going to take
considering the disease model.
This is where, if it is analysed then addiction can be considered as a process that directly
stays linked with drug consciously to alleviate withdrawal distress. Including this, it is also said
that there is no exceptions that are available or theory could be found. It is affirmed among many
of the investigations where the specific parts of someone who is addicted terminology and by the
thought of particular kinds of number of cases (Friedman and Rusche, 2018). The hypothesis
gives a straightforward method for representing numerous parts of the propensity. It is
methodologically notable that it depends on case information and is simultaneously all inclusive
in structure and subject to positive confirmation along with disproof as well.
Along with this, if it is analysed that the there are three different arenas present in today's
environment that impacts upon attitudes of drug taking and these are: public, government and
media. Specifically, media consists with different elements that impacts upon negatively and
positively upon attitudes of drug taking. Age of beginning can be considered as one of the
attitudes in relation to drug taking that affects mostly where, using or considering the substance
is said that to be something that may majorly be taken as predictor of later use and problems
associated with use. The reason that came in front were the major factors that are directly linked
with early use and also these elements were being predicted later in relation to the use. This
6

could be understood with a good example of attitude of drug use where it is said to be something,
which is important where there is high requirement for the individuals to bear in mind that in the
instrument on 'Age of Beginning' a low score means a high level of awareness (Australia, 2018).
Global and historical perspective intoxicant use is a norm
Based on the global along with the historical perspective, it is said that deviant
behaviours of customers in relation to illegal drugs are often directly attributed towards number
of substances that renders individuals to become less powered. Basically, it can be said that
societies mainly differs only in respect to which drugs that are specifically defined as if they
acceptable or not in nature.
CONCLUSION
With the help of above-mentioned report, it is being concluded that there are ample
number of theories that are available within the market in relation to drug addiction that may
help individuals to reduce the risk factor and i.e. death. Including this, it is also said that some of
the attitudes in relation to drug use if changed, then it will directly lead the whole world to be
drug free. Away with this, it is also summarised that attitudes are not just the important context
measures, but these may they do not predict actual behaviour very well. Therefore, if prevalence
is given to all the strategies and campaigns developed by government of different nations than it
would directly help individuals in getting aware of different risks that are present while getting in
contact with drugs. Including this, it is also summarised that considering normalization theory
that has been adopted in relation to different elements like organizational innovations,
technologies in relation to healthcare system and so on.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Robinson, S. M. and Adinoff, B., 2016. The classification of substance use disorders: Historical,
contextual, and conceptual considerations. Behavioral Sciences. 6(3). p.18.
Borges, G. and et. al., 2016. Substance use and cumulative exposure to American society:
Findings from both sides of the US–Mexico border region. American journal of public
health. 106(1). pp.119-127.
Ettorre, E., 2016. REVISIONING WOMEN AND DRUG USE. Palgrave Macmillan.
Strobbe, S. and Crowley, M., 2017. Substance use among nurses and nursing students: a joint
position statement of the Emergency Nurses Association and the International Nurses
Society on Addictions. Journal of addictions nursing. 28(2). pp.104-106.
Gossop, M., 2017. Living with drugs. Routledge.
Winship, G., 2018. Addictive Personalities and why People Take Drugs: The Spike and the
Moon. Routledge.
Mansha, S. and et. al., 2017. Hepatitis B and C virus infections among human immunodeficiency
virus-infected people who inject drugs in Lahore, Pakistan. Viral immunology. 30(5).
pp.366-370.
Keltner, N. L. and Kowalski, P. C., 2018. Introduction to psychotropic drugs. Psychiatric
Nursing-eBook, p.115.
Australia, H., 2018. Drugs, alcohol and mental health.
Friedman, D. P. and Rusche, S., 2018. False messengers: How addictive drugs change the brain.
CRC Press.
Online
Health matters: preventing drug misuse deaths. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-preventing-drug-misuse-
deaths/health-matters-preventing-drug-misuse-deaths>.
Prevalence – drugs. 2019. [Online]. Available though:
<https://www.drugwise.org.uk/prevalence-drugs/>.
Drug Use. 2019. [Online]. Available though: <https://ourworldindata.org/drug-use>.
8