ACU UNCC300 Essay: Drug Addiction and Overdose in Society

This essay addresses the pressing issue of drug addiction and overdose, focusing on its detrimental effects on individuals and society, particularly in the disadvantaged region of Cherbourg, Australia. It explores the principle of the common good and how drug-related issues undermine it, leading to poverty, crime, and health problems. The essay highlights the global scope of the problem, citing statistics on overdose deaths and related illnesses. It argues for prevention programs, drug-free treatment, and social assistance to combat this social evil. The author emphasizes the importance of school-based awareness and targeted treatment for drug-dependent individuals, advocating for a balanced societal approach. The essay references several academic sources to support its claims, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the impact of drug addiction and overdose and promote a healthier society.

Running head: DRUG ADDICTION AND OVERDOSE
Drug Addiction and Overdose
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Drug addiction is a major concern in the society and this concern is growing in the
present age. The drug addiction and the overdose is ruining the lives of many people in the
societies. The drug addiction has evolved to become a problem in the Australian society and
across the world (Roxburgh et al., 2017). The local region of Cherbourg in Australia is a
disadvantaged area in Australia that is suffering from the social evil of the drug addiction and
the overdose. The drug overdose can be reduced in the society with the help of the prevention
programs and the arrangement of the drug-free oriented treatment in the society.
Principle of common good that is related to the social life of the individuals arises
from the dignity and the unity of the people in the society. The common good enables the
people in the society in to reach the fulfilment in an easier manner. Adherence to the
principle of the common good helps the people in the society in being committed to the
aspect of the peace that helps in offering protection to the environment (Winter et al., 2015).
The incidence of the drug overdose in the society gives rise to crimes that disturbs the
balance prevailing in the society. The drug addiction taking place in the region of Cherbourg
in Australia causes the local people to suffer from the brunt of poverty. The drug addiction
has also evolved to become a major problem in the world and it makes the people suffer from
the relationship problems along with the stress (Martins et al., 2015).
Drug addiction and the overdose is a challenge for the people living in Cherbourg and
across that of the world. It has a detrimental effect on individual along with the other people
in the society. The families of the individuals who are addicted to the drugs have to suffer a
lot of hardships. They are subjected to the domestic violence and have to face the financial
struggles that deteriorates the condition of their family (Fraser, Farrugia & Dwyer, 2018).
There are many addicts who obtain the money by taking recourse to crimes so that they can
buy the drugs. In my opinion, the individuals are arrested in the society as they commit
various kinds of crimes like the murder, robbery along with the assault. I feel that the public

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impairment takes place on account of the incidence of drug overdose across that of the world.
The incidents of the drug overdose in the world paves the path for accidents in the society
(Hall & Farrell, 2018).
There are more than 7 million people in the world who suffer from that of illicit drug
disorder. It has been found that one in the four deaths takes place owing to illicit use of the
drugs. There are various kinds of illnesses along with the disabilities that are suffered by the
people on account of the incidents of the drug addiction and that of overdose in the society.
The people suffering from that of drug addiction have to face the higher risk pertaining to the
unintentional injuries along with the accidents. The drug overdose weakens the immune
system of the individuals and it increases risk of infection of the individuals in the society. It
gives rise to nausea along with the abdominal pain that causes changes in the appetite of the
people in the society. It has been seen that the severe consequence in relation to drug abuse
within the society is death. There are various kinds of drugs like the cocaine along with the
marijuana that has an effect on the instinct and the mood of the individuals in the society.
In my view, the drug misuse and the addiction should be treated in the society that can
give rise to a balanced society. The prevention programs can be adopted by the state
government that can help in dealing with that of the drug addiction along with the overdose in
the society. The prevention programs can make the people conscious at the school that can
help them in staying away from that of drug addiction and the overdose. There should be the
prevalence of the drug-free oriented treatment that can help the people in reducing the intake
of the drugs. There should be targeted treatment pertaining to the drug dependent individual
that can help in serving the society. The social assistance should be provided to the
marginalized drug dependent that can help in the removal of the social evil from the face of
the society.

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References
Fraser, S., Farrugia, A., & Dwyer, R. (2018). Grievable lives? Death by opioid overdose in
Australian newspaper coverage. International Journal of Drug Policy, 59, 28-35.
Hall, W. D., & Farrell, M. (2018). Reducing the opioid overdose death toll in North
America. PLoS medicine, 15(7), e1002626.
Martins, S. S., Sampson, L., Cerdá, M., & Galea, S. (2015). Worldwide prevalence and trends
in unintentional drug overdose: a systematic review of the literature. American
journal of public health, 105(11), e29-e49.
Roxburgh, A., Hall, W. D., Dobbins, T., Gisev, N., Burns, L., Pearson, S., & Degenhardt, L.
(2017). Trends in heroin and pharmaceutical opioid overdose deaths in
Australia. Drug and alcohol dependence, 179, 291-298.
Winter, R. J., Stoové, M., Degenhardt, L., Hellard, M. E., Spelman, T., Jenkinson, R., ... &
Kinner, S. A. (2015). Incidence and predictors of non-fatal drug overdose after release
from prison among people who inject drugs in Queensland, Australia. Drug and
alcohol dependence, 153, 43-49.