Drug and Alcohol Abuse in the UK: A Research Project

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RESEARCH PROJECT
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CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................3
Title........................................................................................................................................3
Project introduction..............................................................................................................3
Research aim and objectives............................................................................................3
Research questions............................................................................................................4
Rational of research............................................................................................................4
Significance of research.....................................................................................................4
Approach and methodology...............................................................................................4
CHAPTER-2 LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................................6
Introduction...........................................................................................................................6
Impact of drug and alcohol in UK......................................................................................6
Reasons why people living in the UK are involved in alcohol and drug abuse.........7
Effects of being involved in alcohol and drug abuse.....................................................8
Strategies to prevent alcohol and drug substances in UK............................................9
CHAPTER-3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................11
Timeline and Gantt chart..................................................................................................14
CHAPTER-4 DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS.............................................................15
Conclusion..........................................................................................................................23
CHAPTER-5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...........................................23
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................25
APPENDIX..............................................................................................................................28
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CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION
Title
Impact of drug and alcohol in UK and how to create more awareness
Project introduction
It can be said that alcohol and drugs have many negative effect on an individual life. It is a
major issue worldwide affecting life and daily activities of people. The most dangerous thing
about this is that the young adults and youth is affected by this. The teenagers and many
adults are making experiment with the substances at early stage which is now become an
addiction for them (González and Ramos, 2015). These types of substances are used
mostly in occasions and parties which is affecting the physical condition of people. In this
regards, the research project will focus on impact of the drug and alcohol in UK and how to
create awareness for the same. The research will contrast on the negative impact of these
substances on life of people from various articles in order to create awareness. In addition,
research methodologies are also described in this project in order to attain the research aim,
objectives and questions effectively. Data and information required for the research is
collected from 20 random people living in UK using or not using drug and alcohol.
Recommendations are also provided at the end of the report in order to create awareness
towards negative impact of these substances. In this regards, research project is formulated
in a structured and systematic manner to cover all the aspects associated with chapters.
Research aim and objectives
Aim: The aim of the research is to develop a comprehensive understanding towards the
impact of alcohol and drug in UK in order to create more awareness so that people can
understand its consequences effectively.
Objectives:
 To analyse the impact of drug and alcohol in the UK.
 To investigate reasons why people living in the UK are involved in alcohol and drug
abuse.
 To determine the effects of being involved in alcohol and drug abuse.
 To identify effective strategies to prevent alcohol and drug substances among youth
in the UK.
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Research questions
Research questions are helpful in providing guidance in order to achieve the aim and
objectives of investigation. In this regards, some of the questions are listed below:
 What are the consequences of alcohol and drug?
 How you involved in alcohol and drug abuse?
 What is your experience from using the drug and alcohol substances?
 How is current government policies and practices dealing with this issue?
Rational of research
Through this research, investigator is able to enhance his or her understanding and
knowledge towards negative impact of alcohol and drug on daily life of people living in UK.
This will help in analysing strategies to create more awareness towards these interventions
(Brown, 2016). The investigation will address different challenges and issues involved in
study to increase comprehending skills of researcher.
Significance of research
Drug and alcohol is affecting the life and living standard of people mostly the adults and
teenagers. These substances have a major impact on their physical condition and daily
activities which is distracting their attention from work and studies (Itzoe and Guarnieri,
2017). The research is helpful in analysing the negative impact of these substances in order
provide information regarding its consequences to create awareness. End users will be
provided with a comprehensive understating about strategies that are helpful in preventing
the use of alcohol and drug from this investigation. Further, the investigation is significantly
important and crucial for people living in UK including teenagers, adults etc. as it will help to
deliver recommendations to stop this bad habit. The investigation is also useful for other
investigators and academician as they can use the information to create valuable arguments
in their study.
Approach and methodology
It is very crucial for the researcher to select the best and appropriate research methodology
to attain the objectives and aim of study.
Research philosophy: The major advantage of research philosophy that it deals with nature,
source and development of knowledge. For the present investigation, positivism philosophy
is used to collect and analyse facts and tangible data and information that are considered for
the research topic.
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Research approach: Investigation approach is a plan in which different steps are included in
order to describe the assumptions associated with the data collection procedures. For the
current investigation, inductive approach is used by the investigator.
Research design: It is also a plan which is useful for the investigator in achieving
investigation questions. For the current research, exploratory design of research is used by
the investigator.
Research strategy: It is also a plan towards research which helps to achieve the objectives
and aim associated with investigation (Merriam and Tisdell, 2015). in this regards,
quantitative strategy is used by investigator to attain the objectives and aim of investigation.
Data collection: Data collection is a very crucial part of the investigation. For this
investigation, primary data collection method is used in which quantitative method is
selected where the participants are provided with questionnaire (open-ended).
Sampling: Sampling is a method (Statistical) of reducing size of population to select the
participants for the research study. In this context, 20 people using and not using drug and
alcohol substances are picked randomly by the investigator from the UK population to
analyse their review.
Data analysis: The information and data gathered from the participants is analysed using
themes. In this context, investigator formulate questions using themes to explain it by figures
and charts.
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CHAPTER-2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
The literature review aims to examine the impact of alcohol and drug on peoples in UK
through various researches and articles. The literature reviews critically analyse different
statements of different authors through comparing and contrasting their view point through
arguments. In addition, this part will compare and contrast various arguments, information
and data on the topic of impact of alcohol and drug in UK in order to create more awareness
so that people can understand its consequences effectively.
Impact of drug and alcohol in UK
Drug and alcohol consumption is the public health problem which has emerged as serious
problem in all over the world. Alcohol and drug are impacting the youth, old-age as well as
children of UK. Alcohol and drug not only affects physical, emotional but social aspects of
public as well. As per the view of Mennis, Stahler and Mason, (2016) alcohol has been a part
of the culture but its use has becoming worsening and serious public health problem in UK. It
can be said the consumption of alcohol can be beneficial or harmful that is depend on the
person consuming the alcohol. In UK, drinking an alcohol is the integral part of family, social
and occupational life for many peoples. However, it has serious consequences if consumed
above a level. Alcohol and drugs is a common public health problem that has serious impact
on youth as well as every age level (Fink, 2019). It can be analysed that the drug addiction in
youth is the growing problem that due to parental attitude and parenting style. It can be said
that lack of recreational facilities for the youth drive the force of recreation such as drugs and
drink. It can be analysed that excessive drinking is not illegal but has serious effects on the
individual and society. Excessive drinking or taking drugs can lead to illness, particularly
disease of liver. Various surveys discussed the trend related to the alcohol consumption
among adults and youngsters in England.
As per view of Crépault, Rehm and Fischer, (2016) Alcohol, tobacco illicit drugs such as
marijuana and steroids are most abused drugs and substances. The alcohol and drugs had
impact not only on the health of people but on their financial and family as well. It can be
said that the likelihood of pupils taking drugs has been increases with age, from 11% of 11
years old to 37% of 15 year olds. It can be said that the consumption of alcohol and drugs
has now considered as a trend. The youngsters are getting adductive because of their
peers, friend circle or from social media impact (Kilmer and Pacula, 2017). It has also been
reviewed that in many such cases, the parental misuse on children has also impacted that
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has been ignored which leads to great impact on the increase. It can be said that the impact
on consumption of alcohol and drugs among people in UK.
Reasons why people living in the UK are involved in alcohol and drug abuse
Certain people in UK are at risk for substances abuse and for developing addiction disorder.
The factors that lead to drive the alcohol and drug substance on youth can be said as the
lack of mental and emotional resources against stress and immediate relief of tension. As
per the view of Ravenhill, (2016) Curiosity and experimentation can be one of the reason
that brings youths and children to satisfy their curiosity related to the unknown world of
tobacco, alcohol and drugs. It can be said in order to try them just to know what smoking,
drinking and doings are like make them addictive and attract to take them much often. In UK,
most of the teenagers and young found that peer motivation is one of the most powerful
desires to do things that are accepted by their peer. There are also called social addict which
is one of the reason who forces the youngster and teen to take drugs and alcohol because it
is sociable things to do. In higher schools and colleges in UK, the teens are getting addicted
either forcefully from their peers to be a part of the group (Antonopoulos and Hall, 2016).
Another reason that increases the involvement of the people in alcohol and drugs is easily
availability. Most of the people in UK have accepted that they find drugs and alcohol easy to
get. However, it’s illegal to buy cigarettes or alcohol at certain age, it has been claimed that
many students are buying them without asking for age proof.
Figure 1 Impact of Drug and Alcohol Addiction
In UK, one of the most important reasons that peoples are getting involved in substance use
is through either through their parents or other family members. The parents or family
members who are adductive or having alcohol more often, are another source from where
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teenage can get it very easily. Kneller and Harvey, (2016) have stated that” These are young
people seeking tom escape from frustration, boredom, responsibility and anxiety”. In UK, it
has viewed that most of the people especially the youths are filled with all these kind of
stress, in order to cope up with this, they choose drug and alcohol as a way to escape from
all such things (ST. VINCENT CHARITY MEDICAL CENTER, 2017). It has also been said
that, the pop culture icons and role models send pro-substances through abuse messages
from the song lyrics, videos and lifestyles. In UK, most of such addiction is serious
concerned that has to be reviewed especially for youth and children.
Effects of being involved in alcohol and drug abuse
Alcohol and drug abuse are becoming a serious issue in UK that are carrying many risks on
individual, family as well as the nation at large. As per the view of Withers and Ebrahimpour,
(2018) it has been medically proved that chronic alcohol abuse that will lead to severe brain
damage and also leads to insanity. Consuming excessive alcohol will lead to cause disease
called Cirrhosis that will cause brain damage. In addition to this, addiction to alcohol
becomes a person irresponsible and much more likely to be engaged in the risk of spreading
STI’s such as HIV/AIDS. Alcoholic lead to damage not only the health but effects on losing
the interest on schooling or work that leads to be difficulty meetings the responsibilities of a
job or family. It can be said that other substances abuse like Marijuana has some short-term
effect that leads to increase the heart and respiratory rate, reddening of eyes and sleepiness
(Leu and Becker, 2017). However, at a level it’s not too dangerous, but being addicted to it
will leads to cause lung cancer, loss of energy, confused thinking, sleepiness etc. It has
been claimed that continuous use of Marijuana makes a person to be violent and to commit
crimes. In addition to that, excessive smoking leads to cancer, heart disease and respiratory
disease. Along with this, cigarette smoking contributes to air pollution as well. In UK, the
consumption of other drug substances such as, mandrax, cocaine, heroin is more likely to
effect of mental illness, infertility, impotence, suicide or death from an overdose.
As per the view of Manocha, (2018) alcoholism result to long-lasting and negative effects on
the entire family of the person. In alcoholic families it can be seen that there is continuous
fighting with violent as well. The financial condition of family also gets worsened and never
being stable. Children in family also get a damaged childhood which could affect them later
in engaging them in alcoholism as well. As a per the view of World Health Organization,
(2015) alcohol is associated with the range of criminal offences such as drunk driving and
drunkenness. In UK, alcohol related crime has often related to offences, involving a
combination of criminal damages offences, drunk and disorderly and other public order
offences (Mulcahy, Russell-Bennett and Rundle-Thiele, 2015). Excessive drinking can make
individual emotionally unavailable, unpredictable and inconsistent and results in neglectful
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and even harsh parenting. It can be said that, alcohol and drug abuse has serious effects on
the individual health, social and family life.
Strategies to prevent alcohol and drug substances in UK
Alcohol and drug abuse is a serious growing issue of UK which has becomes an important
public health problem. The government and many NGOs are working to prevent and raise
the awareness related to the harmful impact of substance abuse. As stated by Fraser and
Seear, (2016) focusing on preventing substances abuse and not blaming the victim. It can
be achieved through effective strategies made by government and social care centres that
would assist in creating awareness of prevention from substance abuse. It has been
analysed that there is various treatment which gives positive effects for substance abuse.
One of the strategies for substance abuse is the advertisement and marketing of alcohol
products by the drinks industry. It has been seen that the extent and nature of alcohol
marketing have changed all around the world, and the research has also expanded
considerably in order to better understand its effects (Goomany and Dickinson, 2015). Such
advertisement is mainly focus on the youth regarding the harmful impact of alcohol. In
addition to that, there are many substances abuse programmes that have attempted school
based approaches, social approaches, and family based approaches. It can be analysed
that substance abuse is becoming active at earlier age. Hence, it is essential to have long-
term adolescent substance abuse prevention that stays associated and involve children
during their course of development.
Figure 2 Components of Comprehensive Drug Addiction Treatment
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As per McCord and Houser, (2017) another strategy that can be undertaken is to make
parents aware of the origin of alcohol and drug abuse. The parents need to know the cause
and effects of the substance abuse. The parents can participate in leader group. It serves as
great opportunities in order to get prevention of substances abuse for their children. This
also leads parents need to be more active in supervising and involved with their parents
related to substance abuse. It has been said that, parental involvement is a crucial to
preventing the substance abusers (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality
(CBSHQ), 2019). The school and universities needs to enforce the alcohol and drug abuses
awareness programmes and prevention from it. It is essential to get children participate in
order to be properly aware of the harmful impact.
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CHAPTER-3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
It is a procedure that is used in for comprehensively gathering all the data and information
regarding a subject so that an effective decision could be made. Research methodology
involves various techniques of investigation that includes survey, publication research,
interview and other investigation methods. Research methodology involves data from
different time period regarding the study topic (Stacks, 2016). It is an integral part of
investigation which assists in attaining the goal of research. The different techniques of
research methodology are helpful in finding the outcome that would help in attaining the
motive of the investigation. The above chapter help in effectively determine the research
philosophy, approach, design and strategy that has been used by the investigator. The
chapter will also present the techniques used for data collection, data analysis, sampling and
ethical consideration of the investigation.
Research Philosophy: Research philosophy is a broad topic that is effecting in discussing
the research in deep level. It is a concept which helps in better understanding and dealing
with the source, nature and development of the topic. Research philosophy can be said as
the reliance that is used to gather the information and data including the techniques of
analysis and the way to use the data related to topic (Rink, 2016). Research philosophy in
investigation assist in being aware at time of framing the beliefs and assumptions in
investigation
It is crucial that the assumption needs to be effective as it is beneficial in formulating the
strategy to complete the work. It is an essential part of investigation from the beginning of
stating the research. Research philosophy is four types (Research Philosophy , 2019).
Pragmatism is referred as the approach which is used the method that is best suited to the
research programmes. Simply, it used the concept that is relevant to the study. Positivism
philosophy is related to the factual and related knowledge which has been gathered during
the investigation process. Realism philosophy deals with an idea from the reality from human
mind. It is the assumption that is related to the scientific approach to the development of
understanding of the knowledge. For the present investigation, positivism philosophy is used
to collect and analyse facts and tangible data and information that are considered for the
research topic (Kratochwill and Levin, 2015). This method is used as the data has been
collected through the investigation process.
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Figure 3 Research Methodology
Research Approach: Research approach can be termed as the plan and process that are
step by step procedures regarding the assumption made related to techniques of information
gathering, data analysis and interpretation is an effective manner related to the research
topic (Vaishnavi and Kuechler, 2015). Investigation approach is a plan in which different
steps are included in order to describe the assumptions associated with the data collection
procedures. For the current investigation, inductive approach is used by the investigator.
Research Design: Research design is the whole strategy that will be used to integrate
various elements of the research in a logical manner and ensuring the work problem will
address effectively (Miller, 2015). There are different types of research design exploratory,
descriptive and casual which an investigator can use for the investigation. For the current
research, exploratory design of research is used by the investigator, as it used for the topic
that has not been researched properly before it focuses on different aspects of study in
detailed manner.
Research Strategy: Research strategy is the planned action that provides a direction
related to the thought and efforts which would help in attaining the aim of the investigation in
effective manner. There is various strategy that an investigator can undertake which are
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