SSC312: Essay on the Critical Analysis of Reasons Behind Drug Use

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This essay critically analyzes reasons for drug use.

SSC312 Assessment: Substance use and society
Essay Topic – “Critically analyze the reasons why people take drugs”
1

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Drug Addiction................................................................................................................................4
Reasons for drug consumption........................................................................................................4
Prevalence Rates..............................................................................................................................6
Theories of addiction.......................................................................................................................7
Attitudes to Drug Taking.................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12
2

Introduction
The drugs spoil & ruin the beautiful lives of millions of people around the whole World every
year. The teenagers & the young people take drugs because they want some kind of change in
their lives. Some of the reasons are to escape, relax, rebel. Many of them take it just to
experience the taste of drugs, but they don't realize that after taking it for one or two times, they
get addicted towards it & destroys their lives in that one take only. The complete knowledge has
been determined & evaluated about the physical, psychological, legal, social causes & the
consequences of the substance use. The effective strategies are also been determined in order to
prevent the misuse of substance. All the reasons are being identified to know about the problem
that why do the people take drugs. Along with it, the relationship has also been identified
between the drugs and crime and the drugs in prison.
3

Drug Addiction
Addiction refers to as the disease which may impact on once behavior and brain. When a person
is addicted to drugs that it's difficult to resist them to stop taking it and live a normal life ahead
(Schatz and Nougier, 2012). There are various types of drug substance to which one is addicted
to such as heroin, cocaine, painkillers, alcohol and various other illegal substances. There are
very injurious to once health and well-being. Apart, from its disadvantages, it also does have
various reasons for in-taking. It's the most common reason is for relapse but it is not true that it
works in all conditions or good for health. Drug addiction is normally found in every part of the
world and is most common among people across worldwide (Schatz and Nougier, 2012).
Figure: Drug consumption rooms: an overview of provision and evidence
Source: (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2018)
Reasons for drug consumption
Drug abuse is a widespread problem under which individual drug users are becoming the prime
victims. Drug misuse can cause genuine physical and mental weakening. The issue can tear
separated the family structure and make it hard to learn. Lack of Confidence is considered one of
the essential drivers of illicit drug use (Fernandes, et. al., 2017). It can likewise be because of
over the top stress or peer pressure, the absence of parental inclusion in kid's activities and so
forth a few people consider illicit drug use can be the reason for medication use and
obliviousness. The numbness of chronic drug use alongside physical torment of condition turns
into an essential driver of illicit drug use.
4

The most basic reason for consumption of drugs by people is that ‘they want to change
something in their lives’. They believe drug to be a solution. However, it eventually becomes a
problem. The consumption of drugs and the reasons for such consumption may vary for every
individual. Most often, among the young generation, the reason is found to be trying to fit in with
their peers and believes consumption of ‘drugs or alcohol’ as a means of becoming ‘a part of’.
Among others, many individuals use drugs as a means of self-medication (Fernandes, et. al.,
2017).
The world is highly competitive and in such circumstances, some individuals find themselves in
a position of not being able to grow. Such individuals also face invisible peer pressure from
young or old people and therefore take the support of drugs and alcohol to manage the pressure.
Individuals also find themselves isolated when they do not drink or smoke. This isolation also
leads to the development of the habit of alcohol and drug consumption. Further, no all the people
are emotionally strong. Some are weaker than others and they tend to feel depressed in their
difficult times. They look for ways to lead a normal life and feel free and in the process, develop
a habit of drug abuse (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2018).
A background marked by mental injury or trauma seems to expand the danger of substance
misuse. Over 75% of individuals who experienced mental injury use tranquilizes as a piece of
self-medication system or give a road towards reckless behaviors. Ladies are subtler to drugs
than men, and thus require less presentation to comparative impacts. The accessibility of these
drugs also plays a significant role in the adaptation of such habits within families. Another cause
of drug abuse is exposure to drug abuse. When the young people grow up in an environment
where their adults are addicted to drugs, then they are more likely to consume the drugs
themselves and eventually become addicted. To keep the young people away from the drugs,
setting a good example is of utmost importance.
Among youngsters and youthful grown-ups, drug abuse is adapted as a result of boredom.
Individuals in this age section by and large don't have bills, occupations and every one of the
burdens that accompany adulthood. So, it's simpler to end up exhausted and need to take a stab at
something new and energizing. Drug abuse is often believed of as an approach to get away from
the unremarkable world and enter a modified reality. Further, at the point when the abilities and
5

efficiencies are not all around remunerated and not very much remembered, the individuals quit
and look for elective satisfactions in drugs
The roots of the drug addiction phenomenon are in an individual’s social, physical and
psychological bases. The individuals become addictive to drugs as they are consumed either for
purpose of pleasure-seeking or to escape from existing circumstances. For the person who has
chosen drugs as a support system, it becomes his sole source of gratification. With the continued
consumption, the individual achieves such a physiological state which requires the proceeded
with the utilization of drugs to prevent withdrawals.
Prevalence Rates
Topic: Drug Problem in the UK
Source: (EMCDDA, 2018)
From the point of view of the effective statistical report, the range of information of using the
drugs being used by the adults & teenagers is identified. It has been noticed in the year 2016 and
2017 that approximate 8.5 percent of the adults, between the ages of 16 to 59 in U.K. had been
taken the illicit drug during the previous years. Form the gathered data & conducted multiple of
researches, it has been known that around 11 percent of the people have been increased their
consumption of drugs. The annual reports & information data focuses on the "focal point of
6

U.K." in relation to the topic of drugs on the national prevalence, the serious impact of the
prevention & the effective treatment in against of the user of the drugs. According to the "World
Drug Report", which had been released by the "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime", it
had been identified that around 250 million people having the age limit of 15 to 64 had been
consumed at least one drug during the last year (Public Health England, 2018).
Theories of addiction
There are three different models of drug addiction being introduced by McKim (1997) which
describes the reasons why people engage in the abuse substance or why do they take drugs.
Following are the three models:-
 The Disease Model: During the old times, the drug addicted people were used to either
receive the help from the courts or from the church, as because they were been given the
name of criminals. During the end of the 19th century, the word addiction has been used
the first time, which was given by "medical profession". This concept or the idea had
been formed in the year 1950s when the alcoholism had been classified as the disease by
the "World Health Organization (WHO) and American Medical Association (AMA)".
This complete concept had identified that the drug addiction cannot be controlled very
easily, the complete & the effective treatment is required rather than the punishment
(Griffiths, 2015). The disease model fails to identify how anyone catches this disease,
which is its major problem.
 Physical Dependency Model: The "withdrawals systems" being the compensatory
reactions builds up the opposition of the primary effects of the drug. Hence, these
withdrawal symptoms are the oppositions of the drugs. If these withdrawal symptoms get
reduced & are unpleasant, then they can constitute the "negative reinforcement". The
unfavorable reasons behind the addition of the drugs being continued by various people
can be explained & determined with the "negative reinforcement". The effects of negative
reinforcement may be on the account for taking the drugs initially in various multiple
situations. The physical dependency is not being produced by the drug "Cocaine" and is
also very addictive than heroin. The reduced withdrawal symptoms do not specify the
reasons why do people take the drugs in their first place.
7

 Positive Reinforcement Model: All the reinforcing properties of the drugs can describe
the reasons why people get addicted to the drugs. The addictive drugs are being
considered as the positive reinforces. It examines those behaviors which are associated
with the addictive drugs & it has been noticed that its probability will get increased
(Strang, et.al. 2013). The main focus is being dependent on the "positive reinforcement
model". The humans & most of the people self-administers the potentially "lethal drugs"
which activates the "reinforcement system" in the brain by these chemicals. The complete
system is being activated by the "natural reinforces" such as the food, water, etc.
All the above theories are the "theories of addiction" which are being evaluated & examined
which are very beneficial in order to analyze the reasons behind why do people take the drugs
and why they get addicted towards it. The effective treatment is very essential to be given to the
addicted people who are spoiling their lives & career. The various effective ways can be utilized
for their treatment, such as the talking therapies, the complete treatment with the medicines, the
process of detoxification, the self-help, reducing the increasing level of harm. All these effective
strategies can be applied & necessarily be implemented in order to reduce the addiction level of
large numbers of people in the country (Edman and Bernolt, 2017).
8

Attitudes to Drug Taking
The people who are addicted to drug are being perceived from different angles and perspectives
and therefore, impacts on the overall society. There are some of the evaluations have been made
in concern with attitude to use drugs. Despite its positive or negative use for human being people
are also using for their social esteem purpose (EMCDDA, 2018). In the below paragraphs let’s
have a look at the different arena’s of public, media and government in concern with the drug
taking.
Public attitudes towards people with drug – According to the research conducted by the Scottish
Government, it is observed that intake of low-level point drug can provide energy and boost to
once body but however, consuming it at a high level leads to negatively impacting. It leads to a
lack of willpower and also contributes to the situation where people believe that it the reason for
self-discipline. Moreover, it is becoming a trend in modern society where the public is seeking it
to be normal and a part of their luxurious lifestyle (Scottish Government, 2018).
Media attitude towards drug taking – Social media or any other type of media has a great
influence on people and the market. Media can influence the audience to a greater extent and so
does drug-taking behavior. Media can frame different aims and agendas that may include
framing issues, defining of public interest, salience, individual or community risk, and many
others. Media highlights the cases of drug addiction to a greater extent which provides insight for
the public to see their good or bad whereas, on the other hand, people get negatively influenced
and become more useful to of it. Media coverage in respect to the illicit drugs can have the
multifarious effects. Study of media communication theories and models are useful in futuristic
perspective so that a long and short term understanding of drug coverage can be made (
Lancaster, et. al., 2011).
Government attitude towards drug taking – As per the research studies, it is evident that the
government is highly opposed to intake of drug and other illegal substances. There are many
laws, rules and acts have been made against the selling of drug and other illegal substance
because of which a person cannot sell the drug openly or in a market. The government has
banned such shops, stores, and departments so that people can make their right health choices.
On this fact, there is a fact that most of the government earnings are from these illegal
9

substances. This is so because it is generally evident that during any special occasion such as
Christmas, New Year's Eve and others like that drugs are the once which are highly sellable and
consumed. In addition to this, from the research, it is also seen that youngster are the once who
are consuming such substances and that too at a great amount ( Lancaster, et. al., 2011).
10

Conclusion
On the basis of the above report study, it is concluded that drug addiction is harmful as it is
termed as an essentially poisons. Moreover, a greater amount of drug acts as a Sedative and
makes our body slow down. It also leads to blocking of all the sensations and high impact on
once mind and brains negatively. There are various reasons behind in-taking of drugs like
chronic stress, experimenting purpose, prescribed by a physician, genetic issue and many others.
There are numerous reasons for taking drugs. It is also studied that the prevalence of drugs is
also very high across worldwide and many users are spotted using the drugs. This fact and figure
are even supported by the researchers and statistics which shows that nearly 40% of the
population are into drug abuse. It is also observed from the prevalence study that in comparison
to gender males are the once who are highly addicted to drugs as compared to females. This
trend seems to be increasing day by day.
11

References
 Edman, J. and Bernolt, J. 2017. Animaniacs: the popular framing of consumption as a
disease. Addiction Research & Theory. 26(6).
 EMCDDA, 2018. United Kingdom Country Drug Report 2018. Available at:
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/countries/drug-reports/2018/united-kingdom_en [Accessed
on 29 January 2018].
 EMCDDA, 2018. United KingdomCountry Drug Report 2018. Available at:
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/countries/drug-reports/2018/united-kingdom_en [Accessed
on 29 January 2018].
 European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, 2018. Consumption rooms:
an overview of provision and evidence. [Online]. Emcdda. Available at:
http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/topics/pods/drug-consumption-rooms_en [Accessed: 29th
January 2019].
 Fernandes, R.M., Cary, M., Duarte, G., Jesus, G., Alarcão, J., Torre, C., Costa, S., Costa,
J. and Carneiro, A.V., 2017. The effectiveness of needle and syringe programmes in
people who inject drugs–an overview of systematic reviews. BMC public health, 17(1),
p.309.
 GRIFFITHS, M. 2015. A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial
framework. Journal of Substance Use. 10(4). PP. 191–197.
 Lancaster, K., Hughes, C.E., Spicer, B., MATTHEW‐SIMMONS, F.R.A.N.C.I.S. and
Dillon, P., 2011. Illicit drugs and the media: Models of media effects for use in drug
policy research. Drug and Alcohol Review, 30(4), pp.397-402.
 Public Health England, 2018. Wellington House, London, Hepatitis C in the UK.
[online]. Available at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/
attachment_data/file/732469/HCV_IN_THE_UK_2018_UK.pdf [Accessed on 29
January 2018].
 Schatz, E. and Nougier, M., 2012. IDPC Briefing Paper-Drug Consumption Rooms:
Evidence and Practice.
12