GNED 500: Sociological Analysis of Drug Abuse and Social Action

This report presents a sociological analysis of drug abuse, framed as a global citizenship issue. The assignment begins with a personal reflection on the social and economic impacts of drug abuse, drawing on statistics and research to highlight the severity of the problem. The student uses a self-reflective social action model to examine the issue, considering the problem's impact on justice, equity, and personal development, as well as the voices of victims. The report further analyzes the historical and contemporary context of drug abuse, the structures of power involved, and proposes solutions, including initiatives by social and healthcare workers for rehabilitation. The report also references various sources to support the analysis and provides a comprehensive understanding of the drug abuse problem in society.

Running Head : SOCIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY
Name of the Student
University Name
Author Note

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Drug abuse plays an important role among any of the social problems. It includes
violence, drugged driving, child abuse and instance of stress. Drug abuse harms and destroys
families. The abuse of drugs and alcohol has been a worldwide problem. Some of the commonly
used drugs are cannabis, heroin, opium and pharmaceutical preparations (Statistics Canada,
2018). The abuse of drugs not only poses a threat to the health of an individual but consequently
gives a rise towards socio economic challenges. The assignment highlights of personal reflection
of the social economic problem of drug abuse with the help of a self reflection action model.
In the context of the United States as per the recent study, more than 24 million people residing
in United States abuses illicit drugs (Jalilian et al., 2015). Although illegal or prescribed drugs
doesn't automatically lead towards abuse, some individual takes a serious toll over their health
and well being due to the overdose of drug addiction.
I believe that while anyone can develop challenges from the uses of the drugs,the
vulnerability ability towards the substance addiction tends to differs from one person to another.
The mental health of a person, genes, social environment and family plays an important role.
According to my personal inside some of the risk factors that increases one's vulnerability was
drug abuse includes the following factors.
These are mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, family history of addiction, neglect or
traumatic experiences and the method of administration such as injection of drug or smoking of
drug that might increases the addictive potential among an individual (Singer and Page, 2016).
Self reflective social action model
Social problems - the social problem of discussion is drug abuse. This challenge has been
witnessed as a problem by the society on a global context. In context of justice,equity and

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operation drug abuse hinders once personal development and family. The voice of the victims of
the drug abuse are often being marginalized and omitted.
Moving forward ongoing learning -Some of the changes that have happened due to the
international laws and policies that has been made in the consideration of the welding and the
health status of the global people. Some of the changes have come from the initiatives by the
government and the United Nations regarding healing the drug abusers through the correctional
homes.
On going self analysis - I personally believe that drug abuse is a very heinous crime and a big
threat to our society. This is because people addicted to drugs tend to break their families and
spoil their life for the more affecting on destroying the life of the people attached to them.
Dominant ideologies -Historical and contemporary context of drug abuse rises centuries ago
where people used to take drugs with none of its side effects (Nicosia, 2018). The lies a direct
connection among the impact of the society and environment towards drug abuse.
Structure of power -The state and the country and finally the United Nations control the
legitimate ideologies for the development of the policies and The structures against drug abuse.
Propose solutions -one of the proposed solution includes the initiative by different social and
healthcare workers for the rehabilitation of the drug abuse patients.
Social and individual change -I personally believe that the initiative taken by the international
organisation and the non-governmental organisation towards the eradication of drug abuse and
helping out the victims of drug abuse has been and effective action.

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References
Jalilian, F., Karami Matin, B., Ahmadpanah, M., Ataee, M., Ahmadi Jouybari, T., Eslami, A. A.,
& Mirzaei Alavijeh, M. (2015). Socio-demographic characteristics associated with
cigarettes smoking, drug abuse and alcohol drinking among male medical university
students in Iran. Journal of research in health sciences, 15(1), 42-46.
Nicosia, C. (2018). Do you think the government could do more to help drug addicts [Blog
post]. Retrieved from
https://betteraddictioncare.com/2017/08/the-government-should-do-more-to-help-drug-
addicts/
Statistics Canada. (2018, January 9). Opioid awareness in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada. Retrieved June 10, 2019, from
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2018001-eng.htm
Singer, M., & Page, J. B. (2016). The social value of drug addicts: Uses of the useless.
Routledge.