Introduction
Substance abuse has been a great menace to the current society. The problem has extended its root deep destroy the lifestyle of many people. Substance abuse especially alcohol is characteristic of its natural availability in local stores and drug dens in the cities and towns. It is important to reduce substance abuse to protect life, uphold good culture and promote growth in many families.
Drugs abuse affects the individuals, family, and community as a whole directly. There is an adverse effect that results from alcohol or substance abuse as a whole. It includes unwanted pregnancy, domestic violence, child abuse/rape, homicide, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases and even HIV/AIDS in most scenarios. Substance abuse alters the normal functioning of the body.
Some induce hallucinations, negative behaviors and deteriorating health condition. Alcohol misuse in the mos
...t complex and disturbing public health problem (Services, 2016). Drug addiction has distorted social values. A good number of young people have channeled their energy in drug addiction, and they are willing to go to all extends to acquire the drugs. Crimes have escalated in the main cities and towns, but the fight against drug addiction still continues.
Impact of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Drug and substance abuse has major effects on the individual and the people around them which include the families and the community. The impact has a different degree of distraction depending on certain parameters.
Impact on age and gender; today young people are the most affected. Most abusers are of the reproductive stage of between 15 years to 35 years (NCADD, 2016). The society has lost roles model since most parents have become victims of drug abuse. Teenage peer pressure has worked to the
disadvantage of many young people. The young born from substance abusing parents have had health issues. A mother who smokes have a complicated birth and gives birth to unhealthy babies. Continuous substance abuse cause immature death as most people die at a tender age because of drug-related diseases like cancer of the lungs due to cigarette smoking.
Impact on income; Parents who are drug addicts spend most of their income in buying drugs. They tend to forget about the daily needs of their families. In some cases, children are forced out of good school because there is no enough school feel. In case one loses the job because of poor performance at work, the income is suddenly cut off creating a hard time for the family survival.
Social intersection; most alcohol addicts are violent. The cause chaos every time they are drunk. Some turn to be very violent to their families hence start experiencing stigma after being disowned. Such scenarios may lead to suicides or homicides.
Economical intersection; the nation’s economic growth relies on h uman labor. It is affected whenever expertise in some areas turn to be addicts hence reducing their performance at work. Experts who die before retirement are a tremendous resource lost by a given government (Tim, 2005).
Political intersection; poor leadership is almost guaranteed in a nation that has many cases of drug abuse. Some of the leaders run cartels that sell the drugs for easy money to support their campaigns. Bad future leaders are harnessed in such societies.
Conclusion
Immediate intervention is needed to curb this menace that has destroyed the society. It is a problem that can be handled and with time it will be
in control. I recommend intervention in my community. Some addicts do not even realize that they have a problem and needs an intervention. A response can be supported by drug abuse support groups and recovery tools. It will go to an enormous extent in changing the life of not only an individual but of the society as a whole.
References
- NCADD. (2016, September 27). alcohol-and-drug-abuse-affects-everyone-in-the-family. Retrieved from www.ncadd.org: <https://www.ncadd.org/family-friends/alcohol-and-drug-abuse-affects-everyone-in-the-family>
- Services, U. D. (2016, September 27). substance-abuse. Retrieved from: <https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/substance-abuse>
- Tim, J. (2005). Drug and Substance Abuse. London: empress press.
