Drug Abuse and Health

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses alcohol and tobacco and illegal / illicit drugs, which includes stimulants, depressants, hallucinogenics and analgesics. The paper discusses the different health problems and symptoms of these drugs. The paper examines the factors that influence an individual to start using drugs and become dependent. The paper looks at treatment and intervention for those with drug abuse problems and concludes that new breakthroughs and treatment options are needed.

Outline:
The Different Types of Drug Abuse
Risk Factors
Treatment and Intervention
Controversy
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Alcohol is made by fermenting natural ingredients. When consumed, alcohol enters the blood stream and creates intoxication, making it difficult to function normally. Like many drugs, alcohol affects brain and body function in the both the short and long term (Volkow 29). Judgment and motor control are short-term effects, while liver damage and higher risk for cancer are long term risks (Hobson, par. 3)."
"Tobacco, like alcohol, is a legal drug available to adults. It is available loose (for pipes and rolled cigarettes), in cigarette form, and in cigars. The addictive drug nicotine makes tobacco smoking addictive (NYA: Smoking, par. 1). Tobacco is a natural product, but it is sometimes enhanced chemically or includes additives. Despite the addition of filters to cigarettes, the smoke inhaled contributes to lung cancer, heart disease, and ill health (NYA: Smoking, par. 1-2). Use of tobacco products gives users a momentary high. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), individuals often start smoking for social reasons and then find themselves addicted when they want to stop (1)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bell, John R. "Drug abuse dips in kids, but increases in seniors.(Practice Trends)." Family Practice News 36.19 (Oct 1, 2006): 52.
• Hobson, Katherine. "Conquering Cravings.(anti-addiction drugs)." U.S. News & World Report 141.15 (Oct 23, 2006): 64-66. Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. Denver Public Library. 10 Dec. 2006 <http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=EAIM&docId=A152884395&source=gale&userGroupName=denver&version=1.0>.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). "NIDA InfoFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction." Aug. 2006. NIDA Online. 10 Dec. 2006 <http://www.nida.nih.gov/PDF/InfoFacts/Treatment06.pdf>.
• National Youth Agency (NYA). "Different Kinds of Drugs." The information toolkit for young people. 10 Dec. 2006 <http://www.youthinformation.com/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=90282>.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Results from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings. Rockville, MD: Office of Applied Studies, 2006.

More papers on Drug Abuse and Health:

• Research Paper # 122067 : "Drug Abuse and Mental Health"
• Term Paper # 121995 : "Drug Abuse and Mental Illness"
• Essay # 55576 : "Drug Abuse and Society"

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