Drug Trends

Paper Summary:

The paper reveals that trends in culture are reflected in the public's perception of drugs and their usage. Therefore, the paper stresses that the social and cultural aspects and perceptions of drug usage are an important part of understanding drug trends. The paper discusses the drug trends of the past and notes that today the public is becoming more aware of the dangers of drug abuse. This is evidenced by declining drug usage rates in many sectors of the population. The paper points out, however, that this is countered by the alarming trend of increasing drug usage among very young children and the abuse of painkillers. The paper emphasizes how drug abuse is often unconsciously aided by social norms and trends. The paper concludes with the hope that the recent decline in drug usage is an indication of a new trend of mature awareness of this problem.

From the Paper:

"Drug usage in America has been an endemic part of the cultural fabric of the society since the early years of its history. Drugs played a part in the social exchange between the early colonists and the indigenous inhabitants and alcohol was also an ever-present element of America's early cultural history. For example, "As early as 1585, members of the first settlement on Roanoke Island achieved some success brewing beer from Indian maize." (Tracy and Acker 3) In the Jacksonian era alcohol was commonly brewed and distilled and was also used for the medicinal purposes. (Tracy and Acker 3) Alcohol is in fact is an important element in understanding the historical trends in relation to other drugs, as it provides an underlying rationale for the social acceptance of drug taking."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barolat, Giancarlo. "A New Battlefront in the War on Drugs." USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) Mar. 2005: 60+. Questia. 23 May 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5008952735>.
• Drugs a factor in many sexual assaults, study says. May 20, 2006. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_33464.html
• Highlights of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's 2005 Monitoring the Future Survey. May 21, 2006. <http://www.nida.nih.gov/newsroom/05/NR12-19.html>
• SAMHSA Unveils State Substance Abuse Data from 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. May 21, 2006. <http://www.samhsa.gov/news/newsreleases/060406_survey04.htm>
• Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse. May 21, 2006. http://www.drugabuse.gov/consequences

More papers on Drug Trends:

• Term Paper # 134719 : "Drug Trends on College and University Campuses"
• Essay # 83724 : "Drug-Related Offenders "
• Argumentative Essay # 9067 : "Drug Testing in the Workplace"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: