Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse

The subject I have chosen to research is 'drug abuse'. Drug abuse is referred to in dictionaries as the over use of a substance for a non-therapeutic affect. There are many drugs legally available in our day-to-day lives some of which we take quite regularly like caffeine. Caffeine is an addictive stimulant and can be found in coffee, coco-cola and chocolates. Although it has minimal affects on the body in small amounts, large doses or usage over a long period of time can have adverse affects on the body.

There are many reasons why people use drugs. In an overall view drugs can be classified into three different categories. The categories are, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens. Many drugs use more than one the categories to alter physical or mental characteristics of the body.

The drug industry is booming both legally and illegally. This is mainly due to a physiological problem known as addiction. Addiction can be overcome with self-discipline in many cases but more illicit drugs such as methamphetamine alter the body in a physical manner making the addiction more severe.

The addiction and usage of illegal drugs causes many problems in society. People that use drugs cost community individuals and tax payer's money every day. They steal from houses, cars and shops to get their next bag of drugs and while under the influence create havoc among the community resulting in senseless damage.

The novel that I read " Back on Track" told the story of how a young girl got introduced to the large drug circle in her community. From leading an innocent happy life she gets brought into a hellhole driven by the addition to heroin. The story goes for a year and shows in good contrast the effect of drugs and how it kills people.

Every day the drug market is expanding with new people getting introduced. The government and police spend millions of dollars yearly in operations to catch drug dealers but every time they catch and lock-up a dealer a new drug user fills the gap.

This is the reason why restrictions on certain products in the market have placed.

Products sold in pharmacies for example only get sold in small quantities as a step to reduce over dosage from clients. There have also been products taken off the shelves due to substance abuse. This however does not solve the problem. Nearly every product available on the supermarkets has a characteristic to get people high. There are also many methods people can mix products to make the drug themselves.

See the government can only control stuff like this to a certain degree. There is plenty of 'how to' information on the Internet and in books for illegal things. Freedom of speech allows people to learn new ways to get drugs. There are also many shops around that supply drug paraphernalia enabling people to take the drug or help store it. This is deemed legal to sell drug-taking instruments and they are legal to possess just as long as they do not get used for drugs.

Most people are aware of basic dangers with taking drugs. It just doesn't occur that it will happen to them. There are plenty of people that smoke