Drug Epidemic by Joshua Hebert

            At a young age, you are taught to not take things that given giving to you by a stranger but you are never really told why until that knowledge expands later in life to an understanding of drugs. You go through the elementary program they have their anti-drug programs. You make the pledge that you will not do drugs, but they never really explain just how hard it will be to stay away from. As you grow, you began to be influenced in the opposite way. You began to experiment with things that your parents and the stuff school told you not to do. You began to believe your parents and school were lying to you all of those years, but little do you know you are playing with fire. This epidemic is known as the drug epidemic and it’s sadly sweeping the lives of many innocent people each year both mentally and physically. Drugs have shaped our history, social effects, and have great effects on individuals. 

HISTORY

The topic of illegal drugs is a very broad topic. There are many ways people's minds go when they hear the words illegal drugs from personal experiences to family friends. That word brings one similar thought to everyone's minds, addiction. The word addiction is a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a chemical, drug, activity, or substance, even though it is causing psychological and physical harm (Felman 1).

 Mental issues and addiction go side by side (The History of Addiction and Mental Health Treatment). If a person struggles with addiction more than likely they also struggle with a mental issue and vise versa (1). 1 in 4 adults with mental illness struggle with drug abuse disorder. Medical professionals would treat only one thing, and more than likely they struggled with both issues. Around the 1980s was when Medical Professionals found out that there was a struggle in both categories, among most people.

There are many forms of illegal drugs, but the one that is very controversial in America is marijuana, known as the gateway drug. Marijuana’s long history in the United States stretches back to 1910, after the Mexican Revolution (“The History of Illegal Drugs in the U.S.”). As Mexican immigrants came into the country marijuana went along, with recreational use tagging along (1). By 1931, the use of marijuana was outlawed in 29 states (1). Following that in 1937, the federal government took it upon themselves to fix the issue for the nation (1). They passed the Marijuana Tax Act, Which Criminalized those who possessed or sold marijuana (1).

In 1952, things changed again with a new act called the Boggs Act a mandatory sentence for those who committed offenses with drugs, one of those drugs being marijuana (1). Marijuana promised a minimum sentence of 2-10 years behind bars (1). In the 60s and 70s, the free love era, illegal drugs became a huge problem, and marijuana being the staple drug of use (1). The federal government did not take long to respond (1). Congress developed the Controlled Substance Act in 1970 (1). This act put various categories on drugs, marijuana was placed in the highest category (1).

Two years later, president Nixon decriminalized the personal use of marijuana, but only 11 states actually decriminalized marijuana (1). In 1986, the War on Drugs was won by President Reagan when he signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act (1). The act placed the offenses higher for marijuana possession and dealing (1). California, In 1996, allowed it for medical use only (1). Colorado, in 2012, is the first state to allow marijuana use for civilians (1). Following that, in 2013, 19 other states legalized it for medical purposes only (1). In those next few years, federal government drug raids took place.   claimed legal marijuana farmers were using a medical license to grow marijuana as a cover-up to sell to larger areas (1). As of this time marijuana has been legalized recreationally in 8 other states. With all these states legalizing recreational use of marijuana is it really beneficial for society?

SOCIAL EFFECTS

            Marijuana is known for the psychoactive chemical which gives one a high feeling from smoking it (Condron 1). There are some positive, but there are many negative effects for this drug (1). Some of the positive effects of the drug include; Relaxation, an Increased feeling of well being, and Peace from anxiety (1). Many will go to this drug for comfort which is why it is addicting (1). But what is it really doing to someone? For starters, it impairs one's cognitive functions which also hurts the ability to learn (1). Marijuana also hurts all stages of memory and motor control (1). There is a big problem with young adults, and the use of marijuana today (1). Marijuana at a young age alters brain development and causes academic decline because it affects the drive and attention of young adults (1). Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are also lead by the use of marijuana in young adults and teens because their brains are still developing (1). 58% of teens who drink also smoke marijuana (1).
            Marijuana helps in ways like with cancer patients and those who struggle with chronic diseases to help with discomforts (1). A scientist has found that it is therapeutic and has the potential to help in that way (1). Now those same negatives still tag along with the medical use of it as well (1). As far as day to day recreational use it is seen to affect work performance giving those who use it daily a lack of motivation at work (1). It is also seen that work-related accidents are more prone to exist (1). A spike in job loss and desire to work is also related to this use (1). Even more physical effects of marijuana also include weaker immune systems followed up with s higher cancer rate because it contains more tar than tobacco products (1).
EXAMPLES

Jake a recovered addict of marijuana explained just how much of impact marijuana had on his life (Rodenberg 1). Jake explains that when he was a kid, school never really went into detail about the consequences of marijuana besides the legal trouble you can a get into with it. He goes on to say that when he became a junior in high school kids in his school were smoking weed. He then said that peer pressure kicked in and he tried it at first he said it was the best thing he had ever experienced, and he said that he would use marijuana like a toy (1). He then says that things like school work and homework began to become an issue for him turning things in late and never really focusing on what as needed (1). Relationship issues began to become an issue he would ignore people. Jake began to dislike the feeling of being sober and said that suicidal thoughts became an issue for him (1). He went on to say when he wasn’t high he wasn’t happy (1). He said that he would steal money to buy weed and do whatever was possible to get high and feel that happiness the weed brought him. Jake said that if he would have only known just how much pain weed has brought him he would have never started it in the first place.

SOLUTIONS

            I think some possible solutions for drug abuse is teaching morals in schools again and being honest about drugs. Instead of teaching them false things about drugs, and hiding facts from kids about the hardship it will bring. Let us show them the path you will go down when you do drugs and the effects it has on people's lives and decisions those who do drugs make including pictures of what drugs do physically to human bodies. With marijuana it's not always physical effects its more emotional and harder life so let us show them examples of that. I feel like a second solution is placing morals back in schools part of that is bring God back into the schooling systems. I know this will be tough to put back because of   society but when you look morally at what our country is falling to then you will see it is falling apart from within and people have a loss of sympathy for their elders and other people the lack of respect and care is causing more drugs to be abused as a way to rebel and be “cool”. I believe If we implanted God back into the school systems like we did back in the day respect and mortality will come back as a result. When respect and mortality come back I believe the abuse of drugs will go back down. The rate we are going in this country when it comes to respecting others and moral knowledge is insane children these days feel entitled, and could care less what parents and authority say. I have seen it countless times while playing basketball for summer leagues there is no respect or class when these teens when they are winning by a lot. They make fun of or mock other teams and their fans those fans being other adults. This to me shows no respect towards adults that in return leads to drug abuse those same kids who are on social media posting themselves smoking marijuana. Another possible solution that could work in my opinion is to make it harder to get peoples hands on drugs. Another possible solution is to pass more laws pertaining to drugs.

ABSURDITY

            In my opinion, the drug abuse epidemic is absurd. Why would someone want to put things in there body that could potentially kill them or alter their mind placing themselves in a different, not you, state of mind? Most people, in my opinion, are scared of death, to a degree, and most fear cancer. With that in mind, why would you take something to increase your chances of getting cancer or dying. Why would anyone want to alter their brains and thinking patterns? Most people do things to live longer not shorter. What we do not see is an advertisement that says doing this could kill you come now or this could give you cancer come now, no one would go there if that was the case.

CONCLUSION

The drug epidemic is not going away time soon it is still going strong in 2019 just as it has been in the past. It is our jobs to help those around us learn more and better understands drugs so that we as a whole can lower the rate of drug abuse. Teaching the youth how negative, the effects can be on a person's life. In my opinion, changing the minds of the youth can make an impact on our future generation. This could ultimately lower the drug abuse issue. Drugs have left a mark on this country. Drugs have shaped our history, social effects, and have great effects on individual lives. 

Work Cited

Condron, Patrick, and M.a.c. “Social Impact and Effects of Marijuana.” Luxury.Rehabs.com, luxury.rehabs.com/marijuana-rehab/social-impact-and-effects-of-marijuana/.

https://luxury.rehabs.com/marijuana-rehab/social-impact-and-effects-of-marijuana/

Felman, Adam. “Addiction: Definition, Symptoms, Withdrawal, and Treatment.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323465.php.

Rodenberg, Cassie. “Letter from a Marijuana Addict.” Scientific American Blog Network, 30 Apr. 2012, blogs.scientificamerican.com/white-noise/letter-from-a-marijuana-addict/.

“The History of Addiction and Mental Health Treatment.” Foundations Recovery Network, 8 Mar. 2019, www.foundationsrecoverynetwork.com/history-addiction-mental-health-treatment/

“The History of Illegal Drugs in the U.S.” Detox.net, 20 Nov. 2018, www.detox.net/other-drugs/history-of-illegal-drugs/.

https://www.detox.net/other-drugs/history-of-illegal-drugs/