Drug and alcohol abuse

Drugs and alcohol abuse is a global problem that affects not only Australia but the entire world. It affects people of all faiths, races, skin tones, and origins. Australia is one of the most drug-abusing continents, posing a threat to health care. Drug abusers include health care professionals, teachers, relatives, and law enforcement officers. Drug abuse is prevalent among teenagers and families from low-income families. The consequences of drug and alcohol abuse can be seen in classrooms, households, and interpersonal relationships. The rising number of people abusing drugs necessitates addressing this problem. The focus is directed right from factors leading to drug addiction increase, effects, and the best solution for this problem. This research presents a detailed coverage of drugs and alcohol misuse in Australia.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 14 percent of the whole population aged 14 years and above have ever abused an illicit drug. These statistics were released in 2010 showing that 10 percent had ever abused cannabis, 3 percent abuse ecstasy, 3 percent abuse analgesics and painkillers, 1.5 percent abuse tranquilizers, 1.5 percent abuse hallucinogens, 2 percent abuse cocaine and another 2 percent abuse methamphetamines (Gaffney et al. 2010). Eight percent of the whole population had ever abused drugs by 2010. The type of drugs people abuse depends on their socioeconomic status and cultural backgrounds. Regular and continuous use of these drugs leads to addiction. The body is programmed to be at normalcy with the drug. Therefore, the absence or instant withdrawal of the drug will have its health effects.

Factors contributing to increased drugs and alcohol use

Most people abuse drugs viewing it as a way of relieving stress. The study shows that human beings tend to have a defense mechanism convincing them that drugs will bring an external influence that will help them make a wise decision. People from poor backgrounds may prefer substance abuse to deal with an impoverished situation concerning the dangerous environment they live. Drugs also will act as a solution to the financial stresses or a manner of coping with any physical or emotional abuse (Kaestner, 1999). Community socioeconomic status affects the later life of an individual (Pentz et al. 1989). Most of the factors contributing to drug abuse originate from socio-economic status of an individual. There is likeliness that a high number of drug abusers may originate from the poorest areas such as Mungallala town.

Children of drug abusing parents have a great tendency of abusing drugs. This abuse will be motivated mostly by imitation and modeling. Children may tend to imitate what their parents like doing since they view them as their role models. However, it does not work in all cases, and some children may opt to avoid drugs since they see the damage caused by drugs in their families. Peer pressure also contributes to substance abuse among the youths. As adolescents grow, they gain access to various licensed premises and independence from their parents. Peer lifestyle becomes their way of life making them try new experiences. They tend to try drugs and alcohol in groups (Valente et al. 2007). Sometimes, they are even forced to coerce their colleagues to join them and participate in drinking competitions.

Mass media reports and entertainments advertise drugs and have images that target a particular group of people in the community. Good examples are the alcohol and cigarette brands that are heavily associated with sponsorship activities and sports. Beer marketers sponsor the most popular sporting codes in Australia (Connolly et al. 1994). Therefore, it becomes easy for this marketing strategy to reach most people especially the gaming fans.

Drugs are now available in every part of the continent. It is very easier to access any drug due to the increased rate of drug trafficking in the world. A few years ago, some drugs were meant for the high social classes. However, nowadays drug trafficking is a business by itself with prominent leaders dominating the field. Drugs and alcohol are available in almost every premise both legally and illegally. In schools, the case is not any different, and teachers are engaging the students in drug abuse by sneaking the drugs. The expensive drugs are sold in small dosages to consider the less fortunate in the society. Secondly, the drugs and alcohol are sold in attractive packages hence attracting more customers to try new experience (Hughes et al. 1997). The figure below shows the relationship between consumption rate, availability, attractiveness, and affordability.















Figure 1: Relationship between affordability, availability, attractiveness, and consumption rate in relation to drugs.

Effects of drugs and alcohol abuse

Alcohol and drugs abuse have its effects not only in Australia but also to every individual who abuses drugs all over the world. These effects start right from health, family, and one's relationship with others in the society. Alcohol and tobacco being the most commonly abused drugs in Australia cause various diseases.

Substance abuse causes fetal origins among pregnant mothers. It also causes kidney diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and leads to heart problems. Drug abuse affects every organ of the body. Drugs abuse tends to weaken the immune system making an individual susceptible to infections. Drugs especially the injection ones collapse veins and cause infections to the heart valves and blood vessels increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Excess alcohol causes cirrhosis, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Drugs also cause seizures, brain damage, and stroke hence impairing the memory, decision-making and cause mental confusion (Olsen et al. 1978). Continued use of drugs causes death. Nowadays one in every four deaths is attributed to illicit drug abuse. Excessive alcohol consumption causes erectile dysfunctions.

Drug abuse and trafficking lead to the disintegration of families. Household instability comes because of irregular and low income in the family. The increasing abuse of heroin in Australia may cause a breakdown in the family cohesion. Drug abuse causes an increase in street families and orphaned children. Children born with disabilities due to parent's drug abuse suffer in their lives due to other individual's mistakes.

Students who abuse drug suffer from short-term memory impairment hence affects their performance in academics. Decreased cognitive efficiency contributes to reduced self-esteem. When the student realizes that he cannot perform well in class, they lose their sense of identity, which in return causes more drug consumption, thus the creation of a vicious circle (Thompson et al. 2009). Some drugs such as bhang and alcohol may cause one to be violent. Students who misuse such stimulants can be a threat to other students mostly in boarding institution. Some students may abuse drugs and start fighting the rest. This lawlessness can cause injuries, destruction of properties and even death. Students whose parents are lost in drugs fail to get sufficient education since the parents may fail to consider educating their young ones. These students live a life full of regrets and develop an attitude towards their parents.

Drugs abuse is interrelated with crime and dangers for the civil society. The illicit consumption of drugs is a criminal offense in most countries especially countries that are signatories to the United Nations drug control conventions. The production and distribution of some drugs are done without the consent of the law. Drug abuse increases the likelihood of criminal activities. Trafficking groups compete for market share violently whereas the drug consumers use any alternative to finance their addiction. It increases the rate of theft, kidnapping, and prostitution in the society. Countries that produce high quantities of these drugs such as Colombia have high levels of crime. The Colombian government relates high death rates of its citizens in the last two decades to the narcotics trade.

Illicit drugs cause destruction to the environment. Most of the illicit drugs are grown in forests calling for deforestation. Other people practice monoculture where drugs are planted together with staple food creating health hazards. Secondly, some environmentally dangerous chemicals are used to fasten the maturation of these drugs. The Andean countries serve as a good case where coca farmers deforest hillsides prone to erosion (Singer, 2008).

Ways of controlling drugs and alcohol abuse in Australia

Prevention of drug abuse is a national public goal. It is the role of every citizen to ensure that drug abuse in Australia is reduced. The most important thing is ensuring that prevention programs are put in place to curb drug and alcohol abuse.

The parents have the role of condemning drug use. Parents should guide their children while at a tender age. If parents wait to guide their children at an older age, there is high likeliness that they will be already influenced by their peers or started abusing drugs and alcohol. Parents should also avoid abusing drugs in the presence of their children. This habit may motivate these kids to engage in drug and alcohol abuse.

People should come up with national campaigns against drugs abuse. Such media campaigns educate people on the effects of drugs and encouraging those already abusing to quit. The media plays an essential role since it has a broad reach. In the US, anti-drug media campaign began in 1998 has managed to ensure that ads run in televisions, radios, and videos to discourage drugs abuse. With time, the media campaign will lessen the need of drug treatment. In the past, some campaigns have been formed directed on anti-alcohol consumption mobilization. These campaigns include the Respect Yourself and 100% Control campaigns that mobilize young people in Western Australia.

Mentoring sessions should be available for all the citizens. Mentoring programs will educate on various challenges people face especially the youth on drugs abuse. Secondly, schools should be drug-free. School co-coordinators should adopt practical measures that will reduce drugs and crime (Treno & Lee, 2002). Assessing schools will ensure that students do not engage in drug abuse. School-based programs are essential in educating on the effects of alcohol consumption.

Drug addiction treatment should be administered to drug users to stop the compulsive drug seeking. Treatment has many forms and takes different durations since it is a chronic disorder characterized by occasional relapse. Addiction can be treated using behavioral therapy, use of medication or combination of both depending on what the therapist proposes. After treatment, follow up sessions are necessary to teach them on better ways to enjoy leisure.

From the above discussion, it is clear that drugs and alcohol abuse have nothing positive to add to an individual. Instead, drugs ruin one's life; make one poor and sends implication of a person to other people. Australia has been on the frontline discouraging drugs abuse. However, everybody should take place in educating his or her friends on the effects of drugs to themselves and the society. In conclusion, everyone should understand addiction is a disease affecting the brain and ending drug abuse is not a simple willpower matter.



References

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Gaffney, A., Jones, W., Sweeney, J., & Payne, J. (2010). Drug use monitoring in Australia: 2008 annual report on drug use among police detainees. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.

Hughes, K., MacKintosh, A. M., Hastings, G., Wheeler, C., Watson, J., & Inglis, J. (1997). Young people, alcohol, and designer drinks: quantitative and qualitative study. BMj, 314(7078), 414.

Kaestner, R. (1999). Does drug use cause poverty? The economic analysis of substance use and abuse: An integration of econometrics and behavioral economic research (pp. 327-368). University of Chicago Press.

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Singer, M. (2008). Drugs and development: The global impact of drug use and trafficking on social and economic development. International journal of drug policy, 19(6), 467-478.

Thompson, B. L., Levitt, P., & Stanwood, G. D. (2009). Prenatal exposure to drugs: effects on brain development and implications for policy and education. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 10(4), 303.

Treno, A. J., & Lee, J. P. (2002). Approaching alcohol problems through local environmental interventions. Alcohol research and health, 26(1), 35-41.

Valente, T. W., Ritt‐Olson, A., Stacy, A., Unger, J. B., Okamoto, J., & Sussman, S. (2007). Peer acceleration: effects of a social network tailored substance abuse prevention program among high‐risk adolescents. Addiction, 102(11), 1804-1815.