COURSE STUDENT Abhishek Upadhyay Scientific Leader Svetlana Smirnova DEPARTMENT

Upadhyay

Scientific Leader
Svetlana Smirnova

DEPARTMENT OF
MEDICAL BIOLOGY

Social problems of modern society, related to drug use, smoking, alcoholism.

addiction is that it solely affects the life of the

user. However, the idea that they aren’t hurting anyone except for themselves is an excuse that many individuals who abuse drugs use in order to justify their addiction. Drug addiction is not a one-person phenomenon, and it creates a domino effect on the lives of those around them. It is a social problem that normalizes drug use and affects individuals and their families.

affect the person who is using. However, because addiction is

a destructive issue that can have an adverse effect on the community, family, and individual, it’s very rare that other people aren’t affected. An individual neglecting their responsibilities as a result of drugs can negatively affect their career, children’s education, or family’s financial security. Their impact can also extend outside of the immediate family. Friends or community members who rely on their presence or companionship can suffer from their absence.

associated with addiction. Although the specific effects vary between drugs,

prolonged abuse of any substance can lead to chronic disease or alter an individual’s productivity. The most permanent effect of drug addiction is death, which becomes more likely through addiction because of increased tolerance leading to overdose.

between crime and drug addictions that is mainly contributed to

the illegal status of commonly abused drugs. Not only is it illegal to carry many of these drugs but an individual’s lowered inhibitions when under the influence can encourage them to commit other crimes. The types of crime that an individual may commit when on drugs is extensive and dependent on a variety of sub-factors, but regardless, drug users are more likely than nonusers to commit crime. Petty theft in order to obtain drugs and satiate their cravings when desperate is another way in which drugs influence individuals to commit crimes.

catalyst for many major social problems, including drugged driving, violence, stress,

and child abuse, and it can further lead to homelessness, crime, and joblessness. According to a recent USA Today article, more Americans die from drug overdoses today (nearly 44,000 deaths a year) than from car accidents or any other type of injury. Drug abuse also harms unborn babies and destroys families.

some people who try drugs, although obviously not all, go

on to take more and more and become addicted as a result. Non-users mistakenly assume that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower and that they should just be able to stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. 

drug addiction is a disease and there are lots of

risk factors that can contribute to your getting that disease, including your genes, what kind of school you attend, what kind of neighborhood you live in, and what kinds of people you hang around with. Incidentally, these same factors can also protect you from getting the disease.

and substance abuse, also known as drug abuse and substance

use disorder, yields negative consequences for individuals as well as society, with an estimated $700 billion annually in costs related to crime, lost work productivity and health care

is the best way to ensure success for most patients.

However, the best is to prevent drug abuse in the first place. Results from NIDA-funded research show that prevention programs through education outreach involving families, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. Likewise, teachers, parents, and medical and public health professionals must consistently send the message that drug addiction can be prevented if one never abuses drugs.