Substance abuse affects society on many levels, in many ways. Society as a whole is impacted by drug abuse of the individual, and so are friends, families and the individuals themselves.
Impact on Society
One way that society, as a whole, is affected is through criminal acts. According to ONDCP, in 1997, 22.4% of federal inmates, and 32.6% of state inmates reported being under the influence of drugs at the time of their crime. (Fallow)
Another aspect of drug-related crime is when drug users steal in order to maintain their drug addiction. In the same report referenced above, 10% of federal inmates and 17% of state inmates report having committed the crime they were arrested for in order to facilitate obtaining their drug of choice. (Fallow)
A third dimension to the drug-related crime aspect is the crime that is generated from the traffic and sale of the drugs themselves. Violent crimes, in particular, have long been associated with the drug trade. Competition for customers and territory, and disputes between the individuals involved in the trafficking can easily lead to violence.
Of course, all this crime means that there are criminals waiting to be caught, processed through the justice system and, possibly, incarcerated. The average cost to incarcerate a prisoner is between $20,261 and $23,542 annually. (Schmidt)
If drug treatment is ordered and pursued instead of incarceration, the cost is greatly reduced. The cost for treatment averages $2,941. When the savings were calculated, it was determined that society as a whole saves $3 for every $1 spent on drug treatment programs. These savings come from reduced crime-related costs, reduced healthcare costs (since prisoners’ healthcare is on the taxpayer dime) and increased earning potential on the part of the person receiving treatment. (Schmidt)
Impact on Family and Friends
Drug addiction does not just affect society in general. It can have a very devastating effect on the people who surround the addict.
Consider the following facts, provided by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in one of their pamphlets.
• Regular alcohol abuse is one of the leading risk factors for partner violence
• Women who have been abused are 15 times more likely to abuse alcohol and 9 times more likely to abuse other drugs
• 36% of domestic violence victims also have substance abuse problems
• 69% of women in therapy for substance abuse say that they were sexually abused as children (NCADV)
While it has not been shown that domestic violence causes substance abuse disorders, or that substance abuse causes domestic violence to occur, the above facts demonstrate that the two can often go hand in hand with each other.
Alcohol and other drug use can also have a negative effect on children in the home. The Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug & other Addiction Services states that, “Approximately one in four children is exposed to family alcoholism or addiction, or alcohol abuse, some time before the age of 18.” (TAAADAS)
We discussed how that increases the risk of violence, but it also increases the risk that the child will grow up to abuse alcohol or other drugs themselves. A child of alcoholic is four times as likely as the average child to grow up, and become an alcoholic themselves. (Psychiatry, 2002)
Additionally, if the abuser is a pregnant female, there is the risk to the fetus as a result of the alcohol or other drug abuse. Alcohol use has been tied to fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome actually affects development of the child both physically and mentally. Low birth weights and facial abnormalities are some of the more distinctive physical traits. (Kidshealth.org)
Tobacco use has been linked to low birth weights. Some drugs can actually create a physical dependency in the fetus. When these babies are born, they are already addicted to the drug of their mother’s choice. Certain prescription drugs can also cause problems, and if prenatal care is received, the mother may be advised to discontinue the use of that prescription, or change it to something safer.(County)
Effects on the Individual
Lastly, drug abuse has negative effects on the individual involved. Addiction is both a physical and psychological problem. Some view addiction as a “career”, or a series of phases.
Initially, a person may try a drug out of a desire to fit in with their peer group, or as an escape method. Or perhaps they are just curious about how it feels to use the drug. This may actually occur several times, until the individual begins to enjoy the use of the drug, or see it as necessary for social interaction.
Then, as the indivual’s body begins to adapt and build up a tolerance to the drug, their use may increase. In an effort to recapture that initial euphoria, the drug abuser may continue to use more and more of the substance, risking severe injury or even death by overdose.
The third phase is referred to as the maintenance phase. At this point, the addict feels like they are successful. They are still using the drugs, but still, mostly, able to function in society.
The next phase is the dysfunctional phase. The user begins to have problems as a result of their constant drug use. These problems might be in the workforce or at home. They may be health related. The user may make unsuccessful attempts to give up their addiction.
The fifth phase is recovery. The addict attempts to quit, and may succeed. They may use outside help to achieve this, such as treatment facilities, counseling or other medication.
The final stage is having successfully quit. Some addicts will tell you that this stage is a myth, and that you are always a recovering addict, never fully recovered.
(Hanson, 2009)
We know that addiction is physically hard on a person. It can shave years off of a person’s life. Dr. Alan Leshner told PBS: Frontline in an interview, “The latest studies show that the life expectancy of a drug addict is 15 to 20 years after they start being a drug addict.” (MD Leshner)
In conclusion, we can see that drug use and abuse has a negative effect on our world in many different ways, on many different levels.
Works Cited
County, W. (n.d.). Birth Defects Article. Retrieved July 28, 2010, from http://www.co.waushara.wi.us/images/Birth%20Defects%20Article.pdf
Fallow, D. a. (n.d.). Drug-Related Crime: Factsheet. Retrieved July 16, 2010, from ONDCP: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/crime/index.html
Hanson, V. a. (2009). Drugs and Society. Jones and Bartlett.
Kidshealth.org. (n.d.). Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Retrieved July 15, 2010, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/fas.html
MD Leshner, A. (n.d.). Frontline: drug wars. (PBS, Interviewer)
NCADV. (n.d.). Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence. Retrieved July 12, 2010, from National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.fivecountymha.org/Doctor%20Is%20In/Oct%209%20PEarnhart/substanceabuseanddomesticviolence.pdf
Psychiatry, A. A. (2002, November). Children of Alcoholics. Retrieved July 16, 2010, from http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+of+Alcoholics§ion;=Facts+for+Families
Schmidt, G. (n.d.). Drug Treatment in the Criminal Justice System. Retrieved July 09, 2010, from ONDCP: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/treatment/index.html
TAAADAS. (n.d.). Alcohol Facts. Retrieved July 13, 2010, from http://www.taadas.org/factsheets/alcoholstats.htm
