Illegal and legal substance use issues regarding physical, social, and psychological effects

Abstract

Illegal and legal drug use is associated with social, physical, and psychological problems that contribute to a significant burden on an individual's life, children, society, and families. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the problems and emphasize the importance of creating and implementing effective prevention programs that involve the family, community, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. The first part introduces the issue of drug use in adolescence stage and the increased risk of substance use. The second part is a literature review about what influence adolescents to drug use and the commonly used drugs and their effects. The third section is a discussion on what the literature reveals about drug use including the importance of focusing on the many risk factors that occur during adolescent years. The paper concludes that substance use is a major problem and solving the problem should go beyond the effects and consider the factors that increase risky behaviors. The paper recommends a multidisciplinary approach where all stakeholders should collaborate in coming up with effective treatment.

 

Introduction

Illegal and legal drug use is a health risk issue that people can change and lead a healthy life. Yet, the issue has become a lifestyle where at the age of 15, the habit of substance use develops. At adulthood, people abuse drugs not because they make a choice but it is because they started at an early age and hence they are unable to quit the habit. Despite the social, physical, and psychological costs, the prevalence rate is high among adolescents. Continued use of the drug is associated with physical effects which cause long term damage to memory and learning.  The research finds that adolescents experience concentration difficulty and they engage in violent behavior Adolescents use drugs for recreational purposes but they fail to acknowledge the difficulties associated with drug use especially when the drug changes the brain. Adolescents feel a sensation of pleasure and rewards but a continual overstimulation leads to impaired cognitive function and changes in memory. On social effects, drug users are seen as deviants and they are unable to cope up with the stigma surrounding the use of the drug. They end up being lonely due to failure to maintain a social relationship and to fulfill social responsibilities. The research paper recommends that since drug abuse occurs due to many risk factors such as interpersonal risks, brain changes, family factors, and community factors, prevention programs should identify the demographic risks factor and come up with effective prevention approaches that address each risk. As recent research and studies predict the effects of the drug on social, physical, and psychological aspects, future research should focus on effective ways of combating the issue and this will be achieved through a balanced mix of treatment and education to promote physical and mental well-being. 

Literature review

Researchers have examined the physical, social, and psychological effects of illegal and legal substances and they have reported similar findings that legal and illegal drugs have contributed to rapid changes in social, physical, and psychological life. There are many causes of tension in these areas of life but legal and illegal drugs contribute greatly to family disunity, social marginalization, and psychological problems. First, it is important to understand the reasons why people especially young people use the drug. Herpertz-Dahlmann et al. (2013) assert that drug use is common among teenagers between 16 years to 24 years.  Between 16-24 years, the majority use cannabis, and amphetamine sulfate. The widespread fear is not about the prevalence but it is about the effect of these drugs on the social, physical, and psychological wellbeing of the users. It is difficult to create and implement prevention and treatment without understanding why young people use drugs.   Herpertz-Dahlmann et al. (2013) assert that according to the recent literature, young people use legal and illegal drugs to feel better, and increase self-confidence among other purposes such as sleep or lose weight.  For example, amphetamine is an instrumental drug. This means that the drug is used while operating to improve concentration. The research also provides a new understanding that there is a gender difference in using drugs. For example, young females use legal and illegal drugs as a way to interact with their peers. Others use drugs to lose weight and to increase wakefulness. On the other and, males use drugs to increase the risks of using another drug (Herpertz-Dahlmann et al. 2013). There is also an age difference in using drugs in that older users engage more in drug users merely because they do no worry about the future.  A point to note is that all these purposes have implications and much of the literature aims at informing the young users that drugs both legal and illegal are dangerous. The literature also aims to encourage care providers to consider the motivation behind drug use to develop prevention programs  (Herpertz-Dahlmann et al. (2013). For example, the research reports that young people use drugs to fulfill functions. The programmers should target these substances and the functions they influence. 

Having understood the driving force for a drug user, Juarez-Portilla et al (2018) assert that psychoactive drugs affect the nervous system that is responsible for; learning and memory.  The United Nationals Office on drugs and Crime reported that out of billions of people who use psychoactive drugs, 29.5 million are unable to stop using drugs (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018).  Note that drug dependence means that the more a person is abusing drugs, the more he is likely to develop cognitive and psychomotor retardation. Unlike drug abusers who only develop symptoms because they are not routine users, drug dependency leads to serious effects.  For example, drugs such as nicotine and amphetamine cause memory loss. What happens is that when these drugs enter into the brain, they affect the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018).  Parts of this brain system include the cerebral cortex and amygdala. Note that during adolescence, these parts of the brain are developing. When young people are exposed to the drug, parts such as the frontal lobe are damaged and what happens is that the users experience difficulties in acquiring knowledge, reasoning, focusing, low emotional intelligence, and other problems (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018).While talking about the driving force to drug use, the literature stated that young people use drugs for different reasons such as feel confident, stay awake, feel energetic, and more. Juarez-Portilla et al (2018) add that stimulant drugs fulfill this role and the results negatively affect the learning and memory. For example, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime reports that people who use stimulant drugs develop cognitive impairment.

 The World Health Organization report that about one billion people use nicotine. As the research has revealed, young people use drugs to improve executive function, increase focus, gain awareness, and more (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018). However, research finds that nicotine increases tolerance or the user is forced to take large amounts to feel the effect. The more the user take a higher amount, the more the drug affects the neurocognitive functions. Brains parts such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus which are responsible for memory and learning are affected (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018).  Methamphetamine is also associated with drug relapse.  As previously reported, young people use methamphetamine for recreational purposes.  However, methamphetamine causes cell death and kills nerves as a result of toxins in the nervous system. Anatomically, the drug affects the front striatal circuit that is responsible for cognitive and behavioral functions. When these circuits are affected, the users develop neurocognitive impairment. The drug also affects the domain transporters and insular and striatum and effects to these parts cause memory impairment, and difficulty in making decisions (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018). Cocaine as stated above is also used for recreational purpose but on a negative note, it releases toxins which affect the prefrontal cortex and the effect on the brain part causes an alteration in the behavior and cognitive function.

A depressant drug such as alcohol has a biphasic effect- meaning that alcohol users can use a low amount and feel happy and social. This means that the alcohol is very low in the blood and hence no adverse effects. However, a higher level of alcohol in the blood affects the working memory. This means that the users are unable to retrieve information and repeat the acquire information (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018). Cannabis affects the gray matter. This means that the neuronal cell bodies responsible for memory, decision making, seeing, and other roles are decreased. As result, the users develop learning and memory impairment. For example, a randomized clinical trial showed that marijuana consumption impairs working memory. This occurs during acute initiation but later, long-term use affects cognitive abilities. This means that in adulthood, youths who used to use cannabis develop maladaptive behaviors. Anxiety and depression are common among young children aged 8 to 15 years (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018).  However, treatment for these conditions is available but they have negative side effects such as cognitive impairment. Other than anxiety and depression, painful injuries that occur during sports activities are managed using anti-inflammatory drugs which cause cognitive impairment.  Finally, cognitive-enhancing drugs or drugs used to treat conditions such as Alzheimer's disease are abused by young people to increase academic performance (Juárez‐Portilla et al. 2018).  However, these drugs do not increase performance in a significant way but rather they are associated with negative cognitive effects.

 The research does not only concentrate on how legal and illegal drugs change the brain but it goes further to shed light on how drug users are unable to cope with social problems.  Substance use starts during adolescence according to the World Health Report that says in 2011, the total number of users of illegal substances was 167 to 315 million and they were between the ages of 15-64 (Poudel, 2016). All users regardless of age experience family and social problems. Note that as stated above, when substance users develop psychological impairment, they do not succeed in life and they end up developing interpersonal problems.  For example, adolescents with cognitive impairments cannot create social relationships nor perform well at school. They experience academic difficulties and hence earn low grades. An important point is that the research reveals that social problems are at a higher level during adolescence. This is because, during the age of initiation which is the adolescence age, substance users move from experimental pattern to compulsive pattern, and by the time they reach the final pattern, they go through significant social problems including school dropout (Poudel, 2016). Smith & Wilson, (2016) add that adolescents do not only experience social problems because they engaged in drug behaviors but social problems are also contributed by parents. For example, parents who use drugs are unable to take care of their children in terms of meeting their basic needs. For example, a national government survey reported that in the U.S population, 9.4% of people aged 12 years use psychoactive substances. The survey also found that the cost of substance abuse was $510.8 billion in 2013 (Smith & Wilson, 2016). The total costs occur in areas such as motor vehicle crashes, loss of employment, property damage, treatment and prevention, and other areas. Children who live in a family where parents use drugs experience conflict and stress and are exposed to risks of abuse. Note that when parents abuse drugs, they develop medical conditions that increase hospitalization. Other parents experience mental health problems and this indicates that they are unable to care for their children and this leads to family instability.  

Another point is that social problems arise due to stigmatization. Note that substance users are seen as complex human beings. They experience bullying, harassment, isolation, limited opportunities among other stereotype (Berliner, 2013). Since the behavior of substance use is seen as immoral behavior, drug users experience social hardships such as lack of friends, lack of employment, lack of finance, and more. In society, drug users experience social inequality an injustice merely because they are socially labeled as bad people. Substance use causes structural violence where drug users are denied their identity and freedom. It is also important to note that social problems are internalized- the society members view the drug users as minorities and expose them to risky behaviors such as drug addiction (Berliner, 2013). Drug users suffer in poverty and they do not access healthcare due to discrimination. They experience economic crisis since they are subjected to lack of employment, and low wages, which increases anxiety and depression. Within the families, drug users experience frustrations merely because their families do not accept them.  As a result of the damaged relationship, drug users develop sadness and shame.

 Furthermore, law students who abuse drugs experience anxiety and stress, but they suffer in silence. Some factors hinder them from seeking help.  The issue of mental health is not empirically studied. However, since 1968, researchers have attempted to examine the issue of mental health of law students and similar findings have been reported by empirical studies conducted in the 1960s and 1970s (Organ et al. 2016). The findings are that law students suffer silently from anxiety and mental health affects their study, behaviors, and social life.  Recent studies (2004-2007) have found the same findings that law students suffer from a physical health problem. In 2014, the mental Health Alliance reported that law students at Yale Law School develop a mental problem that affects their social life.  However, despite similar findings from different studies that law students experience a mental health problem, no research has focused on substance use to examine whether it is the cause of the mental problem (Organ et al. 2016). However, when a national study was done in 1990, it revealed that law students abuse drugs. For example, law students reported alcohol use, marijuana use, cocaine use, and prescription drug use such as anxiety medication and anti-depressants.  Law students also reported the motive behind substance use is to concentrate, increase alertness, and increase academic performance. A screening was done and the screening data showed that law students were positive on depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide. The empirical information also revealed that despite the challenges that law students experience, they do not seek help.  On a positive note, law students reported that if they were to seek help, 81% would consult health professionals, and 14% would consult a dean of students.  However, despite the positive response, only 4% of drug users had consulted a health professional (Organ et al. 2016). They reported that they do not seek help as they believe they can address the issue by themselves, and others reported the fear of social stigma. They also reported that seeking help would ruin their academic status.

 

Discussion

The overall purpose of the literature review was to examine the social, physical, and psychological effects of legal and illegal drugs. Illegal and legal drugs are associated with social problems, physical illness, and psychosocial problems. Drug use is common among adolescences in both developed and developing countries. There is evidence that young people start using the drug at the age of 15 (Kooreman, 2017). Since adolescence is a period when the central nervous system is developing fully, it means that young people will develop cognitive impairment.  For example, alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana harm brain development, and exposure to drugs brings structural changes which will affect the central nervous system. However, it is important to understand that during adolescence, the prefrontal cortex develops and becomes responsible for behavioral performance. This part of the brain will influence the adolescence toward developing new behaviors including risky behaviors such as sentence use (Kooreman, 2017). In this literature review, the first main point is that in addressing the issue of substance use, it is important to understand the natural changes that occur in the brain. It is important to understand that adolescents experience structural changes that may increase the risk of substance use. Thus, drug prevention and treatment policy should be designed in a way that it targets the pre-adolescence and adolescent periods (Kooreman, 2017). For example, having learned that brain change exposes adolescents to risky behaviors, health programs should focus on helping young children and adolescents engage in socially acceptable behaviors such as rock climbing.  It is also vital to come up with a healthy information campaign and provide youth and parents with this scientific information. As they learn about brain development, they will learn that substance use is harmful and therefore they should reject illegal drugs.

 The literature review has also revealed that there are many contributing factors to the drug but the major is family factors. From the literature, there is an evidence that parents' behavior or parents who abuse drugs affect a child's substance abuse. Note that if a parent is a drug user, there is a higher probability that the child will also engage in such behaviors, and more so, they will suffer psychologically, socially, and physically (Smith & Wilson, 2016). Teenagers need support from parents, good communication, positive relationship, and stability.  However, when parents abuse drugs, children will be exposed to poverty, sexual assaults, abuse, and drug use behaviors.  In addressing the issue of drug use, health care providers should consider parental drug abuse since some children are influenced by parental behaviors. Another important point is that stigma is around the issue of drug abuse.  Society believes that people who abuse drugs are deviant and thus, they are discriminated in all social settings (Smith & Wilson, 2016). Substance abusers develop shame and fear and rather than seeking help, they suffer in silence. For example, there is little research concerning why law students suffer from depression and anxiety. Recent research and studies have confirmed that the students’ abuse drugs and they suffer in silence as they fear that it is their fault to engage in such behaviors.  In addressing these issues, it is important to eliminate the myth that surrounds the drug use behavior.  Society needs to know that many factors may drive someone to drug use behaviors. Some factors such as family factors, economic inequality, poverty, and others may influence adolescents toward drug user behaviors (Smith & Wilson, 2016). Thus, public policies should target educating society and also eliminate the negative attitude toward drug abusers.

 

Conclusion

Today, illegal and legal drug use is a social, physical, and psychological problem. It is estimated that the prevalence is high from the age of 15 and above and users of all ages subject themselves to consumption that affects them socially, physically, and psychologically. Evidence has shown that young people engage in drug use behaviors to stay high and feel relaxed. Cognitive impairment is a common effect of drug users and it occurs during adolescence and adults also experience impairment cognitive functions through dementia, depression, and other illnesses. Cognitive impairment occurs because the drugs interfere with a person's thinking and behaviors. Drug use also has devastating effects on social life where drug users become vulnerable to marginalization and disadvantage. There is evidence that in society, drug users are seen as bad people who should not enjoy social benefits such as education, employment, and healthcare. The issue of drug use is complex since its effects affect every aspect of life. To address the complex problem, a multidisciplinary approach and good partnership are needed to come up with policy and practice that not only focus on the effects but also the contributing factors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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