Dependency Issues, Essay Example

Introduction

There is a wide degree of addiction to hard drugs today but perhaps the worst is Heroin addiction. The focus is based upon Heroin addiction, described in medical terms as a chronic disorder. This type of substance abuse can lead towards cognitive damage i.e. brain disorder, mental illness and cause both physical and psychological damage to the user. The hypothesis being based upon the assumption that those of lower socio-economic status are more likely to become victims of heroin abuse, particularly within the male gender.

It is without a doubt that heroin is one of the most addictive of all the drugs being used today – Heroin has been described as one of the world’s most dangerous drugs; nothing carries such a high potential for social, psychological and mental illness problems. (Heroin.net, 2010). Heroin addiction does not discriminate amongst the addicts, despite age, gender or socio-economic status. In the USA there is a very diverse range of addicts who have become dependent upon the drug. In addition to the immediate health hazards like liver failure and the lethal risk of overdose. Those that share needles also place themselves at serious risk of contracting other serious diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. Trying to overcome heroin addiction on your own is virtually impossible. The best course of action is to get help from a prescribed treatment centre.

Other Substance Dependencies

This remains a critical problem for business today with some estimated $30 billion being lost in productivity owing to drug use and some $60 billion applicable to alcohol abuse. Those workers who had reported drug use missed more than two days per month at work and on average had more than three employers per year. “ Out of 16.6 million drug users, 12.5 million (75%) are employed and out of 51.1 million binge drinkers 41 million (81%) were employed” (Office of National Drug Control, 2012).

It is interesting to note that approximately half a million heroin addicts land up in jail each year. A majority of those in jail do not receive medical treatment for their addiction. The World Health Authority issued guidelines that stated the prisons should offer appropriate medical treatment to addicts. It is clear that most prisons are not abiding by these guidelines. The addicts also eventually get released from jail without any referral to medication or health support. This sees them back on the streets and resorting to criminal activities in order to feed the habit. Subsequently these people find themselves back in jail and so the vicious cycle continues.

References

Office of National Drug Control. (2012, 1 17). Drug Free Workplace. Retrieved from Office of National Drug Control: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/prev..