The term drugs is occasionally confused by most people as illegal or illicit, but the term refers to both legal and illegal. Health practitioners commonly prescribe licit drugs to patients, or they are legally available for instance tobacco, which is a legal stimulant or alcohol. The law due to their physical and psychological harm, on the other hand, forbids illicit drugs to the users. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) groups the illicit drugs according to their risks when used or abused. The FDA classifies the drugs with the highest threat to the user’s health and wellbeing under Schedule 1 whereas the other class is Schedule II. Under the first category drugs such as heroin, ecstasy, and LSD are some of the most dangerous thus are under the first schedule, whereas cocaine, morphine, and methadone are in the Schedule II ("Signs of Addiction | Drugs, Alcohol, & Prescription Drugs", 2017). Although illicit drugs tend to be more harmful compared to the licit drugs, their scarcity due to the rules and regulation makes licit drugs to be abused more occasionally hence the higher rates of deaths from tobacco and alcohol compared to the illicit drugs (FRIEDEN, 2006).
Different reasons influences use of drugs with some being due to peer pressure, curiosity, and to curb stress among other factors. The beginning of drug use is mostly not harmful as most studies indicate, but the formation of the habit of using the drug leads to brain changes that make an individual dependent on the substance. The user increases the dosage to get to levels that were previously attained by consuming fewer amounts of the substance. The increased use leads to drug abuse and addiction for instance; alcoholism begins from the occasional consumption of beer during the weekend and becomes a daily activity. The brain and central nervous system become dependent on the substance thus leading to the different withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, depression, and mood swings among many other various symptoms ("Signs of Addiction | Drugs, Alcohol, & Prescription Drugs", 2017). If left untreated addiction leads to death or long-term health issues hence the need to acquire medication and therapies to mitigate and prevent the catastrophic finale.
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Multiple studies have tried to illustrate the impacts and effects of drugs abuse and addiction some focusing on the drug user whereas most deal with the impacts of addiction to the family of the user, peers, and colleagues. The family whereby any member starts using drugs and later becomes an addict is most affected by the addiction due to the various characteristics that the addict depicts (Crisp, 2010). It is clear that drugs have different signs and reaction depending on the type of drugs being abused and the person consuming the substances. The family that is the partner, and the children suffer when the breadwinner starts to use all their finances on drugs and may cripple the finances of the family (Mauro, 2007). The person who was responsible in the past throws away all the caution to the wind and is no longer worried or responsible to those who matter to him/her.
Drugs become the most important thing in his/her life and will do anything to get the drugs. Most youths who become drug users tend to steal from the family to finance their drugs consumptions. Studies demonstrate that most of the addicts will always deny that they are addicts and will always turn angry or violent when confronted with their problem.
The family faces the hugest and most devastating effects when one of the members is a drug addict. Their understanding of the family member makes it possible them to notice the changes in character, actions, and mood swings characterizing the drug addict (Crisp, 2010). Once noticing the change to irresponsibility, among other symptoms discussed earlier they should seek to speak to the victim in a kind and gentle manner to make them understand they are becoming addicted or the changes they are noticing. Failure to correct the mess earlier will eventually lead to job loss, family breaking, influencing the younger siblings to consume drugs, and health risks (Barnard, & Joseph Rowntree Foundation., 2005). The family members should expect a denial from the substance addict but must be vigilant to ensure that the person understands the need for change and access to medication and therapy.
The family should arrange for rehabilitation whether the addict complies or does not comply to attend the rehabilitation. Past studies argued that the success of substance abuse rehabilitation is dependent on the willingness of the addict but current studies demonstrate that the willingness is no longer consider a necessity due to the therapies and improvement in medication (Barnard, 2007). The children should be responsible for aiding the individual in overcoming the addiction since they are the closest to the person and making an effort to assist the individual will ensure they do not feel unwanted by their closest people in their lives. The efforts will ensure that individual tries harder to stop the vice for the sake of the supportive family members.
References
Barnard, M., & Joseph Rowntree Foundation. (2005). Drugs in the family: The impact on parents and siblings . York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Barnard, M. (2007). Drug addiction and families . Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Crisp, B. (2010). Drug Addiction and Families. Australian Social Work , 63 (4), 467-468. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0312407x.2010.522966
FRIEDEN, J. (2006). Illegal Drug Use Down, but Prescription Abuse Up. Family Practice News , 36 (2), 84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0300-7073(06)72580-4
Mauro, T. (2007). The Many Victims of Substance Abuse. Psychiatry (Edgmont) , 4 (9), 43–51.
Signs of Addiction | Drugs, Alcohol, & Prescription Drugs . (2017). Advanced Recovery Systems . Retrieved 21 August 2017, from https://www.advancedrecoverysystems.com/process-addiction/signs-of-addiction/
