From the reading, the issue identified is one of substance abuse among older adults. For the reading, it supports the issue by revealing that abuse serves as quite common in the event of older adults. It offers the prevalence of substance abuse among alder adults, while 17 percent of them are considered as involved in substance abuse, especially alcohol, illegal drugs, marijuana, as well as prescription medications. Additionally, it reveals the negative effects that substance abuse has on older adults, such as when it leads to increased tolerance to drugs due to changes that result from aging together with intense impact on health. In terms of the forces impacting prevalence of substance abuse, they include age within which less older adults abuse drugs unlike the case of other drugs. Furthermore, it reveals that men have higher chances of abusing drugs. Additionally, it reveals the repercussions that result from alcoholism together with the risk factors, such as isolation, peer influence, use of alcohol in the family, being male, low education levels, and insufficient income. In addition, the paper provides ways through which substance abuse can be treated. As such, this issue is significant since it provides an avenue for understanding the severe impacts of drug abuse and the benefits that individuals would realize once they stop indulging in such practices.
From my perspective, the major theme I will focus on is the negative influences associated with alcoholism. When it comes to alcoholism, it affects individuals, especially older adults in various ways. For instance, it results to deterioration of their health, leaves them financially unstable, in line with increased cases of breakups in families. Alcoholism is a growing problem, which would affect the society negatively if not addressed in an effective manner. Regarding my thinking, it is based on the increased costs that alcoholism leads to, especially on matters related to treatment of chronic illnesses that result from alcoholism. Alcoholism also leads the society to be less productive. Thus, addressing the issue of alcoholism would contribute greatly to an improved and productive society.
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Based on the issue, I would consider the two main sides of the issue as having certain strengths and weaknesses. Firstly, when it comes to health impacts of alcoholism, the issue that I would perceive as a strength is that individuals who drink in a responsible manner and have awareness concerning the negative effects of alcoholism would be able to live productive lives. On the weakness of this issue, reliance on alcohol leads to addiction, which poses many health problems to individuals who consume alcohol. Secondly, alcoholism is affiliated with financial impacts. In terms of strength, alcohol is considered as one of the major sources of revenue for the government, hence facilitates in making the society a better place through investments in infrastructure from the taxes levied on alcohol. However, in terms of weaknesses, alcoholism hurts the people who use alcohol financially to an extent that irresponsible drinkers end up becoming poor as well as incapable of supporting their families financially.
In my case, I have personal experience that is relevant to the issue. I have a neighbor who usually drinks on a daily basis. He directs any finances that he acquires to alcohol. As such, he has been incapable of supporting his family financially. His children keep being chased away from school while the household is usually violent during certain times. Based on this encounter, I have come to realize that alcoholism is leads to numerous negative effects, particularly in the event of those people who consume alcohol in an irresponsible manner. Thus, alcoholism I have come to associate alcoholism with more wrongs as opposed to good things.
