Substance abuse is among the most pressing problems that continue to plague the US. This challenge persists despite the various interventions that the nation has implemented to combat it. In addition to investing in treatment, the nation has also adopted public sensitization campaigns. These efforts appear to be failing because the US does not have a clear understanding of drug taking and substance abuse. To experience greater success with its interventions, the US needs to begin by clearly examining the traditions and patterns of drug use.
The traditions of drug use in the US are rather complex and interesting. One of these traditions concern morality and rebellion. As Gopalan (2017) established, drug taking in the US is a moral issue because it runs against the nation’s values. The moral nature of this issue helps to explain why the US has implemented a range of aggressive solutions. For instance, the War on Drugs is an attempt by the nation to rid itself of the immoral substance abuse problem. For young individuals involved in drug taking, substance abuse is generally regarded as an expression of rebellion and rejection of society’s impositions (Luthar & Ansary, 2005). By understanding these issues, the US can develop solutions which tackle the root causes of substance use.
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Drug taking in the US is showing patterns that could inform the nation’s efforts to eradicate the problem. Data indicates that over the last few years, the US has witnessed a worrying increase in the number of individuals using various substances. Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and cocaine remain the most commonly used drugs (Degenhardt et al., 2007). It is also worth noting that new substances are emerging and claiming thousands of lives in the country. Opioids are among these drugs. Every year, the nation loses thousands of its citizens to opioid overdoses and this has led to the declaration of the opioid crisis as a national emergency.
In conclusion, as is the case with many other nations, the US is struggling to protect its people from the substance use problem. The difficulty that the nation is facing can be blamed on its failure to understand the complex dynamics of substance abuse. In particular, the nation does not fully recognize how drug use traditions and patterns affect its people and any interventions that it has implemented. For various anti-drug abuse solutions to yield success, the nation needs to understand that substance use is deeply-rooted in its culture.
References
Degenhardt, L., Chiu, W. T., Sampson, N., Kessler, R. C., & Anthony, J. C. (2007). Epidemiological patterns of drug use in the United States: Evidence from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, 2001–2003. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 90 (2-3), 210-23.
Gopalan, J. (2017). The junkie and the addict: the moral war on drugs. Harvard Political Review. Retrieved December 8, 2019 from https://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/the-junkie-and-the-addict-the-moral-war-on-drugs/
Luthar, S. S., & Ansary, N. S. (2005). Dimensions of adolescent rebellion: Risks for academic failure among high- and low-income youth. Development and Psychopathology , 17 (1), 231-50.
