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Americans have a complicated war other than the one in the Middle East to be concerned about. , a war that has gone on much longer -the war on drugs. According to a study at Brown University, if the current rate of people who have been incarcerated for drug violations continues, there will be more Americans in prison than out by the year 2053 (Alter 38). What many people do not realize is that drug addiction is a disease and if not treated properly this disease will continue to spread. When a person is arrested for drug addiction he or she should be treated for their disease rather than put in prison for it. In order to understand addiction a person must understand the effects drugs have on the brain and what outside forces have led the person to use.
The brain is a very complex system, which produces various chemicals that can stimulate pain, pleasure, tension, etc. These chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, are responsible for transmitting information between neurons. Neurons are individual cells that distribute the information to receptor-cites, which stimulate a feeling or emotion (Weiten 60, 62). Commonly known neurotransmitters are dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. The brain produces different amounts of each neurotransmitter. If the brain does not produce enough of a certain neurotransmitter the effects could lead to depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, (ADD) and other serious complications.
When a person uses drugs however, the neurotransmitters become unbalanced. Drugs alter the amount of neurotransmitters released and determine whether the receptor cites accept or block them. For example, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, and nicotine block the molecule that helps store dopamine. Alcohol on the other hand, releases dopamine (also known as the pleasure circuit) serotonin, and GABA.
Once a neurotransmitter is released it cannot be reused -therefore it is wasted. Experiences that used to bring pleasure become impotent so the addict continues to use the drug to avoid depression and irritability (Begley 42). Some solutions for an addicts depression are treatment, counseling, medications, and family support. However, if one does not seek treatment or if a facility is not available he or she will most likely end up dead, in prison, or on the streets. Some people feel that financing drug treatment facilities can be rather expensive and time consuming. However, money that has been collected from taxes and the national budget are actually put into anti-drug programs.
Such programs include D. A. R. E. , billboard advertising, and law enforcement, yet not in treatment centers. Politicians are now slowly beginning to recognize the seriousness of the disease and the importance of anti-drug facilities in addition to programs.
For example, during Nixon's presidency $ 200 million was used to help regulate drug control policies, in the 1980 s anti-drug programs cost nearly $ 20 billion, and during the Clinton Administration $ 15 million was spent as well (Coomber 109). And according to John Atler, a writer for Newsweek, two thirds of the federal drug budget is directed to law enforcement (38). These numbers prove that the government should reconsider the division of its funds. Furthermore, the costs of law enforcement and drug education take up more than 13 percent of states total budget, which happens to be 100 times more than what is spent on treatment.
Plus, for every dollar spent on treatment saves seven dollars in services, according to a study from Rand Corp. (Alter 39). Therefore, it is imperative that the government transfer funds equally between the prevention, treatment, and education of drug use. Drug use has become very popular in the United States in recent years. A study taken from 1965 - 1992 showed a devastatingly enormous increase in drug use by 1500 %. Furthermore, the number of drug violations in 1965 was 36. 4 per 100, 000 inmates, where as in 1992 the number rose to 554. 7 per 100, 000 inmates (Coomber 112). Sadly, the numbers are still increasing at a steady rate.
In the last twenty years the number of inmates has more than tripled, and 60 to 70 percent of those inmates tested positive for drug use on arrest (Alter 38). Many people do not feel that these drug offenders should be on the streets; however, what these people do not realize is the offenders should not be incarcerated either. Many states feel that substance abuse should not be taken lightly and the person needs some sort of discipline and punishment. Alarmingly, some states have gone as far to lengthen their mandatory sentencing time for convicted drug users and dealers, where as others who were convicted of a far more serious criminal offense either received a reduced sentence, or none at all (Coomber 114). The war on drugs continues to grow; however the approach to solve its problems are incorrect.
For example, drug users usually possess an antisocial behavior, which obviously cannot be effectively treated within a prison. Plus, the sub-culture serves as a reinforcing agent of the negative aspects of the offenders self-image and can further him still from the larger normative society. Even though some prisons do provide some counseling, the setting is artificial and the resources and strengths of the community cannot be utilized. As discussed earlier, incarceration is highly expensive as compared to costs of probation with a parole officer. Finally, the drug offender needs to slowly develop his or her strength in a realistic manner, which will allow him or her to cope with everyday stresses in life (Brill 189). Therefore, the drug abuser must not be incarcerated because he or she will not be able to cure their addiction effectively.
Although the problem is time consuming and difficult, there are alternative solutions to Americas ongoing drug problem. Some of these solutions include medications, drug courts, and long term treatment centers. In many cases of drug addiction the addict uses because of a chemical imbalance of the brain; therefore, they self-medicate themselves with illegal drugs. Consequently, the person becomes dependent upon the drug and in some cases, actually has to be prescribed medication to help them through withdrawal and relapse. Currently there are three common medications prescribed for people who have either a heroin habit or an addiction to other opiates. The first, known as methadone, is the most commonly used and taken orally and helps fight the side effects of withdrawal.
However, the medication can be highly addictive and can be dangerous in high doses. Therefore, the government restricts and limits the drug to specific clinics. A second medication named naltrexone helps addicts who wish to continue to remain clean and helps to fight cravings. Lastly, a new medication known as buprenorphine, which is less addictive but just as effective, helps the addict through withdrawal. As for alcoholism, a new drug is currently being tested, but currently there is no medication for cocaine and methamphetamine addiction (Cowley 46, 47). Although there are new drugs being tested daily, drug courts and long term treatment centers are also another part of the solution.
Drug courts are judicial systems that allow an addict a chance to recover rather than be incarcerated immediately upon arrest. Drug courts allow the drug offender to be put into treatment first. After being placed into an intense treatment program the addict can receive rewards for staying clean, or be put into jail for relapsing. Furthermore, longer term treatment centers statistically show that three fourths of people who have been through a 12 month program are still clean five years later (Alter 39). Most treatment centers however, generally last between 2 weeks and 28 days.
Thus, many people do not receive the long-term treatment needed in order to avoid relapse. Drug addiction consequently has become a very serious problem, and if not treated correctly, promptly, and effectively will only lead to more complications and relapses. Drugs create adverse effects on the brain and can be severely dangerous and life threatening. Although drug prevention seems to be a rather expensive treatment, it is a considerably cheaper and more efficient alternative to keeping the addict in jail.
As for other solutions to strengthen the war against drugs, many scientists have created several medications, and some states have provided an alternate judicial system for drug related cases. Even if the battle against drugs may be long and painful, America has the knowledge, statistics, and the resources to help those in need. Works Cited Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use. Map. Newsweek. 12 Feb. 2001: 42. Atler, Jonathan.
The War on Addiction. Newsweek. 12 Feb. 2001: 38 - 39. Begley, Sharon. How it all Starts Inside Your Brain. Newsweek. 12 Feb. 2001: 40 - 42. Brill, Leon, Lieberman, Louis, and Green, Stephen A.
Authority and Addiction. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1969. Colwley, Geoffery. New Ways to Stay Clean. Newsweek. 12 Feb. 2001: 46 - 47.
Coomber, Ross. The Control of Drugs and Drug Users. Canada: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1998. Weiten, Wayne. Psychology Themes and Variations. 5 th ed. Belmont: Wadsworth- Thomas Learning, 2001.
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Research essay sample on Alternative Treatment To Drug Addiction
