Addiction Does Not Discriminate Essay

dependency does non begin with a conscious conclusion to become an snitch. Because of the availability of painkillers, central nervous system depressants, and alcohol, every socio-economical conference is at risk. For many it is a slow progression from needing to wanting the do drugs of choice. Fortunately, there be give-and-take plans and therapy for those who suffer from this life changing disease. The uninspired view of a drug addict is the poor, dirty, economically challenged, bug-eyed, and intimately app bent of non-white ethnicity.However, Jeff Bishop reports from an interview with Pamela Shepard, coordinator of the Coweta County Adult Drug Court, Andrews 2 that the addicts they deal with be anything yet stereotypical. Shepard states that the community they deal with are non like those in the movies, they are moms, dads, college, students, nurses, t separatelyers and every other(a) profession. Then there are those who never stood a chance from the time they we re born. Shepard also says that drug and alcohol dependency and other dependences are pervasive, not just in certain parts of a town or among certain groups of people. Bishop) There are several prescription drug medications that are addictive, however, some of the more comm simply addictive and traverse are painkillers, CNS Depressants, and Alcohol. The National Institutes of Health estimates that in the United States close to 20 % of people over the age of 12 shake off used these prescription drugs or alcohol for non-medical purposes. (Prescription Drug Abuse). Prescription pain killers are mavin of the most commonly abused medicines (Drug Addiction-Prescription). many an(prenominal) patients are prescribed these medicines for check up on to severe pain.If taken exactly as prescribed, pain medicine flush toilet manage quite effectively. However, chronic use or abuse of opioids net result in physical dependence and addiction (Drug Addiction-Prescription). Pain killers lea n to be over prescribed by many doctors and the option of online pharmacies only adds to the problem. (Prescription Painkillers May Be Over Prescribed) According to researchers from the University of North Carolina, physicians who treat discern pain rely on medications far too often to the indicate of excluding other treatment options, which whitethorn be more effective and displace less risk of addiction. Prescription Painkillers May Be Over Prescribed) Andrews 3 Another highly abused medicine is CNS Depressants such as, alprazolam and Valium (Drug Addiction-Prescription). These medications are typically prescribed to treat anxiety and pile disorders (Prescription Drug Abuse). Depressants, for many, are a route out of reality which allows them to shorten the ability to feel emotional pain or discomfort. Sometimes the way out feeling leads to addiction. Research continues to show that alcohol is the most abused substance.The National Survey on Drug Use and Health released that 22% of the American population binge drink and that over 16 one million million million people are heavy drinkers (Catton). Two reasons to support this fact are availability and being legal to buy. Alcohol is woven into many activities in life, and it becomes difficult to recognize when drinking has crossed the line into addiction. Alcoholics have a difficult time setting limits on the amount consumed (Smith, Robinson & Segal). Many people experiment with drugs and alcohol with only a small percent becoming hook. Why do some succumb and others do not?The Genetics erudition Learning Center states that it is becoming increasingly make pass that genetic factors play an important role in the addiction help (Genetics comprehension Learning Center). There is not one gene that determines addiction it is influenced by denary genes as well as environmental risks. These genes and environmental factors can either add up or cancel each other out. A persons genetic makeup does not ne cessarily doom them to become an addict. (Genetics Science Learning Center) Andrews 4 environment is also a major factor in addiction (Genetics Science Learning Center).Just because a genetic map says someone is given over to addiction does not mean that it will happen, it just means that those people need to be more careful than others. Treatment plans have been in place almost as long as addiction has been a problem. There are several different treatment centers that provide multiple care plans. Through the years treatment plans have drastically changed, most defiantly for the better. History has shown that past treatments for addiction has been imprisonment, sentencing to asylums, and church-guided prayer. Of course, those methods were generally ineffective. Genetics Science Learning Center) Current methods are more based on the spirit that addiction is a disease that has many more factors than just a need to get high. Modern treatments involve a conspiracy of drug and behavi oral therapy, resulting in a much higher mastery rate. (Genetics Science Learning Center) Society tends to arbiter drug addiction sufferers as morally weak or may see them as if they have criminal intent. Many people do not understand that go symptoms of addiction are treatable, the disease itself is incurable. Luxury drug rehab) Many addiction sufferers will die from their disease, but those who seek help from a treatment center can treat their condition and live a satisfying life (Luxury drug rehab). Andrews 5 Truth is people who are addicted come in all shapes and sizes. It is not just the crack addict in the alley in a bad part of town. They are also the successful business men who wear business suits and successfully function in the corporate world. Addiction sufferers can also be the people who dispense and prescribe narcotics, or the stay at bag parents that drive the kids to school and to ball practice every day.They could also be the elderly neighbor or maybe even a te acher (Winkel). Because there are many beliefs and stereotypes about drug addiction that are simply not true, those who suffer from addiction find it difficult to occupy for help or even admit they have a problem. Addiction stereotyping is a hard habit to break but doctors and therapists try to treat addiction as the disease it is. One of the first steps in breaking the stereotype is to stop using the words habit, fix, and abuser that honor the stigma with negative connotations (Salsitz). Everyone is worthy of treatment and help.If people were more cognisant of the problems of drug addiction and how easily it could happen to anyone, he or she may be more likely to see an addicted person as someone who is worthy of help and respect. The more harshly people judge those who suffer from addiction and continue to make them feel as if they do not deserve treatment the less likely they will be to get help or even trust someone plentiful to confide in them about their problems. It is ne ver a good nous to generalize people and their behavior. Many who are addicted to substances can range past their addictions and go on to lead productive lives.