Drug abuse and addiction affects society in many ways; directly or indirectly, it is one major reason why juveniles and adults suffering from addiction are being incarcerated for committing crimes to support their drug or alcohol habit. Drug abuse and addiction are implicated in four out of five crimes committed by juvenile arrestees. Many teenagers in state juvenile justice systems are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing their crimes, test positive for drugs, are arrested for committing an alcohol or drug offense, admit having substance abuse and addiction problems, or share some combination of these characteristics.
Today’s mental health practitioners and addiction counselors answers to this problem is to legalize or decriminalize drugs such as marijuana. Recent studies have shown marijuana addiction to cause a person to exhibit psychiatric disorders. These psychiatric disorders would include, depression, anxiety, bipolar. With some drug addictions such as cocaine addiction, methamphetamine addiction or ecstasy addiction would cause a person to exhibit paranoia or quite possibly schizophrenia.
Being diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder of course results in more drugs or “medications” being prescribed by the same mental health practitioners and or addiction counselors who are suggesting we decriminalize certain drugs. Many addiction counselors and those that profit from the sale of drugs would argue that prohibition doesn’t work, just look at the days of prohibition back in the 20’s and 30’s. Well now that we have accomplished the goal of legalizing alcohol we as responsible individuals should look at the result. Alcohol and alcohol addiction is directly responsible for over 450,000 deaths each year, this does not factor in the long range health problems associated with this malady. Countless dollars are spent monitoring alcohol companies who market to our nation’s youth while telling us to “drink responsibly”.
This of course is a very apathetic viewpoint by some in the field of addiction, however in stepping back to look at the bigger picture one would have to wonder what was in it for those that would suggest we not only legalize addictive drugs but then also prescribe antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs for addiction treatment. These “medications” often result in a dependence such as xanax addiction, klonopin addiction, methadone addiction and antidepressant addiction. In other words use more drugs to “treat” those already suffering from some type of under lying mental emotional problem that resulted in a drug addiction in the first place.
There have been numerous theories about the correct methodology and what works best when treating a drug or alcohol addiction. Many addiction counselors would argue it’s a brain disease; others would say it is a physical addiction while yet others feel that living with and fighting addiction on a daily basis works best. Regardless the theories addiction is a complex animal with many components.
Here is what we do know and should be considered when helping rehabilitate someone from drug or alcohol addiction. Drug or alcohol abuse causes a chemical imbalance and an alteration of the way the brain functions. This can be corrected in time naturally nearly 100% of the time if permanent brain damage has not occurred (and it rarely does.) The National Institute of Drug Abuse states it takes a minimum of 100 days possibly months for the brain to start functioning normally. Profiteers would have you believe this can be corrected or adjusted with more drugs which is a myth.
Drug or alcohol addiction causes nutritional deficiencies that also mimic psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. There are underlying reasons why anyone would become addicted to drugs or alcohol and until that underlying problem is reached the chance of success of handling the addiction is limited.
A drug or alcohol addict who has lead a life suffering from drug or alcohol addiction has usually suffered loss, legal problems and often death. Handling guilt and self esteem are key in this area. It would be safe to assume a drug or alcohol addict would need to learn to live life again without the use of drugs as a solution to life’s problems and to avoid the pitfalls that cause relapse.
When looking at helping a drug or alcohol addict please consider the above factors when assessing a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.
There are three ways a person will stop his or her drug addiction: stop on their own, jail or death. More often then not, one stops on their own by going to jail or death. Addiction is a trap that often ends in a swirling mass of confusion for the addict and their loved ones until adequate help is found. Unfortunately that trap can lead to more traps at hands of those that stand to profit. Education about all drugs and their effects is your only chance of ending addiction.
