Summarize Research into one (two MAX) paragraph(s)

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READ ME: need to have my current research summarized into one (two tops) VERY concise paragraph(s). I have attached my current rough draft of research.

For this assignment, you are asked to summarize your research findings into a condensed passage and submit it for publication in a public setting (no passwords or registration required to view your passage). While we hesitate to use the word "publication," knowing that it might seem utterly terrifying to some, this should be a low-stakes way to get your thoughts out to the world to ponder. Additionally, doing this will provide you with another way you can present your ideas to others.

Below, you will find instruction noting where you might submit your entry for publication. If you have tried any of these before, pick a different option, as long as it entails *open publication for public viewing,* so you are doing something you have never done before.

Instructions:
Summarize the main points and conclusion of your Research Project in a minimum of one (1) concise paragraph. Publishers appreciate conciseness. Do NOT submit your entire Research Project. You may include one small visual, if appropriate for your publication environment.

Here are a few suggestions for you to consider for publication of your passage:

  • Contribute your passage to a Wikipedia page related to your research topic. Just find an entry you feel relatively confident adding to, and go for it. Instructions on how to edit an entry are located on the main page of Wikipedia.
  • Add a comment to an "active" blog dealing with the topic of your Research Project. Share a few of your research findings, and you may want to include some final thoughts about your research issues.
  • Submit your passage as part of a letter to the editor of a magazine or a local newspaper, for example, as you deem appropriate. Many publications have details on how to submit on their sites.

After you submit your entry for *open publication for public viewing,* post the following information for this Discussion assignment:

  • Identify where you submitted your work (name of organization).
  • Post the actual passage you submitted for publication. Again, do NOT submit your entire Research Project.
  • If you submitted to an online source, include a complete internet address that will take us directly to your entry (not to a home page, in other words), so we can view your entry easily.

And don't worry if you don't actually get published or if your Wiki addition gets changed, for example. This almost always happens to everyone at least a few times. The real success is taking that step to "go out on a limb" and put yourself "out there."

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Running head: SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA Social Impact of Drug Addiction in America XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ENG102 – English Composition II XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX February 25, 2018 1 SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 2 Social Impact of Drug Addiction in America While the War on Drugs in the United States is noble, it has done very little to curtail the use and abuse of both illicit and prescription drugs leading to a rise in drug addiction. In the last ten years, the United States holds a record for the highest number of most common health problems that can be traced to the rise in drug and substance abuse in the country. The use of drugs can lead to an increase of social issues like dropping out of school, increased crime rates, domestic violence, incarceration, homelessness, and accidents to mention but a few, which significantly contributes to the moral decay in our society. While some individuals can recreationally use different types of drugs and not become addicted, there are some initial risk factors that may facilitate someone to becoming an addict. Individuals who grow up in an inattentive household or with parents who are users are more likely to start using at a younger age. Some studies also suggest that genetics play a part in addiction in which parents who are addicts can pass on a genetic mutation in which adversely impacts their offspring causing that child to have a higher probability of becoming an addict themselves, coupled with the parents also using and the availability of drugs within the household. Peer pressure or influence can play a significant role for individuals, especially adolescents, in starting to experiment with drugs. A multifaceted approach is necessary for prevention through guidance and counseling, rehabilitation, medication, and approaches in psychological prevention. Some would also argue that drug addiction can be prevented through policy intervention or decriminalization. Social problems that are linked to drug addiction Increased rates of incarceration Drug addiction has led to high rates of incarceration in the majority of the American prisons which overburden the limited prison resources. In the long term, incarceration gives rise SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 3 to a cycle which impedes the inmates from making something good out of their lives since their lives are spent in and out of prison. The prison population (local, state, and federal) in the US amounts to 2,217,947 inmates who have been charged with a variety of crimes (World Prison Brief, 2014). Of the total prison population, 46.2% of the inmates in the federal prisons are incarcerated because of charges related to drugs (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2018). On the other hand, incarceration has not been known to be bear any fruitful results when it comes to dealing with drug addiction (Rehab-International, n.d.). Some 95% of addicts often go back to the very drugs they have been using prior to their incarceration, while 60-80% of the convicted will again be convicted of committing other forms of crimes. Additionally, offenders who are addicted to drugs or have a history of abuse of drugs will go back to their old lives since incarceration did not do anything to treat addiction (Rehab-International, n.d.). High crime rates Drug addiction and use have resulted in high crime rates in comparison to offenses related to abuse of prescription drugs. Three theories clearly outline how drug use and addiction result in increased rates of crime in the United States. First, the economic compulsive theory asserts that drug addictions push addicts to partake in crimes such as burglary, shoplifting, prostitution or even robbery so that they can get money to finance their drug habits. Secondly, psychopharmacology theory contends that violence takes place as a result of using or abusing drugs which trigger violent or criminal conduct. This can be the case when a husband consumes alcohol, gets home and abuses his children or his wife. Lastly, the systemic violence theory refers to crimes which occur within the drug rings. For instance, when a drug dealer or gang decides to kill so that they can take over and control a particular territory (Powell, 2011). SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 4 Male drug abusers in American prisons constituted 70% of the prison population, according to a study in 2010 (Rafaiee, Olyaee, & Sargolzaiee, 2013). Among the convicts that abused drugs, those found to have committed aggressive crimes and constituted to 21.4%. It is thus prudent to assert that drug addiction and abuse have a significant role to play in the increased crime rates in the US because it is evident that they have to engage in criminal acts so that they can get drugs. A good number of drug addicts are not in a position to keep a job or even get one and thus unable to have a source of income. As result, they resort to criminal activities which propel the cycle of poverty, addiction, and crime (Rafaiee, Olyaee, & Sargolzaiee, 2013). Overbearing financial cost to the economy The financial burden that drug addiction has resulted in the United States’ economy is immense. The money invested in the curbing of the vice ought to have been invested in improving the social welfare of the American people. Yearly costs pumped in drug use and abuse is estimated to be beyond $740 billion (NIDA, 2017). The money ends up benefiting a particular few rather than be of greater good to the nation as a whole. Therefore, this makes the effort of curbing drug addiction in the US a costly affair. The most recent data depicts that substance use and abuse in the US costs roughly 820 billion dollars and affects the nation through loss of productivity, increased healthcare costs and crime (Fogoros, 2018). Additionally, drugs and substance abuse increase the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, unemployment, spread of Hepatitis C, homelessness, domestic violence and divorce (Fogoros, 2018). With the increasing financial resources dedicated to tackling the menace of drug addiction, much is lost that could have been put to programs that benefit the entire populous and not only addicts. SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 5 Homelessness Drug addiction has been established as a cause as well as consequence of homelessness in the United States. Guerrero, Song, Henwood, Kong, and Kim (2018) contend that substance abuse is the number one health risks among the homeless (p. 65). Drug use and addiction is a risk factor within the social production as well as maintenance of the homelessness status. Homelessness is a cause of drug abuse in the sense that, addiction disorders strain the relationships with friends and families and in several instances, it leads to joblessness. For individuals who struggle to pay their bills, the exacerbation or onset of addiction may lead to loss of housing. People who have no domiciles resort to the use of drugs in order to cope with their current situations. The use of drugs by the homeless is an attempt to achieve temporal relief. In actuality, drug abuse worsens their situations and reduces their slim chances of getting employed. Additionally, the homeless resort to drug abuse in order to be accepted in the homeless community (National Coalition for the Homeless, n.d). Causes of drug addiction Drug addiction affects an addict’s brain as well as behavior and results to the inability of one to control the use of illegal or legal medications or drugs. Upon addiction, the individual can end up using the drug continuously regardless of the impact it has on his or her body. Just like any other mental condition, several factors play a significant role in resulting in drug addiction. The main ones include: Genetics SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA When one has begun using a particular drug, the development towards the path of addiction can be influenced by genetics (inherited) characteristics that can speed up or delay the progression of the disease. According to Spanagel et al. (2010) there is a long-standing acceptance that there is a “genetic component of vulnerability to addiction” (p. 317). Duncan (2012) took it further explaining that certain psychiatric disorders could trigger a “genetic predisposition” that increases the chances of the individual to abuse drugs (p. 7). The main question is how to accurately predict the risk of dependent parents or patients using genetic indicators. There is also the moral question of providing consumers genetic testing that can provide information indicating on if they have a genetic predisposition for addiction for either themselves or potentially their offspring. While there can be a genetic predisposition, many individuals will not be aware of their circumstance and may never become addicted unless triggered by other factors. Environment Neisewander, Peartree, and Pentkowski (2012) contend that early childhood stressors, isolation, inadequate family structure, or peer-pressure are the most common factors that cause youth to try drugs (p. 34). The environment at home, particularly during childhood is a significant factor. For instance, when a child is raised by parents who abuse and are addicted to drugs, he or she is more likely to follow the same steps as he or she grows up. Older family members or parents who abuse drugs and alcohol or engage criminal conduct also increase a child’s risk of developing drug issues. Garnier and Stein (2002) contend that “parents may effectively establish drug use behaviors, reduce children’s internal restraints to drug use, and, through positive attitudes toward drug use, encourage adolescents to seek affiliations with peers who similarly use drugs” (p. 46). Acquaintances and friends may have a strong influence in the 6 SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 7 adolescent stage. Peers who use drugs can influence those who do not possess the risk factors to try and do drugs for the first time. Ramirez, Hinman, Sterling, Weisner, and Campbell (2012) found that adolescents who chose to experiment with drugs or alcohol with their friends did so because the peer structure is increasingly more significant as adolescents mature (p. 37). Failure in academics or poor social skills also put a child at risk of becoming addicted or use drugs. Risk factors Individuals of any economic status, sex and age can be addicted to a particular drug. Particular factors can speed up addiction development or affect the likelihood. • Poverty in the community where one resides; • Availability of drugs at home, in the neighborhood and school; • Experimentation of drugs; • Unavailability of parental supervision; • Poor social skills, • Early use-changes in brain developments as a result of early drug use thus increasing the probability of progressive use. Solutions to the drug addiction problem Guidance and Counseling There seems to be a compelling reason to argue that counseling is an essential part of drug addiction treatment for most addicts. Counseling of drug addicts is, therefore, a fundamental part of addiction treatment programs in rehabilitation centers worldwide. The counselors employ various frameworks and approaches to help build a trustworthy relationship with their patients. Additionally, they offer resources as well as the support necessary for the patients on their way to addiction recovery. Moreover, the counselors’ approaches are non- SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 8 judgmental and thus, establishing a therapeutic alliance with his or her patients for easy communication. Therefore, on the basis of evidence currently available, it seems fair to suggest that drug addicts are able to identify and be ready to work through their interpersonal issues as well as feel very comfortable discussing his or her experiences with drugs (Duncan, 2012). Treatment and Rehabilitation Zhou, Zhao, Zhou, and Li (2016) contend that there is overwhelming evidence for the notion that rehabilitation is one of the best approaches to treating drug addiction (p. 24). However, treating drug addiction may not be easy because it is a chronic illness in which rehabilitation aims at helping addicts identify what might have triggered them into using drugs so as to develop new, healthy ways of living. During rehabilitation, patients undergo a number of processes which may include psychoeducation, family therapy, particular behavioral therapies as well as group therapy. Arguably, these approaches are used to help minimize chances of relapse by patients. A response to cultural differences is also needed when designing treatment for specific demographics. Within communities consisting of a large minority population, programs and staffing must reflect support those who may speak two or more languages that are prevalent in the area. Sending addicts to treatment programs rather than incarceration helps to reduce crime rates as well as enables the state to save money. Reduction in incarceration can result in the savings of billions of dollars in expenses as a result of reduced crime rates which in turn lead to fewer re-incarcerations and re-arrests (Drug Free, n.d.). Zarkin et al. (2012) constructed a hypothetical model to study the cost benefit of diversion to a treatment program in lieu of incarceration. Within the hypothetical model there was a sizeable reduction in crime, arrests and reincarcerations equating to a reduction of crimes between 2.5% - 6.4% (p. 10). Adoption of SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 9 treatment helps the addicts to change their behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes; prevent relapse and effectively exclude them from a life of crime and substance abuse. Creation of Awareness and Advocacy People become addicted to alcohol due to the lack of information on the appropriate approaches at reducing over-reliance on alcohol within the community. Understanding the burden of being an addict can force an individual to see the urgency and need for changes in behavior that will help improve their health. The primary objective of advocacy and creation of awareness is to inculcate behavior changes in perpetual addicts. Additionally, it is in the interest of advocacy groups to encourage desirable social behaviors among alcohol drinkers. Behavior change remains an integral part of psychological intervention for reducing alcohol addiction. The use of social media, television and radio can be an effective tool used in educating families and the American populous at large on the prevention of drug abuse. This is effective in tackling non-medical utilization of narcotic pain drugs. Education is vital in fighting drug addiction because it makes the American society aware of the impact, effects and dangers that drugs pose to overall human health. This approach works well especially with children and other people who are contemplating using drugs, especially for the first time. Decriminalization Some drugs should be decriminalized in the United States to inspire people to look for help with no fear of being reprimanded. Through the provision of drug treatment for those in need may just be one way of combating the menace without necessarily waging a war. Portugal has set precedence by employing this solution where no punishment and no prison and all drugs decriminalized-from cannabis to crack, which resulted in a decline by 50% in drug use (Branch, SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 10 2015). However, decriminalization needs to be coupled with treatment for the results to be effective. Conclusion Richard Nixon branded drugs as “public enemy number one” in 1971 and it has thus started the new war on drugs. So far, the war in fighting drugs has never been a successful one. However, the United States can borrow a page from Portugal which had one of the worst drug problems in Europe but overcame the epidemic through decriminalization. Addiction has resulted in societal issues that have stifled the progress of the nation. Further research is needed to prevent genetic mutation and passing along a predisposition of becoming an addict as that only leaves the likelihood of an increasing problem. Adoption of the preceding solutions such as guidance, treatment, education advocacy, and decriminalization will change the rhetoric on how America perceives such a problem of epic proportions. After all, it is about time that everyone sees drug addicts as individuals who are in dire need of assistance, the use of drugs as a health problem instead of a crime and rehabilitation as a means of better helping society. Finally, America needs to keep hope alive because there is recovery from addiction. Hard work, good treatment, and continuous support will go a long way in alleviating addiction in the country. What is not certain is when the war will be won, but it surely will, it is just a matter of time, patience and commitment to the cause. SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 11 References Branch, C. (2015). What the U.S. can learn from Portugal about decriminalizing drugs. HuffPost UK. Retrieved February 21, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/03/portugal-drugdecriminalization_n_6606056.html Boles, S. M., & Miotto, K. (2003). “Substance abuse and violence: a review of the literature.” Aggression and violent behavior, 8(2), 155-174. Drug Free. (n.d.). Choosing substance abuse treatment over prison could save billions: study. Retrieved February 21, 2018, from https://drugfree.org/learn/drug-and-alcoholnews/choosing-substance-abuse-treatment-over-prison-could-save-billions-study/ Duncan, J. R. (2012). Current perspectives on the neurobiology of drug addiction: a focus on genetics and factors regulating gene expression. ISRN Neurology, 2012. doi:10.5402/2012/972607 Federal Bureau of Prisons. (2018, January 27). Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from https://www.bop.gov/about/statistics_inmate_offenses.jsp Fogoros, R. N. (2018, January 10). The costs of drug use to society. Retrieved February 12, 2018, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-costs-of-drug-abuse-to-society63037 Garnier, H. E., & Stein, J. A. (2002). An 18-year model of family and peer effects on adolescent alcohol and other drug use outcomes. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(1), 36-44. Guerrero, E. G., Song, A., Henwood, B., Kong, Y., & Kim, T. (2018). Response to culturally component drug treatment among homeless persons with different living arrangements. Evaluation and Program Planning, 66, 63-69. doi:10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.10.005 SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 12 National Coalition for the Homeless. (n.d.). Substance abuse and homelessness. Retrieved February 21, 2018, from http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/addiction.pdf National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2017, April 24). Trends & statistics. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics Neisewander, J., Peartree, L., & Pentkowski, N. (2012). Emotional valence and context of social influences on drug abuse-related behavior in animal models of social stress and prosocial interaction. Psychopharmacology, 224(1), 33-56. Powell, M. A. (2011). A comprehensive analysis of the drug-crime relationship. Research Papers, 100, 1-26. Rafaiee, R., Olyaee, S., &Sargolzaiee, A. (2013). The relationship between the type of crime and drugs in addicted prisoners in Zahedan central prison. International Journal Of High Risk Behaviors & Addiction, 2(3), 139. Ramirez, R., Hinman, A., Sterling, S., Weisner, C., & Campbell, C. (2012). Peer influences on adolescent alcohol and other drug use outcomes. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(1), 36-44. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2011.01437.x Rehab-International. (n.d). Why imprisonment is more harm than help to addicted offenders. Retrieved February 17, 2018, from https://rehab-international.org/blog/imprisonmentharm-help-addicted-offenders. Spanagel, R., Bartsch, D., Brors, B., Dahmen, N., Deussing, J., Eils, R.,…Zimmer, A. (2010). An integrated genome research network for studying the genetics of alcohol addiction. Addiction Biology, 15(4), 369-379. doi:10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00276.x World Prison Brief. (n.d). United States of America. Retrieved February 10, 2018, from http://www.prisonstudies.org/country/united-states-america SOCIAL IMPACT OF DRUG ADDICTION IN AMERICA 13 Zarkin, G., Cowell, A., Hicks, K., Mills, M., Belenko, S., Dunlap, L., & Keyes, V. (2012). Lifetime benefits and costs of diverting substance-abusing offenders from state prison. Crime & Delinquency, 61(4), 829-850. doi:10.1177/0011128712461904 Zhou, Y., Zhao, M., Zhou, C., & Li, R. (2016). Sex differences in drug addiction and response to exercise intervention: from human to animal studies. Frontiers In Neuroendocrinology, 40, 24-41. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2015.07.001
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Running head: DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

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DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Social impact of Drug Addiction in America
Drug and substance abuse is the leading cause of most common health problems in
America. There are several factors that are linked to drug addiction. Individuals who grow up
with parents who are drug users and are in inattentive environments are likely to engage in drug
abuse at an early age. Moreover, some studies argue that parents who are drug abusers could...

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