Addiction/Substance Abuse
By Trevor Vivian
Everyone strives for that one thing in life that ultimately grants them the most happiness. Some people have hobbies, others prefer skydiving while many enjoy drugs and alcohol. The United States on the other hand combats issues relative to substance and drug abuse every single day. Other countries are combating much similar issues within their nation also! Great Britain however is one of these countries who struggle with alcohol and substance abuse. In 2016 there were 8,621 hospitalizations due to illegal drugs/narcotics. Meanwhile there was 2,479 deaths due to illegal drugs/narcotics (National archives par 3). These statistics are increasing at an alarming rate! Great Britain saw a 10% increase since 2014 in the number of deaths as well as 12% increase in the number of hospitalizations. (National archives par 3). While authorities continue to combat users and abusers and target in on the kingpin; throwing alcoholics and substance abusers in jail is proving nothing more than increasing tax dollars and witnessing a consistent cycle of repeat offenders within the court system.
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Researchers believe the cycle of drug use begins at a young age. In 2015 researchers found that 6% of 11 year olds had tried illegal drugs meanwhile at the age of 15 that number sky rocketed to a whopping 25% had already tried illegal drugs.(National Archives par 5) The start of drug abuse is becoming more prevalent within teenagers and young adults. Those being affected at this time are the citizens of Great Britain, their families who are dealing with loved ones struggling with addiction as well as outsiders are being exposed to intoxicated individuals within the streets as well as the crime and issues that tag along with the abuse. Not just one target group is being affected. Substance abuse victims are impacting the lives of others in their community in in negative ways. Leaders have begun to address these issues by changing their approach toward the matter at hand. Norman Baker, who works with homeland security, said jailing people for "a matter of weeks" for possession of Class B or C drugs was a "nonsensical approach". The Lib Dems want drug use to be treated as a health problem rather than a criminal matter.(Statistics on Drug Misuse par 5).
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In order to combat this rising epidemic leaders have reached out to local organizations working together, which is why the strategy focuses on coordinating treatment with employment, housing and children’s services as well as health and social care.(O’Connor par 2 ). Leaders have taken a more hands on approach as to coercing these victims suffering from abuse with programs to turn their life around and gain entrance to the straight and narrow. Leaders have targeted this drug epidemic by hiring more (NPS) specialist. Which stands for new psychoactive substances specialists who work to analyze the chemical breakdowns of “street drugs”. Drugs that are sold as illegal drugs however different chemical compounds make for an even more deadly substance. NPS specialists have been working with local law enforcement as to what is the new product on the street and how to identify what narcotics are which.
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National Archives, Statistics on Drugs Misuse: England, 2017. (2017, March 30). Retrieved October 2, 2018, from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20180328135520/http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB23442
Statistics on Drugs Misuse: England, 2017. (2017, March 30). Retrieved October 2, 2018, from http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20180328135520/http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB23442
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O’Connor, R. (2017, July 20). The Government Drug Strategy - tackling the complex issue of drug misuse. Retrieved October 3, 2018, from https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2017/07/20/the-government-drug-strategy-tackling-the-complex-issue-of-drug-misuse/