Drug abuse

After analyzing various social problems in this course, in an essay assignment (750-1,000 words), address the following citing three to five scholarly sources from the GCU library:
First, summarize what you’ve learned regarding the impact of social phenomenon (for instance, social inequality, social deviance, etc.) on the drug abuse from macro and micro perspectives.
Next, in Topic 1, you explained how the theoretical perspective(s) that best aligns with drug abuse (conflict, functionalist, and interactionist) explains how it came to be and is perpetuated. In this essay, explain how your study of the theoretical perspectives has deepened your understanding of why drug abuse continues to exist and how it can be alleviated.
Lastly, provide your own possible solutions to drug abuse that are more effective than current solutions, based on research you’ve collected.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

ANSWER

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse continues to be a prevalent issue in contemporary society. It is deemed a public health challenge that poses a significant challenge for global communities (Lo, Yeung & Tam, 2020). Prevention and treatment are critical interventions that have been adopted to deal with drug abuse. However, these mechanisms have failed to generate viable outcomes due to social inequalities and deviance. The increasing gap between the rich and the poor opens opportunities for drug abuse. Research shows that poverty increases the risk of venturing into drug use and abuse (Room, 2005). Poor social segments experience challenges such as lack of jobs and homelessness. These are potential conditions that expose them to drug abuse. Also, poverty is closely linked to social deviance. The challenge of dealing with drug use lies with increasing inequalities and social deviances. The use and abuse of drugs are determined by many factors that expose individuals to increased consumption. Macro-environmental factors operate on a broad scale, such as governmental regulations on prices, availability of drugs, and cultural factor. Micro-environmental factors are aspects that are more immediate and directly affect the drug user. In other words, it is the more immediate drug use context, such as social-psychological problems.

Micro and macro environmental factors play a vital role in either increasing or reducing drug abuse in social relationships and environments. This means that while researching risk factors behind drug abuse exposure, it is essential to abandon individualistic approaches instead of taking a simultaneous approach to the micro and macro environmental elements. This can help stakeholders to develop and implement suitable strategies for dealing with this menace. Substance abuse is a societal phenomenon aligned with cultural, social, and economic conditions. For example, unemployment and economic recessions cause emotional and psychological distress and end up generating behaviors such as drug use and abuse (Nagelhout et al., 2017). Understanding these environmental factors aids in the development of viable interventions that will effectively tackle drugs. In the long-run, stakeholders can develop quality and conducive social environments that enable individuals to reduce drug usage. The intervention’s central focus is to help populations prone to drug abuse to adopt appropriate behaviors that reduce exposure to drug usage and addiction in the long-term.

The social conflict paradigm is macro-oriented because it views the world as a place full of conflict and inequality brought about by disparities in resources. It creates social classes that favor those who are economically, socially, and culturally advantaged instead of minorities and marginalized groups in society. Individuals living in low-income and widespread poverty are more likely to abuse drugs (Lo, 2003). This is due to the lack of quality social structures and systems that deny them opportunities. Their bid to retaliate against the system creates defiant identities and behaviors. Structural functionalists believe that alienation in society’s mechanisms nurtures alienation, becoming a motivator for conflict, deviance, and drug abuse. As long as there exist these inequalities, drug abuse will prevail across global communities. The symbolic interactionist approaches the issue of deviance and drug abuse on a micro-level orientation. In symbolic interactionism, the society is considered to be an end product of day to day interactions between individuals. Increasing inequalities perpetuate a lack of interactions and associations. Addressing drug abuse calls for stakeholders to focus on individuals, groups, and environmental factors.

Possible Interventions

Governmental interventions in bridging the social inequality gap is a significant solution for this menace. Drug abuse continues to exist because of the endless loop that society finds itself occasionally. The economic gap between the majority and the minority continues widening, leading to the constant use and abuse, and exploitation of the minority groups in society. For this to stop, the government should strive to lessen the economic gap by creating equality in all aspects of life, which will improve societal interactions and reduce disparities. As Room (2009) states, social inequalities are a key threat behind drug abuse in society. Thus, addressing these inequalities paves the way for reduced drug usage. This will reduce conflict and therefore lessen the chances of engaging in deviant behaviors such as drug abuse.  Also, socialization among young people is a potential recommendation.

Improved socialization is a strategy that can expand social policies that emanate from the social control theories. This would encourage a strong moral bond among society members and lead to increased self-control in the best-case scenario. Facilities and programs should be put in place to facilitate this.  Community-level changes, such as community outreach programs, should be implemented. For example, neighborhood empowerment programs can help solve the drug abuse challenge. According to Powell and Peterson, empowerment programs are essential tactics that can help deal with rising drug abuse cases. Coalitions among community members act as powerful tactics behind reduced drug usage in society due to improved social support.

Overall, drug abuse threatens the welfare of the current and future generations. Individuals’ exposes to drug abuse create a burden to themselves and the community as well. There is a dire need for stakeholders to adopt and implement strategies such as increased socialization at the community level and reduced social and economic inequalities to handle the drug abuse menace effectively.

References

Lo, C. C. (2003). An application of social conflict theory to arrestees’ use of cocaine and opiates. Journal of Drug Issues, 33(1), 237-266.

Lo, T. W., Yeung, J. W., & Tam, C. H. (2020). Substance Abuse and Public Health: A multilevel perspective and multiple responses.

Nagelhout, G. E., Hummel, K., de Goeij, M. C., de Vries, H., Kaner, E., & Lemmens, P. (2017). How economic recessions and unemployment affect illegal drug use: A systematic realist literature review. International Journal of Drug Policy, 44, 69-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.03.013

Powell, K. G., & Peterson, N. A. (2014). Pathways to effectiveness in substance abuse prevention: empowering organizational characteristics of community-based coalitions. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 38(5), 471-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2014.935839

Room, R. (2005). Stigma, social inequality, alcohol, and drug use. Drug and alcohol review, 24(2), 143-155. https://doi.org/10.1080/09595230500102434