Drugs And Crime
Illicit use of drug among adolescents is a prevalent problem in all parts of the world despite the presence of laws which prohibit its use. The prevalence of drug use among adolescents could be attributed to the changes that adolescents undergo. Adolescence is characterized by various changes in ones life including changes in ones personality, emotions and defense mechanisms of adolescents. Parents may want to protect their children by giving advices on how to deal with the changes that are taking place in their body. But most adolescents rarely listen to the older generations but seek for the help and understanding of people their age. Thereby they become reliant on their peers for approval. As a result, adolescents take their on stride without heeding their parents warning on the use of drugs. They may even try to convince their parents that using drugs is just normal. More commonly adolescents tend to use drugs when they are trying to cope with problems relating to their sexuality. Adolescents for the first time have to deal with their problems and the inability to face these problems may turn adolescents to avoidance by means of drug use. Others also tend to become more attached to their peers than to their parents thus they could be easily influenced into using drugs. But due to the effects of drugs, instead of helping themselves, adolescents only plunge themselves into a bigger dilemma. Although, peer influence appear to have a great contribution to drug use among adolescents, peer influence may not solely govern this problem but it may be a result of interaction of various influences.
Adolescents and young adults who use drugs are vulnerable to the problems associated with the use of drugs. Marijuana for example can cause disruption of the intrapersonal functioning of an individual. In a study conducted by Brook et al in 1989 revealed that this drug can also cause rebelliousness, lower achievement motivation and greater tolerance towards deviance. Furthermore, higher amounts of drug consumption can interfere as well as impair the development of the sense of identity of the adolescent thereby resulting to an individual who is confused with himself, his sexuality, his goals and even result to delayed maturity. Clinical evidences also show that there are drugs that cause poorer ego integration and psychological functioning on the users which may progress into psychotic episodes (Brook et al., 1990).
Although peer influence in drug use seems so apparent, it does not solely influence the adolescents in using drugs. Other important factors also contribute to the development of substance use disorder. Other than peer influences, the socioeconomic status of the adolescents is also considered to be a significant factor due to the observations that there is higher incidence of substance use among lower socioeconomic status. Genetics was also considered by researchers due to the seeming ability of drug use to run in families.
Crime
Drug addiction is one of the most pervasive problems that have plagued our world irrespective of being rich or poor. Drug addiction, in simple terms can be described as a compulsive use of a drug despite negative consequences ranging from moderate to severe. There are a variety of reasons why a person takes drugs; a few may be peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, environmental stress etc. When a person tries a drug, likes the effect and continues taking it, he becomes addicted to the drug. In the long term, this causes severe deterioration to their mental and physical health. Drug addiction is characterized by an overpowering desire to continue taking the drug and thus obtaining it by any means. Once addicted, physical dependence grows on the effects of the drug and upon withdrawal the body can react abnormally, known as ‘withdrawal syndrome’, which can even, be life threatening. Some commonly used drugs are cocaine, opium, marijuana, heroine, and crystal meth, mushroom etc. these drugs have euphoric and soothing effect on the user and are used as anti-depressants. But regular intake of these drugs causes the addicts to intake higher and higher amount to achieve the same effect. Hence there is immediate necessity to stop young people from experimenting with drugs for fun. (Backstrom, “Canadian Drug Victim Sues dealer”)
It is said that the most potent weapon to curb the demand is by curbing the supply and vice versa. Drug dealers are actually dealers in death. They target the young people and hence are a danger not only to them but also to the society as a whole. Whereas the addicts suffer themselves and have rare or no bandwagon effect, the drug dealers have a mass effect thereby afflicting large sections of the society. The victims are the individuals who deal in the violence that almost always follows the illegal drug trade and threatens to destroy the basic fabric of safety in our society. Drug dealing is a profitable business and most of the time the peddlers are not the addicts. They employ their clients, the addicts to sale their wares and catch new addicts. Initially young people try drugs for fun. But after some session, the fun becomes a compulsion. This pushes the addict more in the darkness and at the mercy of the dealer. He can commit any crime to get his share of the drug and thus the network is maintained. Drug dealers are not the working class people and they are like parasites feeding and draining on society. (Wright and Decker)
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