Abstract
This research project will explore the effects of narcotic abuse and addiction on individuals. The scope of the research will include studies of the physical and psychological effects of narcotic abuse and addiction, as well as the social, economic, and legal implications of this problem. The research will also examine the various treatments available for narcotic abuse and addiction and explore the effectiveness of current strategies and interventions. Additionally, this research will identify gaps in the current understanding of narcotic abuse and addiction and suggest potential areas for further research. This project will also provide insight into the potential of preventive measures, such as education and awareness campaigns, to reduce the prevalence of narcotic abuse and addiction.
Introduction
Narcotic abuse and addiction are growing problems in society today. Narcotics are a class of drugs that can produce profound changes in a person’s consciousness, including feelings of euphoria, relaxation and altered perception of reality. While these drugs can be used for medical purposes, they are also widely abused, leading to serious health risks and social consequences. Narcotics are generally classified into two main categories: opioids and opiates. Opiates are chemicals like heroin, codeine and morphine made from the opium poppy plant. (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). Opioids, on the other hand, are synthetic drugs that have an effect similar to opiates. Examples of opioids include hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl.
Narcotics abuse can have serious consequences, including an increased risk of overdose and liver damage, and can also lead to the development of a substance use disorder. People who become addicted to narcotics often experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop using the drug. These symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, nausea, diarrhoea, and other sweat during the withdrawal of opioids and agitation (Wang,2019). Long-term use of narcotics can also lead to physical dependence and tolerance, which can lead to further problems with addiction
Hypothesis/Problem Statement/Purpose Statement
Narcotic abuse and addiction are pervasive issues that significantly impact individuals and communities. This urgent public health issue requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to address its root causes, facilitate treatment and support recovery. However, in most cases, people with disorders associated with substance use tend to present higher rates of relapse and lapses when attempting to quit (Serre et al.,2018). To effectively combat the problem of narcotic abuse and addiction, improved access to evidence-based treatment and prevention services must be made available to those affected. Additionally, policies and programs that promote public health and safety must be implemented to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse and related consequences.
A combination of individual characteristics and environmental influences, including genetic predisposition, drug access, and social contexts, causes Moreso drug addiction. In particular, evidence suggests that individuals with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are at greater risk for drug addiction. Furthermore, research has found that family and peer influences, poverty, and urbanisation can also contribute to drug abuse and addiction. The severity of the drug epidemic has necessitated the development of effective interventions and therapies, including psychosocial and pharmacological treatments. While psychosocial interventions focus on helping individuals build skills to overcome addiction and modify their environment, pharmacological treatments involve using medications to help reduce the intensity of drug cravings. Thus, pharmacological treatments, in combination with psychosocial interventions, can be more effective in treating narcotic abuse and addiction than either intervention alone.
Fatseas et al. (2015) state that the relationship between substance use and craving in patients with tobacco, alcohol, heroin or cannabis addiction is complex. Studies suggest that craving can lead to increased substance use, which can, in turn, lead to increased craving. This cycle of craving and use can be difficult to break and may be a major factor in relapse. Studies have also shown that certain factors, such as stress, can increase cravings and substance use (Fatseas et al.,2015). Additionally, environmental cues, such as seeing or being around others using substances, can trigger cravings and increase the likelihood of substance use. Craving can lead to increased substance use, but there are a variety of factors that can influence this relationship. Understanding these factors can help clinicians better treat patients with addiction.
Literature Review
Narcotic abuse or addiction is a serious public health concern in the United States and other countries worldwide. The use of narcotics, or opioids, has seen a significant increase in recent years due to the availability of prescription painkillers, with the United States facing an opioid epidemic. According to Chiariello et al. (2023), in the United States (US), in the year 2022, approximately 3.7% of the population (10 million people) is associated with the misuse of opioids. This presents a major challenge to healthcare systems, as opioid addiction can cause various negative physical, psychological and social effects. However, substance misuse with traumatic brain injury is another major comorbidity which has affected 2.4 million people in the US (Chiariello et al.,2023).
Substance use is a major public health problem among youth and young adults, with both direct and indirect influences contributing to the development of substance use intentions and behaviours. Cigarettes and cannabis are the major substances that are being targeted by the efforts of youth prevention. In the United States, the use of e-cigarettes increased from 2017 to 2019 and decreased in 2020 (Dayley et al.,2023). Many studies suggest that older siblings’ substance use may influence younger siblings’ intentions to use substances and that this influence may be partly explained by younger siblings’ expectations about substance use (Dayley et al.,2023). Interventions targeting younger siblings’ expectations about substance use may help to reduce the risk of substance use among adolescents
There are several risk factors associated with narcotic abuse, including age, gender, ethnicity, and access to medications. For example, younger individuals are more likely to abuse opioids than older individuals, and males are more likely to abuse opioids than females. Similarly, individuals of certain ethnic backgrounds and those with access to more medications are more likely to develop opioid addiction. Helminen et al.,2023 state that in most cases, adolescents use substances frequently, for instance, drugs like tobacco, cannabis and alcohol. Many factors have contributed to substance use among young people; this includes the availability of the substance, stressful life events, such as a death in the family, divorce and low incomes (Helminen et al.,2023). Major factors that led to one’s decision to use substances include traumas and financial and environmental stressors.
In terms of treatment, several approaches can be used to address narcotic abuse and addiction. These include pharmacological interventions, such as opioid agonists, partial agonists and antagonists, and psychological interventions, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing and contingency management. Additionally, to these interventions, there is evidence that social interventions can also be effective in addressing narcotic abuse and addiction. Studies have found that social support networks, such as those provided by 12-step programs, can be beneficial in helping individuals reduce their drug use and provide a supportive environment for individuals in recovery. Finally, there is increasing evidence that harm reduction strategies, such as needle exchange programs, can effectively reduce the harms associated with opioid use. For example, studies have found that needle exchange programs can lead to a decrease in HIV and hepatitis C transmission, as well as an increase in the uptake of drug treatment services.
Furthermore, the availability of prescription opioids has been linked to increased opioid abuse. This is because when opioids are more available, people are more likely to misuse them. Prescription opioid availability is influenced by a variety of variables, including, the number of pharmacies dispensing them, the accessibility of internet pharmacies and the number of physicians writing them There are also other factors, such as the number of people using opioids and the rate of opioid addiction, which can influence opioid availability. The four prescription opioids include morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone and hydrocodone (Trinidad et al.,2017). To reduce the availability of prescription opioids and reduce opioid abuse, several measures have been implemented. These include increasing the number of physicians trained in opioid prescribing, increasing the number of pharmacies that dispense opioids, and increasing the number of states that require patient identification for opioid prescriptions.
Gaps in the current understanding of narcotic abuse and addiction
There has been much research done on narcotic abuse and addiction, but there is still much work to be done. For example, there is a need for better treatments and prevention strategies, as well as a greater understanding of the underlying causes and risk factors for addiction. Additionally, there is a need for more research on the long-term effects of addiction, especially on the social, psychological, and economic implications. Finally, there is a need for more research on the effectiveness of current interventions and treatments, as well as the development of new strategies to reduce the prevalence of narcotic abuse and addiction.
Conclusion
In conclusion, narcotic abuse is a serious problem that requires a multi-faceted approach to address. Treatment and support services must be made available to those in need, while law enforcement, health professionals, and educators need to continue to work together to prevent the misuse and abuse of narcotics in the first place. With the right combination of prevention, education, and treatment, it is possible to reduce the incidence of narcotic abuse and its associated costs.
References
Chiariello, R., McCarthy, C., Glaeser, B. L., Shah, A. S., Budde, M. D., Stemper, B. D., & Olsen, C. M. (2023). Chronicity of repeated blast traumatic brain injury associated increase in oxycodone seeking in rats. Behavioural brain research, 438, 114181
CLEVELAND CLINIC. (n.d.). Opioids: What they are, side effects & disorders. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21127-opioids#:~:text=There%20are%20over%20one%20hundred%20different%20types%20of,Oxycodone%20%28OxyContin%C2%AE%2C%20Percocet%C2%AE%29.%20Oxymorphone%20%28Opana%C2%AE%29.%20Morphine%20%28Kadian%C2%AE%2C%20Avinza%C2%AE%29.
Dayley, J. C., Maggs, J. L., Mustillo, S. A., & Kelly, B. C. (2023). Associations between older siblings’ substance use and younger siblings’ substance use intentions: Indirect effects via substance use expectations. Addictive Behaviors, 136, 107493–107493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107493
Fatseas, M., Serre, F., Alexandre, J.-M., Debrabant, R., Auriacombe, M., & Swendsen, J. (2015). Craving and substance use among patients with alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or heroin addiction: a comparison of substance- and person-specific cues. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 110(6), 1035–1042. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12882.
Helminen, E. C., Ash, T. L., Cary, E. L., Sinegar, S. E., Janack, P., DiFlorio, R., & Felver, J. C. (2023). Gender differences in the stress-buffering effects of mindfulness facets on substance use among low-income adolescents. Addictive Behaviors, 136, 107491–107491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107491.
Serre, F., Fatseas, M., Denis, C., Swendsen, J., & Auriacombe, M. (2018). Predictors of craving and substance use among patients with alcohol, tobacco, cannabis or opiate addictions: Commonalities and specificities across substances. Addictive Behaviors, 83, 123-129.
Trinidad, J. P., Zhang, R., Gill, R., & Dal Pan, G. (2017). Drug availability adjustments in population-based studies of prescription opioid abuse: Drug Availability Adjustments in Opioid Abuse Studies. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 26(2), 180–191. https://doi.org/10.1002/pds.4139
Wang, S. (2019). Historical review: opiate addiction and opioid receptors. Cell transplantation, 28(3), 233-238.
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