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Consumption of Illicit Drugs in the United States
Definition of the Problem
The consumption of illicit drugs refers to the use of prohibited drugs for non-medical purposes. Usually, these drugs are illegal in many countries. They may include cannabis, cocaine, heroin and other types of drugs. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the US (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2015). In 2013, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2015) estimated that 19.8 million Americans used marijuana for non-medical purposes. This statistic represents 5.8% of the population. The same agency estimates that there are more than 1,000,000 cocaine users in America (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2015). A 2014 survey conducted by the National Drug Control Strategy (2014) revealed that more than 20 million Americans admitted to using some type of illicit drug. The survey only included respondents who were aged 12 years or more. This finding translated to one in ten people in America (aged 12 years or more) having used illicit drugs. This finding may have a bearing in our understanding of the number of drug users in America who are aged 26 years or above. Statistics from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (cited in the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2015) reveal that some Americans spend up to $100 billion annually to purchase these drugs. Conversely, these statistics reveal that the consumption of drug use in America is not only a health problem, but also a financial problem.
Justification of the Problem
The use of illegal drugs in America inflicts serious damage on users and their families. The National Drug Control Strategy (2014) says that, today, 25% of deaths in America stem from the use of illicit drugs. Since most illegal drugs are chemicals, the chemical components of drugs may affect human beings in different ways. In fact, medical research shows that certain types of drugs could change a persons body and brain permanently (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2015). Usually, their effects lead to deaths, illnesses and disabilities. Relative to this assertion, The Gateway Alcohol & Drug Treatment (2015) says, People who live with substance dependence have a higher risk of all bad outcomes, including unintentional injuries, accidents, risk of domestic violence, medical problems, and death (p. 1). The health problems associated with the use of illegal drugs are also widespread. They include a weak immune system, cardiovascular problems (abnormal heart rates and heart attacks), liver problems, seizures, smokes and such like health issues (Gateway Alcohol & Drug Treatment, 2015). Other effects of illicit drug use may include behavioral problems and birth defects. Heavy drug users are also likely to be addicted and suffer from financial problems arising from the purchase of these drugs (Gateway Alcohol & Drug Treatment, 2015). Domestic violence, illness, reduced productivity and lost employment opportunities are other effects of illicit drug use that may affect drug users and their families. Based on these widespread effects of illicit drug use in America, it is crucial to find an effective solution for minimizing the severity of the problem, if not eradicate it.
Resolving the Issue
Tackling the drug problem in America requires a two-pronged strategy that focuses on the demand and supply side of the problem. The supply side of the problem focuses on holding people accountable for crimes that harm others. Actions associated with this recommendation would include investigating and arresting drug barons, dismantling drug supply chains and similar actions. The goal of undertaking such actions is to minimize the supply of illicit drugs in the market and to prevent first-time drug users from gaining access to drugs (Gifford, 2014). The second part of the solution involves managing the demand for illicit drugs. This involves improving access to treatment and rehabilitation services for people who want to stop using drugs. This is a critical part of the proposed strategy because the compulsion for drug users to continue using drugs is usually stronger than their will to be drug-free. Therefore, they need help in doing so. Increased access to treatment and rehabilitation services would help in this regard because it would be useless for authorities to reduce the supply of drugs without having a plan of how to minimize its demand. Therefore, increasing access to treatment and rehabilitation services would take care of the demand side of the drug problem.
References
Gateway Alcohol & Drug Treatment. (2015). Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction. Web.
Gifford, M. (2014). How Should Our Society Deal With People Who Use Drugs?Web.
National Drug Control Strategy. (2014). America Drug Use Profile: Consequences of Illegal Drug Use. Web.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2015). Drug Facts: Nationwide Trends. Web.
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