Substance Abuse Prevention in the United States

docx

School

Grand Canyon University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

CNL-501

Subject

Sociology

Date

May 29, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by anglbbydnt

Substance Use Prevention in the United States Elizabeth Jones Grand Canyon University CNL-501: Substance Use Disorders and Addictions Dr. Elizabeth Aura 05/08/2024 1

Introduction Substance abuse disorder and addiction represent challenges in the United States. In the last six years more than 70,000 Americans have succumbed due to substance abuse overdose (NCDAS, 2023). Even with the statistics being so high in the nation society has a misconception that substance abuse disorder is a choice rather than it being a disease. Additionally, the perception is that the individual dealing with substance abuse has a lack of strength and willpower, a flawed moral compass which dehumanizes them. With that being the focus in society, the emphasis is on punishment, banishment, and disgrace rather than treatment and prevention. The consequences of substance abuse disorder can take a major toll on an individual's mental health. There are several programs that help aid in providing education and resources in the hopes of preventing an escalation or initial use of a substance. The two programs that will be discussed will be Students Against Destructive Decisions or also know as SADD and the National Institute on Drug Abuse or know as the NIDA. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) The mission of Students Against Destructive Decisions is to allow young adults to tackle the daily stressors and struggles of life (SADD, 2021) actively and efficiently. This is a preventative organization that concentrates on learners or young people. It was first established in 1981 in Wayland, Massachusetts. Originally, the organization was Students Against Drunk driving and in 1997 transitioned to Students Against Destructive Decisions but kept the acronym SADD. This program has been aimed at teaching a diverse group of students how to avoid the experimentation or use of varying substances. SADD helps students develop tools and decision- making skills that lead to healthy and safe choices. Students Against Destructive Decisions is a 2

student-led program lead at state or national levels. This program also fosters belonging and inclusion in a diverse population of young adults. Students Against Destructive Decisions is currently funded by corporation donations as well as individual donations. The effectiveness of this platform can be measured in that 32,000,000 students are in the SADD network community. 8,000 middle school, high school and colleges participate in SADD activities. 2,000 of the chapters in the SADD network are virtual and were created to accommodate the services during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued after COVID-19 quarantines ended. The SADD network also has an array of contests that the create such as “End Vaping Contest” and the “Taking Down Tobacco” day of action to help engage new individuals to join the SADD program. SADD provides many outlets a resources for intervention and prevention and a youthful age. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states the mission is to advance science on the consequences and causes of substance use disorder and addiction and apply that knowledge in a campaign to improve individual and public health. The NIDA provides research and evidence on states and communities cand better understand addiction and substance abuse through contributions due to genetic, epigenetic, social, neurobiological, and environmental factors (NIDA, 2023). In using these advancements individuals can transform how substance abuse disorder and addiction as conceptualized. The NIDA is a branch of the National Institutes of Health that receives its funding through appropriations approved by the United States Congress. The NIDA does not fundraise nor is it a private charitable organization. But they are authorized to receive donations to support research in the NIDA Gift Fund. The NIDA supported research has been effective in leading to the development of interventions for treating overdose 3

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

and substance use disorder including the use of medications, behavioral intervention, and digital therapeutics. Risk Factors for Substance Abuse Disorder There are many risk factors that can lead to substance use and substance abuse disorders. Many individuals feel as if when they first ingest a drug that it provides a euphoric and positive affect and in turn want to experience that again. They feel as if they can keep it under control as well without realizing how quickly it can take over one’s life. Some key risk factors to be noted are aggressive behavior in childhood, lack of parental supervision at an early age, peer pressure, drug experimentation, drug accessibility at home or school and the community and poverty status they grew up in (NIDA, 2024). SADD and the NIDA are both beneficial in distributing the proper educational and resources to battle the risk factors at an early age. Both programs are diverse in all ways and can incorporate family dynamics as well. Government Involvement in Substance Abuse Prevention Programs Recently the federal government has invested billions of dollars and enlisted the help of over a dozen different agencies to help address the epidemic of substance use disorder (office, 2024). The government recognizes there are some key factors that limit the ability for some individuals to receive the care they need in dealing with substance use disorders. Some of these barriers are shortages of staff in the programs, insurance issues and reimbursement as well as federal and state requirements and the sigma that society has placed on those with a substance use disorder. The government has aimed to expand access to treatment for those currently 4

dealing with substance abuse as there are several programs funded to help those who have overcome substance abuse. There are also several recommendations in place at that state levels to share information to the government to close the gaps in the programs and the funding needed for those programs to succeed. Conclusion In conclusion, the United States has a high statistical rate of substance abuse disorder impacting Americans. Having the understanding and knowledge that there are different resources and organizations help facilitate the prevention and intervention of substance abuse disorders. These organizations are also providing vital information and awareness to the substance abuse disorder epidemic in the United States. Both Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are great organizations that can aide in the mission is disseminating substance abused disorder and lowering the statistics to provide better communities and foundations for families to succeed. 5

References NIDA. 2024, January 5. Drug Misuse and Addiction. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-misuse-addiction on 2024, May 8 Office, U. S. G. A. (2024, April 4). The crisis of drug misuse and federal efforts to address it . U.S. GAO. https://www.gao.gov/blog/crisis-drug-misuse-and-federal-efforts-address- it#:~:text=In%20recent%20years%2C%20the%20federal,coordinated%20national%20drug %20control%20policy. SADD: Student organization: Washington, DC . SADD Nation. (1969, December 26). https://www.sadd.org/ Substance abuse and addiction statistics [2023] . NCDAS. (2023, May 2). https://drugabusestatistics.org/#:~:text=Between%201999-2017%2C%20over %20700%2C000%20people%20died%20of%20drug,deaths%20were%20prescription- %20opioid-related.%2015%2C482%20deaths%20were%20heroin-related . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, November 6). About Nida . National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida 6

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

1-3 Journal Medium and Message Reflection.docx

Case study .docx

MFT 5105- Week two Explore Postmodernism and Social Constructionism.docx

Research_Paradigms_final_.docx

Untitled document (7) (1).pdf

Theory Application Writing Workshop 2.docx

CHCDIV001 Student Guide.docx

Social Media Best Practices Presentation Final Draft (1).pptx

Reflection #2.pdf

CA_8_1_Slade_A.docx

Untitled document (70).docx

Examen_Desarrollo organizacional.docx

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Pearson College Div

Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780393639407

Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...

Sociology

ISBN:9781305503076

Author:Earl R. Babbie

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...

Sociology

ISBN:9780134477596

Author:Saferstein, Richard

Publisher:PEARSON

Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134205571

Author:James M. Henslin

Publisher:PEARSON

Society: The Basics (14th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134206325

Author:John J. Macionis

Publisher:PEARSON

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Pearson College Div
Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780393639407
Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...
Sociology
ISBN:9781305503076
Author:Earl R. Babbie
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...
Sociology
ISBN:9780134477596
Author:Saferstein, Richard
Publisher:PEARSON
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134205571
Author:James M. Henslin
Publisher:PEARSON
Society: The Basics (14th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134206325
Author:John J. Macionis
Publisher:PEARSON