Research Paper on Addiction Problem and Preventive Efforts

Introduction

The term addiction means a chronic body disease that influences or affects the brain's motivation, reward or memory function, as defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. People suffering from a given form of addiction typically they crave for a particular substance or other behavioral habits. If they lack these substances, they end up in depression or disease. Addicts often ignore other aspects of their lives to pursue the fulfillment of their addictions or desires. The issue of addiction is the significant issue in many societies across the world; hence programs and initiative have been put in place to mitigate or reduce the impact of the latter. There are preventive measures categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary efforts utilized to minimize the effects of addiction problem.

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Primary Prevention

The primary prevention aims at reducing the significant challenges of substance abuse by providing mitigating factors that will minimize the impact of addiction. It strives to anticipate and prevent consumption and abuse of drugs, especially among the young generation who have little to minimal experience with the effect of the associated problems with alcohol, tobacco, and other dangerous drugs. The primary prevention promotes abstinence or non-consumption of drugs while offering practical programs to addicted people on how to quit drugs, hand-peer pressure, creating awareness on the negativity of addiction, avoiding conflicts among other issues that steer young people towards drug abuse. Primary prevention provides societal mechanisms that help sensitize the communities on the danger and impact of substance abuse and addiction and its impact on the society.

There are several efforts guarantee by primary prevention method that includes (1) religious efforts; many religious groups and organizations across the world strictly prohibit substance abuse among its followers, such indoctrinations have significantly reduced the level of addition among many young and senior generations. (2) Legal efforts; many countries have initiated laws that limits and control of drugs and alcohol, thus minimizing the risk of young people and children in accessing such drugs. Such laws also prohibit and ban drugs that are perceived to be harmful to the user such as cocaine and heroin

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention aims to stop the use of the drug on an addict once they begin to consume or abuse drugs (usually among non-dependent users). The object of the latter is to prevent or reduce experimental, recreational, habitual, social, drug abusers from becoming long-term drug abusers. Secondary prevention methods and techniques include employee assistance programs, family educational efforts, first offender drinking driver laws and community forum among others. These are being utilized to mitigate the menace of drug abuse among individuals within the community or workplaces. An example, the campaigns by beverage firms to reduce alcohol abuse and excessive drinking with slogans such as "friends don't let friends drink and drive," "know when to say no!." They include part of the public relation efforts aimed at sensitizing the public on the impact of substance abuse and its effects. Such an example demonstrates a practical application of the secondary preventive technique.

Some of the techniques of secondary preventive include (1) early treatment, where individuals who have begun abusing drugs or using drugs can be taken to rehab or offered guidance on how to quit abusing drugs. (2) Proper Laws should be put in place to ensure the producers and manufacturers of alcohol provide information to the public on the dangers of consuming or abusing alcohol.

Tertiary Prevention

The latter consist of measures and programs aimed to minimize existing addictions and impairment by reducing the impact of addiction on a person, group or community that has been affected by any form of health-related addictions. The tertiary prevention seeks to reduce addiction damages from abuse, habituation, and long-term restoration of a drug abuser's health. The latter aims to stop compulsive drug consumption with preventive relapse strategies such as cue extinction therapy, Group therapy, relapse, prevention and aftercare support systems.

Discipline and punishment as considered the most vital methods of tertiary preventions, because most of the addicts are usually at critical and vulnerable stage of addiction hence disciplinary or tough stance have to be put in place to ensure the addicts undergo the necessary steps to recovery. Most of the addicts are usually affected by their addictions, and significant numbers of them typically lose their lives or develop complicated health-related problems that have the long-term impact on their health and vitality. Examples of tertiary preventive include treatment programs, intervention program, education and sensitization, punishment, antagonist drugs and discipline among others.

Education Strategies Used For Prevention

The menace and impact of addiction among individuals have negatively influenced the communities they reside. Researchers and other expert's continue to analyze and study the influence and effects of drugs in society. Several strategies have been devised to combat the problem of addiction within the community.

School approach strategy; the strategy was developed to minimize the growth and prevalence of teenage alcohol consumption and abuse by increasing and strengthening social and protective factors while reducing on social and personal activities that will negatively influence children to abuse drugs. Some of the school-based programs that have proved successful include Life skills training, Project SMART, and project ALERT that equip students with necessary techniques to enable students to overcome various "triggering" factors that will influence them into abusing drugs.

Extracurricular related strategy; most young people typically have a lot of time especially if they are not in school. Hence their time can be filled with undesirable activities that may steer them into drug abuse. It is estimated that forty percent of a teen waking hours are not spent in any constructive activities meaning they are vulnerable to participate in drug abuse if they relate to the "wrong" company of friends. Thus the creation of alternative programs in sports, music, and arts are vital to enable the young generation to be occupied and participate in meaningful activities that will enhance their personal lives: Overall, minimizing the risk young people falling victims of drugs abuse in the long-run.