Societal Effects of Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is an epidemic of global proportions. It touches every part of society and uses up resources that could be spent elsewhere. Drug abuse is very difficult to overcome and can lead to death if it is not taken care of in time. Many people have struggled against this and society has borne the brunt of it. It affects our crime levels, our economics, our health care and our sense of family.
Other People Are Reading
-
Family and Children
-
Drug abuse disturbs the lives of children and leads to children who are in need of help from society. Parents who abuse drugs are unable to care for their kids and ultimately put them at risk financially and sometimes physically with their behavior. Children sometimes have to go into foster care because drug-addicted parents are unable to take care of them properly -- this can put a strain on the mechanisms of society. The family unit also breaks down, which does not provide stability and a learning environment for these children; they grow up thinking that drug abuse is okay.
Health Care
-
Drug abuse can kill, but it's a long road of medical and mental health care before that sad end. Drug abusers can be infected with HIV and Hepatitis B, along with needing counseling for the addictions that are driving them. Most of these medical problems are paid for out of the state's medical care funds because drug abusers usually do not have gainful employment. This is a burden on society that often ends in tragic loss of life. Some drug abusers do come through the system and change their lives, but their bodies will always bear the physical scars of their addictions and health insurance pays for that.
-
Crime
-
Drug abuse is a crime and crime springs up all around drug abuse. Since drugs are a crime, many other crimes come with drugs, such as robbery, organized crime and murder. For instance, methamphetamine labs are not only against the law, they are dangerous to everyone around them. Those who use drugs have no choice but to associate with those who are heavily into crime. They populate the prison systems and often participate in other crimes as a matter of convenience or necessity.
Welfare State
-
Many people who are drug users are not able to hold down jobs and, therefore, do not contribute to society. They are on welfare and are not able to work for a living. Drug abuse keeps them from pursuing school, keeping regular hours and being responsible for showing up to a job. Also, if someone is in the workforce and uses drugs, he may not be able to maintain his position in the workforce. Drug testing for employment can keep him out of many jobs and keep him as a burden on society until he gets clean.
-
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
