Reflection Essay on the Use of Illicit and Recreational Substances
Today, the use of illicit and recreational substances has increased in that many young and adult individuals do not see the danger that drug abuse can cause to their body, wellbeing, and those around them. Many people use abused drug substances deliberately because they believe that they will change their feelings, thoughts, and perspectives on the issues surrounding them (Germov et al., 2014). Although it would be thought that the use of illegal substances has stabilized, in many states the behavior continues to rise (Germov, 2014). In the World Drug Report that was recorded in 2012, it is stated that at about 230 million people 5% of the global population, has consumed illegal substances at least once. Thus, despite the health issues associated with drugs and current regulations, drug usage continues to be one of the most prevalent behaviors in the world. The purpose of this paper is to present a reflection essay on the use of illicit and recreational drugs by focusing on the construction of this problem and legal approaches that could be employed to reduce the prevalence of the practice.
Step 1: Use of illicit and Recreational Substances in Australia and Internationally
Step 2: Reflection on the Use of Illicit and Recreational Substances
Cultural Factors
Cultural factors have an impact on our lives. For example, from the sociological analysis it can be learned that people are influenced by cultural factors such the cultural values of their responsibilities (Freij & Germov, 2014). From my understanding about the issue of culture and use of illicit substances, I can say that major cultural aspects such attitude, norms, and values have influenced the behavior usage of drugs in the society. For instance, it is apparent that attitude toward drugs vary with the type of drug that people are consuming. It is the attitude of the people that makes them use both legal and illegal drugs (Spooner & Hetherington, 2005).
Critical factors
Freij and Germov (2014), point out that in sociology, critical factors are components that people use to improve the society and environment. From a sociology perspective, I suggest that working with community agencies and organizations to develop policies that will reduce the effect of drug abuse behavior is a prominent strategy that we as healthcare professionals can use reduce the negative impact of drug abuse. According to Bartlett, et al., (2013), in the case people work together in order to decrease the incidence of drug addiction, the society maintains relevant and accessible harm reduction policies.
Historical factors
Historically, I feel that psychoactive and hallucinogens drugs are among the most used illegal substances globally. Students between 15 and 25 years consume psychoactive drugs to change their moods, thoughts, and consciousness (Australian Defense Force, 2010). According to the Australian Defense Force (2010), people who want to distort their perception of reality, use hallucinogens drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy. Of all the impacts of consuming psychoactive and hallucinogens substances, in some ways, people using these form of narcotics are likely to have imaginary visionaries, hear things that are not in existence, as well as smell or feel things that are not present. Although legalization of substance abuse is becoming efficient day by day, the public continues to demand the government to do more and address the issue appropriately. In the U.S., the war on drugs is supported by different policies. These policies are used by the federal government to criminalize some forms of drug and substance abuse (Lester, Andreozzi, & Appiah, 2004). From this argument, I think that the policies against drug abuse are substantial strategies that the U.S. government is utilizing to regulate the aspect of drug abuse for all its citizens.
Structural Factors
Structural factors refer to a particular form of social organizations that may affect our lives. Various structural institutions are changing the society, but influencing the social determinant of the behaviors of the people (Freij & Germov, 2014). In this case, I review social structures such as the government institution and the healthcare organizations, as some of the structure influencing the use of illicit and recreational substances. Looking at most of the western government structure and healthcare, I can note that most of these organizations are structured vertically into various departments and tend to be isolated from one another (Spooner & Hetherington, 2005). This implies that the planning and implementation of policies and working programs are undertaken by the government or healthcare rather than across these structures. Therefore, these processes constitute barriers to the government approaches to issues such as drug abuse or production. Personally, I think that this is a significant problem for the drug filed, given the fact that drug abuse is linked the health, government structure, and social outcomes.
Step 3: Reflection on the Academic Resources
Cultural Factors
Individual attitude influences the acceptability of the public toward the use of specific drugs such as cannabis and other illicit drugs. The acceptance of cannabis use has modified the cultural aspects such as drugs norms and values (Spooner & Hetherington, 2005). The acceptance of some of the illicit drugs that are changing the cultural concept in our society are being influenced by media, legislation, and marketing. On the basis of marketing, I believe that the advertising and promotion activities have predisposing and reinforcing influencing the youth in the course of using illicit and recreational substances. Consequently, such practices are shaping the attitude, norms, and values of different people in relation to the aspect of drug consumption (Freij & Germov, 2014). The studies on the cultural factors and their influence to the use of illicit substances have been remarkable for personal development. From the research on the cultural factors and illicit substances, I feel that it is the right moment for people and government to place control measures that will address some of the factors influencing the attitude and norms of the people toward drug abuse.
Critical Factors
In a study by Bartlett, et al., (2013) I have observed that many health institutions and government in different part of the world acknowledges drug addiction as an illness that requires evidence based treatment or intervention strategies. Working with the ill person is always critical to proper care and reduces community anxiety. Thus, to reduce community fear in Australia in relation to the aspect of drug abuse, the society, and the government should have alternative strategies such as increasing the effectiveness of occupational health and implementing safety legislation that will regulate the substance abuse behavior (Freij & Germov, 2014). From reading the scholarly articles that I have read, I now know that it is essential to improve our social environment through legislation and healthcare institutions that will provide healthcare services to members addicted to drug abuse.
Historical Factor
From the literature on illicit and recreational substances, it is demonstrated that in the America, it is illegal for women to harm the fetus by means of using drugs when they are pregnant (Lesser et al., 2004). Freij and Germov (2014) suggest that the decriminalization of some of the illicit drugs such as marijuana for medical purposes is making the society find it hard to understand what is considered as illicit or recreational drugs. This makes communities to continue abusing the drug despite its effects.
Throughout the context of the study on substance abuse, I have realized that many states have decided to criminalize both the supply and use of illicit and recreational drugs. For example, in the U.S., the act of drugs production, possession, purchase, or cultivation is punishable by law. However, in some states such as Netherland and Spain, such laws are an exemption, which is making the behavior of drug consuming to become consistent (Valadez, 2014). From a personal perspective, criminalization and institutionalization of substance consumption targets the behavior of the victim and not the causes of the drug abuse problem.
On the other hand, I have come to identify that institutionalization of drug abuse activities in countries such as Australia is well of for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). In support of this point, Chapman and Wu (2012) argued that many people in the UK hide illicit substances out of fear, but when the action of using illicit and recreational drugs is institutionalized, drug consumption act is controlled together with the prevalence of the activity. Besides, it is evident that as the representatives of the society, we should focus on the model of institutionalization. Thus, we will be in a good position to disseminate the social mainstream on the ways to deal with the problem caused by the illegal narcotic. Evidently, Quintero (2014) proclaims that institutionalizing of drug abuse behaviors is a better way of managing the matter and involving political institutions. Hence, I can affirm that institutionalization of drug abuse actions is a way of bringing different professional together and a way of synchronizing the policymakers to initiate laws and regulations that will support the criminalization of the behavior of consuming illicit and recreational drugs.
With no doubt, restoring the reputation of the legalization of prohibited and recreation substance is one of the most important things that people and the government can do. In references to the Drug Policy Action Group (2006) in Ireland, to restore the fight on the abuse of illicit and recreational drugs, the government has initiated a policy action group that is focusing on advocating laws that will ensure that the issue of substance abuse in the state is dealt with positively, and counterproductive laws on drugs are enacted. In areas such as Australia, Freij and Germov (2014) write that to rehabilitate the substance abuse laws, the government has implemented harm minimization policies where people, especially students, are required to consume non-alcoholic content or use low-alcohol drinks. In essence, I see the policies that the UK and Ireland government are using as some of the most efficient ways that can be used to limit the use of illicit and recreational drug in countries where substance abuse is at the extreme.
In addition, evidence shows that therapeutic justice is another way the can be applied to make insightful gains on the legalization of the act of consuming illicit substances (Germov, 2014). Certainly, I think that a corrective justice approach can be an efficient way that people in the legal setting can use to focus on restoring the legalization of substance consumption. Studies indicate that judges in the therapeutic justice system use psychologically oriented strategies to implement rulings that will criminalize the use of illegal content (Germov, 2014). Some of the approaches that I find resourceful within the context of therapeutic justice include empathy, respect, behavioral contracting, and motivational interviewing. Therapeutic justice can be used as a way that will motivate many people in the society to stop drug abuse behaviors while preserving the integrity of the legal system.
Structural Factor
In the fight against drug abuse, the government takes the managerial authority (Freij & Germov, 2014). Clearly, the government and healthcare institutions have a vital role to play in the mitigation of human anguish that occur due to the aspect of drug abuse (Williams, Gabe, & Davis, 2008). In my own understanding, I recognize that medicalization of substance abuse problem is dynamic and can frequently expand in a new direction when the government and healthcare play their role appropriately (Conrad, 2007). Since it is true that the drug abuse field is characterized by incomplete and contested medicalizations, I feel that the government and healthcare institutions in the areas that are affected should focus on creating institutions and therapies to manage the drug abuse behavior. The government and healthcare structure should also look at the addiction problem, and come up with detailed policies that will control the supply of illicit drugs as well as policies for treating people with drug addiction problem. Since the goal of harm lessening policy is to decrease the negative consequences of drug use, I found that working with the people who consume drugs is the best strategy to help them stop consuming the illicit substance. This will create a partnership in the society, which will be a good opportunity for the community to influence drug users stop using drugs and seeing life in a different way.
Step 4: Implication of the Study
The discussion on the use of illicit and recreational drugs is an area of focus for many researchers. Equally, studying this topic has helped me understand some important concepts regarding substance usage, especially the drugs that have an impact on the mind and behaviors of the people. Throughout the content of this discussion, I have known that for people in states where drug abuse behavior is thrilling, it will be significant for the society and authorities to work both autonomously and collaboratively. From my observation, I think that when the government and local people cooperate in the fight against drug abuse, production of substances and illicit trafficking will become a matter of multilateral concern. The collaborative action will strengthen the community by making it clear to the local people on the dangers and impact of illicit substance. Besides, with increased participation of the society, the legal system set to control and initiate rulings on abuse cases will be made more transparent and be committed to abolish the problem as it happens on a daily basis. At the same time, I feel that allowing some parties involved in the context of eradicating illicit abuse behavior work autonomously will foster extensive participant of the society to the situation of eliminating drug abuse. I believe that allowing individuals to work independently on the issue of abolishing substance use; the government in areas that are highly affected will get the names of the organized network selling and transferring drugs to the member of the society. This is to say that when a state apply both autonomously and collaborative strategies in the quest to end the use of illicit and recreational drugs, it will have the capabilities of limiting substance abuse efficiently.
References
Culture Factors
Spooner, C., & Hetherington, K. (2005). Social determinants of drug use. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales.
Freij, M., & Germov, J. (2014). A sociology of licit and illicit drugs. The University of Newcastle. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Germov/publication/280029094_A_sociology_of_licit_and_illicit_drugs/links/55a4a25808ae81aec912fb11.pdf
Critical Factors
Bartlett, R., Brown, L., Shattell, M., Wright, T., & Lewallen, L. (2013). Harm reduction: compassionate care of persons with addictions. Medsurg nursing: official journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, 22(6), 349.
Freij, M., & Germov, J. (2014). A sociology of licit and illicit drugs. The University of Newcastle. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Germov/publication/280029094_A_sociology_of_licit_and_illicit_drugs/links/55a4a25808ae81aec912fb11.pdf
Historical Factors
Australian Defense Force, (2010). Recreational drugs and illicit & prohibited drugs. Retrieved from: http://www.defence.gov.au/health/dmh/MH_Fact_Sheets/Recreational%20Drugs%20Illicit%20Prohibited%20Drugs_web%20version%202015.pdf.
Chapman, S. L. C., & Wu, L. T. (2012). Substance abuse among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Research in developmental disabilities, 33(4), 1147-1156.
Drug Policy Action Group, (2006). Criminal justice drug policy in Ireland. Retrieved from: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/6059/1/3025-3224.pdf.
Germov, J. B. (2014). Second opinion: An introduction to health sociology (5th ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Lester, B. M., Andreozzi, L., & Appiah, L. (2004). Substance use during pregnancy: time for policy to catch up with research. Harm Reduction Journal, 1(1), 1-44.
Quintero, G. (2014). Problematizing ‘drugs’: A cultural assessment of recreational pharmaceutical use among young adults in the US. Contemporary drug problems, 39(3), 491-535.
Valadez, M. A. N. (2014). Drug use and the right to health: An analysis of international law and the Mexican case. Mexican law review, 6(2), 201-224.
Structure Factors
Conrad, P. (2007). The medicalization of society: On the transformation of human conditions into treatable disorders. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Freij, M., & Germov, J. (2014). A sociology of licit and illicit drugs. The University of Newcastle. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Germov/publication/280029094_A_sociology_of_licit_and_illicit_drugs/links/55a4a25808ae81aec912fb11.pdf
Spooner, C., & Hetherington, K. (2005). Social determinants of drug use. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales.
Williams, S. J., Gabe, J., & Davis, P. (2008). The sociology of pharmaceuticals: progress and prospects. Sociology of health & illness, 30(6), 813-824.
Others
Germov, J., McGee, T. R., Schofield, T., Lindsay, J., Giles, F., Hepworth, J., & Leontini, R. (2011). Alcohol consumption and harm minimization practices amongst Australian university students. In Annual conference of The Australian Sociological Association 2011 (pp. 103-103). The Australian Sociological Association.
World Drug Report, (2012).United Nation office on drugs and crime. Retrieved from: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/WDR2012/WDR_2012_web_small.pdf.
