Chapter 4!
"The fourth chapter of the book, Alcohol and Other Drugs, discusses the issues
related to alcohol, drugs, abuse, and addiction. Any chemical or substance that has the
potential for abuse and affects your senses or logical functions is referred to in the book as
a drug. Vitamins, hormones, painkillers, and harsher narcotics can all be categorized as
drugs. Subjective and objective perspectives on the issue of drug usage are both
important. The degree to which the substance affects a person's psychological or physical
health, or that of the community, is the objective aspect. How people view drug usage and
how their opinions influence social behavior is the subjective aspect. Drug abuse, which is
defined as the excessive use of substances and behaviors that harm the user, may result
from ongoing drug use. Drug addiction is a condition marked by repeated use and drug
reliance that can result from ongoing drug consumption. !
"You can see the percentages of high school pupils that take drugs in the table on
page 91. According to this survey, 49% of high school seniors in 2017 had ever taken any
illegal substance. The rate for underage drinking that is the highest is 62%. The picture on
page 92 shows that the lifetime use of any illicit substance in eighth, tenth, and twelfth
grades has either remained constant or decreased over time. The subject of alcohol abuse
and alcoholism is the next topic they discuss. Higher socioeconomic levels, men, non-
churchgoers, and cultures where people don't typically drink alcoholic beverages with
meals are the groups most likely to be heavy drinkers. Young people consume alcohol
more than any other drug. Although older people have a lower likelihood of drinking than
younger people, as the proportion of older people in the population rises, so does the
number of problem drinkers and alcoholics. In 2017, 15 million adults in the United States,
aged 12 and older, have an alcohol use disorder, which causes them to engage in
excessive drinking, have a higher tolerance for alcohol, and spend a lot of time doing
associated activities. Alcoholics are people who have developed a physical reliance on
alcohol and are physically unable to stop using it. They also have a very high tolerance for
alcohol. !
"Health issues, car accidents, criminal behavior, family disarray, and homelessness
are just a few of the social issues linked to excessive alcohol consumption. There are
numerous ways to aid alcoholics in kicking their habit, including group counseling,
Antabuse programs, community care and employee support programs, and direct
intervention. !
"Marijuana, cocaine and its derivative crack, opiates, hallucinogens, amphetamines,
"designer drugs," and some prescription medicines are the drugs that are most frequently
abused. Marijuana is by far the most popular of these. Most of the time, drug use is a
question of chance. One is more likely to eventually try a drug the younger they are when
they first have the chance to do so. Most people concur that using drugs is a social
behavior that has been learned. The drug must be used correctly, and users must learn to
recognize the pleasant effects of the substance.!
"The opportunity to consume drugs is a major factor. When given the first chance to
try a drug, a person is more likely to do so if they are younger. Addicts can be helped
through therapeutic communities, where people can get ready to rejoin society at their own
pace, and methadone maintenance, which uses a synthetic opioid to help addicts wean
themselves off heroin. The issues related to the consumption of alcohol and other
substances have not been resolved by placing more focus on law enforcement. Law reform
is frequently favored, particularly with regard to marijuana use. Hard drug legalization is
also advocated by some, but it's still a contentious topic.
