drug abuse

http://www.salon.com/2012/04/11/americas_pill_popping_capital/
http://www.salon.com/2012/06/13/drug_cocktails_can_kill/
http://articles.cnn.com/1998-05-08/health/9805_08_elderly.substance.abuse_1_prescription-drugs-surveys-findings-alcohol-abuse-and-alcoholism?_s=PM:HEALTH


         There is a problem in our counrty involving the issue of drug or substance abuse. Many people have been effected by this. Whether you are the one abusing a substance, or you have lossed a loved one in another conection to this. Substance abuse is a very broad topic. It can either be actually illegal narcotics, alchohol, or huffing glue. All of these do a significant amout of damage to the user's brain. There are dozens of chemicals that can render you "friendless, jobless, and despondent—if not outright kill you" (Detwiler 1).

       Substance abuse is a problem and hasn't been fixed. The West Virginia newspapers offer daily examples of what the Mingo County sheriff, Lonnie Hannah, calls the “spinoffs of drug abuse”: "Murders, assaults, robberies, burglaries, domestic violence, child abuse, child neglect, elder abuse, DUIs, overdose deaths" (Nieves). West Virginia, the ninth smallest state, has the highest rate of prescription drug overdose deaths in the nation. It isn't just a current problem. In a CNN Health article, from May 08, 1998, states that 17 percent of the older population is some form of substance abuser.

      There are many wasy to try and solve this problem. There has been many attempts, and many have failed. There has been tons of anti-drug and tobacco commercials in all the media, but it hasn't had as big as an effect as they had wanted. There has been many organizations like D.A.R.E., which try to stop the use of drugs, and try to help people with their substance abuse problems. There has been many successful attempts at solving this problem though. Those adds have helped some people make the decision to quit their bad habits. Rehab centers have also helped those individuals who can't solve thier problem themselves.

Nieves, . "America’s pill-popping capital." . 11 2012: 1. Print. http://www.salon.com/2012/04/11/americas_pill_popping_capital/.

Detwiler, . "Drug cocktails can kill ." 13 2012: 1. Print. http://www.salon.com/2012/06/13/drug_cocktails_can_kill/.

"Survey 17 percent of older Americans are addicted." 5 1998: 1. Print. http://articles.cnn.com/1998-05-08/health/9805_08_elderly.substance.abuse_1_prescription-drugs-surveys-findings-alcohol-abuse-and-alcoholism?_s=PM:HEALTH.