Around
the world, a growing number of people are destroying their lives as a result of
being consumed with alcohol and drug addictions because of the way they may
feel while doing these activities. The fact of the matter is that addiction
does not segregate or discriminate, nor does it judge a person by their
economic class. As a result, the number of people who become addicted increases
quite rapidly. Those struggling with addictions also have a higher chance of
committing crimes such as domestic violence, child abuse, and other unlawful
acts. Ultimately, these addictions may even lead to homelessness and poverty.
Without the ready availability and the correct resources, addicts are hopeless
in cleaning themselves up and starting their lives over along with, maintaining
their wellbeing for their outlook on life. Although alcohol and drug addiction
are continued complications worldwide, change can only be made once addicts
decide to help themselves.
No
matter the circumstances, alcohol and drugs affect anybody of any race, gender,
and economic stature. For instance, within the lavishing lives of celebrities may
come the exclusive events but it also comes with an endless supply of drugs and
alcoholic beverages. Many famous stars have fallen victim and struggled with
alcohol and drug addictions for years, having trouble-reaching sobriety due to
the easy accessibility. Just last year, “Grammy-winning soul singer” (Cheng)
Amy Winehouse was found dead in her home on July 23, as a result of alcohol
poisoning. In conclusion of Winehouse’s death, autopsy reports stated, “the
level of alcohol in her blood was 416 milligrams per 100 milliliters, [or] a
blood alcohol level of 0.4 percent” (Cheng). People within the entertainment
industry may have a luxurious lifestyle but with the steady flow of drugs and
alcohol, there are more opportunities for addictions to advance. In addition to
the development of an addiction are serious health problems. According to the
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “the impact of addiction can be far
reaching cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV), Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Hepatitis B and C, lung disease,
[and] mental disorders” (NIDA). In all, drug and alcohol addictions are not
only detrimental to one’s own health in the long run, but may cause death in
the near future with continued use. For instance, singer Whitney Houston was seen
"partying the night before her death in the bar" (Gast and Hayes) and
died as a result of “a combination of drowning,
heart disease and cocaine use” (Detroit Free Press), in addition,
“[actor] Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined
effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and
doxylamine" (CNN). Also, in the case of actor Charlie Sheen, many are
uncertain of Sheen’s mental wellbeing:
His
recent ranting behavior has led viewers to question whether the actor was still
on drugs and denying addiction, [or] whether he was exhibiting manic symptoms
of bipolar disorder, [or] some combination of the two. Sheen's negative drug
test suggests that addiction is unlikely to be his only problem. (Brown)
Sheen’s aggressive addictions were so
overbearing that Brook Mueller, now ex-wife, filed for divorce and custody of
the children. Depending on the level of addiction, many addicts will do
anything for their next fix including a number of illegal acts.
As
addictions further progress, resources run low and substance abusers are more
likely to commit crimes. With addiction, abusers are stricken with physical and
psychological dependencies that become the driving motives to partake in domestic
violence and child abuse. “It is likely that some drug-exposed children will
need educational support in the classroom to help them overcome what may be
subtle deficits in developmental areas such as behavior, attention, and
cognition” (NIDA). While substance abusers only focus on themselves and getting
their next fix, they leave their family to fend for themselves as well. Despite
the fact, addicts will eventually “join the 2.5 to 3.5 million individuals,
including 600,000 families, who live on the streets or in shelters at some
point over the course of a given year” (National Alliance…) and will remain
chronically homeless due to drug and alcohol addictions. Without the proper help
and support now, addicts trapped behind alcohol and drugs will never be able to
get their lives back on track.
While programs such as Alcoholics
Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous do exist to straighten out the lives of addicts,
most addicts do not feel the need of sobriety. Many addicts have developed profound
addictions to different substances ranging from cocaine and methamphetamines,
to heroine, because of a traumatic event in their life such as the loss of a
loved one, being neglected, or being abused. The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention states that substance abuse may
consist of “neurological damage as well as psychiatric problems such as
depression, anxiety, and antisocial personality disorder.” Most often, addicts
use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate and keep depression at bay but truthfully,
drugs and alcohol can alter the mind and worsen depression. Personally, I have
an uncle that is mentally and physically abused by his wife and as a result, he
has become dependent upon alcohol to feel “better” about himself and the
situation he is in. My uncle has had a hard time contemplating his options if
he were to divorce his wife and it hurts to see him drink himself to sleep, but
it is up to him to make those choices to better his life for his sons. I have
also heard numerous stories from friends and family of suicide because of the
extreme altered consciousness an addict can experience. In addition, in Canada,
drug and alcohol abuse has been an extensive complication and even though
universal health care is provided to all citizens, not very many Canadians seek
the available medical attention to sober up. It is possible to achieve a life
of sobriety, however, relapse is likely:
"You can't reach an
addict when he's not ready," said Harold Owens, senior vice president of
MusiCares/Musicians Assistance Program (MAP) Fund who has been counseling
others in substance abuse since he became sober about 23 years ago. "I've
been through the struggle," he said. "To an alcoholic, I like to
think it's a self-diagnosed disease: Nobody can tell you you're an alcoholic
until you tell yourself." (Lewis)
Nevertheless, to begin the journey of
sobriety, addicts must experience a revelation and have the courage to better
themselves for the future.
Despite
the fact that addicts may choose not to reach sobriety, there are high quality
treatment centers available, such as the Betty Ford Center. As a result of the
heavy alcohol addiction Betty Ford, wife President Gerald R. Ford, faced, she
decided to help others like herself when she had reached sobriety. The Betty
Ford Center is located in Rancho Mirage and has been treating patients since
1982.
As
the number of drug and alcohol addicts grows quickly, so is the number of those
in poverty and on the verge of becoming homeless. Because drug and alcohol
addictions correlate to physical and psychological dependencies, addicts will
go through any obstacle to get their fix and even be willing to participate in
more illegal activities. These “activities” may range from domestic violence,
child abuse, and burglary or robbery. However, there are programs available to
the public to gain sobriety but not many addicts feel the need to be in detox.
Those struggling with drug and alcohol addictions must realize something must
change in their lives and find the will power to become sober for the better.
Works Cited
Brown,
Eryn. "Diagnosing Charlie Sheen, from Afar." Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times, 01 Mar. 2011. Web. http://articles.latimes.com/print/2011/mar/01/news/la-heb-charlie-sheen-bipolar-20110301.
Brown discusses the recent, unusual
behaviors of actor, Charlie Sheen, and informs readers of Sheen’s progress on
alcohol and drug addictions. Brown also reports Sheen’s denial of any
addictions and interviews Psychologist Deborah Serani who suggests that Sheen
may have a bipolar disorder.
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Web. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/alcoholdrug/index.htm.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports statistics of alcohol and
drug related deaths each year and includes descriptions of health related
effects as a result of “illicit drug use” and “prescription and
over-the-counter drug abuse.” The CDC also supplies information about health
issues associated with substance abuse, which may consist of “liver
disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological damage as well as
psychiatric problems such as depression, anxiety, and antisocial personality
disorder.”
Cheng,
Maria. "Amy Winehouse's Autopsy: Coroner Says Singer Died From Too Much
Alcohol." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 26 Oct. 2011.
Web. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/amy-winehouse-dead-singer-alcohol_n_1032344.html.
Cheng reports the cause of Amy
Winehouse’s death and discusses the reactions of acquaintances that were close
to Winehouse including “Dr. Christina Romete, who had treated Winehouse” and
“Winehouse family spokesman, Chris Goodman.” Cheng also entails Winehouse’s
troubled past with “illicit” drugs and her ongoing alcohol addiction that
became her cause of death.
"Coroner
Releases Whitney Houston Autopsy Report." Detroit Free Press. Web. http://www.freep.com/article/20120405/ENT07/120405005/Coroner-releases-Whitney-Houston-autopsy-report?odyssey=nav|head.
Detroit Free Press gives closure to
Whitney Houston’s death by sharing the autopsy report to readers.
"Drug
and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center “ Betty
Ford Center. Web. http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/index.php.
The Betty Ford Center, located in
Rancho Mirage, is an addiction hospital founded by Leonard Firestone and Betty
Ford, wife of 38th President, Gerald R. Ford. The Better Ford Center
is a nonprofit and has been treating patients since 1982.
"Drugs,
Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction." NIDA. Web. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction.
The NIDA, National Institute on Drug
Abuse, is a national organization of well-being that is dedicated to “the
science of drug abuse and addiction” (www.drugabuse.gov) with the intent of educating
the nation through research in order to better prevent and treat drug
addiction. The NIDA has created the website: www.drugabuse.gov to help spread their scientific
findings and statistics on topics including “drug abuse and addiction,
preventing drug abuse, addiction and health, and treatment and recovery” (www.drugabuse.gov).
Gast,
Phil and Hayes, Ashely. "Investigation Focuses on Houston's Behavior,
Prescriptions." 16 Feb. 2012. Web. http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-16/entertainment/showbiz_whitney-houston_1_death-investigation-source-whitney-houston?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ.
"Ledger's
Death Caused by Accidental Overdose." CNN. 06 Feb. 2008. Web. http://articles.cnn.com/2008-02-06/entertainment/heath.ledger_1_accidental-overdose-anti-anxiety-prescription-drugs?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ.
Lewis,
Randy. "Whitney Houston's Drug Issues Resonate within the Industry." Los
Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 08 Mar. 2012. Web.
Lewis informs readers of the tragic
death of singer, Whitney Houston, as a result of a “drug overdose.” Lewis also
elaborates on the fact that other celebrities such as Amy Winehouse, Michael
Jackson, and Elvis Presley were struggling addicts as well.
"Library: State of Homelessness in
America 2011." National Alliance to End Homelessness. Web. http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/3668
The
National Alliance to End Homelessness has found major key factors that affect
homelessness and generate statistics that reflect their research. These
statistics comprise of the different experiences of homeless people including
being sheltered, unsheltered, the number of people in family, the number of
family households, the number of individuals, and the number of individuals
that are chronically homeless.
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