




Facts
Wanting to send a strong message that crack was intolerable, Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and 1988 with the 100:1 powder cocaine vs. crack ratio. Because more African Americans tend to use crack, whereas more Hispanics and whites tend to use powder cocaine, this law continues to result in harsher prison terms for blacks. In 1996, the American Medical Association published a study and recommended a revised powder cocaine/crack ratio of 2 or 3:1. In 1997 the Department of Justice recommended that the ratio be reduced to 10:1. The Drug Sentencing Reform Act of 2001 (S. 1874) has been introduced into the Senate and would increase the amount of crack necessary to trigger mandatory sentences while increasing the penalties for powder cocaine convictions, if it becomes law. This is one of numerous bills proposed since 1988, none of which have passed. Social/Behavioral Characteristics: As addiction develops, the individual's life increasingly focuses on drug-related endeavors, with consequent inattention to daily responsibilities and needs. Basic changes in the individual's activities, self-image and relationships usually emerge. Since the addicted person must, with rare exception, deal with a criminal market, a way of life evolves which commonly entails physical and emotional hazards, general deterioration of health and hygiene, and isolation from most non-dependent friends, associates, and family. The short-acting nature of heroin precludes stability in daily living. Benzodiazepines, therapeutically used as tranquillizers, hypnotics, anticonvulsants and centrally acting muscle relaxants, rank among the most frequently prescribed drugs. Negative Incentive System: In another behavioral treatment method that sometimes works, the cocaine addict writes a letter admitting to cocaine use. The addict then agrees that the letter can be made public if a urine test turns out positive for cocaine. This system uses a negative incentive. The patient avoids the drug in order to avoid a negative consequence rather than to win a positive reward. Researchers believe that a negative incentive works for some cocaine users who have something to lose, such as a good job. |
Dependence
Dependence is the compulsive use of a substance despite negative consequences which can be severe; drug dependence is simply excessive use of a drug or use of a drug for purposes for which it was not medically intended. Physical dependence on a substance (needing a drug to function) is not necessary or sufficient to define addiction. There are some substances that don't cause addiction but do cause physical dependence (for example, some blood pressure medications) and substances that cause addiction but not classic physical dependence (cocaine withdrawal, for example, it does not have symptoms like vomiting and chills; it is mainly characterized by depression).
Drug Side Effects
Drug addiction and abuse comes with a heavy price. There are drastic drug side effects associated with drug misuse and abuse. Drug side effects from legal and illegal drugs can range from mild itching to comas and death. In addition to the physical drug side effects mentioned, there are many psychological drug side effects of drug abuse; the most serious being drug addiction and overdose.
Intervention
An intervention is when a group of loved ones and/or a trained intervention counselor meets with the person in need of help for the purpose of breaking down their denial and motivating them to immediately seek drug addiction treatment. Often, individuals in the midst of drug addiction engage in a variety of self destructive behaviors. Although baffling to friends and family members such people generally either aren't aware on a conscious level that they have a drug addiction problem, or even when they know they have a problem they may cling to the false belief that the problem will somehow go away without any outside help. When an intervention is held a moment of clarity is created
for the addict. Most people struggling with the problem of drug or alcohol
addiction will accept help the very day of the intervention.
Addiction Treatment
Addiction treatment is needed when an individual finds that they have developed a drug or alcohol addiction which they are not able to successful end on their own. With the help of addiction treatment, addicted individual can get help to control their drug taking behavior and live happy and successful lives. There are several addiction treatment options available for drug and alcohol addiction. Some of these options include self-help groups, counseling, drug rehabilitation programs (in and out-patient), and residential treatment facilities. Each of these differ
in their aims and outcomes and elements of these addiction treatment options are often
combined.
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a pattern of repeated drug taking that usually results in tolerance (the need for greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect), withdrawal (physical and cognitive effects when drug use declines or stops), and compulsive drug taking behavior (drug taking that persists despite efforts to reduce intake and despite problems with family, friends, and work). Drug addiction encompasses a diverse range of drugs (such as alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, and cocaine) and is caused by many different factors.
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