Ashlee Dunn
English 2: Research Paper
“Disease”
Mr. Combs
18 Nov. 2010
Ashlee Dunn
English 2: Research Paper
Mr. Combs
18 Nov. 2010
“Disease”
Introduction
There is one disease that has begun to take over. Over a period of time dating back since the
1800’s the drug and alcohol disease has swept over the world. It has become an epidemic that is spun out
of control and doesn’t seem to be able to be stopped. Officials and society have worked to put a stop to it,
but it seems it just gets that much worse. The disease is affecting not only the people caught up in the
disease itself, but their families and society around them. How will it be stopped, or can it even be
stopped?
It seems it will only continue to grow unless everyone takes a part in putting a stop to the problem.
That’s why it is important for people who don’t already know to learn how big of a situation this is
growing into and how it will only continue to do so. In my opinion, the more people know about it and
how great of a negative impact it has, the better chance of stopping the spreading.
Short and long-term time effects of drugs
To really understand the significance of the disease you would have to know the short and longterm effects on the body and mind. By consuming drugs you could be damaging your health and
contributing to the disease.
According to a teen drug information site, “In the brain, drugs may either
intensify or dull your senses, alter your sense of alertness, and sometimes decrease physical pain,”
(“Drugs”). Over a period of time you began to build a tolerance for your drug use. The more you use, the
more you may “need”.
You may think that your drug use isn’t a problem and only affects you. When you become
involved in drug use you’re not only hurting yourself but people you love. An E’how contributor, Chris
Sherwood wrote, “One of the most heart-breaking effects of drug abuse on families especially is
abandonment. Friends and family members quickly get replaced by the next score of the drug of choice
Drug abuse can also affect family and friends by inviting violence into the home. Drug abuse can affect
both family and friends financially. This can come both from enabling and from theft”. (The Impact of
Drugs on the Society) Drug use can impact your family just as much as you. There are more people
involved than you! This is just one long term effect of drug use. But it is it probably one of the most
common and heart breaking, no one wants to lose their families and friends.
Some short term effects are things like hangovers, weight gain/weight loss, high blood pressure,
heart or respiratory failure. Hangovers are headaches, nausea; vomiting, aches and pains all result from
drinking too much. Yes, Alcohol is a drug. You can abuse it just like you can pot, heroin or cocaine. You
gain weight from alcohol, because it is not all water. “A beer has about 150 "empty" calories that provide
few if any nutrients.” ("Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse") “Weight loss is from drug use like cocaine,
meth, heroin and abuses of prescription drugs. It causes you to have a loss of appetite. High blood
pressure can cause you to have heart or respiratory failure. These are just some of the short term effects”.
(Effects of Alcohol and Drug Abuse)
The 2 drug with the biggest impact on society
Heroin and Alcohol are the two drugs that affect society the most. Heroin is an opiate. An opiate is
a naturally occurring substance that is extracted from the seedpod of the opium poppy. It is a highly
addictive drug. Heroin is injected, snorted or smoked. Many new, younger users begin by snorting or
smoking heroin because they wish to avoid the social stigma attached to injection drug use. (Heroin Fast
Facts) As said by the United States Department of Justice “Individuals of all ages use heroin--data
reported in the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse indicate that an estimated 3,091,000 U.S.
residents aged 12 and older have used heroin at least once in their lifetime. The survey also revealed that
many teenagers and young adults have used heroin at least once--76,000 individuals’ aged 12 to 17 and
474,000 individuals aged 18 to 25. ("Heroin Fast Facts") In my opinion this is the drug that affects society
most. It traps people in their youth and gets them addicted so that they are lifelong users. This affects
them financially and emotionally. Causing them to act out in public places and do things that they never
thought they would do. Alcohol is another drug that affects society today greatly. It causes you to act out,
as well as say things you wouldn’t normally say and much more. “It’s also one of the most leading causes
of deaths because of drunk drivers. This drug makes it so you do not think straight and so you get behind
the wheel of a car and risk not only your life but lives of others”. (Illicit Drug and Crime) (Impact of
Drugs on the Society) So these are two of the drugs that have the biggest impact on society today.
“About 17.7 million people use drugs and alcohol, about 5 million are addicted. In the nineteenth
century the estimated percent of drug and alcohol use was around 12 million”. (Impact on Society) The
drug use has increases greatly over the years because of new trends, new drugs, and more accessibility.
Famous people with drug habits
Some famous celebrities with drug addiction problems are: Johnny Cash, Lindsay Lohan, Britney
Spears, Michael Jackson, and Fergie. There is many more but these are some of the most popular or well
known celebrities. Celebrities are not very different than you and me. They just have a bigger bank
account and a wider fan base than we do.
The reasons for celebs drug addictions wouldn’t be much different than our own reasons. Most
reasons for our drug use as well as theirs are similar, things such as bad home lives, stress from life or
strive for success, dealing and coping with everyday life. Isn’t that the most common reasons we use?
I’m sure people that have never been through the struggle or can handle everyday life ask why. For some
people it’s just too much, it’s like their life support.
Drugs affect celebrity’s lives just as much as it does infamous people. Some celebs drug use has
only pushed them to where they are today. It has only made them stronger and strive that much harder for
success they set out to achieve. So when it comes down to it I guess it hasn’t been all bad for them. It has
its ups and downs. In my opinion some of them wouldn’t be the people they are today. The same is also
true for infamous people as well as the celebrities we know.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it how do we stop it? It seems that it will only survive no matter what is
done to put an end to the disease. The disease will only continue to grow stronger until it has taken over
the world. As long as people continue to live the disease will continue and only get stronger.
The effects of the drugs will only become more harmful. They will only get stronger and continue
to kill faster than what they already do. It will affect more and more people as it continues to grow until
that everyone feels the affects of the disease. It can only get worse from here.
And as for celebs, they will continue to contribute just as much as infamous people. They will
only continue to let the disease as well as other struggles to push their success and grow as people. In my
opinion the disease will never stop. It will always be around and continue to get stronger. Though it has
mostly negatives, it also does have its positives in my opinion.
It can help people as well as destroy them. You shouldn’t be so quick to judge unless you’ve been
in their shoes is how I see it. Though you have your opinion, people have theirs and my disagree. Just
stick to what you believe and don’t let the disease destroy you!
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