Milestone Four
Milestone Four
Savana Leasure
IDS 402-X4536
April 16, 2022
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Natural and Applied Sciences
Natural and applied sciences study the physical world to better help us understand
ourselves and place in nature. Relating this to substance abuse, researchers must understand what
motivates the person to turn to drugs and alcohol. Topics such as socioeconomic status,
influence, medical issues, and stress can all be related to drug use (Why Do People Use Drugs: 7
Reasons in 7 Minutes, 2016). When understanding how those topics relate to substance abuse,
researchers and government officials can implement educational opportunities for those that fall
in those categories of potential substance abuse. By offering educational opportunities, we are
using the applied science lens to teach those potential abusers the risks and consequences of
substance abuse that we previously acquired from research.
Substances are used as a temporary relief to help people feel differently in the world
around them. Looking from a natural and applied science lens, people with a substance abuse
issue may understand that their actions are wrong, but they cannot mentally handle the issues that
they are facing. Therefore, they turn to substances for relief from the reality of the situation. One
issue that abusers face is "chasing the high". The drug will never have the same affect that it does
the first time. This leads to a higher addiction rate and chance of overdose (Buchman et al.,
2010). To help relieve some of the tension in everyday life, strategies such as therapy.
meditation, and exercise may help.
Narcan is a drug that was created to stop the effects of an overdose. It works by binding
to opioid receptors in the brain (Comprehensive Guide to Narcan (Naloxone): The Opiate
Antidote to Save a Life, n.d.). By using the natural science lens, researchers and pharmacologist
were able to create Narcan to save lives. The applied science lens is used when government
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officials passed federal/state laws for first responders to carry Narcan and train them on how to
administer it.
Social Sciences
When looking through the social science lens, one must look at how humans act in their
social environment. This includes their social relationships and society. A question that is
commonly asked when looking through the social science lens is, "Is substance abuse a
behavioral problem?". An individual who has a substance abuse issue generally has an
underlying or co-occurring disorder. According to mentalhealth.gov, more than one in four adults
living with a serious mental health problem also has a substance use problem. The certain mental
health disorders that coincide with substance abuse are depression, anxiety disorder
schizophrenia, and personality disorders (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019)
This directly correlates with social sciences because mental illness can create a hardship on
relationships. Whether it be with family, friends, or acquaintances, mental illness can cause stress
within the relationship. Because of this, some individuals feel the need to turn to substances as a
coping mechanism from the stress.