1 Substance abuse
Ashley Osborn
Southern New Hampshire University
IDS-402
Professor Ernest Lawson
August 12, 2022
2 Substance abuse
Substance abuse has become one of the largest epidemics in the world. When we hear
about somebody who is struggling, has previously struggled, or has passed away due to
substance abuse, we are no longer shocked. It seems as though no matter how many stories we
hear, how many individuals know the consequences, the cycle of substance abuse never ends.
Substance abuse has had an effect on so many individuals all over the world. In this paper I will
discuss the four general education lenses and how the topic of substance abuse relates to each
lens.
Substance abuse has been a problem for many decades. As long as drugs and alcohol
have been in existence, so has the issue of substance abuse. These individuals who struggle with
substance abuse can be our mother, father, brother, sister, best friend, etc., rummaging through
our drawers when we sleep searching for money or stealing our things in order to have money
for their next fix of drugs or alcohol. According to the Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on
Opportunities in Drug Abuse research, "...the fixation on the drug that made it the highest
priority even when the users life situation was deteriorating, and the curious phenomenon of
withdrawal that could be reversed quickly by giving more..."
Substance abuse can be traced back to the 19th century when opium and cocaine worked
its way into the United States. Opium and Morphine were often used for medicinal purposes
back then, which unknowingly led to abuse and addiction (Mission Harbor Behavioral Health).
Psychoactive drugs (caffeine, nicotine, etc.) have been accepted and normalized in society, these
can also be considered "gateway drugs". Alcohol can be found in religious settings, family
settings, friend settings, and other social settings. The prominence of alcohol use and the
judgement that follows not drinking alcohol in these settings, is what causes the abuse to occur.
When these substances become normalized and become un-regulated, that is when issues
3 Substance abuse
become prominent. The use of substances (drugs and alcohol) have been going on for centuries.
it is not shocking that the rates of substance abuse are as high as they are today (in the 21st
century).
The historical lens allows us to follow the rise of substance abuse and to understand what
social issues have contributed to the continued usage of substance use. Looking through history
we can find information that explains the way that those struggling with substance abuse were
treated, how they used to be imprisoned or left to die because it was considered a "moral failing
(Mission Harbor Mental Health). It was later founded (with more technology) that abuse of drugs
or alcohol was a mental illness or disease that could be controlled and treated with therapy. On
top of helpful therapies, Narcan was created in 2015. Narcan is a medicine that was made easily
accessible, and it is used