Personal Perspective About Substance Use
Legal or Illegal Substance
The world has become controversial about the criteria used to classify drugs as legal or illegal. While most people would argue that legal drugs are safer than illegal drugs, it is important to note that it is not safer to misuse prescription drugs than other illegal drugs. Legal drugs are just controlled; therefore, it does not mean they cannot harm the body significantly, just like illegal drugs.
In reality, legal drugs are as harmful as illegal ones. However, legal drugs are controlled, unlike illegal drugs, with no measures. The chemical composition of prescription substances is well-balanced to minimize the adverse effects on a person’s body.
In addition, for legal drugs, there is a specific amount that is prescribed, unlike illegal drugs, with no recommended volume of uptake. For instance, in prescription medication, the doctor can write the correct dose to ensure that when a person exceeds it, they are aware that they are harming themselves. On the contrary, illegal drugs such as cocaine have no safe doses because there is no specific prescription. Therefore, I would prefer to use legal substances rather than illegal ones.
Soft or Hard Drug
I would prefer soft drugs to hard ones because of the degree of harm each can cause. Soft drugs are not harmless, but their level of harm to a person is less than that of hard drugs. One cannot compare the effects and harm of soft drugs such as marijuana, sedatives, and sleeping pills to those of hard drugs such as amphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Hard drugs have more hazardous components compared to soft drugs. This implies that soft drugs’ side effects are less than hard drugs due to the difference in chemical composition.
Hallucinogenic Substances for Insight or Pleasurable Ones
I would prefer to use hallucinogenic substances for pleasurable experiences. Classic hallucinogenic substances give a person a false sensation or images that seem real, but they are unreal. However, on the contrary, other hallucinogenic dissociative substances are used for pleasure. They make people feel disconnected from their natural environment and out of control of their bodies.
Historically, they have been used for ritual purposes such as religion or healing. However, they are used in other ways for pleasure, dealing with spiritual experiences, stress, and fun. I would use them for pleasure because, just as they were used in the past to cure, they may help heal feelings of stress and keep me from negative spiritual experiences.
Socially or Alone
I would choose to use substances with other people rather than alone. When there are other people and drugs, the experience becomes more fun and pleasurable than taking them alone. In addition, taking drugs socially helps to see the progress of other people and use them as a benchmark for the effects of the drugs.
Since all drugs have side effects, using them socially would help determine the side effects on other people and know which drugs to use. If a particular drug’s side effects are worse, a person may choose to stop using the drug. However, taking drugs alone leads to depression and boredom, making people forget about their well-being.
Weekends or Weeknights
Taking drugs on weekends is better than consuming them on weeknights. On weekends, a person is done with their weekly chores and job, so they may require some time to relax. Therefore, this is the best time to take drugs and substances and socialize with others.
The disadvantage of using substances on weeknights is that it may affect a person’s work or school schedule. Some drugs, such as alcohol, have hangovers, making it difficult for people to take them on weeknights and go to work the following day. This may ruin a person’s usual daily life, which is why I would prefer taking substances on weekends.
Mildly Intoxicated or Highly Intoxicated
Being mildly intoxicated on substances is better than being highly intoxicated. The more intoxicated a person is, the more adverse the side effects of the drug will affect them. Some drugs, such as cocaine, are hazardous, and getting highly intoxicated with them can lead to death.
However, being mildly intoxicated too has its side effects because, as a person continues to use the drug, it loses its effect on them, forcing them to increase their limit. For instance, when taking alcohol, the more a person continues to get mildly intoxicated, the more their body gets used to it, forcing them to take higher levels to reach the desired effects.
Caffeine and or Nicotine or Other Psychoactive Substances
I would prefer taking caffeine and nicotine over other psychoactive substances due to their side effects. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and depressants that aid in alertness and pressure. They are mainly used when a person wants to feel relaxed, and can lead to tolerance. However, they are better than other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, or Amphetamines, which have adverse side effects on the body.
How Society Should Respond to People Who Abuse Drugs
Society should not take any measures for people who use drugs and do not need treatment. According to a neuroscientist from Colombia, Dr Carl Hart, government data has shown that around 80% of people who use drugs do not have problems related to them (Fischer, 2022). This shows that some people use drugs and do not have any serious problems with them.
People should not be arrested for possession of drugs for their consumption. For instance, 1.5 million people in the US are arrested annually for possessing drugs for their own consumption (Layman et al., 2022). Some of these people have not had any serious complications or done dangerous activities such as crime as a result of drugs. This implies that such people should not be bothered because they use them for leisure. It helps people relieve their stress, so using them is not bad.
How Society Should Respond to People Who Overuse Substances
Drug overuse may harm someone’s mental or physical health. Therefore, society must show compassion and provide treatment to people who are struggling with drugs. Although society treats people who overuse drugs, 90% of those who need treatment cannot have it (Layman et al., 2022).
On the other side, thousands of people are forced into rehab against their wishes. Therefore, society should have free treatment on demand for people who overuse drugs to ensure that only those who need the services the most get them. To increase the demand for treatment services, society should eliminate shaming and enabling behavior toward people who misuse drugs. Some of the enabling behaviors include parents paying rent and giving a drug abuser money.
Society should embrace reputable treatment and discourage ineffective treatment. It can embrace over-substance users by supporting their families, peers, coworkers, and friends in the treatment process. Some treatment centers are expensive, so the victims cannot afford them. Society should come in and consolidate funds and provide financial help to those who need it.
While treating drug overuse as a health problem, society should respond to it from a clinical perspective. Many people are suffering from drug overuse and need help to reduce their drug use. The community can support using science and anecdotal evidence to provide effective treatment (Layman et al., 2022). Research has shown that various treatment methods can be applied to stop various drug overuse, such as alcohol. When a society embraces the use of science, it shall support these initiatives and ensure that drug treatment works effectively.
How Healthcare Licensing Boards Respond to Licensees
Who Use Substances
Healthcare Licensing Boards do not support the use of substances when working. For instance, doctors are not allowed to be under the influence of drugs when caring for patients. This may harm them, and they make mistakes while handling or treating patients.
However, it is noteworthy to understand that medical doctors face stress, too, and need to relieve it (Layman et al., 2022). Additionally, they have easy access to drugs of their choice, which makes it difficult to determine when they are under the influence. Therefore, in such cases, the license cannot be lost because of the use of drugs and substances as long as it does not affect their work.
In addition, other people have been licensed to take various drugs because they help them with various health conditions. For instance, marijuana is used to treat patients with chronic illnesses who need to improve their appetite. A patient with HIV can be prescribed a small amount of marijuana to improve their appetite. In this case, they are licensed to possess marijuana; therefore, the Healthcare Licensing Board cannot revoke their license because it benefits their health.
Who Overuse Substances
People who overuse substances will have negative health and physical outcomes. If they are licensed healthcare providers, they may have cases of neglect, high rates of absenteeism, and mistakes in providing care. This may cause their licenses to be revoked as they pose a danger to other patients. For instance, doctors are not allowed to drink while at work; their licenses will be revoked if they do so. Mostly, drinking to work is an outcome of addiction caused by overusing drugs.
On the other hand, people licensed to use drugs may have their licenses revoked if they overuse them. Before a person is given the license to possess certain drugs, they are given a prescription. If they misuse the drugs, they are likely to have more adverse health issues.
Summary
Drugs and substance use have become a controversial issue in society. Some people use drugs and are not affected, while others use them and significantly ruin their lives. This has made it difficult to determine the drugs and how to use them effectively. This indicates that there is no perfect way of using drugs, and therefore, people should be attentive to their mental, physical, and behavioral changes when they use drugs. This will ensure that they use drugs for their benefit and not to harm their bodies.
References
Fischer, R. (2022). Drug abuse trends and treatment approaches for 2023. Psychiatric Times. Web.
Layman, H. M., Thorisdottir, I. E., Halldorsdottir, T., Sigfusdottir, I. D., Allegrante, J. P., & Kristjansson, A. L. (2022). Substance use among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Current Psychiatry Reports. Web.
