The United States is dealing with a huge epidemic of drugs. More than 175 Americans are dying today from opioid overdose and many feel this number may not peak for years to come. While there is an increase in overdoses, while others are suffering from opioid addiction. The crisis had reached a point that it is a risk to the public health. Some blame the medical field, for the over-prescribing of pain medicines. Heroin is an illegal drug derived from a poppy plant that is highly addictive and can produce deep feelings of euphoria. As of today, heroin is a schedule 1 drug and highly addictive but it was not always that way. There are many street names, like Black Tar, China White, Dope, Eight, H, Horse, Smack and many others. The way heroin looks depends on where it comes from. White heroin comes from Southeast Asia, Off white-light brown from Columbia, Brown from South West Asia, or dark brown/black from Mexico.

Smoking heroin in the United States do not tend to smoke heroin but may inhale or inject it. Heroin was not really invented until the late 1800s and branded a non -addictive cough suppressant and on the public market. Bayer Laboratories marketed it to the public because it had minor effects. It wasn't until the mid-19th-century opioid dependency began to develop. Long-term opioid use became a patent medicine and a standard to self-medicate. Heroin started as a cough suppressant, then a pain reliever, much like morphine until it was finally banned in the Heroin Act of 1924. Illegal Abuse of heroin began when heroin was smuggled in from China. This spread quickly until the Mafia drug distributors took over. Between 1965 and 1970, there were more addicts in the country. With the Vietnam War going on, many feared the heroin epidemic would rise, and they were correct. South Vietnam held 95 percent pure heroin sold openly.

It wasn't until 1971 reports stated that 10-15 percent of American troops were dependent on heroin. That is when the US government began to step in and regulated urine tests before discharge. After, President Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to battle the drug epidemic on June 1, 1973. Once heroin is smoked, snorted or injected, it converts and binds to opioid receptors that control pain perception, reward, blood pressure, and breathing. Arousal is also affected while using heroin. Heroin induces a high immediately after taking it and last for about 30 minutes. The high can consist of “ the nod’; a back and forth state of consciousness and time consciousness. This feeling gives a cloudy mental ability and inability to function. Heroin causes concern because it has the potential to cause respiratory depression because of the toxicity potential and the dependence potential. This continues the pattern for addicts to use. Tolerance depends on the usage but with repeat experiences, it increases. There are usually negative psychological behaviors that accompany heroin use. Since injection is the cheapest and easiest drug to hide, it became more common because the “high” was so intense. That is one reason heroin could turn into an expensive habit, the intense high.

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There are various personal qualities and abilities that I feel will be helpful in the social work profession. Firstly, competence is a valuable attribute that I require to demonstrate professional skills and understanding of social contexts. In most cases, troubled persons in the society would prefer a social worker that is diligent and understands the scope of their work. Secondly, the respect for the value and dignity of a person will be helpful in social work. Among the abilities include a passion for service. The fact that social work does not generate profits, passion, and devotion to service is a crucial ability that every worker should portray. Additionally, I must be able to establish or strengthen human relations. A combination of the abilities and personal characteristics improve my service as a social worker.

My strengths and areas of improvement form an environment of edification. As a strength, I am patient with persons seeking services. This attribute helps me to understand the root causes of the challenges facing young persons in marginalized areas. Further, I am organized and flexible. The two attributes have since improved my interpersonal relationships with the victims in the society from cases of drug use, violence, and poverty. My areas of improvement include the need to outsource for specific donors and resourceful parties that can help break the vicious cycle of poverty. Additionally, I have identified that I would need to create social groups and representations in the minority group as a way of facilitating social participation. Allowing the members of the disadvantaged communities to participate in their own reforms and social change would be instrumental in promoting appreciation of ideas and incentives.

My professional interests and goals act as a driving force in my daily endeavors. Firstly, the most prominent goal is to educate and empower the youth in minority cultures and communities. Empowerment at the society level includes the education and instilling of values and virtues. Additionally, I strive to contribute and improve the social work profession. To do so, I will create incentives and social attributes through which the young persons in the community can participate. Among my social work goals include promoting social welfare through an all-inclusive participation plan. I am interested in community participation field of practice, minority groups such as people of color and homeless persons. My interests in these groups include the fact that they do not have resources to outsource for professionals to argue their needs.

Among the contributions I wish to make in the profession include the creation of active participant groups. The groups will range from simple social interaction activities such as sports to advocacy groups such as children’ homes and social insurance funds. The active social participation will be more realistic in making a significant positive impact to the marginalized communities. Some of the reasons I opted training in social work from other fields was the rising social gap. There is an extensive social gap in the determination to help the helpless. As a result, I felt more connected to making a change out of compassion. Improving the livelihoods of the disadvantaged groups by empowering them to make personal and social changes is far-reaching. Clearly, social work is a passion for the betterment of a society that has no resources and infrastructures for the change.

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My interest in social work was motivated by the need to help families in minority groups. Having been brought up in a neighborhood dominated by people of color, I understood poverty as a challenge among minority communities. At a tender age, I experienced challenges related to access to social amenities such as education and healthcare. There are different personal experiences that confirmed my interest in this profession. first, the struggles to enroll in a health insurance program in my childhood made me want to make a positive influence future generation. So, children in my neighborhood had inconsistencies in attending school leading to exposure to violent crimes and drug abuse. The negative experienced attributed to a developed passion for participating in social work to make a difference.

There are different factors that indicated that I needed professional education. Firstly, observations into the changes that were happening among the youth in a minority culture created the need to attain professional education. I watched young adults drop out of school due to social disincentives and poverty. In most cases, the young adults that are not able to complete their education are lured into drug peddling and usage. I realized that the only way I could change the situation was by getting to influence. Clearly, professional education was my best choice for solving the community problem in my neighborhood and at a larger scope. The other factor indicating the need for professional education included the need to portray a positive example that a person that has grown up in a troubled community could still make positive changes in society. Now, I resolved that I would work towards a professional education. My understanding of social work is derived from the need to make a positive change in a troubled community. So, social work is an integrated activity that involves contributing to activities which improve the general welfare of disadvantaged groups, persons in need as well as other areas without expecting payment in return. Among the factors that have contributed to my desire to understand and work with disadvantaged groups include; the need to rectify their lives and the understanding

of their challenges. Having lived amongst marginalized communities, I understand the challenges they face, the areas the system has failed them, and I have the insights on different courses of action that can be taken to solve their challenges. So, I developed an interest to work with the disadvantaged groups.

There are different groups and issues that I find challenging. The first issue is creating incentives that would break the vicious cycle of poverty among families in marginalized communities. The daily activities they face are systemic and versed with differences and challenges that can only be solved by breaking the vicious cycle of poverty. The groups that are most difficult dealing with include the youth that is already addicted to drugs or the ones that participate in organized criminal activities. The challenges in reaching out to these two groups are characterized by the fact that they have formed firm negatively motivated societies. In other cases, the social constructs have low reception to positive changes which make it difficult to infiltrate their social cocoons and impact on them.

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Heroin is a drug with a lot of representation in the media. There are shows like “Breaking Bad,” who take the serious route of attempting to display the effects of drug abuse, however, as it is entertainment, there is a lot that can be misconstrued. There’s also the card game “Cards Against Humanity,” where you may pick up the infamous card option that says “black-tar heroin” as a response to a fill in the blank to create a funny statement. However, a highly addictive narcotic like heroin is no joke. Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs due to the short length of time it takes to infiltrate the brain.

Heroin is made of morphine, which comes from the seeds of various opium poppy plants grown in regions in Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. To extract the opium, and processed juice with immature poppy heads. In the late 1800’s, heroin proved to be more effective than morphine during drug studies, so The Bayer Company began to commercialize on what many believed to be a wonder drug. However, the patients that were administered heroin ended up with problematic addictions to the drug. In the 1910s, morphine addicts realized that heroin resulted in a high, especially when inserted through the veins. The abuse of heroin spread rapidly, and while many restrictions were made to help control said abuse, underground productions of the drug helped the addicts get their fix.

Heroin is one drug from the group classified as “opioid.” This means that when administered, the drug activates receptors in the brain that usually regulate pain, hormone release, and feelings of well-being. When activated with heroin, they stimulate the release of dopamine, which is a naturally occurring chemical in our bodies. However, too much of it being released unnaturally at once creates a high, which in turn, creates what many would call an addict, as addicts chase the feeling of dopamine release. However, these highs do not last forever. Because the user experiences small, but very high highs, use of it causes very low lows as well. The symptoms of heroin addiction that effect the user’s mood are depression, euphoria, mood swings, anxiety, and hostility. The physical symptoms are track marks on arms and legs, a constantly running nose, short breath, nausea and vomiting, respiratory infections, dry mouth, heated skin, constricted pupils, heaviness in arms and legs, extreme amounts of itching, weight loss, and the last one (in my opinion, the worst), scabs or bruising due to picking at the skin in order to get high again from the needle insertions. Psychologically, addicts also experience delusions, disorientation, hallucinations, and paranoia.

It doesn’t take much for heroin to take an effect on one’s body. The level of toxicity for negative impact/lethal dose for 170lbs user is between 75 and 375 mg, depending on the way it is administered. The long-term effects of regular use of heroin are intense sadness, irregular periods and/or difficulty having children, constipation, damage to heart, lungs, liver and brain, vein damage and skin, heart and lung infections from injecting, and dependence. In addition to the previous symptoms, the development of a tolerance to heroin causes the user to need to use more in order to get the same high they experienced with way less. While some of this damage is irreversible, there are ways to help stop addiction, such as medications developed to ween the users off the drug, similar to nicotine patches for someone with an addiction to cigarettes. There are also behavioral treatments such as therapy with voucher-based systems in which the patients earn points based off staying sober, which they can exchange for items that encourage healthy lifestyles. 

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This letter is to let you know about a problem that affects my community in Texas, waiting for a solution that will help us. I am living in Texas and have seen this problem for a long time. The problem is about marijuana, specifically about the legalization. There is evidence that marijuana use does not cause health or safety risks.

The legalization of marijuana, the possibility of regulating its trade and production have been discussed as part of a strategy to combat organized crime that is dedicated to its commercialization. We will point out some positive and negative aspects that involve the regulation of sale, production, and sowing. In the United States, 58% of the 50 states have legalized marijuana. The last month more people support the legalization of marijuana in the whole country going from 61%, while a year earlier the figure was 57%. Since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado shows that its use has been regulated, it has produced a moderate drop: it has gone from 40.2% in 2018 to 37.5% in 2019.

The legalization of marijuana is the economic boom in other states a market full of small and large companies has been generated, the most important thing from the legislator's point of view: allowing a significant collection of taxes. Texas needs a higher income for its population to have a better quality of life.

There is a fund that supports an adjustment in the law to make it a civil, rather than a criminal, crime so that adults who possess a small amount of marijuana, approximately one ounce for medicinal or recreational use, receive a penalty of less than A $ 100 well without the need to go to jail. The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1974 says that mandatory penalties for crimes related to the sale of drugs and marijuana are explicitly differentiated from harder drugs. They appoint a special commission to carefully analyze marijuana. In 1969, Operation Interception demonstrated that it was difficult to seal the Mexican border, but despite this, efforts to improve border surveillance and penetrate drug trafficking networks have continued. In 1994, after a fight involving a marijuana user, the El Paso, Texas city government passed the first law on the illegality of marijuana, this law says that a drug that had been used legally is prohibited. Other cities and states also did the same. Over time, marijuana was banned in many parts, and its use was punishable by law either by fine or by jail. In 1980, even when millions of people refused to follow the warning not to use drugs and that is why Congress passed a series of anti-drug measures, including the Drug Abuse Act of 1988.

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Now, let’s take a closer look at the biopsychosocial model of addiction. According to Borrell-Carrio (2004) in The Biopsychological model 25 years later, “biological, genetic, personality, psychological, cognitive, social, cultural and environmental factors” are the main cause of the addiction disorder. The model comes to show that the body and the mind act interpersonally and thus create the foundation of the disease. However, the suggested biological predisposition doesn’t affect the personal choice that one has before turning into the illegal substances. This genetic condition only plays a major role into increasing the risk of addicting and not necessarily inheriting the full terms of the disease.

In the Scripture there aren’t any direct statements about the biopsychological model of addiction but it does talk about temptation, sins and how to turn away from the evil. A very relevant citation from it would come from 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” Another reference suitable to describe how much He is able to love and protects us from all evil if we don’t slip into the temptation could be found in James 1:12-15: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and himself tempts no one.” The people who are facing an addiction have to learn and accept that God still loves them in times of trial. Endurance is not something we get born with but a skill we develop throughout our entire existence. James reminds the readers not to have any doubt or to stop relying on Him when they are suffering and feeling lost. Only He is able to heal us and show us which way to go if we decide to turn away from the sin.

Similar to most existing diseases, addiction can be treated and cured as long as the patients are willing to get help. The medical history has seen many addicts who manage to recover and never look back to the previous temptations. And while everywhere around us it is so popular to talk about much needed integration and acceptance, in today’s society some issues still remain heavily stigmatized. A great first step would be a decision to understand the root of the biopsychosocial problem itself and to acquire additional information about the numerous existing options for a treatment. If only we are willing to take that step. 

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Drug Abuse And Addition

The American society has reached a point where according to the National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health, over 28 million American citizens over the age of 12 suffer from a disease related to a different drug addiction. Addictions are some of the most challenging issues in the twentieth first century. Our modern society still perceives the ongoing addictions as stigmas and sees the diseased people as being immoral, weak, deceptive and having failed at following any high values. However, stigmatizing this worldwide issue creates a barrier for those who are willing to ask for help and get a proper treatment. The negative perceptions that the majority of the population religiously follows are some of the main reasons which continuously affect the biopsychosocial model of addiction.

Suffering from an addiction has been defined as a medical disease, however, in people’s mind it still falls under the negative types of worthless acts of humanity. A simple reaction of the human brain is to easily judge certain addictions without trying to seek what the actual root of the issue might be. Our society acts lightning fast when it comes to hate the diseased and absolutely despise their behavior. If we think about it more carefully, we have all faced addiction at some point of our lives- food, alcohol, drugs, a person, a song, a place or even a memory? Addiction could be found in many different shapes and sizes, substantial or triggered only by our minds. And society creates an enormous impact on the amount of public support as well as the lack of such.

Our world is now facing two opposite positions - those supporting the addicts and others who choose to despise an belittle them. It is most certainly always be that way. The fact that we are all different in our beliefs and we are raised with different values is enough by itself to prove that there will always be an ongoing argument about whether or not addictions are socially accepted. Depending on the culture, background, family history and many other factors affecting our perceptions, the controversy will most probably keep its existence for many more decades. The ambivalence that exists among our society could be proved by the rising number of rehabilitation clinics throughout the world while at the same time many patients feel highly discriminated after they speak up about their addiction.

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It is very common in the general public that most people are reluctant to get involved in social projects. A few examples of those projects are community improvement programs, social movements in regards to a number of different situations, and more. I believe for the most part people are afraid to voice their opinions just to have them rebuked by the rest of their community or the general public. Not all people are going to have the same or even remotely similar views on certain topics. So for example, most people will shy away from participating in political campaigns mainly due to the fact that politics is such a wide open spectrum in terms of differing opinions and stances. When it comes to social movements, the issue is almost the same but not quite in comparison to people’s involvement in political campaigns. To begin a social movement, people need a big enough support group to even get it running and noticeable. Sustaining the support and maintaining the movement itself is a whole other issue that I think people are worried will be the most difficult and stressful part of it all. I believe people need to feel very strong about in issue in order to be involved in it. Most people just aren’t passionate enough about a social enough to put their time and hard work into. In my opinion, people just need to realize that with just some passion and determination any social movement can be started and maintained for a very long time.

Drug use and or abuse are serious issues that need more attention. At times it's as if communities are far more worried about the distributors of drugs rather than the abusers, who need the attention the most. In order to show the importance of drug reform, certain actions and plans should be made and addressed to fix the issue. Funds should be made available for a drug for program, whether it is for the youth or older users of drugs. Classes or seminars should be provided as well, as most of the time people begin using hard drugs without knowing the effects that can be made that will eventually harm their bodies and psyche. The people closest to the drug users should be encouraged to be more involved as well, not only as a source of help for their own people, but also to set an example for outsiders who may know of someone who is using drugs.

Currently, drug abuse is a very serious issue throughout the world. In many countries around the world the circumstances are simply disastrous, as people die from drug abuse, from a different variety of drugs, and mind-altering substances on a regular basis. Drug addiction is due to the fact that economic and geographical situations play into whether or not a person will eventually fall into a life of drug abuse. A few examples of consequences of poor social conditions include unemployment and daily stress. All of this gives people a real reason to run away from their real issues in reality and instead go into the world of drugs in order to be in a different “world” with the help of drug use. Drug use puts ones human health at a very high risk. According to the WHO classification, the list of drugs includes: alcohol, opiates, cannabis, sedatives, cocaine, stimulants (including caffeine), hallucinogens, tobacco, and light substances (World Health Organization).

The key problem of drugs is that they cause drug addiction which is a disease that makes a mental and physical well-being and mood entirely dependent on that specific drug being in his or her body. Mental dependence is displayed by the fact that a drug addict believes if he or she does not have whatever particular drug in their body, then they will not be able to function properly. The need of a drug becomes damaging when it confines a person of their real self; damages relationships within the user’s family or friends; sparks up issues between the user and the society they live in; causes psychological damage to the point where the user can’t function without a dose of their preferred drug. Drugs are a major issue within any type communities, whether it is a smaller city or a very populated city. It is definitely time to take all this information into account and start a movement in order to diminish all the issues that come with existence of drugs, but most importantly the problems that come up when someone uses drugs. 

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The Moscow Government's opposition to Needle and Syringe Programs backlashed with the epidemic of HIV and AIDS. There is not a unified drug addiction rehabilitation system in Russia. The state facilities are usually full, so addicts must find institutions, and religious organizations, that are mostly not qualified to deal with the problems of drug addiction or substance abuse. Anya Sarang, President of the Andrey Rylkov Foundation for Health and Social Justice in Moscow, knows the damage done in her country with such an extreme approach. “We now experience a health crisis,” she says. While majority of Russians still view drug abusers as criminals, the science is showing they could have become mentally ill and are in need of help. With the crisis at hand Moscow Social Services, signed contracts with OPORA (the Russian word for 'support') a Moscow-based non-governmental organization. OPORA was contracted to train a team of professionals from each of the Moscow Districts, with a point to begin programs to reduce high risk behaviors in youth, also providing District Coordinators. OPORA was appointed to the committee that studies prevention efforts and programs in Moscow. While others like the A.R.F. offers harm reduction services for drug users in Moscow. Russia and its citizens are facing one of its largest challenges and it is raising new debates on human rights in the country.

Substitution treatments plus needle and syringe programs are supported by most of the scientific studies and are supported by the World Health Organization and other UN agencies as the best tools to stop the HIV crisis. Rapidly it has turned to a human rights discussion with the substance and drug abusers. Some are starting to view the abusers and addicts as needing help, rather than the governments strictly enforced policies and laws that make addicts out to be criminals. Responses in Moscow have become mainly a thing for local communities and non-profits, with help from large organizations and networks outside of Russia. The necessity for new guidelines with drug policies and on human rights cannot be understated, that is alone the greatest tool available against the HIV and AIDS epidemic happening across the country. Also utilizing education and opportunity for youth, and all those interested in advancing beyond barriers of the harmful tendencies drug and substance abuse brings those affected. All the volunteers, the substance and drug abuse survivors, and all the donations to non-profits and charities, it appears are the best hopes for a change in a struggling Moscow.

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Russia's average life expectancy rate has severely decreased over time. Accordingly, the mortality rate of the country and other areas surrounding it has increased greatly, which is a fact that is being recognized around the world. Experts who are studying Russia's alcohol and drug abuse issues have concluded that both addictions have played a major role in their declining health. In addition, their reasoning is due to the increase in related deaths having to do with binge drinking, drugs, or simply consuming them once. Death or severe injury from cardiovascular issues increase significantly on the weekends where excessive drinking is most likely to occur. Hearts and other organs tend to appear different in those who binge drink and consume drugs compared to those who don't consume at all. Alcohol consumption is allowed and even encouraged in most places because of the significant revenue it brings to the country.

Vodka is a large part of their culture and the area's income. Moreover, there is also evidence and studies to show that alcohol and drug abuse can reduce or mask political disagreement. Likewise, this may also contribute to their leniency in solving the abuse. The country has shown their part in creating and contributing to the issue, whether they want to recognize it or not. They have a substantial role in resolving the problems as well. Cutting the taxes and funding for alcohol and tobacco is a step that the government could easily take to lessen excessive use or dependency. Russia’s government has a major issue with encouraging the consumption of alcohol, which doesn't help to cease anything in the long run. Abusers of both drugs and alcohol can also develop issues with shame and guilt, leading to depression or other mental illnesses.

Manipulation and mind control are easier to inflict on those who consume. Some of the more serious abusers of alcohol do not live long enough to even suffer from liver cirrhosis. Abusers of both are not considered patients or like sick people in Russia. Hence, they are looked at like criminals. This has to do with the fact that the experts on both of the addictions claim that Russia is number one in denying scientific studies. Furthermore, there is also a widespread HIV and AIDS epidemic in Moscow, Russia. In addition, the main citizens that suffer from this disease are drug injector addicts. Without excessive alcohol and drug abuse, the country would have overall healthier and more intelligent citizens. For instance, there would be less of the issues contributing to the deaths and injuries. Finally, there would be a major attitude shift and a major decline in the negative statistics surrounding health.

Initially, in 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev started a nationwide anti-alcohol campaign that had an extremely positive impact on the issue at hand. Sales of alcohol and the amount of consumption quickly decreased. However, the campaign's success almost immediately fell through afterward. By the 1990’s, the total amount of alcohol consumed by the Russians significantly increased. Both of the wars were believed to have contributed to the abuse of many citizens shortly after. Vodka is a large part of Russian culture, so it has to contribute to the fact of why a lot of visitors and citizens alike justify the behaviors. Justification tends to stem greatly from the government of Russia as well. For instance, the government charges a significant amount of duties or taxes that citizens are required to pay when purchasing alcohol. Therefore, the citizens of Moscow, Russia are funding the government with every drop of alcohol they consume a day. Many areas in Moscow, Russia and elsewhere encourage binge drinking due to this factor that contributes to the abuse. Consequently, many experts and others condemn the Russian government on their contribution to the abuse.

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Russia has a major health crisis at hand, with the governments extreme policies on drugs and alcohol, it appears to have streamlined the discussion into a human rights one. Most Russians are still with a conservative view when it comes to recreational drugs and drug abusers. “For the time being, proposals to help drug addicts are in the realm of rhetoric — not politics,” Andrei Zykov has said. The problem is multifaceted and the solutions are not easy ones. While the crisis grows, there are some that are doing everything possible to make a difference for the better. There are also issues and those that exacerbate and enable these problems making the solutions all the more difficult to solve.

Alcohol and drug dependency are extremely important issues that have the potential to significantly harm many individuals. Excessive use of these drugs tend to be more prevalent in Moscow, Russia than elsewhere. Thus, there are many factors of the country that contribute to the main issue of abuse. Russia is number one out of all of the countries in total average alcohol consumption per year. Furthermore, the country takes first place in the highest increasing amount of drug injectors and abusers around the entire world. The number which grows every day consists of approximately 1.8 million addicts. In addition, one in three families in Russia have experienced an addict in their home. According to the World Health Organization, the annual per capita consumption of alcohol by all citizens was about 15.67 liters total. Consequently, the substantial number is nearly double the amount that the experts at some organization consider to be a national crisis. Other countries have recognized that there is a major issue behind Russia's problem. Drug abusers in Moscow, Russia have increased from 7.3 to 8.5 million in the past several years. In addition, this number grows every single day that the issue is further ignored. The extremely large amount of younger adults and teenagers who severely abuse drugs and alcohol are an increasing concern, not only in the country but worldwide. As a result, a majority of the drug users in Russia are only between eighteen and thirty years old. The average consumption among working adults is a full bottle of vodka a day or more, depending on the area that the abusers live in. These facts surrounding the main issue at hand have serious consequences on every factor and all of the citizens surrounding them.

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