Substance Abuse and Societal Impact

Abstract

Despite the knowledge of public health authorities working all over the world, the prohibition of drugs and the criminal activity which it causes remains a continuing issue that society faces. Why is this still happening and how did we let it get this far? A multilevel analysis of the etiology, maintenance and consequences of substance use would facilitate better understanding. According to various academic paradigms, all current explanations can be classified into three types – Biomedical, Psychological and socio-ecological. But, these approaches rarely examine how genetic, psychological, social, cultural or environmental factors interact with each other. To effectively combat substance abuse, it is essential to examine the psychological, cognitive, socioeconomic, familial and cultural profiles of different social classes. There are variations in susceptibility, motivation, response to actual use, and a pathway of social maladjustment.  Substance use may occur among all populations, but may manifest differently due to distinctions in contexts and cultures.  The concept that one model or one intervention fits all communities is an oversimplification or is generally ineffective. In the future, study will have to examine how drugs can lead to varying levels of addiction and harm as well as social consequences. How do these different users are affected by the social background, their treatment necessities, and the risk of relapsing? Most literature does not stress that there are differences in drug effects of different groups, but there is very little research to show this. It is important to close this gap to enhance prevention and treatment strategies.