PCN501

PCN 501 Grand Canyon Week 1 Discussion 1

Review the United States substance abuse policies. How does the current political climate affect changes in policies? Provide details, examples, and supporting evidence.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

The United States substance abuse policies

Introduction

The United States has a substance abuse problem. We know this because we have high rates of alcohol and drug use, and high rates of deaths related to both. But what do we know about our policies? What are they doing to address this problem? In this article, I’ll tell you about some of the policies that have been implemented in the past and how effective they’ve been at addressing addiction concerns across America.

The focus is on treatment

The focus is on treatment. Treatment for substance use disorders can be effective and, in many cases, the best option for recovery. However, this does not mean that everyone who needs treatment will receive it. In fact, some people will never receive any type of help at all because of a lack of resources or funding for these services in their area (or anywhere). Additionally, access to treatment may vary depending on where you live or work—and even within your own city! The good news? There are ways to increase access through advocacy efforts like lobbying elected officials and participating in public education campaigns about substance abuse prevention strategies such as early intervention programs designed specifically for youth ages 3-12 years old that teach parents how they can help their children prevent drug use before it happens; screening tools such as questionnaires used by doctors when diagnosing mental health conditions such as depression so they know exactly where someone stands versus where they need assistance; educational curriculums offered at schools throughout America that teach students how harmful drugs affect brain chemistry leading up towards abuse potentials resulting from social isolation due specifically because addiction has become commonplace amongst young adults today due simply due lack thereof prior experience with substances prior knowledge about what happens when one begins consuming them regularly over time periods longer than six months.”

The focus is on prevention

The focus of the United States substance abuse policies is on prevention. The government wants to educate people about the dangers of substance abuse and how to avoid it, as well as teach them about the negative effects of using drugs or alcohol.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has several programs that address these issues, including:

• Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)

• Treatment Improvement Protocols for Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities (TIP)

The focus is on law enforcement

The focus on law enforcement is one of the most important aspects of US substance abuse policy. Law enforcement can’t do it all, but they’re an essential part of any effective approach to preventing and treating drug use. We need more than just law enforcement: there are other ways that we can work together with communities, families and individuals so that everyone has access to resources that will help them stay healthy and safe from substance abuse abuse.

We need to do more about it.

In the United States, drug use is at an all-time high and its prevalence has increased significantly over the last decade. In fact, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), one in five Americans aged 12 or older reported having used illicit drugs in their lifetime—a number that has remained steady since 2002 when it was at 19%. Meanwhile, heroin use among young adults aged 18–25 years old rose almost 400 percent between 1990–1994 and 2005–2010; meanwhile prescription painkiller abuse among this same age group increased by nearly 600 percent during this period. These numbers are alarming because they show that substance abuse isn’t just an issue for people who have struggled with addiction in the past; it’s something we’re seeing more often now than ever before—and we need to change course immediately!

Conclusion

I think we need to do more about it. We can’t just let the problem go and hope for the best, because even if our laws are strict and our enforcement is strong, there will still be people who misuse drugs. So what are we going to do? I would like to see our government invest more money into drug addiction treatment programs and education programs so that people have access to these resources when they need them most.