Drug and Crime discussion peers respond

Question

Instructions

Drug and Crime discussion

board.

Main discussion board

DQ#1-

A

man from the United Kingdom posted a question on a drug forum website. He

stated that his friend was determined to use heroin for the first time. Since

he was worried about his friend overdosing or becoming addicted, he had taken

it upon himself to secure some quality heroin for his friend. He was asking the

forum readers what the best way was for his friend to ingest the heroin for his

first time.

Would you be willing to go this far to help a friend who was determined to use heroin?

Why do you think people do not commonly use heroin alone for their first experience?

What other drugs do you believe people first use in a group?

DQ#2-

After

reviewing all the theories within chapter 7, pick the one you feel most

accurately explains substance addiction. Be sure to include several examples

and explain why you feel this theory to be the most likely theory in your

opinion.

DQ#3- 

After

viewing the Stages of Change PowerPoint and video links posted within this

PowerPoint, explain how you think behavior change occurs, why change is so

difficult (particularly for addictions) and what can be done to help support

change for addicts. Be sure to refer to information within the PowerPoint as

well as the text to support your response. 

Respond to 3 peers 

(1)       

 Riley Stearnes 

DQ1: A man from the United Kingdom posted a question on a drug forum

website. He stated that his friend was determined to use heroin for the first

time. Since he was worried about his friend overdosing or becoming addicted, he

had taken it upon himself to secure some quality heroin for his friend. He was

asking the forum readers what the best way was for his friend to ingest the

heroin for the first time.

Would you be willing to go this far to help a friend who was determined to use heroin?

No, I would not. And I

      would most definitely not go and buy the heroin either. I would do anything and everything to steer them away from trying it. I would do my

      research and let them know of all the possible side effects and even long-term

      effects of heroin. If they were to end up becoming addicted and take a

      bad turn, I would feel very guilty because I was the one that got it for them. 

Why do you think people do not commonly use heroin alone for their first experience?

I feel like it isn't

      common for people to use heroin alone for the first time because usually, their first encounter with the drug is in a group setting or at a

      party. I feel like most people aren't just sitting at home and are like

      I'm going to go buy this and try it out. It's usually when they're somewhere with a group of people and it's available and they're friends

      want to do it to. 

What other drugs do

     you believe people first use in a group? 

Some other drugs that

      I believe people first use in a group setting are alcohol, marijuana,

      LSD, and cocaine. I'm sure there are many more kinds, but those I feel

      like are the most common used among teens. I feel like drug use begins in

      the teenage years when they're with their friends and the opportunity

      arises, then they get hooked and want to try out more drugs. 

DQ2: After reviewing all of the theories within chapter 7, pick the

one you feel most accurately explains substance addiction. Be

sure to include several examples and explain why you feel this theory to be the

most likely theory in your opinion.

I feel that the Psychoanalytic theory best explains substance addiction.

This theory focuses on adolescents and how their brain is still maturing and is

more sensitive to drugs then the adult brain. "The typical adolescent has

not had sufficient experience in dealing with feelings of psychosocial stress

in a mature fashion" (Abadinsky, 2017). Some of these psychoactive drugs

are used by adolescents to calm themselves and/or "escape reality".

Teens go through many transitional stages and learn how to cope or deal with

real life situations and prepares them for adulthood. "The adolescent

addict, however, sidesteps such growth by at first simply avoiding the

situations in which he can gradually acquire competence or by passively going

along with the whims and decisions of others and eventually by substituting the

anxiety-reducing 'normative' influence of the opiate drugs" (Abadinsky,

2017). These drugs block and protect them against those painful mental states

and reduces their ability to handle stress and tough situations. Since they've

never really had to deal with stress or conflict, they will continue to use the

drug to cope in the future. Adolescents who are dependent on drugs were also

found to have little interest and curiosity about furthering their education or

finding a career. Which is most likely going to carry into adulthood and effect

their living situation and future relationships whether it be family or

partners. And the only way they know how to handle tough situations is by doing

whatever drug makes them feel better, and this cycle will continue. 

Abadinsky, H. (2017). Drug Use and Abuse: A Comprehensive Introduction (9th

Edition). Cengage Learning US. https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781337515139 (Links

to an external site.)

DQ3: After viewing the Stages of Change PowerPoint and video links

posted within this PowerPoint, explain how you think behavior change occurs,

why change is so difficult (particularly for addictions) and what can be done

to help support change for addicts. Be sure to refer to information within the

PowerPoint as well as the text to support your response. 

I think a change in behavior only happens if the person wants to change. But

it helps when someone else or multiple people are there to motivate them and

support them along the way. I feel like change for addicts is hard because

they're comfortable where they're at. They may also be afraid that they won't

be able to change or get better. Or if they do obtain from their addiction,

what will happen to them. Some things that can be done to help support change

for addicts is most importantly, let them know you are there to help them and

not judge them. On slide 15, it stated that the goal is make them aware of why

change is necessary. You should ask them why they feel they need to do the

specific drug and how are they benefitting from it. I feel like it's also

important to not beat around the bush, but instead get straight to the point of

what could happen to them if they don't stop. Also letting them know they are human,

and we make mistakes, but trying to prevent a relapse as well. 

Reply: 

(2)

Taylor Bittner 

DQ#1:

I

personally do not think I would go this far to help them. I personally don't

condone the use of drugs and it would be against what I believe. If they want

to use it, then they should be responsible for it. Heroin has "surge of

euphoria or "rush"" (United States Drug Enforcement

Administration, n.d., paragraph 4) feeling which would probably mostly be done

at parties or in large groups. I personally think any drug that is an upper

(commonly referred to a stimulant) is used in a group setting. You hear them

used a lot at places like concerts where you are already in a euphoric state.

This increases that.

DQ#2:

I

feel as though "social control theory" (Abadinsky, 2018, page 181)

best describes addiction. This basically says if you are included in the

community and an active member, you won't be addicted to drugs (Abadinsky,

2018). This is true because we don't see people who are active drug abusers

participating in community events or things involved with the community. Using

drugs is illegal already so those who use more than likely won't be active in

the community.

DQ#3:

When

someone wants to make a big change in their life whether that be getting clean

from drugs/alcohol, stopping a simple but annoying habit or just simply to

better their lives they have some steps they need to take. It takes time to

change a behavior that you've being constantly doing for the course of a few

years even a few months. You have to actively be aware of what it is that is

causing the behavior you're trying to correct, you have to take steps to figure

out why this behavior keeps happening and constantly working at it to prevent

further behaviors from happening (Jennings, PowerPoint). Relapse can happen

however it doesn't mean that you're a failure, it just means you have to work

on it some more (Jennings, PowerPoint). Be there for those people who are

struggling with a changing behavior. It is super uncomfortable to admit fault

and to ask for help but being a sounding board for your friends/family is so

important. 

Reply:    

(3)       

Osvaldo Santacruz

DQ1: 

I would not be willing to go this

far to help a friend use heroin. While I do understand that this man thinks he

is helping his friend by making the heroin usage be a "safe"

experience; I would not be able to help a friend take a hard and addictive drug

like heroin. I would most likely try to sway my friend away from the idea of

taking the drug. I think people do not commonly use heroin alone for their

first experience because generally people know about the possible negative

effects. I think first time users are scared about the consequences that can

occur and therefore use heroin with other people around just in case if they

need help/assistance. Other drugs that I believe people first use in a group,

is alcohol, marijuana, LSD, and cocaine. These are drugs that are commonly seen

at social events and people are more open to try with others. 

DQ2:

I feel that the theory that most

accurately explains substance addiction is the learning theory. I chose this

theory because it is the one that makes more sense to me. I am not fully

convinced that people are "born addicts" or that social factors like

relationships and environments are strong enough to cause substance addiction.

I think the learning theory makes sense because it is based on what the person

likes and decides on. When an individual first uses a drug, they first have to

learn to perceive the effects of the drug. Only then do they identify if the

drug effects are pleasurable or not. Once that is learned, pleasurable effects

lead to a "conditioning" in which usage is repeated to increase the

probability of the behavior. Therefore, if a person learns to dislike the

effects, they are unlikely to become addicted to it. 

DQ3:

Behavior change occurs through a

process that requires motivation, desire, and planning. The process for

behavior change begins by realizing and accepting that change needs to occur.

Then some goals and strategies need to be set and clarified. Once those are

set, steps are taken toward change to set it in motion. Once the goals are met

and change has occurred, the next task is to maintain the change behaviors and

avoid risk situations.  Change is not an easy task, especially with

addiction. The first difficulty is accepting and recognizing why the change is

needed. People tend to not see their behavior/ addiction as a problem to begin

with. Other difficulties are losing determination due to not seeing immediate

progress and avoiding risk situations that cause urges to relapse even in the

process of change. To help support change for addicts, the key is to provide

positive support. The best method would be to support the addict along the

whole process of change. This can be either through some program or even by

family and friends. 

            Reply: