Writings of Roberta Darlene
Identify a problem
A lack of awareness about the impact of substance abuse on the community as a whole, as well as on the body. Many individuals have experienced or observed the impact of substance abuse on individuals and in the family systems. Drug use displays a ripple effect, which negatively impacts individuals, families, and the community. (Gianvito, 2024). “Substance abuse and addiction have grave consequences on our existing social systems, affecting crime rates, hospitalizations, child abuse, and child neglect, and are rapidly consuming limited public funds.” (Hoffman & Goldfrank, 1990).
Who is impacted by the Problem:
Substance abuse/drug abuse appears to be a micro problem; however, drug abuse is a micro, mezzo, and macro problem because of the ripple effect. (Gianvito, 2024). Research has been completed on substance abuse regarding the impact on the mind and body of a person, as well as the family unit, which are at the micro and Mezzo level. However, additional research and awareness are needed regarding substance abuse involving opioids such as Heroin, Fentanyl, and chlorpheniramine. There have been some cases of Heroin and Fentanyl being mixed, which contributed to deaths, as well as the overall impact of Heroin, Fentanyl, and chlorpheniramine on the function of the brain. There appears to be a lack of awareness regarding the impact of drugs on the function of the brain. Members who have recovered from addiction or continue to struggle with addiction are not mentally functioning at the same levels (Van der Westhuizen, 2023). One wonders, should a Neurologist be involved in recovering from drug abuse. “From the physiological and psychological toll on users to the social and economic ramifications for society at large, drug addiction exacts a heavy toll on the fabric of society.” (Gianvito, 2024).
As a licensed social worker for the past 9 years, the problem appears to be unknown and not understood drug-induced trauma to a client’s brain from substance abuse, additional funds or grants for research and solution would help to improve the counseling session and recovery process. Some clients have the ability to recover from addiction, while others continue to make poor choices and decisions. (Understanding Drug Use and Addiction, DrugFacts, 2018).
How long has it been a problem:
According to Volkow and Blanco (2023), substance abuse concerns have been a problem throughout the history of drug use. They explain that SUD, or substance use disorder, can be treated and the user can recover from the brain changes. In 2019, this writer worked in a prison setting, and some individuals who broke the law reported that, if they were not using drugs, they would not have committed such cruel crimes. One person did not remember committing his crime at all.
The problem without intervention:
If drug abuse continues, studies have shown that crime will increase, and access to community establishments will be more difficult. For example: In the city of Buffalo, NY, some homes, wine stores, and banks, have protective bars on their windows to reduce crime and stop break-ins, which can prevent victimization. “Understanding the various options helps you select security bars that not only keep intruders out but also align with your home’s architectural style.” (www.journeymanhq.com, 2026). Illegal activity occurs to obtain money for illegal substances, and those activities have a negative impact on the economy; officers are busy making police reports and possible arrests, which all impact the local economic system. “Several major theoretical perspectives shed light on some of the possible mechanisms underlying the neighborhood effects on crime. First, one of the oldest theoretical perspectives, social disorganization, posits that ecological conditions like socioeconomic disadvantage, racial heterogeneity, and residential mobility erode neighborhood social control and facilitate crime(Shaw and McKay 1942).” (Graif et al., 2014).
Stakeholders:
This information would be presented to the stakeholders to engage them and request their support. “ By addressing the root causes of addiction and adopting evidence-based interventions, policymakers can mitigate the adverse effects of drug abuse and pave the way for a healthier, more resilient society” ( Gianvito, 2024). The goal is to learn how the street drugs of today have impacted the brain, for treatment and management of symptoms. The Objective: engaging vulnerable populations of people to participate in a qualitative study. Individuals have insight into the difficulties linked with this specific population of people. The knowledge of the stakeholders is an asset. The stakeholders are practitioners, nurse practitioners (NP’s), involved in Behavioral Health, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and Police officers.
Reference:
Gianvito, C. (2024). Exploring the ripple effect: Examining the broad impact of drugs on
individuals and society. International Journal of Drug Research Technology, 13, 473.
Graif , C., Gladfelter, A., Matthews, S. (2014). Urban Poverty and Neighborhood Effects
on Crime: Incorporating Spatial and Network Perspectives. Epub 2014 Sep 16. PMID:
27375773; PMCID: PMC4928692. Sociol Compass. 2014 Sep;8(9):1140-1155.
Hoffman, R. S., & Goldfrank, L. R. (1990). The impact of drug abuse and addiction on society.
Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 8(3), 467–480.
Home Systems Journeyman HQ, 2026.
Van der Westhuizen, M. (2023). The Importance of Social Workers in Communities: A Global
Perspective. Journal of Community Psychosocial Research. 1. 10.36386/jcpr.v1i1.360.
Volkow, N. D., & Blanco, C. (2023). Substance use disorders: A comprehensive update of
classification, epidemiology, neurobiology, clinical aspects, treatment and prevention.
World Psychiatry, 22(2), 203–229. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21073
Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts. (2018)Retrieved from
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction on 2026,
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