Chapter 3: Alcohol and Other Drugs

I chose this chapter as I believe that alcohol and drugs are not only a major social problem in themselves, but also the cause of many other social problems. I have heard of many devastating stories that have occurred as a result of alcohol and drug abuse and think it is important that people are aware of such issues.

I think this picture is important as many people do not think of alcohol as a drug, and therefore do not realize that if used excessively, it can have many of the same effects as other drugs.

This video, "Drug Addicts Affect on Family" (2010) shows how a drug/alchohol addiction not only affects the person abusing the substances, but also those around the person, such as family  and friends.

Shinedown (2005) speaks of one suffering with a drug addiction:
"Save Me"

I got a candle
And I've got a spoon
I live in a hallway with no doors
And no rooms

Under a windowsill
They all were found
A touch of concrete within the doorway
Without a sound

Someone save me if you will
And take away all these pillsAnd please just save me if you can
From my blasphemy in my wasteland

How did I get here
And what went wrong
Couldn't handle forgiveness
Now I'm far beyond gone

I can hardly remember
The look of my own eyes
How can I love this a life so dishonest
It made me compromise

Someone save me if you will
And take away all these pills
And please just save me if you can
From my blasphemy in my wasteland
Jump in the water
Jump in with me
Jump on the altar
Lay down with me

The hardest question to answer
Is why

Why

Someone save me if you will
And take away all these pills
And please just save me if you can
From my blasphemy in my wastelandSomeone save me
Someone save me
Somebody save me
Somebody save me
Please don't erase me


Scholarly Article
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hxEUYHfJsLQC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=substance+abuse+problems&ots=SxoODDW78u&sig=97akXfuRkQUBol_pTt5xqqT78U4#v=onepage&q=substance%20abuse%20problems&f=false

Websites
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/real-life-stories.html
This website testimonies from ex-substance abusers. It is important for stories such as these to be published so as others can learn of the truths associated with the problems, rather than just hearing of facts and statistics.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/understanding-drug-abuse-addiction
This site includes details on what exactly drug addiction is, as well as ways treatment and prevention ideas and other important facts.