wake+up+drug+users

=Student Name: Yan Chen= =Student Number: 08575924= =Unit Coordinator: Julie-Ann= =Tutor: Michelle Cornford=

The Artefact
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The name of this video is The Shame of drug addiction. It is a drug song for everyone who addicts to drugs, and it attempts to wake up the drug users to quit substance abuse. It also shows the factors of addiction from different social context and adverse effects from substance abuse. In addition, it introduces some famous stars both from music and film filed, which dead from drug abuse such as Chris Farley, Brad Nowell, Michael Jackson, and Marilyn Monroe.

The Public health issue
According to the Australia Institute of Health and Welfare 2011, 60.2% of people have used an illicit drug in Australia. The average age of first substance use was 19 years, and the latest average age of drug use was 27 years (AIHW.2010). The latest study stated substance abuse contributed 2% of the total burden of disease in Australia in 2003 (AIHW.2011). Australia Bureau of statistics has also reported approximately 8% of people aged 16-85 years of age have suffered from drug use disorder (AIHW.2011). It was estimated 21.5% of males and 13.2% of females who were substance users had driven a vehicle after drug use (AHIW.2011). However, this essay will mainly focus on the factor that caused drug addiction from different points of view. The nature of drug addiction is a crucial part for improving drug treatment and understanding the development of substance abuse, all of which are important to decrease the disease burden. All articles used in the literature review are from reliable databases, recently published and either peer or systematically reviewed.

The literature review
A cross sectional study conducted by Pourmovahed, Yassini, Dehghani & Askai (2013) aims to discover the factors that are responsible for addiction from the viewpoint of addicts. This descriptive study includes spouses of male addicts who were referred to the detoxification center of Yazd city. The samples are 216 women who were randomly collected and a special questionnaire was designed (Pourmovahed, Yassini, Dehghani & Askai (2013). The questionnaire comprises two sections from this study, which are personal data and factors responsible for tendency towards addiction. Results from this study mention a range of factors that are responsible for addiction from the addict’s wives view on the basis of income and economical status. Divorce, marital problems, lack of familial supervision, unemployment, and psychological and physical problems are all the contribution factors for drug addiction according to this study (Pourmovahed, Yassini, Dehghani & Askai (2013).

A recent study shows that individual differences in basal level and the reactivity of the oxytocin system exist, thus a further study has been done to review the literature to find out how these individual differences in the oxytocin system may impact on drug addiction (Pijlman,Sumracki,Gordon,Hull, Carter & Tops.2013). Individual differences in the oxytocin system are based on genetic variation, age,gender or social experience, stress, trauma (Pijlman,Sumracki,Gordon,Hull, Carter &Tops.2013).Pijlman,Sumracki,Gordon,Hull, Carter & Tops (2013) have mentioned a large number of studies which explain the direct and indirect effect on process and behavior linked to substance abuse,however, only a few have examined the individual difference in oxytocin system may impact on drug addiction (Pijlman,Sumracki,Gordon,Hull, Carter & Tops.2013). The systemic administration of oxytocin is able to affect drug-taking behaviors and it significantly decreases neuronal activation in the nucleus accumbens core which is functioning in mediate amphetamine-potentiated conditioned reinforcement and locomotion (Pijlman,Sumracki,Gordon,Hull, Carter & Tops.2013).

Drug addiction is a controversial topical for teenagers, and it is significantly affects their daily life (Sani.2010). Another recent study was conducted by Sani (2010) to understand drug addiction, preferred drugs and affect on the daily life among undergraduate students in Bangladesh .The sample population for this study was selected by using questionnaires, and then 160 students who were aged between 15-25 years were enrolled from different private universities. The result shows a large number of people addicted to drugs are influenced by friends and just want to try something new. A small proportion of students become addicted by trying to forget family problems or failed romances. (Sani.2010). A qualitative study was done to examine social contexts and processes affecting transition to drug addiction among street youth by Roy,Nonn & Haley in 2008. This research took 42 participants and an in depth interview has done to discover the results. Five types of mutual experiences are concluded from this study which are downtowner experience, the tripper street life, the on the go experience, the hard luck’s experience and the alcoholic experience (Roy,Nonn & Haley. 2008)

There are a number of theories, which have indentified factors that lead to drug abuse, and most of these studies have claimed there was clear connection between the relationship of parents and their children. Between 2008 and 2009, an investigation was conducted to find out the factors favoring drug addiction between a control group (134 participants) and an addicted group (146 participants). The familial social demographic features, familial developmental features, familial interaction features and familial sociological features and a lack of close emotional relationship are identified as all being significant influence a drug taking behavior (Zimic &Jukic.2012).

Some studies have also pointed out the development of drug addiction is related to the endogenous opioid system, thus a summary of these studies with a focus on major drugs are done by Charbogne,Kieffer and Befort (2013) in France. In this summary, Charbogne, Kieffer & Befort (2013) have described how opioid system plays a role in addiction according to each type of drug, and have claimed the morphine receptor is mediating rewarding properties of all drugs abuse (Charbogne,Kieffer and Befort .2013).

Drug abuse not only occurs in developed countries but also in developing countries. Panda (2013) has analyzed the cause of drug addiction among women in India, and he described drug addiction as the outcome of economic change and urban setting. Social consequences such as poverty, cultural uses of alcohol are external factors, which are contributing to substance abuse.

The excitatory amino acid glutamate plays a crucial role in drug addiction from last two decades studies (Gass, Olive. 2008). Historically, research into drug addiction was only focused on the mesolibic dopamine reward circuitry; this paper summarizes the linkage between glutamate neurotransmission and addiction (Gass, Olive. 2008). The result from this study has elaborated all types of drug abuse alter glutamate transmission via different mechanism. Pharmacological substances affect glutamatergic transmission either by receptor antagonism, release inhibition to rewarding effects of most drug abuse (Gass, Olive. 2008).

There are also theories that show stress can develop drug addiction according to Briand and Blendy (2010). Clinical research has found people who are exposed to chronic stress have a higher risk to become a drug addict or alcoholic. During the process of addiction, the bed nucleus of the stria terninalis is projecting to the ventral tegmental area and therefore active in the dopamine pathways whereby stress can activate drug related circuitry (Briand & Blendy.2010).

In conclusion, various studies have conducted to find the factors that contribute to drug addiction from both personal and environmental aspects. It is important for health professionals to understand the nature of drug addiction thus better treatment can be applied.

Cultural and social Analysis
The use of alcohol and other drugs was rapidly increased in recent years due to the high proportion of drug users in Australia, particularly young people aged 18-24 years (AIHW.2012. p235-237). The cultural and social changes have made a significant impact on the prevalence of drug addiction in Australia (NCETA.2009). One of these changes has been the leisure lifestyle that is so common to most Australians. Consequently, this type of lifestyle has led to an increase in the consumption of drugs, which has become more and more popular during leisure activities and is now seen as a source of identity between friendships (NCETA.2009). The changing of family structure such as one in six families in 2006 were single parent compared to only 1 in 47 in the past has also contributed to adolescent substance abuse (NCETA.2009).

Based on the theory of Marx theory globalization impact on drug use. Storti and Grauwe (2009) claims that drug consumption have risen steadily worldwide. Additionally, the reduction of trade barriers and transport costs caused by globalization has significantly impacted the drug market structure, declaring an increase in the world spread of drug consumption. In addition, the goal to remove all barriers to free trade will consequently lead to a dramatic increase in drug consumption in many countries (Singer.2008). As mentioned by Pourmovahed, Yassini, Dehghani & Askai (2013), social, gender and economic status also causes drug addiction. Globalization leads to female labor surplus and increases the gender wage gap as well as raising the unemployment rate, caused by a lack of skills. As a result of that, income inequality occurs and life pressure increases in these low-income families, which are crucial factors for drug addition (Chen, Ge. 2013).

In Australia, the highest level of drug abuse has been recorded among Indigenous people, which need to be taken into consideration (Health infonet. 2013). As mentioned in many studies, Indigenous Australians have experienced greater levels of social disadvantage since colonization including unemployment, poor housing, education, income and violence; which are the main factors contributing to illicit drug use (Health Infornet.2013). According to Health Infonet (2013) the prevalence of illicit drug use in Aboriginal people is two times higher than non-indigenous Australians and it has increased in recent years for all types of drugs. The adverse impact of drug abuse is not only significantly impacting on the health of Indigenous people but also on non-Indigenous Australians (Health Infonet.2013). The hospitalization caused by drug related diseases is much higher among Indigenous people, other drug related issues such as hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, suicide, violence, family break down and crime are also impacting on the whole population’s health (Health Infonet.2013). As many of these disadvantages are experienced by Aboriginal people, reducing the drug abuse rates requires a range of programs to close the gap between the Indigenous people and non-Indigenous populations in the areas of education, housing, income and employment (Health Infonet. 2013)

Analysis of the artefact and reflection
This drug and alcohol abuse awareness song is a good example for my topic. It describes the adverse effects of drug behavior such as suicide and death. This drug related song also shows both famous music and film stars who dead from drug related problems. This is a crucial step for me to build up more knowledge about drug use within our society and it also plays an important role for my future learning process. From this drug abuse assessment, I have gained a understanding of that the addiction can result from a variety of internal and external or combination of both factors. For example, Pharmacological substances affect glutamatergic transmission in the excitatory amino acid glutamate system, personal stress, genetic variation, age are the internal factor. Poverty, low social economic, globalization, family member and friend influence and cultural influence are the external factors, which can lead to drug addiction. These factors mostly affect the Indigenous people in Australia due to separation of family members, loss of land. In my future professional practice I must consider that addiction is a result of circumstances specific to that individual, therefore the treatment needs to be tailored to the need of that individual.

**Reference**
Drugs in Australia 2010 Tobacco, alcohol and other drugs November 2011 []

Pourmovahed,Z., Yassini, S,M.,Dehghani,h& Askai,J.(2013). Factors Responsible for Addiction from The viewpoint of wives of addicts. Procedia: social and behavioral science, 84 (2013), 719-722.Retrieved 29/09/2013 from: []

Pijlman,F,B.,Sumracki, N,M.,Gordon,J,J.,Hull,P,R.,Carter,S & Tops,M.(2013). Individual differences underlying susceptibility to addiction: Role for the endogenous oxytocin system. Pharmacology,Biochemistry and Behavior. Retrieved 29/09/2013 from: []

Sani,M,N. (2010). Drug addiction among undergraduate students of private universities in Bangladesh. Procedia social and Behavioral sciences,5 (2010), 498-501. Retrieved 30/09/2013 from: []

Roy,E., Nonn,E& Haley,N. (2008). Transition to injection drug use among street youth—A qualitative analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 94(1-3),19-29. Retrieved 01/10/2013 from: []

Zimic,J,I &Jukic,V.(2012). Familial Risk Factors Favoring Drug Addiction Onset. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs,44 (2),173-185.Doi: 10.1080/02791072.2012.685408.Retrieved 01/10/2013 from: []

Charbogne,P., Kieffer,B & Befort,K. (2013). 15 years of genetic approaches in vivo for addiction research: Opioid receptor and peptide gene knockout in mouse models of drug abuse. Neuropharmacology,1-14. Doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.08.028. Retrieved 02/10/2013 from: []

Panda,B. (2013). Women and drug abuse in Indian: causes and consquences. Golden Research Thoughts, 2 (11),1-6. Retrieved 02/10/2013 from: []

Gass,J,T & Oliver,M,F. (2008). Glutamatergic substrates of drug addiction and alcoholism. Biomedical Pharmacology,75 (1),218-265. Doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2007.06.039. Retrieved 02/10/2013 from: [|http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0006295207004182#]

Briand,L,A & Blendy,J,A. (2010). Molecular and genetic substrates linking stress and addiction. Brain Research,1314 (2010),219-234. Doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.11.002. Retrieved 02/10/2013 from: []

Australia institution of health and welfare. (2012). Australia’s health, P 235-237. Retrived 03/10/2013 from: []

Storti,C,C &Grauwe,P,D.(2009). Globalization and the price decline of illicit drugs. International Journal of Drug Pilicy,20 (1),48-61. Retrieved 03/10/2013 from: []

Singer,M. (20008). Drugs and development: The global impact of drug use and trafficking on social and economic development. International Journal of Drug Policy,19 (6),467-478.Retrieved 03/10/2013 from: []

Adams Globalization and income inequality: Implications for intellectual property rights []

Han Globalization and wage inequality: Evidence from urban China []

Wilpert Impact of globalization on human work 2009 []

Johnston Smoking behaviours in a remote Australian Indigenous community: The influence of family and other factors []

Chen,Z,H &Ge,Y. (2013). Globalization and Gender Wage Inequality in China. World Development, 44,256-266.Retrieved 04/03/2013 from: []

Australia Indigenous Health Infornet. (2013). Review of illicit drug use among Indigenous peoples. Retrieved 04/10/2013 from: []

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