Illicit+Drugs+in+the+Youth+of+Society

Name: Adam Cureton
Student Number: n8866015 Unit Coordinator: Dr. Julie-Anne Carroll Tutor: Dr. Jey Rodgers

=Illicit Drug Use in the Youth of Society= This cultural artefact has been selected due to the way it portrays illicit drug use in society and how this behaviour has developed in the society’s youth. The image identifies an exchange of illicit drugs between two students at school which is evident by the public school bus in the background. It also depicts how the influence of an individual student who partakes in illicit drug behaviour can impact on the other students in their environment.



The public health issue associated with the artefact is the prevalence and impact of illicit drug use in society. Illicit drug use in the youth of society is the aspect of this health issue that is being focussed on. Also, the range of illicit drugs available is extensive, increasing the risk of participation in drug abuse. By reducing the prevalence of illicit drug use in the youth of society, a greater outcome for decreasing illicit drug use in society overall will be evident in the future.

Literature Review
Extensive evidence exists to identify that there is a high occurrence of illicit drug use in society. The National Drug Strategy conducted its most recent household survey in 2007, providing statistical evidence of the prevalence and different types of drugs being used in Australia. The figures demonstrate that 38.1% of Australian aged 14 years or over have participated in illicit drug use at some time in their life, with 13.4% having used illicit drugs in the previous 12 months (Healey, 2009). The most common illicit substances that are used are marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, ecstasy and hallucinogens. The youth of society is a major angle of this health issue that needs to be addressed in regards to illicit drug activity. A major focus point of this particular public health issue is targeted at the adolescence within society and their interactions with illicit drugs. It is identified by Ross (2007), that the youth of society are impacted by illicit drug use with cannabis being the most significantly used. Drug use is undertaken for personal fulfilment or as a coping mechanism that aids in the release of tension, anger, fatigue or even allows the user to escape reality momentarily. However, this can lead to serious side effects such as drug dependency, social and personal disorganisation and even the starting point of chronic illness (Madu & Matla, 2003). Furthermore, Macleod, Oakes, Copello and Crome (2004, p. 1579), identify a correlation between cannabis use and reduced educational attainment. This provides a significant health issue as the impaired education of our youth who participate in cannabis use may impact negatively on society. These illicit drugs provoke an increase in the prevalence of criminal activity.

Illicit drug use in adolescence has a strong correlation to increased crime rates in Australia. The most predominant crimes that are committed by the youth of society are less serious offences such as property damage, graffiti, vandalism, shop lifting, fare evasion, unlawful entry and road traffic offences (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2013). It can be identified in the Drug Use Careers of Offenders 2003-2004, that 24% of juvenile crime offenders were influenced by drugs and another 24% were affected by a combination of drugs and alcohol (Healey, 2009). It was stated by Dr Toni Makkai, that half of juvenile offenders had commenced their first offence before conducting illicit drug use, however after using illicit drug use their criminal activity exacerbated (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2005). Cannabis is the most prevalent drug among juveniles at their time of arrest at 75%, followed by amphetamines at 35% (Healey, 2009). Violent criminal offences were more prevalent in youth who were intoxicated with alcohol, whereas intoxication due to illicit drugs was more commonly linked to property offences. The Australian Justice System copes with juvenile justice regarding illicit drug use differently than compared to adults. Different measures have been established to discourage further criminal activity of youth through cautioning, conducting meetings between offenders and victims, and convening speciality courts (Australian Institute of Criminology, 2013). Along with criminal activity, illicit drugs can provoke harmful side effects on the body.

Acute and chronic illness is associated with illicit drug use in youth. Acute symptoms vary greatly, with each individual classification of drug type affecting the body differently. As stated by the Coalition Against Drug Abuse, 2013, some of the acute effects can be drowsiness/relaxation, short term memory loss and impaired coordination and balance with marijuana or increased heart rate, temperature, blood pressure and energy levels in drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, hallucinogens and ecstasy. The main chronic health issues that underpin illicit drug use and will affect youth later on in life are psychological disorders and physiological damage. Mental disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, paranoia and insomnia can all result from long term illicit drug use (National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d.). Also, memory loss, extreme mood swings, impaired cognition, confusion and aggression can result from chronic drug use (National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d.). There are many physiological effects that can occur from different illicit drugs. Respiratory and cardiovascular complications occur from cocaine, respiratory complications from marijuana, hyperthermia due to methamphetamines and syncope, convulsions or coma can occur from opioids (Devlin & Henry, 2008). Also, more general chronic effects can occur such as swallowing difficulties, nasal damage, collapsed veins and damage to vital organs such as the lungs, heart, brain, liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract (Devlin & Henry, 2008). All pathophysiological side-effects of drug use can be avoided which will benefit the body both short term and long term.

There were some limiting factors that arose when researching the literature behind illicit drug use in the youth of society. It was difficult to gather systematic review and peer reviewed journal articles that were written within the previous ten years. It was also more difficult to find journal articles that were specifically focused on illicit drug use without the incorporation of alcohol and tobacco. The accuracy of the juvenile crime statistics may also be questionable as the research was only conducted on 371 people aged 11-17 and this does not provide a comprehensive cross section of society to be analysed. Furthermore, the relevancy of the National Drug Strategy Household Survey data is questionable as the statistics are from 2007 and more relevant data should be available to identify recent trends.

Cultural and Social Analysis
It is important to consider social theories that analyse and apply to illicit drug use in the youth of society. It has been theorised by Howard Parker that Australia is experiencing the ‘normalisation’ of illicit drug use in society where illicit drug use is becoming more increasingly prevalent (Parker, Williams & Aldridge, 2002, p. 942). Theorists are saying that this is attributed to the wider patterns of transformation in youth’s leisure time and the place of consumption in the shaping of youth identities (Duff, 2010, p. 442). Youth feel they are able to express their identities more freely during their leisure time as they do not feel the constraints from family, school and tradition and as a result an increase in illicit use is evident (Duff, 2010, p. 442). Statistics regarding illicit drug use also consolidate the ‘normalisation’ theory that illicit drug use is on the increase and is slowly becoming a part of youth identity. Awareness of illicit drug use in the youth of society is crucial as it has a great impact on many aspects of society. Both short term and long term effects of illicit drug use can have detrimental effects on the users which will then influence the rest of their lives. These side-effects also have an impact on family members and close friends who illicit drug users interact with and place aspects of the burden onto them (Devlin & Henry, 2008). Illicit drug use also has a significant impact on Australia as a country. According to Collins and Lapsley (2008), criminal costs due to illicit drug use was at a total of $4.0 billion with a further $1.4 billion being attributed to crimes committed by people who were influenced by both illicit drugs and alcohol. Furthermore, some specific drugs such as marijuana can impair educational development in youth (Macleod et al, 2004, p. 1579). Specific action needs to be taken to reduce these effects that illicit drugs cause in society.

Public health experts should continue to focus on preventive care regarding illicit drugs. Currently the National Drug Strategy has implemented a 2010-2015 campaign that is directed at young Australians to reduce their motivation to use illicit drug use and to provide knowledge of the harm they may cause (Department of Health and Ageing, 2013). The campaign specifically targets youth aged 15-21 and parents with children aged 13-17. However, it can be identified by Ross (2007), that a demographic analysis reveals that the most prevalent age group of illicit drug use is 20-29. This shows that the campaign is not targeting the main users, but targeting the youth to stop the issue at its development. Public health experts should focus on alternatives to illicit drug use and implement awareness through the education system and social networking sites. This will allow for maximum exposure and ultimately a positive change in the increasing illicit drug normalisation trend.

Analysis of Artefact and Learning Reflections
The artefact chosen is a representation of illicit drugs in the youth of society. The two children exchanging drugs depicted in the artefact identifies that illicit drug use can start from a very young age. As a result of the use of illicit drugs at a young age, it can be embodied into their identity and, from there, become a serious issue. This particular artefact was a good selection as it captures the exchange of illicit drugs with the school bus in the background to portray that illicit drugs can become a part of people’s lives at their most crucial development stage. Overall in this assessment piece I did learn some important information regarding illicit drug use. I did not realise that illicit drugs were becoming more prevalent in society and that the highest demographic use was ages 20-29. Also, through the use of Howard Parker’s social theory of ‘normalisation’, I further understand how illicit drugs can become a part of a person’s identity. Furthermore, this assessment piece showed me to really delve deeper into the understanding of why public issues actually are issues and to search for sociological reasons to explain the issue. The learning outcomes from this assignment have helped my thinking process and will help for the future.

Reference
Australian Institute of Criminology. (2013). Juvenile Justice. Retrieved from http://www.aic.gov.au/crime_types/in_focus/juvenilejustice.html

Australian Institute of Criminology. (2009). Substance abuse a factor in juvenile crime. Retrieved from http://www.aic.gov.au/media/2005/october/20051027.html

Collins, D. & Lapsley, H. (2008). The costs of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug abuse to Australian society in 2004/05. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing.

Department of Health and Ageing. (2013). About the National Drugs Campaign. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/content/campaign

Devlin, R. & Henry, J. (2008). Clinical Review: Major consequences of illicit drug consumption. Crit Care, 12(1), 202. doi: 10.1186/cc6166

Duff, C. (2010). Drugs and Youth Culturea: Is Australia Experiencing the ‘Normalisation’ of Adolescent Drug Use? Journal of Youth Studies, 6(4), 433-447. doi: 10.1080/1367626032000162131

Healey, J. (Eds). (2011). Drugs and Law Enforcement. Thirroul, New South Wales: The Spinney Press.

Macleod, J., Oakes, R., Copello, A & Crome, I. (2004). Psychological and social sequelae of cannabis and other illicit drug use by young people: a systematic review of longitudinal, general population studies. The Lancet, 363(9421), 1579-1588. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/docview/199002902?accountid=13380

Madu, S. & Matla, M. (2003). Illicit drug use, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking behaviour among a sample of high school adolescents in Pietersburg area of the Northern Province, South Africa. Journal of Adolescence, 26(1), 121-136. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/10.1016/S0140-1971(02)00120-3

National Institute of Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Health Effects. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/health-effects

Parker, H., Williams, L. & Aldridge, J. (2002). The Normalisation of ‘Sensible’ Recreational Drug Use. Sociology, 36(4), 941-964. doi: 10.1177/003803850203600408

The Coalition Against Drug Abuse. (2013). Drug Abuse Effects. Retrieved from http://drugabuse.com/library/drug-abuse-effects/

Peer Reflections
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