In recent years, Australian teenagers of both genders are consuming to much alcohol, leading to 87,665 uncontrolled accidents such as falling over and breaking limbs, hitting their heads, getting into fights and having traffic accidents. To prevent those impulsive actions and to protect adolescents, the government put tax on pre-mixed drinks, the most preferred alcohol drink among teenagers. As you can see in the graph, the original supply curve is S and after the tax, which is 70 percent of its original price, the supply curve shift to the left dramatically from S to S+T, since only when the sales price goes up by the same amount as tax, will there be the same amount of suppliers willing to produce the same good. The equilibrium point changes
According to many studies, “Addiction is due 50 percent to genetic predisposition and 50 percent to poor coping skills.” (Addictions and Recovery, 2014, para. 1). Children born to addicts are 8 times more likely to be addicts themselves. The other 50 percent is caused by poor coping skills, the need to escape or even the desire to fit in. There are 7 major stages of the meth experience: The rush, the high, the binge, tweaking, the crash, meth hangover and withdrawal.
People who drink alcohol tend to live longer and have fewer health issues than people who do not. Alcohol just like tobacco, junk food, and any other thing is not detrimental to ones health when used in moderation. A major example on why our government should lower the drinking age to eighteen is due to other countries, namely European ones. Pretty much all European countries have drinking ages of eighteen or even lower. And all of these countries tend to have less problems and drunk driving accidents than America does.
However, mescaline produces greater tolerance in some users who take the drug repeatedly. These people that take mescaline must take a higher doses to achieve the same results as they have had in the past. This could be an extremely dangerous practice because they don’t know how the person will react to the drug. It also has a low potential for psychological addiction. The treatments are available for people who are addicted to Mescaline.
In the United States some statistics have been gathered on crystal methamphetamine use broken down by ethnicity. Huff (2005) indicates crystal meth use is relatively low in African American community compared to Caucasian and Native American communitie which are significantly higher and relatively the same. Other observations note that people who use most are Caucasian, blue collar (20-30), unemployed, in c are reporting large increases in meth usage (The Anti-Meth Site, n.d.). In Canada, based on data collected from mental health workers, police and research scientists, profiles of meth use point to: young ravers from dance club crowds; large numbers of rural and small town poor in North America; peop w parties (Mental
Another example is legal drugs taken for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which help to lower the symptoms of inability to pay attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness (Chandler). Researchers have found that 2.5 million youth ages 4-17 are receiving legal drugs prescribed for this disorder in the U.S alone (Attention-Deficit). This antidepressant not only helps them pay attention in class but to fit in with their peers as well as increasing their self-esteem. As a result, people are usually more successful socially, academically, and morally. Even though the drugs have different names, drugs in both worlds are used to help people blend in with the
Prescription pain pills include narcotics, stimulants and depressants, which are the most commonly abused. Statistics show that 1 in 20 people in the United States, ages 12 and older, abuse prescription painkillers. These drugs affect the brain and reach the opiate receptors which cause a release of dopamine which acts as a “excitatory neurotransmitter”. Dopamine produces feelings of pleasure, satisfaction, and a feeling of euphoria. These feelings are only temporary and when they wear off the person feels much worse than they did before taking the pills.
Genetic Explanation of Depression Research on the heredity of depression within families shows that some individuals are more likely than others to develop the disorder. If you have a parent or sibling with depression, you may be 1.5 to 3 times more likely to develop the condition than those who do not. This suggests there may be some kind of genetic influence. Gershon 1990 studied 10 families, and found rates of MDD in first degree relative ranged between 7-20%, which i considerably higher than the rest of the population. Weisman 1984 also found that relatives of people diagnosed with depression before the age of 20 had 8x greater chance of being diagnosed with it.
As stated in a publication issued by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “The abuse of prescription pain medications is increasing among adult Americans as well. Among young adults aged 18 to 25, the rate increased from 22.1 percent in 2002 to 23.7 percent in 2003, NSDUH data show. Abuse of oxycodone increased among all age groups from 2002 to 2003: by more than 10 percent among Americans aged 12 to 17, by nearly 40 percent among 18- to 25-year-olds, and by 60 percent for Americans aged 26 or older” (Volkow, 2005). The NIDA is responding to the rise in prescription drug abuse in numerous areas, one of which is geriatrics. The NIDA also reported, “Age-related changes may influence the way in which their bodies metabolize and respond to prescription drugs.
Professor Zapolski mentions of a survey that reports,“ High school seniors, about 20 percent binge drinks, consuming more than 5 drinks in one occasion.” This shows how much an high school student will and can drink before reaching 20 years old. Professor Tina Watson states a research done by Christopher Carpenter and Carlos Dobkins who suggested, “ Arrest rates for violent and nuisance crimes rise sharply at age 21 though at least age 23.” Both claims that drinking at the legal age has caused a rise in crime and criminal behavior in young adults. Yet, many think that lowering or keeping it the same age will benefit and educate young adults. Professor Steinberg believes, “ Lowering the drinking age to 19, which would help solve the problem of illegal drinking on campus.” Steinberg claims lowering the age to 19 will prevent illegal activities on campus. Professor Glaser expresses.“ America’s 18 -year-old have the right to vote, marry, buy a gun and join the military."