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- QUESTION
watch the video that discusses the painful issue of babies being born addicted to drugs. The video highlights a mother Jessica who used drugs during her pregnancy.
Addicted At Birth: The Babies Hooked On Heroin | Special Report | Sky News
Duration: (11:46)
User: Sky News - Added: 9/7/15https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3UKcHR-2uU
Discussion Questions:
Why have the rates of heroin use increased in Indiana and how has the nature of crime changed as a result of drug use in Indiana?
According to the documentary, what are the social costs of drug abuse as covered in your textbook on pages 24-28? Please go into detail explaining the social costs.
What is the damage done to babies born addicted to drugs according to the documentary and your textbook?
What do you think should happen to mothers who have children addicted to drugs? Explain.
Make sure to:
Write a short essay or paragraph of at least 500 words.
Use concrete examples/details and avoid generalities.
Address all questions.
Use proper grammar and punctuation.
If you researched your topic and are using information from what you learned, remember to cite your sources.
Do not plagiarize.BOOK
Drugs in Society: Courses, Concepts, and Control, 7th Edition or 8th Edition is acceptable.
Publisher: Anderson Publishing, Co
Author(s): Lyman
ISBN: 978-1455731879 or 9781138202276
| Subject | Essay Writing | Pages | 2 | Style | APA |
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Answer
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is one of the serious issues the United States face. This paper aims at analyzing the documentary Addicted at Birth to establish the effects of substance abuse on both children and society, in the U.S.
According to the documentary, one baby in every half an hour in the United States is born addicted to drugs. The rates of heroin use have significantly increased in Indiana because of more users who inject heroin seeking treatment (Lyman, 2013). The United States’ Drug Enforcement Administration reports that deaths as a result of heroin overdose sharply increases due to individuals using heroin for the first time at a tender age, persons abusing prescriptions turning to heroin, and the availability of high-purity heroin.
The social cost of drug abuse includes violence, theft, premature death, diseases, lost productivity, and unwanted sex (Lyman, 2013). Substance abuse is also associated with high cost of law enforcement, incarceration, prosecution, interdictions, and probation. These costs are higher compared to the sales’ values of the addictive drugs. Addictions to drugs usually cause relationships to become tense and violent and can lead to criminal behaviors such as domestic violence or divorce.
According to the documentary, babies born addicted to drugs have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome or premature death. The use of heroin during pregnancy is linked to birth defects such as low birth weight and miscarriage, impaired fetal growth as well as long term effects on growth (Lyman, 2013). The infant may exhibit withdrawal symptoms and develop dependency on the drugs shortly after birth. Mothers who have children addicted to drugs should be fined rather than jailed because imprisonment would not allow them to offer the babies the needed care and support. The mothers ought also to be taken to rehabilitation centers where they can be educated on adverse impacts of drug abuse on the body functions. In conclusion, serious legal actions should be taken against drug users to avert the serious problems US witnesses.
References
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Lyman, M. D. (2013). Drugs in society: Causes, concepts, and control. Routledge.
Appendix
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