When You Hear The Words Drug Addict You Think Of...

When you hear the words drug addict you think of desensitizing terms, like â€Å"junkie† or â€Å"crack head† and when you see someone panhandling for money on the street, passed out, or swaying in a doorway you likely wonder, â€Å"why don’t they just get help?† Maia Szalavitz, author of Unbroken Brain, points out an article about our finger-pointing mentality on drug abuse, â€Å"Addiction is one of the most serious health problems we face today and as of 2010, more than 23 million people have an addiction to drugs. According to the National Institutes of Health, these addictions contribute to more than 100,000 deaths per year.† Drug abuse is a major problem in the United States and throughout the world as more and more people become addicted every day.†¦show more content†¦The stigma that comes with addiction is another major challenge for those seeking help. Many individuals who do drugs are productive members of our society. They are often people who were issued pain medication by a doctor, which resulted in dependence on the drug. Conversely, a 2010 National Survey on Drug Use indicated that 2.4 million Americans used non-prescribed prescription medication for the first time in 2009, which means on average there were 6,600 people taking drugs for the first time each day. This population would seek help if not for the fear and shame they feel about being labeled as a drug addict. These stigmas perpetuated by people believing that addiction is a character flaw or a sign of weakness can create such fear in a person they won’t ever reach out for the help they need. They worry about losing their jobs and family, often times they opt to go without treatment despite the negative consequences to their health which could eventually lead to death. In the â€Å"Addiction† article published by the Gale group, it states â€Å"According to the CDC, in 2013 more than sixteen thousand people died fro m prescription opioids, an increase of 50 percent in three years.† Addiction does not discriminate; it makes no distinction between a person’s age, sex, color, or financial circumstance. The stigma surrounding addiction and drug use leaves many Americans unwilling to help fund better treatment.Show MoreRelatedMaia Szalavitz, Author Of Unbroken Brain, Points Out In1270 Words   |  6 Pagesfinger-pointing mentality on drug abuse, â€Å"Addiction is one of the most serious health problems we face today, and as of 2010, more than 23 million people have an addiction to drugs, and according to the National Institutes of Health, these addictions contribute to more than 100,000 deaths per year.† Drug abuse is a major problem in the United States and throughout the world as more and more people become addicted every day. When you hear the words drug addict you think of desensitizing terms, like â€Å"junkie†Read MoreIs There Anybody Out There?. Maia Szalavitz, Author Of1484 Words   |  6 Pagesfinger-pointing mentality on drug abuse, â€Å"Addiction is one of the most serious health problems we face today, and as of 2010, more than 23 million people have an addiction to drugs, and according to the National Institutes of Health, these addictions contribute to more than 100,000 deaths per year.† Drug abuse is a major problem in the United States and throughout the world as more and more people become addicted every day. When you hear the words drug addict you think of desensitizing terms, like â€Å"junkie†