How do drugs impact on society?

Drug addiction has become a very destructive element in our society. The widespread use of drugs such as LSD, heroin, cocaine, "angel dust," marijuana and a long list of others has contributed heavily to a debilitated society.

The importation of illicit drugs in the United-States is a close second to the import of petroleum. According to the NIDA, drug abuse has an economic impact on society of $67 billion per year. This includes costs related to crime, drug abuse treatment, medical costs and time lost from work and social welfare programs. NIDA also states that getting treatment can reduce these costs.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 25,000 people died in 2003 from drug-induced effects. CDC further reports that 123,235 adults living with AIDS in the United States in 2003 contracted the disease from injection drug use, and the survival rate for those persons is less than that for persons who contract AIDS from any other mode of transmission.

A close connection exists between crime and drug use. Alcohol and drugs account for 52 percent of all traffic fatalities, according to the Hazleden Foundation. In the U.S., 47% of all women diagnosed with AIDS are injecting drug users and another 19% report having sex with users who inject drug.

Drugs and Crime

There is a high impact on Society of drugs. It was found that drugs and crimes are interrelated, as demonstrated by researches done by the United States National Institute of Justice.

The major impact on drug-addicts is that they prone to commit crimes. They need money to finance their drug taking habit and for that they seldom have money, so they indulge themselves in petty crimes and in consequence they entangle themselves in big crimes also.

In a study done in British Columbia almost 50 per cent of those drivers involved in motor vehicle crashes who tested positive for drugs, tested positive for marihuana use. Marihuana use increases the risk of a motor vehicle accident by at least 2-4 times. This shows the consequence of drug addiction is more on society.

Prevention - Is it Possible?

The UK report in 2007 found that government-backed education and prevention programmes designed to steer youngsters away from drugs appear to have had "very little impact" on experimentation with illicit substances.

However, it can be prevented a little by seeking a continuity of services for youngsters transitions through the system between the ages of 18 and 21, by developing a cadre of adequately trained management personnel and by supporting the effort of agencies that provide a catalyst for prevention work.