ALCOHOL & DRUGS

Social analysis project

WHAT IS A SOCIAL ISSUE?

A Term used to depict issues with a specific

region or gathering of individuals on the planet
Issues that regularly have a great impact on
real life
Common Social Issues :
Crime
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Poverty
Unemployment
Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Homelessness

Alcohol & Drug Abuse

Effective substances to damage users or

entice them
Reached at world wide extends
More alcohol and drugs created than ever
Inclining at rapid speed with growth of
economy
Stigma on the society and continuously
spreading
A global issue

ALCOHOL AND
DRUG ABUSE IN
CANADA

Why a social issue?

Students (in other words) Youngsters are

the significant concern
Adolescents interest, Danger taking
Conduct and Social Weight make it hard
to say NO to these
In the age group18-25, half of deaths
involve liquor and drug overdose
Liquor and medication dependent youth

How we analysed this issue?

BASIC CRITICAL THINKING/QUESTIONING

APPROACH
Started asking questions about what can minimize,
maximize or alter the effect of drug and alcohol
use to each other and classmates
Figured out answers to several questions
encountered
Conducted meetings for the report preparation
Asked each team member to bring at least 10
questions and respective answers by discussing
with their classmates, colleagues and room mates

Alcohol abuse

Ethyl Alcohol or Ethanol is the inebriating

element found in beer, wine and alcohol
Delivered by aging yeast, sugar or starches
Brings damage to ones wellbeing, interpersonal
connections and capability to work
Chronic consumption can damage organs
including brain, liver, heart, stomach, intestines
and mouth
A strong factor for other social problems such
as crime, poverty, family disorder, domestic
violence

Drug abuse

Drug A substance that can change how a living

organism works
Recreational drugs are chemical substances that
affect thecentral nervous systems, such
asopioidsorhallucinogens
Taking certain medications are illegal in specific
nations
Establishes numerous other social issues medicated
driving, anxiety, and child abuse
Prompt homelessness, wrongdoing and missed work
Affects unborn children demolishes families

Alcohol & drugs in canada

According to Ontario Student Drug Survey,
most commonly used drug - Alcohol
- Two thirds of Teenagers drink alcohol
- 1 in 5 teenagers drink in a way that put them
at risk of health problems, social problems
- Most often used by 12-17 year old teenagers
- Average age of girls drinking is 13 years
Second most common drug Cannabis (also
known as marijuana, pot or weed)

- One third of Canadian teenagers use Cannabis

- Utilization of other drugs euphoria, LSD, and Cocaine

WHY DRUGS AND Alcohol use

rise?

People allegedly use these to ease their sufferings

People tend to use these to get rid of mental stress
People see family members, friends, pop stars
using drugs and rationalize that they can too use
them
Boredom is also another major reason for
alcohol/drug use
Some people believe if a drug has been prescribed
by doctor, it is absolutely fine to use them any time
Advertisements and media/movies portray people
taking drugs having extreme pleasure which
motivates people and youngsters to experiment

Views of stakeholders
Follow the basic principle to avoid the
consumption of alcohol by children and
adolescents
- Dont produce alcoholic beverages targeted at
children and adolescents
- Ensure alcoholic beverages are not promoted
to appeal to children and adolescents
- Specific training for sales persons with regard
to protection of children and adolescents
- Trade Organizations and producers ensure
these principles regarding children

Identifying
stereotypes/generalizations
Stereotypes
They are considered
- Unemployed
- Victims of bad upbringings
- High school drop outs
- Prostitutes
- They take drugs in the dark
- Rob innocent people
- Alcoholics are Homeless

These are the drug users that are most visible as they live their life
in on the streets and are often overrepresented in jails, detention
centers, mental health services and public drug and alcohol services

Stereotypes cont
Reality they are just like everyone else
- Parents
- Friends
- Work mates
- Sisters/Brothers
They
- hold down jobs
- have friends
- attend social functions
- enjoy weekends
Stereotyping substance abusers can lead to many difficulties in recognizing and
treating people. Treatments and services for people who suffer from drug or alcohol
addiction should not be used to make generalizations about who, what and why
people have an addiction.
There are many different factors as to why a person suffers from a substance abuse
problem

Faulty Logic & Fallacies

Users may experience hallucinations which they
know are not real, known as pseudohallucinations - Crack is highly addictive.
However reports that crack is instantly addictive
are false
- Although tolerance levels increase in regular
users of ecstasy, there is no proven risk of
addiction, and no withdrawal symptoms
- Some people believe that cannabis is a 'gateway
drug' and think that cannabis users are more likely
to go on to use 'harder' drugs such as heroin
although there is no evidence to support this belief.

How to solve this issue?

As a Global Citizen educating people about the ill

effects of the drug/alcohol use on a basic level
Rehabilitation centres for the people who are
seriously addicted
Helpline numbers assisting the victims
Imposed serious laws for those who drink and
drive
Severe punishments for ones caught consuming
drugs in the name of parties and fun
Awareness programs in every possible way
Awareness through Media, Fitness Camps and
Educational Institutions targeting youth

Strategies used

Indeed the strongest willed people

experience stopping medications on their
own

Assistance of medication recovery

projects and dependence experts
Effectively deal with peer pressure
Seek help for mental illness
Examine the risk factors
Keep a well-balanced life

QUESTIONS ?