Drug Addiction and it's Effects on Healthcare

Drug Addiction and Its Effects on Healthcare Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Professor Date Drug Addiction and Its Effects on Healthcare Drug addiction, also known as substance abuse disorder, is a prevalent issue in modern healthcare systems across the world. It comprises the compulsive use of substances regardless of harmful consequences and is categorized by an inability to stop using drugs, failure to meet work, social, or family obligations, and, in many cases, legal troubles. This addiction has become a significant public health issue that poses substantial challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. This essay examines drug addiction from both scientific and mathematical/analytical perspectives. Specifically, the goal is to address the following research inquiries: Scientific Perspective: * Level 1: “What are the anatomical, physiological, pathological, or epidemiological issues associated with drug addiction?” * Level 2: “How does drug addiction affect the brain's neurotransmitter systems?” Mathematical/Analytical Perspective: * Level 1: “What are the economic issues involved in drug addiction?” * Level 2: “What are the healthcare costs associated with drug addiction in the United States?” Scientific Perspective of Inquiry Scientific investigation comprises the traditional science progressions but also includes the combination of such progressions with scientific information, scientific reasoning, and critical thinking to advance scientific facts. In this case, the inquiry addresses processes, such as interplay of anatomical, physiological, pathological, and epidemiological factors. Anatomical, Physiological, Pathological, or Epidemiological Issues Drug addiction comprises several interactions of anatomical, physiological, pathological, and epidemiological influences. Anatomically, addiction can affect the brain, specifically regions that involve reward, motivation, and memory. Based on research, “about 2.5 million Americans are addicted to opioids and heroin” (Annalise, 2018). Opioids rise the volume of dopamine in the brain part known as the limbic reward system. Moreover, it causes strong feelings of preference, which make users to look for the drug again and again. Physiologically, various factors might increase a person's susceptibility to drug abuse, including neurochemical system impairment and increased vulnerability to a drug due to biologically determined sensitivity. Moreover, the research identifies that factor such as an “individual's genes, peer pressure, the action of the drug, environmental stress, emotional distress, depression, and anxiety” can all cause drug abuse among individuals (Obad et al., 2018). For instance, individuals using stimulants, such as cocaine and amphetamines (used to treat ADHD), might start demanding advanced amounts of such drugs over time to feel the same effect. Pathologically, chronic drug use might cause severe damage to organs, such as the heart, lungs, and liver,based on substance use. For instance, research shows that the pathological effects of alcohol consumption include damage to the brain, fetus, liver, heart, pancreas, and immune system (Obad et al., 2018). Moreover, risks of cancer have also been attributed to alcohol use and abuse. Epidemiological data reveals that many Americans use alcohol and leisure drugs. It carries a lifetime occurrence of about “10% in the American populace, indicating more than 23 million people who are stressed with addiction (Ignaszewski, 2021). Reports by Ignaszewski (2021) show that overdose deaths and health consequences of drug abuse, especially opioids, keep on rising, causing problems and significant challenges to public health. Effect on the Brain's Neurotransmitter Systems The human brain is the most multifaceted organ in the body. It helps regulate the body's normal functions, allows individuals to understand and react to all they encount...