Seeking Evidence of Changes in The Drug Problem

1. Introduction

– Research Questions During the introduction of the research, two questions have raised. First of all, it seems to be easier to measure the success in the drug programs, comparing to providing insight into the reasons why the changes have to be made. Therefore, through this research, I would like to find out the evidence that supported the changes in the drug problem made between the past 10 years. It is necessary to address the changing of the drug problems – instead of reviewing the measures to improve the current situation. Secondly, seeking the reasons to explain the changes in current drug problems, the research could explore the potential causative and contributory factors that drive the changes.- Background Information This research is based on the city of Birmingham, although changes in the drug problem do appear to be similar in many of the urban centers throughout the UK. Birmingham city is located in the West Midlands, which is the fourth larger city in England. According to the UK national treatment outcome research study in 2006, there were over 280,000 problematic drug users in England. In Birmingham, the work done by the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse has recorded 11,285 people received treatment for drugs or alcohol problems during 2004/05. However, it is worth saying the UK’s drug strategy focuses on rehabilitation, not punishment. The public in the UK mostly takes drug problems as a public health problem. In the current UK drug strategy 2008-2018, the seven areas of the outcomes were given, and the completion and the success of these strategic directions are going to be measured on the plan’s life of 10 years to improve the government’s drug strategy. Last but not least, plenty of funding and supporting organizations to reach these 7 outcomes data, that is one of the reasons that the research will focus more on the changes of the UK’s drug problem rather than other countries.- The Purpose of the Study The main focus of the research is to evidence the changes in the drug problem in the past ten years and find out the reasons that caused these changes. It is going to identify the UK’s current model and own response about drugs. The research aims to provide a whole new approach to understanding how drug problems change and reasons for changes, necessary to address the changing of the trends as well. Also, the research may give more impetus to examine community-based responses and use the successful UK model to develop a wider international strategy regarding the control of the drug problem.The drug problem is global and affects an immense amount of the world’s population, but still, there is no effective way to alleviate it. Drug abuse is something that can affect a person’s life, leading to painful lessons being learned and personal freedom being snatched away in that jail cell of isolation, locked away in a world of addicted misery. Combating the drug problem is one of the main goals for many global organizations. Not all of the individuals suffering from drug abuse are strangers – their family, friends, and also the community will be affected by the drug problems. This research aims to find the changes in the drug problem and seek the reasons to explain the changes. The research seeks to examine the UK situation with respect to illicit drug use and related anti-social and criminal behavior. Also, the step of the successful UK model and the responded effectiveness for the current drug problem is going to be analyzed. The research hopes to provide insight into the main reasons causing the changes in the drug problems.

1.1. Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of the study is to seek evidence of changes in the drug problem in recent years. It hopes to do so through the cross-analysis of existing qualitative and quantitative studies on the issue, combined with the empirical study conducted by our research team. The study will not only provide an overview of the current and historical changes in the drug problem, but also identify the limitations in the existing research. This would, to some extent, lay the foundation of future research in this area. Last but not least, after providing the current evidence of the drug problem through the literature review and the empirical study, the study will then focus on different strategies and intervention measures found in the current policies. Well evidenced own “Dunning-Kruger” effect, and the bad side of it. Create more significant theories/examples and modify the words.

1.2. Background Information

There have been many previous studies on drug users and drug-related crimes. The first large-scale epidemiological study of drug dependence in the United States was the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study. Conducted from 1979 to 1991, this study surveyed non-institutionalized individuals in five communities across the United States. It found that about 76 percent of those with a “contact” diagnosis of drug dependence also had a diagnosis of a co-occurring mental health disorder. More recently, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has conducted the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This is the primary source of statistical information on substance use in the U.S. and is directed at identifying prevention and treatment needs. The survey interviews approximately 70,000 randomly selected individuals, who are 12 years or older, on an annual basis. This study has continuously been funded from 1991 and has an infrastructure designed to evolve and also take advantage of advancements in survey methodology. Lastly, one of the newest and most comprehensive studies on drug abuse is the GAIN (The Global Appraisal of Individual Needs) study, conducted by Chestnut Health Systems. This study not only includes questions about a wide range of mental health and substance use disorders, but also collects administrative data. It aims to be able to provide a comprehensive assessment of individuals with potential need for substance abuse treatment. Through the collection of biological, psychological, and administrative data concurrently, there is potential for this study to provide valuable insight into both the physiological traits of a drug user and the effectiveness of certain publicly funded treatment programs. Such programs have been the focus of the majority of this type of study, since policy makers need evidence for the efficacy of the programs that they are funding. These studies could potentially give insight into the most effective ways to structure treatment programs and it is evident that is an area that warrants more research. This has been the focus of many investigative studies, which can help inform the qualitative literature that is available. Given the recent practical and political shifts towards greater integration of biological and psychological treatment methods, these studies are also vital in giving understanding to the law and lawmakers. Such evidence-based results may be used in amending substances of the Controlled Substances Act and in providing scientific support for new and novel addiction treatments. All of these studies share the common goal of providing actionable data that may inform policymakers and treatment facilities alike. Coupled with the shift towards biological and standardized qualitative studies, there is great potential for a more effective and well-informed legislative front against drug abuse and misuse. These studies are ongoing, committing to providing accurate and up-to-date statistics reflecting the prevalent nature of drug abuse in today’s society. This, along with the advance of technology crucial to biological analyses, holds much promise for the coming fight against drug abuse and is a sphere in which great progress is expected over the next few decades.

1.3. Research Questions

Research questions are important and necessary in guiding the collection of evidence and the analysis of data. In this study, the research questions are specifically focused on offering an understanding of the trends in drug-related crimes and the criminal justice system in combating crime. The research questions are succinctly and precisely stated with the research objectives. Firstly, the study seeks to find out whether specific demographic factors such as gender, race, and age can be used to explain the differences in the patterns of drug abuse and dependence syndrome in the United States. The demographic factors have been included in the DSM-IV classification for drug dependence syndrome and abuse. Previous studies have reported significant differences in relation to the prevalence of drug abuse and dependence syndrome according to the type of drugs. Would similar findings be found in relation to the type of drugs, in particular cocaine abuse? A third question that future research can consider is whether there are specific social and economic consequences associated with drug abuse. Research into cocaine abuse has recently focused upon what is known as the drug abuse pathway. Various studies have found evidence for the fact that adolescent drug abuse leads to further adult dependence. Adolescents who persistently abuse drugs often experience an array of problems including academic difficulties, health problems, poor peer relationships, and involvement in serious drug abuse. Adolescents’ brains are still in the developmental stage, and prolonged drug abuse can alter the developmental course of the brain and can result in the patient not being able to control his actions and even his emotions. All of these may warrant further investigation. Promising candidates for the neurobiological effects of drug withdrawal can include, for example, the corticotropin-releasing hormonal system and systems related to the locus coeruleus. Future research may wish to focus on the subjective senses of distress and attempts to cope from the various types of withdrawal symptomatology. The research questions are likely to provide guidance on the pathways and getting the most from your efforts. Future research can focus on the validity of a particular theory. For instance, whether the focus on the genetic basis for cocaine abuse is more justified than a focus on the genetic basis for alcohol abuse. Future research can also seek to study the differences in the healthcare provision and health outcomes for other nations as well.

2. Methodology

2.1. Data Collection

2.2. Sampling Techniques

2.3. Data Analysis

3. Trends in Drug Use

3.1. Historical Overview

3.2. Current Drug Use Patterns

3.3. Demographic Factors

4. Drug-Related Crimes

4.1. Types of Drug-Related Crimes

4.2. Regional Variations

4.3. Impact on Society

5. Treatment and Rehabilitation

5.1. Available Treatment Options

5.2. Success Rates

5.3. Challenges in Rehabilitation

6. Prevention and Education

6.1. School-Based Programs

6.2. Community Initiatives

6.3. Campaigns and Awareness

7. Policy and Legislation

7.1. Current Drug Policies

7.2. Effectiveness of Legal Measures

7.3. International Cooperation

8. Social and Economic Consequences

8.1. Impact on Families

8.2. Economic Burden

8.3. Public Health Concerns

9. Emerging Drug Trends

9.1. New Substances

9.2. Online Drug Markets

9.3. Changing Consumption Patterns

10. Evaluating Intervention Programs

10.1. Program Design and Implementation

10.2. Outcome Evaluation

10.3. Best Practices

11. Conclusion

11.1. Summary of Findings

11.2. Implications for Future Research

11.3. Recommendations