This essay will discuss the different types of drugs that can cause social problems in our society today. I will be discussing heroin and how injecting

This essay will discuss the different types of drugs that can cause social problems in our society today. I will be discussing heroin and how injecting this substance can cause HIV, hepatitis’s and death and how it is linked to crime. I will also be discussing alcohol related crimes, violence and deaths. These social problems which are caused by substance misuse are regarded as a major problem in our society.

A drug is often defined, especially in medical text books as ‘any substance that by it’s chemical nature alters the structure or functioning of a living being’ (Tyler 1988: p11). This includes illegal, legal and prescribed drugs. However, there are several drugs such as stimulants, depressants, hallucinagens and pain killers, which are highly addictive and can cause physical dependence, psychological dependence, tolerance, cravings and withdrawal symptoms. In a positive sense these drugs are used to balance or connect disharmony with the body, to escape from dealing with life (this would include drugs such as cocaine, alcohol, ecstasy, heroin and many more) or searching for answers outside instead of inside (Tyler: 1988). Regular use of any kind of these drugs stated above can make a persons body tolerant to some of its affects, which means that more and more of the drug is needed to produce the desired effects (Barton, lecture notes: 2004). A person can become psychologically dependant on the drug, whereby the substance is central to the individuals life and the need to continue becomes an obsession (addiction). Physical dependence or tolerance occurs when the body becomes used to the drug and physical withdrawal symptoms takes place when its use is stopped abruptly (Barton, lecture notes: 2004). Many drugs, when misused, weather illegal substances like LSD and heroin to prescribed medication can lead to this tolerance and dependence. The consequences of drug misuse can range from damaging health to HIV and crime (Barton, lecture notes: 2004).

According to the sociological model of substance misuse - problematic drug use is much more common among groups in society that are poor and deprived were there is little prospect of adequate education, “broken families”, daily exposure to deviant or criminal behaviour, lack of activities to occupy time and lack of future prospects / employment and cultural beliefs etc (Barton, lecture notes: 2004). Deprivation is associated with the problematic use of particular drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. Although problematic use of these drugs is not exclusively related to deprivation it is much more common among poor people and their chances of overcoming their addiction is very slim indeed as they have fewer positive alternatives and less access to meaningful employment, housing etc (Barton, lecture notes: 2004). Deprived people living in over-crowded and sub-standard accommodation are more likely to share injecting equipment, which can lead to hepatitis and HIV. In 2002, 2 per cent of people with HIV became infected by sharing injecting equipment with someone with HIV (Drug scope: 2002). The HIV infection rates, for people who inject, vary in different parts of the UK. For example, it is very low in Liverpool and higher in London, but the highest of all is Edinburgh. This is simply because Liverpool was one of the first cities who tried out the needle exchange schemes whereas this happened later and to less extent in Edinburgh (Drug scope: 2002). Furthermore, there was a total of 121 people who acquired the HIV infection through injecting drug use during 2003. At the end of 2004, a total of 4,202 people had acquired HIV by this route. People who inject drugs should be encouraged to use the needle exchange schemes which have now been established in most parts of the country as part of the battle against hepatitis, HIV and AIDS. 'Clean works' are now available free of charge for all drug injectors to help them avoid becoming infected with these viruses or infecting others (Drug scope: 2002).

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However, hepatitis, HIV and AIDS are only a few of the social problems that occur when people misuse drugs. For example, in England and Wales there were 2,445 deaths related to drug poisoning in 2003. However, this was the lowest number since 1994 and continued the downward trend from a peak of 2,967 deaths in 2000 (National Statistics: 2005). Even though there was a decline in drug poisoning in 2003 there was an increase in the number of deaths involving antidepressants and paracetamol. Furthermore, there was a vast fall in the number of deaths involving heroin in 2003. It fell from 926 deaths in 2000 to 591 in 2003 (National Statistics: 2005). There was also a fall in the number of deaths involving cocaine and amphetamines (including ecstasy). However, the National Statistics (2005) Stated that:

Between 1993 and 2003, there was an increase in the contribution of drugs of misuse to the overall number of deaths involving drugs. Deaths involving drugs of misuse accounted for 57 per cent of all deaths related to drug poisoning in 2003 compared with 38 per cent in 1993.

They also stated that the highest deaths involving drug-misuse were people aged between 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 in both sexes, but the deaths among females were much lower than for males in most age groups. In 2003, the amount of deaths in these age groups and for both sexes decreased, but increased in those aged 50 and over (National Statistics: 2005). Hepatitis, HIV, AIDS and the number of deaths involving drug-misuse are regarded as a major social problem throughout England and Wales.

Another social problem involving substance misuse is crime. For example, many drug users (particularly heroin users) resort to crime such as shoplifting or burglary to fund their habit. For example, in February 1994 the labour party announced that around half of all the property crime committed in England and Wales was drug related (Tyler: 1988). Jarvis and Parker (1989) found that the criminal convictions of one group of heroin users doubled after they started using heroin regularly and concluded that addiction leads to acquisitive crime (Maguire et al: 2002). The labour party’s Tony Blair (1994) proclaimed that people looking for cash to fund their habit were responsible for £1,999 million out of a £4,007 million total:

Blair’s calculations worked on the assumption that 22,819 ‘notified’ addicts were each consuming one gram of heroin a day priced at £80 a gram. This worked out at an annual consumption per addict of £30,000 because stolen property can only be sold for around a third of it’s as-new value, the addicts each had to thieve not £30,000 worth of items but £90,000 worth (Tyler 1988: p14).

However, there are some chronic drug users who are committing crimes not to fund their habit but to get themselves arrested and imprisoned simply to get access to treatment. The development of drug treatment and testing orders (DTTO’s) has been so effective in parts of Britain that they are seen by desperate drug users as the only way to get treatment (Travis, June 28 2004).

The DTTO is used for offenders who have drug misuse issues that require treatment under the crime and disorder act 1998. The offender must agree to undergo treatment and an intensive supervision programme for their drug problems and offending behaviour as well as taking regular tests for drug use. This treatment could last between six months and three years, which is supervised by the probation service (Maguire et al: 2002). An offender sentenced to a DTTO will undergo treatment and a supervision programme which is expected initially to be for twenty hours a week, and to have their progress reviewed regularly by the courts (Maguire et al: 2002). However, the report by the comptroller and auditor general, house of commons (2004) stated that if the offender does not reduce his or her drug use or refuses to undergo treatment or testing, the court can amend the order or re-sentence the offender. The DTTO can be a successful community sentence for some drug misusing offenders who would otherwise have been considered a prison sentence. The drug treatment and testing orders (DTTO’s) was introduced as a new community sentence under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. They were considered because of the growing links between drug misuse and persistence to acquisitive offending (Tyler: 1988). The report by the comptroller and auditor general, house of commons (2004: p1) also stated that:

The government’s ten year strategy for tackling drugs misuse, published in 1998 set out to increase the number of drug miss-users in treatment. By increasing the capacity to identify and treat drug misusing offenders, from the point of arrest through community sentences or custody and release, the government’s aim is to break the link between drug misuse and crime.

The home office findings report (2003) stated that, two years after the start of the order - the falls in offending rates for completers were dramatic. The British government has been very successful with its development of drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs), which enable law enforcement and the courts to develop a fast track into treatment services for addicted individuals convicted of crimes (Maguire et al: 2002). But while the government is spending more money on treatment ordered by the courts and the police - the report shows that fewer resources have been directed to community treatment services that serve all addicted individuals. Where community treatment is poor, with excessive waiting times, the police, courts, and even a prison sentence can be seen as the only way to get help…. so people will commit crimes to get onto the DTTO programme (Maguire et al: 2002). The drug users health whilst on the DTTOs can be improved as there is professional help available. However, there should be more available help to those who are unsuccessful on getting onto the DTTO programme (Maguire et al: 2002).

However, crime is not only linked to people who misuse drugs such as heroin etc. There is also alcohol related crime, which is regarded as one of the most serious social problems in the United Kingdom today (Waltham Forest crime and Disorder and Drug Audit: 2004). In 2002–2003, 23% of respondents in the British Crime Survey said that drunk or rowdy behaviour was a “very” big problem in their area. There are many offences that are specific to alcohol. These include sale to

underage or intoxicated customers, bootlegging and selling unlicensed, being drunk and disorderly or drunk and incapable, and driving whilst

under the influence. Furthermore, alcohol plays a very big role in other offences such as violent offences and public order offences (Waltham Forest crime and Disorder and Drug Audit: 2004). The British Crime Survey (BCS) shows that, in 2001–2002, 47% of all victims of violence believed their attacker to have consumed some level of alcohol and that a third of incidents (360,000) of partner or domestic violence were committed when the perpetrator had been drinking (Waltham Forest crime and Disorder and Drug Audit: 2004). People who drink heavily on a day to day basis can ruin their family life. For example,

Marriages where one or both partners have an alcohol problem are twice as likely to end in divorce than marriages where alcohol problems are absent and it is estimated that parental alcohol problems affect between 780,000 and 1.3 million children in the UK (Waltham Forest crime and Disorder and Drug Audit: 2004).

In 2000, it was recorded that 5% of all road accidents and 17% of all road deaths (530 individuals) were committed by people who were under the influence of alcohol. The number of cases regarding drink driving was estimated at 85,000 a year (Waltham Forest crime and Disorder and Drug Audit: 2004). Alcohol is a factor in over 30% of city centre arrests. Although many of these will be violent offences (Street fights), a significant number will be for drunkenness offences, particularly drunk and disorderly. Excessive alcohol consumption is very bad for people’s health as it can cause major liver disease – it is responsible for over 33,000 hospital admissions and 4,500 deaths annually. In 2001 there were 17 deaths from liver disease. Alcohol can also cause high blood pressure, and about 10% of deaths due to hypertension (300 individuals in the UK) are alcohol related (Waltham Forest crime and Disorder and Drug Audit: 2004).

In conclusion, we can see that drugs brings about many social problems. For example, Heroin users especially people living in over-crowded and sub-standard accommodation are more likely to share injecting equipment, which can lead to hepatitis and HIV. A total of 121 people acquired the HIV infection through injecting drug use during 2003. At the end of 2004, a total of 4,202 people had acquired HIV by this route. The users health is at risk, but the government have now established 'Clean works' which is available free of charge for all drug injectors to help them avoid becoming infected with these viruses or infecting others. However, HIV is only one of the social problems that heroin can cause - in England and Wales there were 2,445 deaths related to drug poisoning in 2003. Another social problem involving substance misuse is crime. For example, many drug users (particularly heroin users) resort to crime such as shoplifting or burglary to fund their habit. The government introduced DTTO’S to stop the growing links between drug misuse and persistence to acquisitive offending. Alcohol however, is regarded as one of the most serious social problems in the United Kingdom today as it can cause, violent crime, family break ups, road accidents and death. No matter what substance is being misused it can cause a great deal of social problems in society. Substance misuse is being used to the extent were people are willing to get high form their drugs without thinking of the consequences.