The Evolution and Revolution of Substance Abuse and the Analysis of Its Historical Policy

The Evolution and Revolution of Substance Abuse and the

Analysis of Its Historical Policy

Social Welfare Policy and Services

Abstract

For many years, civilization has been plagued with substance abuse. Initially, substances were not use for human consumption, but to be used as a household or medicinal aide. As time evolved, humans began to craft drugs and alcohol for recreational use, which created the disease of substance abuse. Policies and prohibitions were set in place to destroy the use of such drugs and alcohol. The gray area, then and now, of substance abuse and its policies are illegal and legal drugs, which are sometimes referred to as black and white drugs, respectively. The elimination of illegal drugs as a whole is the sole intent of the policies set for them. Being easily obtained and the overuse legal, or prescription drugs, is the two main issues for the “white” substances. The contents of this paper explore such practices and policies and how the field of social work helps in the battle against substance abuse. Throughout, there will be a discussion of the policies, its relevance in history, and how the placement of a social worker and their role while working with a client who fell victim to drug and alcohol use.

The human mind is a mystical organ that is constantly learning and adapting itself to the ever so changing world around it. However, people often become bored with its surroundings and experiment with how to make life more lively and recreational. In the effort to expand our minds and experience new encounters to deal with such mental anguish such as boredom, some turn to drugs, which in part, may become addictive and abusive. Substance abuse, by definition, is the overuse of a substance that can become harmful or hazardous to the mind and body. Drug abuse is endemic all over the world. The prevention, addiction treatment, and the fight against drug related crimes have become problematic financially, with billions of dollars...