Maia Szalavitz, Author Of Unbroken Brain, Points Out In

Maia Szalavitz, author of Unbroken Brain, points out in an article about our finger-pointing mentality on drug abuse, â€Å"Addiction is one of the most serious health problems we face today, and as of 2010, more than 23 million people have an addiction to drugs, and according to the National Institutes of Health, these addictions contribute to more than 100,000 deaths per year.† Drug abuse is a major problem in the United States and throughout the world as more and more people become addicted every day. When you hear the words drug addict you think of desensitizing terms, like â€Å"junkie† or â€Å"crack head,† and when you see someone panhandling for money on the street, passed out, or swaying in a doorway you likely wonder, â€Å"why don’t they just get†¦show more content†¦They are often people who were issued pain medication by a doctor, which resulted in dependence on the drug. According to results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 2.4 million Americans used prescription drugs non-medically for the first time within the past year, which averages to approximately 6,600 initiates per day. This population would seek help if not for the fear and shame they feel about being labeled as a drug addict. These stigmas perpetuated by people believing that addiction is a character flaw or a sign of weakness can create such fear in a person that they won’t ever reach out for the help they need. They worry about losing their jobs and family, so they opt to go without treatment despite the consequences to their health, which could eventually lead to death. In the â€Å"Addiction† article published by the Gale group, it states that â€Å"According to the CDC, in 2013 more than sixteen thousand people died from prescription opioids, an increase of 50 percent in three years.† Addiction does not discriminate; it makes no distinction between a person’s age, sex, color, or financial circumstance. However, the stigma surrounding addiction and drug use leaves many Americans unwilling to help fund better treatment. Health insurance is also a major component in whether a person can pursue treatment for addiction. Even when health insurance does cover treatment, there might not be an available treatment center orShow MoreRelatedIs There Anybody Out There?. Maia Szalavitz, Author Of1484 Words   |  6 Pages Is There Anybody Out There? Maia Szalavitz, author of Unbroken Brain, points out in an article about our finger-pointing mentality on drug abuse, â€Å"Addiction is one of the most serious health problems we face today, and as of 2010, more than 23 million people have an addiction to drugs, and according to the National Institutes of Health, these addictions contribute to more than 100,000 deaths per year.† Drug abuse is a major problem in the United States and throughout the world as more and moreRead MoreWhen You Hear The Words Drug Addict You Think Of Desensitizing1369 Words   |  6 PagesWhen you hear the words drug addict you think of desensitizing terms, like â€Å"junkie† or â€Å"crack head† and when you see someone panhandling for money on the street, passed out, or swaying in a doorway you likely wonder, â€Å"why don’t they just get help?† Maia Szalavitz, author of Unbroken Brain, points out an article about our finger-pointing mentality on drug abuse, â€Å"A ddiction is one of the most serious health problems we face today and as of 2010, more than 23 million people have an addiction to drugs