It is a major cause of injury and death among Americans, yet it is also preventable (Charbonney 5). According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2010, 40,000 people in the U.S. died from illegal drugs (Murphy 11). In 2011, the use of recreational drugs accounted for around 2.5 million emergency admissions to hospitals (Fieser). Drugs can cause permanent physical and emotional damage to the users, which can ultimately lead to negative impacts on other people that they come into contact with (“Impact of Drugs on Society”). This can include their family, friends, and coworkers. Drugs can be highly addictive and hard to stop using once they have been started. Drugs are chemicals that will affect the body and brain which may leave a lasting effect on the person, even after they are not taking the drugs anymore (“Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction”). This can lead to the inability to work, which causes other obstacles for …show more content…
There is $11 million in health care costs to the nation annually because of the use of drugs alone (Trends & Statistics). Our society has usually always taken care of those in need of health care and has used public funding to help allow that to occur. Recently, however, some people question if it is really society’s job to take care of all these people who have brought this upon themselves (Kasachkoff 489). They only need this medical care because of what they have done to themselves, and that could have been prevented so the money be used elsewhere. Our society’s current moral belief is that we should provide these services no matter how the illness was brought upon the person in need of health care services (Kasachkoff 490). Another aspect of our health care system that drug use is affecting is when the person decides to acquire help to overcome their drug use. Many individuals who become dependent on illicit drugs eventually seek treatment (“Impact of Drugs on Society”). In 2007, 1.8 million admissions were received to treatment facilities because of drug abuse and dependence from illicit drugs (“Impact of Drugs on Society”). Drug use is causing a large strain to be put on our society, and because of its availability, this will only get