First, watch this short TEDtalk video: https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_eve
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Question
First, watch this short TEDtalk video: https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong#t-326309 (Links to
Next, read this article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/01/drug-addiction-income-inequality-impacts-recovery (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Thinking back over the whole semester and considering the models of addiction that have been presented in the text, discuss whether you agree with the theory presented by Johann Hari in the TEDTalk that addiction is caused by social isolation and living in an impoverished environment. If you do not agree, which model from the text do you believe is more relevant and why? Use evidence from the text or other resources to support your statements. (minimum 1 paragraph)
Do you think, as the article states, that the current employment trend toward low-paying jobs with limited options and few benefits is contributing to the addiction crisis we are now facing? Do you believe that poverty plays a larger role in developing addiction than other factors (e.g., social influence, heredity, etc.)? Explain your rationale and use evidence to support it. (minimum 1 paragraph)
drugs and society please use APA in text cite
Explanation / Answer
Yes, it is indeed true that addiction may be a culmination of impoverished environments, lack of stable relationships & lack of bonds/connectivity with our loved ones. Scientific evidence & research is suggestive of the fact that financial constraints and lack of stable environments can make it harder to kick off addiction from one's life. If one considers the personal lives of any typical human being who is comfortable in the different domains of their lives including work lives, relationships and home environments, the reaosn they would choose not to become addicts is not because they would be stopped from doing so, but because they would have other things to fall onto. For people who are isolated or disconnected form the rest of the world, this may be their temporary escape mechanism. Also, by putting them through the same kind of misery again would be like inviting them into the vicious cycle of addiction once against. In the concept of rehab., this is what we mostly do. We take the addict, isolate them, disconnect them from the rest of society and hope for the experts to treat their addiction. However, if the same money is spent on helping the addicts re-build their lives within the society & help them gain acceptance in terms if getting employment, re-connecting with others, the likelihood of getting free of addiction is increased manifold. The same has been iterated by experiments and detailed studies. Poverty does in fact have a role to play in this as well and may be one of the crucial factors why addiction crisis is being faced by most cities. When the jobs are less paying and one struggles to make ends meet, the chances of getting caught in the same vicious cycle of addiction, a clear escape mechanism from life is greater than we think. Alcoholism has been seen to be hitting the lower socioeconomic strata much harder than any other. The low employment could in fact lead to lesser satisfaction in work life & pull the person back into the addiction cycle. Therefore, both the factors, i.e. impoverished environments as well as lack of human element including bonds and connections could make it harder for people to overcome addiction.
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