In this essay, “Let in Snow”, Sedaris proves that alcohol abuse can have a lasting effect on an entire family. He provided several examples from his own childhood experiences that described the effects alcoholism has on the family. He gained the audience’s trust by sharing his own experiences to prove and argue his point of view. Therefore, Sedaris made an extremely strong case against
In conclusion, Tharp’s character development of Sutter captured the realistic effects of alcoholism and the impact it can have on others. Ideally, everyone facing addiction will recover and never relapse. Realistically, recovery for an addict is not always the case no matter how desperately I wish it
Ellen Hopkins’ Crank is an epic poem geared toward warning young people of the various consequences of using dangerous drugs. However important its message, it provides a single story, a stereotypical tale influenced by pop culture about addiction and the people it affects. In the poem, the heroine, Kristina Snow, gets addicted to methamphetamines, otherwise known as “crank”. Her life takes a downward turn that includes pregnancy and dropping out of school. The poem depicts just one experience with drug abuse and links it to what is perceived to be the most likely thing to happen if you get addicted to drugs, providing a false single story for the young people it targets.
Under the Influence by Scott Russell Sanders “Under the Influence” by Scott Russell Sanders is a poignant essay relaying Sander’s struggles with his father’s alcoholism. Sanders’ essay is revealing in ways that statistics and studies on alcoholism cannot possibly contain. Sanders’ essay is like a catalog of the devastating emotional effects of his father’s alcoholism. In his essay, Sanders convincingly counteracts misconceptions about alcoholism and supports the argument that alcoholism is more like a disease rather than the common misconceptions of alcoholism.
After the terrible incident of residential schools, the neverending history of suffering can cause a child to reciprocate their feelings by abusing substances. In Tracey Lindberg’s, Birdie, it’s stated briefly of the ways in which Bernice relies on alcohol on many lonely nights. “She knows that she shouldn’t have gone to the motel with him. There are a lot of shouldn’t haves. Drunk gin.
Farrington works as a copy clerk in a firm and have failed to duplicate an important document for his boss. Stressed by having been berated, Farrington sneaks out of the office in order to grab a drink at the local pub despite having a strict deadline to turn in the document. Here, it is shown that Farrington uses alcohol to cope with his stress and it is portrayed as somewhat of an addiction to him. " A spasm of rage gripped his throat for a few moments and then passed, leaving after it a sharp sensation of thirst. The man recognized the sensation and felt that the must have a good night's drinking."
The notoriety of Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has made the narrative about the duality of man humanity known even to those who have never open the book nor seen the famous film adaptation. However, though it may not be immediately apparent, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is, at its core, a story of addiction. Britain’s Pharmacy Act of 1868 had sought to identify and eliminate the use of narcotics, and though the effects were largely beneficial at first, by the 1880’s, when Stevenson’s novella was first published, deaths related to opium were on the rise. It is no coincidence that the title character is a chemist, like those affected by the Pharmacy Act, nor is it a coincidence that he is the victim of an addiction.
Drug addiction is a constant war. It is a battle being fought between oneself, possibly family, friends but always, the drug. Yet for anyone that is struggling, there is hope. Despite our differences, there will always be a path to recovery. In “Water by the Spoonful”, Quiara Alegría Hudes incorporates several strategies and tactics through various character’s agencies and symbolism to ultimately create a piece that centers recuperation.
In today’s society, substance abuse is a serious issue that has many explanations as to why it occurs. Peer pressure, boredom, rebellion, etc., are all common examples of why a person uses drugs and alcohol but there is more depth to it. Individuals will often get blamed or judged on the actions they perform and do not usually think of society itself as a factor. There are relatively stable patterns of social relations that contribute to the values and decisions of humans. Three levels of social structures that surround and permeate us are macrostructures, microstructures, and patriarchy. The three main theories that are most relevant to substance abuse are functionalism, social-conflict, and symbolic-interactionism which only focus on micro
Drug abuse is the habitual taking of addictive or illegal drugs in order to feel a euphoria, treat pain, or help with sleeping disorders. Drug abuse is a chronic brain disease that causes drug use despite the harmful consequences to the user and the people around them. In Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, the dystopian society portrayed is oblivious to the impact of the censorship around them. Books are banned and if found, they are burned along with their houses. The people in this society do not have time to think about anything because they are constantly surrounded by the constant chaos of loud noises on commercials or televisions and are over stimulated. Addiction and drug abuse is used as a way to escape the harsh problems in society.
“Alice” was in a battle against the druggies, they put a joint in her locker, she knew who it was but she didn 't want them to hurt her so they knew she wouldn 't do anything. They also blame her for the raids at parties, sexually assault her, and give her chocolate covered peanuts laced with acid The internal conflict is the narrator vs herself. At one point the narrator realizes that the path she has created for herself is not good. She struggles to become sober but accomplishes it for a short period and falls back.
This leads to a handful of fights with Eddie the bartender. Another example is when his lover Wanda, sleeps with Eddie, and Henry becomes emotionally distraught and begins to argue and become confrontational with Wanda. This leads up to a scene where Wanda beats Henry over the head and leaves the apartment. Henry then begins an alcohol binge drinking session in which he throws Wanda’s clothes out the window and spends a day in a drunken stupor in his apartment. Alcohol creates a sense of well-being in some, and euphoria in others which adds to the allure of drinking alcohol to feel better (Doweiko, 2012).
After reading the novel, Righteous Dopefiend, I have a different lens in which I can view substance abuse and individuals who suffer from substance abuse disorders. All of the characters in the novel offered a unique perspective to different aspects of substance abuse disorders and the challenges associated with substance abuse and homelessness. However, despite all of the interesting aspects of each individual in the novel, the character Tina stuck out most to me and had the greatest impact on how I will view and engage with individuals who may suffer from substance abuse disorders. Initially what caught my attention about Tina was the chapters that described how she lived as a female on the streets, which was often considered “a man’s place”.
But she soon gets hooked on a new drug “Glass” or Mexican meth. The book takes the reader on a journey of how meth affects a person and the people around them
The first day home from rehab he quickly takes charge of his life. He starts to attend AA and group meetings. He also meets with a woman named Wendy who helps him set up a plan for him to keep his sobriety. He even returns to work a day after getting back. A new love interest is also introduced during a group meeting.