Unit 2 addictions

For years, researchers have been trying to make sense of the biology and psychology of addiction – its causes and is cures. In the past, addictions were viewed primarily as addictions to substances such as drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. Recently, however, many researchers have begun to think that people can also be addicted to activities such as gambling, sex, shopping, and even travel.

One activity that has become increasingly common throughout the world is computer use, Specifically on-line computer communication through a medium called the Internet. The Internet, also known as the Net, is a network that connects computer systems. Like the railroad and telegraph, it is a network that allows people to exchange information across vast distances. Although many people are discovering what a powerful communication tool the Internet is, others are also realizing its dangers. Many individuals have begun overusing this new tool and are spending hours and hours on-line. In fact, some psychologists have even labeled this overuse phenomenon as Internet addiction. Whether on-line addiction can be considered a true addiction is a question for medical researchers.

Text 1

Pre-reading task

When we think about addiction we nearly think first of smoking, alcohol and drugs.

1. What do you think might be the problems of a person who:

• can’t stop working?

• can’t stop eating?

• can’t stop gambling?

2. What do you think could be the consequences of these habits for the person concerned and for the others?

Reading

Read the text and answer the following questions:

1. Why do the people take drugs?

2. What are the reasons of substance abuse?

Addiction

What is addiction?

The world addiction refers to an uncontrollable need for a habit-forming substance or behavior. Alcohol, drug and tobacco addictions are common examples of substances that people readily become addicted to. Examples of habit forming behaviors are people who are workaholics or people who are addicted to sex.

Sometimes people are addicted to things that seem good-like working all the time – but keep in mind the old rule that, “too much of anything is not good for you”.

Substance abuse and aboriginal people

In Canada, substance abuse among Aboriginal people is high. The reasons may vary. Loss of cultural identity over generations, negative impact of poverty and poor health are just a few examples. The historical impact of residential school has also had a long-term detrimental effect – such as families being torn apart, child abuse and children being torn apart, child abuse and children being taking away from their homes.

What is drug abuse?

Drug abuse is any use of a drug that causes a problem in your life or with your body. This means you could even abuse pills that help relieve your headaches – if you use them enough.

What are the effects of drug abuse?

Drug abuse can cause illness and physical damage to the body. It can give you personal problems like becoming dependant on the drugs or lead you into a life of crime as you try to support your habit. It also affects other people. Addictions and the person’s difficulty to break them can other become the cause of family break down.

But it is not only illegal street drugs that can be abused. People can become to dependant on prescribe medications and even over the counter drugs as Aspirin and Tylenol. Becoming too dependent on these medications can make you addicted.

What is a drug?

A substance which is taken to change the way the body or he mind functions. Of course, as you know there 2 difference types of drugs – legal and illegal drugs. Legal drugs are ones that have been approved by the government to be used for medicinal purposes. These are prescribe by the doctor, or are available over the counter and their purpose it to help us. We are going to focus on the illegal drugs. These hurt us, and exist to make other people, drug sellers or dealers, money. These are the ones that, by law, we are not to be using. Well there is a third type of drug group. These are both bad for you, and allowed to be sold in stores. These are things like alcohol and nicotine in cigarettes.

Psychoactive drugs are the type of drugs that are mainly abused because of their mind-altering effects. Mood-altering drugs change or affect the way you think, feel or act.

A large number of the drugs prescribed each year in Canada are psychoactive. Some of these mood-altering drugs can be used to relieve pain, to calm nervousness, or to aid sleep. But not all psychoactive drugs are prescription drugs. Some, like nicotine and alcohol, can be purchased and used by almost anyone. Others, like cannabis and cocaine, are illegal street-drugs.

How to drugs enter your body?

Drugs can get into your body in many different ways. They can be swallowed, injected, smoked, or put anywhere on the body with a thin membrane to be absorbed through the skin.

Task 1

Find the words in the text that have similar meaning to the following:

1) dependency on a drug;

2) against law;

3) to say what medicine or treatment a sick person should have;

4) the use of smth. in a way that it shouldn’t be used;

5) the effect or influence that an event, situation etc. has on someone or smth.

Task 2

There are 2 types of drugs – legal and illegal. Do you think that legalizing drugs:

1) would begin to end the drug pushers’ business;

2) will be beneficial only if no addicts continue to buy their drugs from pushers;

3) should not be treated as a crime.

Task 3

You are given 2 scenarios. Read them and answer the questions. Read them and answer the questions that follow. Work alone or in small groups.

Scenario 1

Alison was having a bad year. After years of getting along, her parents had finally decided to get a divorce. While there was a lot of tension in the house, her parents were trying hard to be polite to each other and considerate of Alison’s and her younger brother’s feelings.

Always a good student, Alison continued to comfort in studying hard and getting good grades in school.

Her best friend, Susie, had really been there for her, too. Every weekend Susie had planned something fun for them to do by themselves or with other friends. Over the past several months, Alison and Susie had gone ice-skating on a regular basis, seen many movies, and gone bowling. Alison had also continued to play soccer on her school’s team. Throughout the year, Alison had been able to talk to her parents about the pending divorce. Alison’s parents had been willing to listen to her concerts and discuss her anger about this big change in her life. Alison felt really sad, but she also felt that she was going to be all right.

Scenario2

Laura felt as if her life were falling apart. Her parents had just told her that they were getting a divorce. Although her parents hadn’t gotten along for years, Laura had always hoped that they would find a way to stay together so they could continue to be a family. Instead, her parent’s didn’t seem to have any time to talk to her about her feelings. Laura had always thought that she had a few good friends, but she wasn’t feeling like she could turn to them now.

Her friend Katy had a boyfriend, and she didn’t get a chance to see her soccer teammates much outside of games and practices. Laura had always been a good student, and she continued to complete her assignments on time, but had noticed that it was becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate on her schoolwork. Because she was feeling lonely and isolated, Laura was considering going to a party with Katy. She had heard that some kids brought drugs to these parties. For that reason, she had always stayed away. Now, however, she thought that it might be a way to get out of the house and forget about her problems for a little while. It might be fun. Laura was thinking that unless something else happened so that her social life improved, she might just go.

Questions

1. Which girl is more vulnerable to becoming involved with drugs? Why?

2. What role do friends play in both girls’ lives? Do you think friends are an important influence? Give reasons to support your ideas.

3. What role does family in the girls’ lives? Do think the family is an important influence? Give reasons to support your ideas.

4. Do you think That Allison is going to turn to drugs? Why or why not? What factors in her life will help her decide not to use drugs? How do you think those factors will affect the way she makes decisions about other issues in her life?

5. Do you think that Laura is going to turn to drugs? Why or why not? What factors in her life will affect the way she makes a decision about drugs and other issues in her life?

6. What do you think are some characteristics of people who turn to drugs? What are some characteristics of people who cope in other ways? Give examples to support your ideas.

Task 4

1. Make a class list of characteristics of people who begin using drugs. Students will probably say that people who turn to drugs have the following characteristics.

• They are lonely.

• They are unhappy.

• They feel isolated.

• They are looking for ways to ease their pain.

2. Then make a class list of characteristics of people who don’t turn to drugs, include the following:

• They are involved with people.

• They find satisfaction in outside interests.

• They are able to talk about their feelings in order to ease their pain.

3. Compare the 2 lists. What healthy actions could Laura take to feel better?

4. Answer the questions.

• How do you make decisions in your lives?

• What role does family play?

• What role do peers play?

• What role do teachers, coaches, or other adults play?

• How can these influences help young people make healthful choices?

Task 5

1. Do you see peer pressure as positive, negative, or both? Give examples.

2. Describe a situation in your life where you had to make a difficult choice. What factors influenced you during that time? What choice did you make?

3. Imagine that you are Laura’s best friend. What advice would you give her? As her friend, what would you do to support her during this difficult time in her life?

Task 6

Render the text into English.