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Alondra Garcia – Community Assessment - week 7

Addiction is physical reliance on a substance, while tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

categorize dependence. Drug effects can leave an individual more vulnerable than the others to

develop an addiction to or dependence on a substance, and some individuals may use the drug

without any problems. The brain is the leading cause of addiction and dependence, as addiction

changes the brain's reward circuits over time. Also, the environment- exposure to addictive

substances, social pressure and lack of social support contribute to the development of

addictions.

The emerging issues in Texas: Use of opioids – opioid crises remain to be a significant

concern, and it's a driver of many overdose deaths in Texas. According to the Texas department

of health services (2020), the rate of opioid overdose death in Texas increased threefold from

2000 to 2016. Overdose involving opioids has also become a leading cause of maternal death in

Texas. Also, the use of methamphetamines and marijuana- in 2017, 40% of drug seizures in

Texas were identified as methamphetamines; also, more than 800 deaths have been attributed to

methamphetamines annually (Texas department of state health services, 2020). The use of

marijuana in adolescents is also a cause of concern in Texas. 17% of Texas high school students

are reported to be using marijuana, while 2.4 million Texans aged 12 and above are estimated to

be using marijuana (Texas department of health services, 2020). The statistics are concerning,

primarily when the use of marijuana affects the teen’s cognitive thinking negatively.

Texas department of state health services (DSHS) is a local substance abuse prevention

agency that exists in Texas. The main aim of DSHS is to promote and protect the health of the

people and the communities where they live, work and play. Texas department of state health

services is a dependent nonprofit organization with about 150 central funding sources.
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Texas prohibits needle exchange because some religious and social conservations oppose

exchange programs, saying that the exchange program will bring about addiction and it's a sin.

Information dissemination would help prevent and treat substance abuse; the strategy

provides awareness and knowledge of the nature and extent of marijuana and other alcohol use,

abuse and addiction and their impacts on families and the community. In addition, the strategy

provides awareness of preventative policies, programs and services. Also, providing preventative

education to an individual using the substance can help prevent drug misuse. The education

strategy aims to impact critical life and social skills, including decision making, judgmental

abilities and critical analysis.

References

Texas department of state health services. (2020,

January). https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/features/substance-use-action-plan/DSHS-

SubstanceUse-ActionPlan.pdf