Drug abuse is often accompanied by a devastating social impact on community life. This article focuses on the adverse effects of drug abuse on industry, education and training and the family, as well as its contribution to violence, crime, financial problems, housing problems, homelessness and vagrancy. There is an undeniable link between substance abuse and crime. Arrest, sentencing and intervention by the juvenile justice system are potential consequences for many young people who use alcohol and other drugs.
It cannot be said that substance abuse causes criminal behavior or that delinquency causes the use of alcohol and other drugs. However, the two behaviors are strongly correlated and often result in school and family problems, participation in negative peer groups, lack of social control in the neighborhood, and physical or sexual abuse (Hawkins et al. Possession and consumption of alcohol and other drugs are illegal for all young people. However, beyond that, there is strong evidence of an association between the use of alcohol and other drugs and the criminal behavior of young people.
Substance abuse is associated with violent and income-generating crimes for young people. This increases fear among community residents and the demand for criminal and juvenile justice services, increasing the burden on these resources. Gangs, drug trafficking, prostitution and the growing number of homicides of young people are among the social and criminal justice problems that are often linked to adolescent substance abuse. Drug addiction is one of the leading causes of homelessness, according to the National Coalition for Youth Homeless people.
This is because drug abuse can cause people to run out of money, lose their jobs and become isolated from their families and loved ones; in short, to lose the resources that allow them to get on with their lives. This is one of the reasons why it can be crucial to combat a drug addiction early on, as it can save a person from the extreme poverty that substance abuse can create. To provide effective addiction counseling, one must have a thorough understanding of how addiction works and how drug abuse affects families. Social workers, in particular, are at the forefront of the fight against addiction and drug abuse, helping people suffering from addiction and its long-term effects on communities.
