essay prep cat 2 substance abuse

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Essay topic: substance abuse

Category II: Social Issues

1. The boons and banes of Social Media

Major social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are very popular. They provide wonderful opportunities for connecting, sharing and finding inspiration. However, they also influence people’s world view and self-perception and not always in the best way. For example, research shows that extensive social media use impacts self-esteem and may cause depressive thoughts.

2. Substance abuse

While quite some teenagers have habitually used addictive substances including alcohol, marijuana and designer drugs to simply feel relaxed and carefree, it may cause the opposite effect when substance use turns into substance abuse. The turning point is the moment that someone compulsively uses addictive substances despite its negative consequences. Overall, the effects of substance abuse and dependence can be far-reaching from losing family and friends, to unemployment, deteriorated health and more. Does society take the issue of substance (ab)use seriously enough and do Dutch teenagers and students have access to addictive substances too easily?

What do you think?

My parents have talked to me about the dangers of substance abuse and that has helped me not use it.

1. yes
2. no
3. yes, they did, but it did not stop me from using

It is too easy for teenagers to get alcohol and drugs.

1. yes
2. no

I don't want my friends to get addicted to alcohol or any other addictive substance.

1. true
2. false, it's a personal choice and not up to me to decide
3. false, I don't think it is harmful.

Happiness and substance abuse are positively correlated.

1. yes, it makes users feel calm and relaxed
2. yes, but not in the long term
3. sometimes, but it can also cause someone too feel really bad, even in the short run

I have friends who use drugs.

1. Yes
2. No

Drugs is used by students during breaks or in between classes at my school.

1. yes
2. no

Life without drugs and alcohol is boring.

1. yes
2. no

I never use addictive substances such as alcohol or drugs and more.

1. True
2. False

I am not in favour of drinking too much alcohol and/or having drugs

1. yes
2. no

If I felt like using drugs, I'd know how to get it quickly.

1. yes
2. no

Substance abuse can destroy its user.

1. yes
2. no

Substance abuse and criminality are correlated.

1. yes
2. no

Read the article on the next slide. 1. List the arguments that support the idea of The Netherlands being a Narcostate.
2. Do you agree? Explain.

www.addictioncenter.com

Read the article on Pubmed (next slide). Answer the following questions? 1. What is meant by substance abuse, 2. What are its possible consquences? 3. Which groups of people are vulnerable regarding substance abuse (think about age, background, places where they hang out etc.)? 4. What protective factors help to prevent addiction?

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The article on the next slide shows that drug-related issues are negatively correlated with the quality of life and the prevalence of other nuissances.
1. Why so? 2. And what is your view on this issue: is it worrisome to you or actually not at all? Explain your view.

www.cbs.nl

The next article compares the Dutch youth to their international peers. Write down important insights from this article (that you may want to use in your essay).

www.uu.nl

What role can parents play in protecting their children from substance abuse? See next article.

www.drugs.ie

suggestions for further reading

https://www.drugpolicyfacts.org/chapter/netherlands_us

Impact covid on substance abuse: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1094672

Substance abuse on highschools: https://rehabs.com/drug-alcohol-abuse-high-school-students/

Looking for statistics? https://www.drugpolicyfacts.org/region/netherlands

International perception of Dutch policy, read abstract: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0091450919847846

A fresh perspective from an outsider: https://ravishly.com/how-lax-approach-drugs-makes-dutch-teens-happier

Did you know?: https://toursinamsterdam.com/10-drugs-facts-from-the-netherlands/

Newest numbers internationally: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/unodc-world-drug-report-2021-enar

https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/11347/netherlands-cdr-2019.pdf

https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/14644/TDAT22001ENN.pdf (2022)