Christiana Soto

13 April, 2015
English 102
Professor Parker
Argument Essay

Drug addictions can take over ones life with the change in perception, mind
alteration, and loss of emotion. Truthfully, according to National Institute of Drug Abuse in the
year 2012, an estimated nine point two percent of the United States population had a problem
with the abuse of drugs. But what is classified as a drug? Drugs are substances that change a
persons physical or mental state of mind. (What are Drugs? N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2015.)
Drugs have an enormous range of classification such as; marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens,
heroin, inhalants, and psychotherapeutics for example. And what is an addiction? An addiction is
a chronic brain disease that causes compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences.
(Addiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2015.) Drugs have a positive and negative side to their use,
positive in a meaning of a patient with cancer whom hasnt ate in several days, so a marijuana
supplement is given to boost the enhancement of an appetite. But with a positive there are
negatives as well, the use of drugs can cause a sickness in the mental wellbeing, wanting to hurt
others around, stealing and even causing death.
Perception, the perceptual process that allows us to experience the world around us.
(Cherry, Kendra. What is Perception? Introduction to Perceptual Process. N.p., n.d. Web. 04
Apr. 2015) Drug addiction leads to the misconception of ones perception, such as the human
beings kinesthesis, and vestibular. Kinesthesis is the perception of the humans body movement.

While under the influence of drugs an addict may begin to have delay in their kinesthesis,
changing the structure and function of the brain to function the proper way and do activities in a
manner they can no longer do. Neurotransmitters begin to not function properly meaning they
are not sending messages that need to get across other nerves and cells. Typically in a drug
addiction changes in cell function or even actual reshaping of the physical structure of cells
occurs. Vestibular defined as relating to the ear, may often come in place with drug addicts as
well. Causing them to hear noises, or even voices that truly arent there. Perceptual constancies,
allowing the memory of an object or living thing that has not changed when the stimuli has.
Addicts may have trouble with remembering the face of their own mother or father with the
imbalances of their stimuli due to the drug abuse. Often times confusion and hatred may be felt
in this process.
I believe drug addictions can take over ones life due to seeing it firsthand happen. My
father is a drug addict and has been abusing drugs ever since he graduated high school. It first
started with the use of marijuana to popping pills to cocaine. Its easy for one to say just stop
but in reality he cannot, he needs those drugs to function. Even after the trouble of doing prison
time, being put on probation, and breaking his wives and kids hearts he continued to use. It
truly takes over his life without a doubt, there are times where he will be so depressed he will
sleep for days. There are times where he is so high, he will talk and talk, but slur and mumble.
Drug abuse runs in my family, and continues to even after all the heartache. It does much more
than damage to the users brain, and heart, but their emotions and sympathy for others. They
become selfish and bitter otherwise known as the blunted effect, an affect with a marked
reduction in the range and intensity of emotional expression. (Blunted Affect.

TheFreeDictionary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr 2015.) My father tends to block out all the pain
he has caused others due to his abuse. He tends to be more angry than joyful.

"Addiction." Addiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.