Alcohol & Drugs

Alcohol consumption is common in the United States. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that more than half of adults aged eighteen and older drink at least once a month. Most people who choose to drink can do so without disrupting their lives. However, alcohol is a mood-altering and addictive substance that presents health and safety risks. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of excessive consumption of alcohol through heavy drinking or binge drinking. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines heavy drinking as eight or more alcoholic drinks per week for women and fifteen or more for men. Binge drinking occurs when a woman consumes four or more alcoholic drinks or a man consumes... (Opposing Viewpoints)

• Discuss alcoholism as a disease.
• Do alcohol advertisements encourage alcohol abuse?
• Is alcoholism hereditary?
• Where can individuals get help for alcohol abuse?
• Is Alcoholics Anonymous the most effective treatment for alcoholism?
• "Women are more at risk when they drink than men". Is there any truth or evidence to support this statement?
• What are some of the signs and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
• How should alcoholism be treated?
• What is the current trend among teens regarding alcohol?
• What is a safe level of drinking?
• How much is too much alcohol?
• How serious is binge drinking among college students?
• Is binge drinking on the rise? 
• What is being done to stop binge drinking on college campuses?
• Can binge drinking be an indication of a drinking problem?
• What are some of the dangers that come from binge drinking?
• Has binge drinking reached middle and high schools?
• Will Florida's hazing law help prevent binge drinking?
• Does random drug testing in the workplace violate an individual's right to privacy?
• What impact would drug testing of students play in preventing drug abuse?
• Should the penalty for testing positive vary according to substance type? Alcohol vs. illegal drugs vs. prescription pills?
• What are the legal ramifications of drug testing students under the age of 18?
• Should drug testing regulations be stricter for those working in law enforcement or athletes?
• What are the pros and cons of sobriety check points?
• What are appropriate punishments for drunk driving?
• How effective are educational/public service campaigns on the issue of drunk driving?
• How are drunk drivers sentenced compared to offenders under the influence of drugs?
• How can the federal government encourage the remaining states to restrict open containers in cars?
• How effective are car breathalyzers or breathalyzer mobile phone apps in preventing drunk driving?
• What are some causes of substance abuse?
• Discuss the similarities and differences of substance abuse between men and women.
• Choose a region or population outside of the United States and discuss how substance abuse is handled.
• How has the type of abused substances changed over the last 10 years?
• Choose and discuss one of the following: caffeine powder, Molly, Opana, Flakka, synthetic cannabinoids, bath salts, or Fentanyl.
• What is the government doing to crack down on the surge of new drug substances?
• What role does the Internet play in the increased accessibility of these trending substances?
• How has substance abuse contributed to the increase in suicide rates among veterans?