What is Civic Engagement?-Justin Levy
1. Civic Engagement- according to Encyclopedia Britannica, is "a broad set of practices and attitudes of involvement in social and political life than converge to increase the health of a democratic society."
2. Civic engagement is the process of connecting individuals in society with one another, to share common interests and work for the common good. This includes political participation like attending or organizing a protest, writing to a member of Congress or a newspaper, reading the news and discussing it with others, and voting, among many other ways. To be engaged is to care about your community, working with others to make it a more positive place to live, work, and socialize.
My Understanding of Civic Engagement.
My definition is much more simple. Civic Engagement to me involves the process of taking interest in the current issues overshadowing our nation and involving oneself for the betterment of society as a whole. I think it has to do with taking an active role in change on an individual basis towards progress for the masses.
For the purpose of this assignment i will be talking specifically about an issue affecting countless people. That issue is addiction. Addiction is a widely misunderstood issue plaguing the lives of millions and provoking early death of countless others. In 2017 the number of reported deaths related to drugs was around 70 thousand, which has doubled over the last ten years. Some have gone as far to say this is an epidemic. This statistic does not put into words the catastrophic affects addiction has had on families and friends included. The question remains. What can we as individuals do to put a stop to the "epidemic" and restore healthy lifestyles for those who suffer.
THE ISSUE:
Individuals are commonly affected by drug addition. Science finds addiction to be multi faceted and complex, affecting more than one aspect of a persons being. There are not a lot of answers in terms of how to treat the illness and the rates of recovery are not particularly high as well. More and more research is being done, but one major truth remains. Treating addiction like it is a tasteless habit that only weak minded people can't overcome is not the way of going about helping the issue for the individual or society as a whole.
"Recognizing addiction as a chronic, relapsing brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use can impact society's overall health and social policy strategies and help diminish the health and social costs associated with drug abuse and addiction."- Leshner.
The Stigma of Addiction and What Can Be Done.
Because of the complexity of the issue it is difficult to explain addiction without experiencing it firsthand. For those who haven't experienced it, many would prefer not to be involved with it at all. This includes employers That being said, the difficulty of finding a job for someone who is an addict is challenging at best. Most people prefer to lie to employer about ever having had used drugs. Many addicts have criminal records, which also makes it difficult for addicts to seek employment.
"Relapse leads to trouble, however. Employers are not violating these acts when disciplining employees – including discharge or denying promotions – currently engaged in illegal use of drugs. The Equality Act and reasonable adjustments continue to support people with mental illness who experience recurring symptoms."-Corrigan
Treating and understanding the issue go hand in hand. The more you can understand the issue the better you can treat the issue for the individual and society as a whole. Changing the stigma requires recovering addicts to achieve and stand up for what they believe in. Seeing people afflicted by addiction in prominent positions would no doubt change what people think about addicts as a whole. Also, addicts involving themselves in community organizations and other ventures will surely contribute to sociological understanding of the issue.
https://youtu.be/gJE-jPIoPj0- Link to USC video about stigma of addiction
Why I chose this Issue.
I chose this issue because I am an addict in recovery. I just celebrated two years clean and have been battling with addiction for nearly two decades. Addiction has presented some serious challenges for me, but I'm no longer interested in the past. I’m looking to achieve and move forward with my life and do what I can to show people addicts too can accomplish and overcome. I’m not alone in my mission as well. There are many people like me. Dr.'s professionals, musicians etc. that have overcome odds as well to have very successful healthy lives.
About:
Tina is a 44 year old attorney of Puerto Rican and Irish descent. She has struggled with addiction for the majority of her life. In her youth she found interest in law and politics and attended Georgetown Law. She is currently a partner at her law firm in Los Angeles. At no point has she felt comfortable disclosing the fact she is an addict in recovery. She claims if she identified as an alcoholic it would be much more socially acceptable but because of the stigma of drug use she is unable to be straightforward with her peers. Tina stated, "being an attorney is a high stress job and often interactions with other attorneys includes alcohol." She mentioned she often is offered alcohol and has to come up with excuses as to why she doesn't drink. It is a challenge to say the least. Tina has overcome the odds to be a very productive member of society and simply by identifying as an addict she can potentially change the way people look at addicts.
REFERENCES:
Corrigan, P. (2017) Are Some of the Stigmas of Addictions Culturally Sanctioned? British Journal of Phsychiatry, 3,180-181.
Leshner, A. (1997) Addiction is a Brain Disease and it Matters. Science. 278, 45-47.
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