Drug abuse is a major public health problem. Eighty-two percent of Americans said this was a very serious problem, making it number one on Americans views of health problems. About 23.5 million people today are addicted to drugs. We should look at the drug issue in America today by problems in individuals, problems in society, and prescription drug abuse. “Drug abuse in individuals result in behavioral problems such as paranoia, aggressiveness, hallucinations, addiction, and impaired judgment” (recovergateway). There is a lot of crime that happens as a result of the drug issue in America. Drugs also affects the brain by altering brain chemistry. “All drugs of abuse (nicotine, cocaine, marijuana, etc) affect the brains reward circuit, part of limbic system” (recovergateway). Drugs hijack the reward system, causing dopamine to flood the system. Drugs weaken the immune system increasing susceptibility to infections. Last, they cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The drug issue in America can’t be blamed on individuals only, but also in society. Drug abuse also causes problems in society. Drug use causes stress, violence, and child abuse. “Ten-twenty percent of drivers used drugs resulting in crashes” (archives). These drugs were often combined with alcohol. Approximately half of pediatric AIDS cases resulted from injection during drug use or sex with injection drug use by the child’s mother. Tobacco contributed to thirty percent cancer awareness. Prescription drug