Lesson Four - Source Evaluation

One of my sources for my argument essay was an article entitled “Drugs and Alcohol Not the Way to Cope With Grief” by Drew Edwards MS, EdD that I found on the health and performance solutions area of Virginia Tech’s website. Edwards earned his Master of Science and Doctor of Education degrees. wards discusses reasons on why people turn to alcohol and other drugs when coping with distress or sorrow. Alcohol and other drugs numb their emotions temporary giving them some sort of relief, although they experience it more intensely as the drugs wear off. One of the problems with using sedatives to deal with grief is that it can cause a person to build up tolerance and become dependant on it.

My second source was a blog entry entitled “Using Addiction to Deal With Grief,” posted by The Canyon (2008). The Canyon is rehabilitation and dual diagnostics treatment center in Malibu, CA. The blog talks about using alcohol and other drugs as an escape mechanism for grief. The entry focuses on addiction being a Band-Aid for grief, it temporarily covers it but when removed the grief will still be sitting their waiting to be dealt with. Grief cannot be skipped, it has to be dealt with full term. It discusses the long term affects that alcohol can have your body and the dangers if you already have a mental illness.