...that the problem of prescription drug addiction is at its worst today than ever before, causing countless cases of dependency and abuse at epidemic proportions, and gaining the reputation of being the "silent epidemic" in some major cities in America. Prescription drug addiction is also known as the "silent killer," and rightfully so, because it can take one innocent pill, or the wrong dosage, to place its user into a permanent sleep-an all-too familiar event known as fatally "overdosing." From suburban neighborhoods, to celebrity life, to the ghettos-prescription drug abuse seems to have no bounds in our society, affecting millions everyday. But how wide-spread is this kind of abuse, and how serious is it? In 2010 alone, it was reported that an estimated 7 million America citizens claimed to be abusing prescription medications. Granted, this is only a little less than 3% of the total US population, but the jolting fact comes from the amount of increasing deaths from prescription medication abuse. It's one thing for large populations to abuse drugs, true; but it's another thing to lose lives rapidly over such a short period of time. As stated earlier, the strength of prescription drugs can be so overwhelming that it may take one instance, or one miscalculating dose, to result in a deadly overdose. In other words,...
Words: 640 - Pages: 3
...Causal Essay Western Governors University Task 3 Causal Essay Substance abuse has been thought to be a big city problem. However alcohol abuse and illegal drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, have made their way into our small rural communities. Rural America has become a refuge for drug makers, dealers and abusers. Substance abuse such as drugs, alcohol, and prescription drugs are a growing problem in rural communities due to stress, peer pressure and chronic pain. Studies have reported that individuals exposed to stress are more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs or undergo relapse (National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d.). It is well established that the effects of stress can damage people’s mental and physical health. Not everyone deals with stress in the same way, where as some people have an inability to deal with it effectively. One of the ways that the individual may attempt to manage their stress is by using alcohol or drugs. This type of self-medication can provide temporary relief, but is ultimately self-defeating. It can mean that the individual will have more stress in their life than ever, but they will have even less of an ability to handle it. Using drugs, as a short-term solution to the stress going on in their life is dangerous and can lead to addiction. Stress can be caused by the loss of job, divorce, death of a loved...
Words: 669 - Pages: 3
...L, Harrison A, Teplin L, et al. Health Disparities in Drug- and Alcohol-Use Disorders: A 12-Year Longitudinal Study of Youths After Detention. American Journal Of Public Health [serial online]. May 2016;106(5):872-880. Available from: Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson), Ipswich, MA. Accessed July 22, 2016. The disparity among young adults who use drugs in the United States of America has been highly an intense topic of studies. The article "Health Disparities in Drugs and Alcohol Use Disorder" was written by a group of researchers who study the racism and the ethnicity of pervasiveness of substance use disorder in youth during their twelve years after incarceration. The authors ways of reason on how the black youth are more likely to...
Words: 1637 - Pages: 7
...Modern medicine contributes a vital role in health care. In one hand, contemporary medicine has brought advantages, namely declining mortality, and improving humanity health. Nonetheless, there are certain unfortunate consequences of modern medicine, such as demographic ageing and substance abuse. This essay will outline the beneficial and problematic implications of modern medicine. For the purpose of this essay, the “modern medicine” is the period of the history of medicine from1790 when the vaccine was invented to the present. There are two main advantages of modern medicine. The first merit of modern medicine is improving humanity health. For instance, vitamin deficiency can be supplemented with tonic utilisation or physical pain can be reduced with analgesics. Moreover, life expectancy can be extended by methods such as damaged tissues repairing or defective organs and limbs replacing of artificial ones. The second benefit of modern medicine is decreasing mortality. This is rooted in the fact that widespread immunisation lead to a considerable decline in infant mortality. Moreover, mass death which resulted from prevalent epidemics in the past, for example smallpox, measles, and malaria now can be distinguished in a fairly short period of time with vaccines. Furthermore advance medical techniques, particularly diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging permit early detection and treatment of diseases, for instance, lung cancer, or tuberculosis....
Words: 469 - Pages: 2
...2014 Drug Abuse Annotated Bibliography In today’s society, drug abuse, whether it be prescription or recreational, is becoming more and more popular. Steroids are another form of drug abuse. They are illegal and are very common in the sporting scene. Many of the people abusing these drugs do not at all realize the harm that they are doing to themselves. The sources I chose to support my argument were chosen because of their credibility and their accuracy. They all give either statistics or information on how bad the side effects of drug abuse are. "Addiction and Substance Abuse." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 19 Nov. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. <http://www.2facts.com/article/i1700390> In this article, the author(s) discuss many viewpoints on drug abuse. They explain supporters and opponents’ viewpoints on drug being kept illegal. An argument that I found that would support my own argument was the supporters’ idea that legalizing drugs will only make things worse by letting more and more people get into them and become dependent on them. My point in using this as a source is not to discuss legalizing drugs, but merely showing how people do know that they are wrong and can have negative, long-lasting effects on users. Marijuana is a gateway drug, and can be harmful if used over long periods of time. Long-time users have experienced permanent short-term memory problems, lung damage, and slowed reaction time. "Drug Abuse Effects." Drug Abuse Effects...
Words: 759 - Pages: 4
...Drugs and College Students Victoria Lyles-Savage Professor Stone SOW 301-01 Drugs and College Student In today’s society there are a number of college students and teens, who misuse prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons along with street drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, heroin and steroids. Drugs and alcohol use on college campuses is universal. This has been an epidemic that has grown across the United States. According to Yusko,Buckman, White, and Pandina; alcohol and drug use in college is one of the more serious problems faced by colleges today .Another study stated that 90 percent of teens said they have used alcohol, over 50 percent have used marijuana, 17 percent used cocaine and 13 percent have used some form of hallucinogenic drug. Athletes are at risk to drug use because of the increased physical demand of athletics and heightens stress and time constraints placed upon them by fulfilling the dual role of being an athlete and student (Yusko, Buckman, White, Pandina, 2008). Peer pressure in itself is an epidemic and strongly impacts nonathletic individuals as well. The use of prescriptions drugs for nonmedical use is higher than are use of cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and inhalants all combined. Prescription Opioids result in more drug abuse deaths than both cocaine and heroin combined (Katelyn Rozenbroek& Rothstein, 2011).There are a lot of factors that drive teens and college students to turn to drugs and alcohol. The highest rates of...
Words: 1740 - Pages: 7
...Prescription Drug Abuse Interventions: Focus on Elvis Presley Alenka Ferrel, Jessica Garoutte, & Cristina Rainwater PSY 480 March 5, 2012 Dr. Tara Thompson Prescription Drug Abuse Interventions: Focus on Elvis Presley Prescription drug abuse is not currently classified by the DSM-IV-TR, for it focuses on a pattern of drug abuse which bypasses personality patterns and focuses on common characteristics between clients, rather than a specific drug (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Prescription drug abuse is a wide-spread and exceedingly common problem in present day America. This essay will examine the case study of cultural icon Elvis Presley and his struggle with prescription drugs which eventually took his life. Biological, psychological, and social factors which contributed to his addiction will be examined, as well as interventions which may have been helpful had they been available or had Elvis decided to seek help. The examination of the case study, along with the contributing factors and possible interventions, should be considered for anyone going through problems with similar addictions. The Case of Elvis Presley Elvis Presley was one of the most well-known and famous individual’s of all time. After his death, Elvis was made into a cultural icon and coined the “King of Rock n’ Roll.” However, fame and fortune did not lead him down a productive and positive life path, but rather to a life of depression, alienation, and prescription drug addiction. Elvis...
Words: 1438 - Pages: 6
...Principles Of Economics Strayer University ECON 100 March 12th 2012 Suggest how an economist would approach the problem of alcohol abuse. Provide two (2) possible solutions to this problem. Include the four (4) elements of the economic way of thinking in your analysis It is a real case of negative externalities both in consumption and production. production of alcohol causes pollution too. The two possible solutions suggested by economists are: Coase theorem-They can negotiate by themselves for compensation without any government intervention if the property rights are secured and the cost of negotiation is not high. Pigouvian- taxes or regulations. Drunk driving is included. An economist would increase cost through added tax and reduce availability. (answer.yahoo.com, 2012). When measuring the cost of alcohol abuse in any city in the U.S. we must understand what make the assumptions of alcohol abuse comprehensible and to focus on the relevant alcohol abuse. We have to think about such things as health services and medical expenses, premature death, loss of productivity, and alcohol related crimes. In total, the U.S. economy loses an estimated $185 billion each year to alcohol-related problems, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. We use the assumptions to help explain, Economics is a discipline, but it is not an exact discipline. Economic theory simplifies situations because it would be nearly impossible to predict and...
Words: 817 - Pages: 4
...alcohol through taxation. It is not possible to charge taxes solely on alcohol abusers. According to Hein “tax increases will cause welfare losses for moderate drinkers through a reduction in consumers' surplus. If moderate drinkers have lower medical care costs, medical insurance premiums will be lower for abstainers, resulting in a positive externality for nondrinkers. That insurance consequence, plus the loss in consumers' surplus, makes the calculation of the social cost of alcohol abuse alone inappropriate for evaluation of increased taxation.” Studies show that the price of alcohol is an influencing factor among youths and young adults drinking alcohol, it reduces drinking and driving in all ages, it lowers the frequency of diseases, injuries, and deaths related to alcohol use and abuse. 2. The rise in costs of prescription medicines affects all sectors of the health care industry, including private insurers, public programs, and patients. Spending on prescription drugs continues to be an important health care concern, particularly in light of rising...
Words: 915 - Pages: 4
... The drug is well known in cultures all around the globe and any topic that is tied to it generates intense reactions that are aligned in different directions. The conversation on the legal status of the use of Marijuana is always heated, with supporters and opponents all convinced that they are right (Hudak & Wallack, 2016). However, this essay analyzes this issue since it is one that cannot be ignored. Even the opponents must agree to consider what legalization of cannabis achieves, given that public support for it is only growing. It also seeks to lay out the negative implications of the legalization and finally balances them off against the benefits and makes its conclusions based thereon. Proponents argue that marijuana has been proved to have the ability to influence life positively. This is best captured by the medical use of marijuana in treating diseases. The drug has been proven to have palliative qualities and it has been accepted as a palliative agent in civilizations such as Canada on prescription. Additionally, opinion polls discovered that more than half of the American population would vote in support of using the drug for recreational purposes among adults (Ghosh, 2010). It would be imprudent to ignore the opinions of such a big proportion of the population for political leaders. The widespread support also indicates that usage of the drug is high among the populace. It is hard for the government to regulate the usage of such drugs, to prescription or small...
Words: 818 - Pages: 4
...Drugs and technology While it is almost impossible to get an actual percentage of people affected by drug addiction, the use continues to grow. Most people will admit to trying some form of illegal drug, but addicts have a hard time even coming to grasp that they are addicted. Our society has been struggling with addiction for hundreds of years. Those affected vary in age, and are not limited to adults. According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2011), there are approximately 27 million Americans today that either use illicit drugs regularly or are “heavy drinkers”. Sixteen million of these are in need of immediate treatment for their addiction problem. By the age of 18 almost 12 percent of young people in America are addicted to drugs. Statistics also show that about 70 percent of users who are employed contribute significantly to absenteeism in the work place, workplace accidents, workplace injuries, decreased productivity, increased insurance premiums, and large employee turnover and violence in the workplace. The total estimated cost to our society in America for substance abuse exceeds 250 billion dollars per year. Addiction has become prominent as one of the worst health and social problems in the United States today. (coachinginternational.com) Through the last two decades, addiction rates in the United States have increased significantly because of the advancements in Information Technology. Social networking, internet access...
Words: 3928 - Pages: 16
...Dean’s List And More A Research Essay About Why College Students Are Using and Abusing Stimulants To Get By February, 2014 Abstract Prescription stimulant use as academic performance enhancers is increasingly widespread among college students and the prescription stimulant use as "cognitive enhancers" has been described among undergraduate college students. Adderall and Ritalin are the most popular among the students. Some use the drugs to stay awake to study to get by with good grades, even with acknowledgement of the dangers of using. However, the use of prescription stimulants among future graduated students is at risk. Table of Contents Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………... 2 Chapter 1 ……………………………………………………………………………..….. 4 Purpose of the Study ……………………………………..……………… 4 Statement …………………………………………………..……………. 4 Research Questions …………………………………………..…………. 5 Significance of the Study ……………………………………..………… 5 Delimitation ……………………………………………..……………… 5 Definition of Terms …………………………………………..………… 6 Chapter 2 Literature Review…………………………………………………………….. 7 Chapter 3 Research Methods …………………………………………………………… 18 References ………………………………………………………….…………………… 22 Appendix A ……………………………………………………………………………… 23 Dean’s List and More Nature of Study If you are a full time student with heavy load of courses while working to support your lifestyle, then you will be worrying where you can find the time. Undergraduate college students do stress...
Words: 4336 - Pages: 18
...Drug Use The increase of drug use in this generation we are more exposed to the dangers of drugs. Drugs have affected the way society can evolve and become better. For instance there has been an increase in our generation due to adolescents experimenting with illegal substances. Many consequences of using these drugs are withdrawals, drug dependence, personality change, and many more. This essay will be looking at some of the effects of drug use on society, and suggests some solutions to the problem. The consequences that accompy with the use of illegal substances are wihdrawls, family tension, drug dependency, depression, and emotional and physical problems. With substances such as methenphetmamine, there is a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B and C because they use needles that are being shared that are contaminated as well as the fact that methephentamines caused increased sexual desire. This causes for those who use meth to want to find anyone to have sex with to fulfill their desires. Regardless of how it is taken, methamphetamine alters judgment and inhibition and can lead people to engage in these and other types of risky behavior. Another drug that is abused frequently and is dangerous for everyone is prescription pills, because of the fact that many prescription pills have psychoactive properties which helps alter a person’s thinking. These are abused by the person either taking more than they are prescribed or the...
Words: 954 - Pages: 4
...are at increased risk of committing violence. This essay will argue that people with mental health problems are modestly at an increased risk of violence but when influenced by substance abuse the risk of committing violence is at a greater risk. The scope of the essay will consider works from academic journals and empirical evidence on mental health and violence, which has influenced the debate of this essay. First, we need to consider that increased risk of violence is modestly greater than someone without mental health problems. According to The Lancet (1997), John Monahan and Colleagues from the MacCarther Foundation Research Network on Mental Health and the Law found the relationship of mental health to be modest contrary to societal belief. They did research with patients in hospital and those released had periodic visits within that year. To compare varying violence they surveyed a random selection of people in the general population. The researchers only found the findings to be modestly greater. They conducted a second survey showing that people with mental health were no more violent than the general population, except for those with mental health problems who had substance abuse problems. Looking at violence and mental health it is important to also look at other influential factors such as substance abuse. As mentioned by Howitt (2011) when people with mental health problems are taking prescription medication it can lead to side effects such as aggression...
Words: 1808 - Pages: 8
...little challenging at first. I found myself questioning what I was producing throughout the beginning of creating this project. I put a lot of effort into this project and I felt it showed in my final product. With this being said, after comparing my project to the rubric I gave myself a 3.7 overall on this project for many reasons. I learned from both of my strengths and weaknesses of this project. One strength I had in my essay was appealing to my audience's sense of ethos, pathos, and logos. I appealed to my audience's sense of ethos when it came to the sources I used. Many of the sources I used were well known sources or doctors. My audience will listen to what I have to say the most if they know I am creditable on the topic I am talking about. I also appealed to my audience's sense of pathos. This was not as prominent in my project as ethos was but it can still be found. When I compared a healthy fruit or vegetable to a prescription drug this targets my audience's emotions because they would most likely go with the fruit or vegetable than the prescription drug since they already know or have learned it is the...
Words: 864 - Pages: 4
