...Effects on newborn babies that have been exposed to drug and or alcohol during pregnancy Com/172 February 1, 2012 RHEA RIEGEL Using street drugs and alcohol, and also smoking during a pregnancy can cause developmental problems for a newborn baby such as Fetal alcohol syndrome “Exposure to alcohol in utero is considered to be a leading cause of developmental disabilities of known causation. The most severe consequence of such exposure, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), is characterized by a distinct constellation of facial anomalies, growth retardation, and central nervous system dysfunction.”(Paley & Connor, 2011, p.64-75)Three of the major effects on newborn babies that have been exposed to drug and or alcohol during pregnancy in the developmental areas of Cognitive, Psychological and the long term effect on school aged and adolescents. Although drugs and alcohol are often used in combination, cocaine is the drug of choice among the young, especially the poor and women of color. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 4.5 million women of childbearing age used illicit drugs in 1991. Of all infants born, the percentage born to substance-abusing mothers is widely reported to be 11% nationwide [Chasnoff et al. 1990; CWLA 1992; Weston et al. 1989]. In some inner-city neighborhoods, it is estimated to be as high as 25% [Fink 1989]. All of these will effect and change the baby’s life from the moment they enter the world. There are many Cognitive...
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...NEW RESEARCH Does ADHD Predict Substance-Use Disorders? A 10-Year Follow-up Study of Young Adults With ADHD Clancey Bateman, Timothy E. Wilens, B.A., M.D., MaryKate Martelon, M.P.H., Gagan Joshi, M.D., Ronna Fried, Ed.D., Carter Petty, M.A., Joseph Biederman, M.D. Objective: High rates of substance-use disorders (SUD) have been found in samples of adolescents and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Predictors of SUD in children with ADHD who are at risk for the development of SUDs remain understudied. The main aims of this study were to identify clinically meaningful characteristics of children that predicted the future development of SUDs and to see whether the role of these characteristics varied by sex. Method: Subjects were children and adolescents with (n 268; mean age standard deviation 10.9 3.2 years) and without (n 229; mean age 11.9 3.3 years) DSM-III-R ADHD followed prospectively and blindly over a 10-year follow-up period onto young adult years. Subjects were assessed with structured diagnostic interviews for psychopathology and SUDs. Results: Over the 10-year follow-up period, ADHD was found to be a significant predictor of any SUD (hazards ratio 1.47; 95% confidence interval 1.07–2.02; p .01) and cigarette smoking (2.38; 1.61–3.53; p .01). Within ADHD, comorbid conduct disorder (2.74; 1.66 – 4.52; p .01) and oppositional defiant disorder (2.21; 1.40 –3.51; p .01) at baseline were also found to be significant predictors of SUDs...
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...Drug addiction is most often defined as a chronically relapsing disorder in which the addict experiences uncontrollable compulsion to take drugs, while simultaneously the repertoire of behaviors not related to drug seeking, taking, and recovery, declines dramatically."(1) Recent scientific research has shown significant causal relationships between drug addiction and genetic predisposition as well as between addiction and environmental factors. Both genetics and the environment influence the brain, which in turn effects the behavior of usage. Once an individual begins using psychotropic substances, such as cocaine or heroin, measurable changes in brain chemistry and physiology perpetuate the cycle of addiction. Thus, we have an example of brain affecting behavior, which in turn, affects the brain. This cycle is particularly extreme and insular in the situation of drug addiction where free will and decision making are quickly and severely impaired. In this paper, we will first explore the genetic and environmental theories on drug addiction. We will then investigate how the behavior of drug addiction changes the brain to perpetuate the circle of cause and effect between the brain and behavior. Genetic Influences on the Behavior of Drug Addiction: Addiction does not result from a single gene. However, multiple genetic trends have been identified as crucial contributors to the illness of addiction. Alcoholics and cocaine addicts often express the A1 allele of the dopamine receptor...
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...Effects of Drug Abuse Drugs can be found everywhere an individual looks and it can seem like just about everyone around you is doing drugs. Learning the different types of drugs and the effects it has can help to say no when someone offers you a “buzz.” Not all drugs are bad, some are prescription drugs offered by doctors others are used for the pleasure people claim they bring. Not only can drug abuse affect the body and loved ones, but also society. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy are some of the many drugs that are being used today but only three of them are mostly known. Marijuana also known as weed, is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. When an individual smokes marijuana its gives off an immediate sensation of a dream-like surrounding, increased appetite, and drowsiness. The effects typically wear off within an hour or two, but that depends on the abundance of the product. Some people dont see how this can be harmless to a person’s body compared to cigarette smoking and/or drinking, and although there are not any major issues, there are complications. A person who smokes marijuana can have changes in the brain, making it harder to remember things and pay attention. smoking it a lot and for a vast amount of time can effect fertility by decreasing a man’s sperm count and delaying a women’s ovulation. A female who smokes while pregnant can give birth to a baby with behavioral and developmental problems. Smoking marijuana can also effect the...
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...Substance abuse The 5th edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) combines substance abuse and substance dependence to mean the same thing (American Psychiatric association, 2013). Substance abuse refers to the habitual non-medical substance seeking, and the substance taking behavior which is suppression or resistance through its pharmacological consequences. Substance abuse may therefore include the use of alcohol, abuse of cigarettes, food, sniffing of solvents or even the abuse of nicotine and caffeine (Nordegren, 2002). Substance abuse has been taken to generally refer to the use of hard drugs such as cocaine and marijuana. Every year, United States spends billions of dollars on increased health care cost, low productivity and increase in crimes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, substance abuse costs United States 524 billion dollars a year of which 181 billion dollars is as a result of illicit drugs. Given the huge expense, there is therefore a need to understand the physical, social and psychological effects that substance abuse presents, analyze the factors contributing to substance abuse, examine the range of interventions used, and examine how managing substance abuse is influenced by cultural, legal, as well as political issues. Though at times substance abuse is completely something that an individual may pick from nowhere, there are some risk factors which may play a significant role in an individual’s substance abuse...
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...Substance Abuse Treatment Substance abuse is considered a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as manifested in a twelve month period by at least one of four criteria: (1) recurrent substance use resulting in failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home (e.g., poor performance at school or work, neglect of children or younger siblings); (2) recurrent substance use in hazardous situations (e.g., driving while intoxicated); (3) recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., DUIs); and (4) continued substance use despite having recurrent interpersonal problems related to substance abuse (e.g., arguments with family members about consequences of intoxication) (Sussman, Skara, Ames, 2008). The most commonly abused substances include alcohol, tobacco, and illegal and prescription drugs. Often times, a user will develop an addiction to one of these substances. When an individual abuses a substance or develops an addiction, and require the use of a rehabilitation service, he or she may either be voluntarily or involuntarily admitted, such as through the Department of Corrections or drug courts. Substance abuse treatment has proven to be a successful rehabilitation tool. Empirical evidence has shown that substance abuse treatment is a cost effective method for addressing substance abuse and that treatment is effective in limiting substance abuse, criminal activity, and improving quality of life outcomes...
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...The argument for smoking prevention among adolescents is based on the observation that, if smoking does not start during adolescence, it is unlikely ever to occur and on data indicating that the probability of cessation among adults is inversely related to age at initiation. Even infrequent experimental smoking in adolescence significantly increases the risk of adult smoking. Once smoking has begun, cessation is difficult and smoking is likely to be a long-term addiction. For example, it has been estimated that the median cessation age, for those born from 1975 through 1979 who begin smoking in adolescence, is 33 years for men and 37 years for women. Based on a median initiation age of 16 to 17 years, the predicted duration of smoking is 16 and 20 years for 50% of the males and females respectively. Prevention of the onset of adolescent smoking is thus an essential component of efforts to reduce the overall prevalence of smoking and its attendant morbidity and mortality. Although there are educational programmes available with demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the prevalence of adolescent smoking over the short term, the longer term evaluations are not as encouraging. The differences in smoking levels between treated and control groups appear to dissipate over time, and disappear completely after six years. Further evaluations of these educational efforts are warranted, with consideration given to methodological problems inherent in such studies (such as potential bias resulting...
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...According to Cohen and Inaba (2014), “Inhalants are volatile liquids or aerosol sprays that produce many of the same psychoactive effects as street drugs” (p. 7.2). Inhalants are cheap, fast acting, and quickly accessible on the street, at home, and at work (Cohen & Inaba, 2014). There are several methods of inhalation such as sniffing, huffing, “bagging,” spraying, “balloons and crackers,” and inhaling vaporized alcohol fumes (Cohen & Inaba, 2014). Inhalants have four categories: volatile solvents, aerosols, volatile nitrites, and anesthetics; and each category has an inhalant product (Cohen & Inaba, 2014). Volatile solvents inhalants are gasoline and gasoline additives, airplane glue, rubber cement and other glues, liquid cement, nail polish...
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...General Anxiety Disorders and Treatments Thereof Blake C Blanchard Southwestern Oklahoma State University Abstract One of the most common disorders in our society today is generalized anxiety disorder. I am going to dive in to the methods of treatment and thoroughly discuss the various ways this disorder is handled. I experience anxiety when it comes to being in large bodies of water and also when I see spiders. Treatment options for anxiety disorders range from herbal remedies to prescribed medication. There are so many treatment options that I had no idea were even a possibility. The treatments I am going to talk about and describe in depth are ones that I researched and were shown to have the highest success rate. This could be great news for people with general anxiety disorders. To people without this disorder, it may seem like this should be no big deal and that people should be able to get over this with no problems. However, to people with the actual disorder, it could be life altering and even make their lives impossible to go about. I have never researched treatments for this disorder, even though I have what I think would be a mild case of anxiety. I am very interested to research and discuss these treatment options in order to discover more about myself and more about what helps other people get over their fears. The definition of a generalized anxiety disorder is excessive worrying with no specific cause. The worrying about such thing becomes uncontrollable...
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...Substance abuse is considered a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress as manifested in a twelve month period by at least one of four criteria: (1) recurrent substance use resulting in failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home (e.g., poor performance at school or work, neglect of children or younger siblings); (2) recurrent substance use in hazardous situations (e.g., driving while intoxicated); (3) recurrent substance-related legal problems (e.g., DUIs); and (4) continued substance use despite having recurrent interpersonal problems related to substance abuse (e.g., arguments with family members about consequences of intoxication) (Sussman, Skara, Ames, 2008). The most commonly abused substances include alcohol, tobacco, and illegal and prescription drugs. Often times, a user will develop an addiction to one of these substances. When an individual abuses a substance or develops an addiction, and require the use of a rehabilitation service, he or she may either be voluntarily or involuntarily admitted, such as through the Department of Corrections or drug courts. Substance abuse treatment has proven to be a successful rehabilitation tool. Empirical evidence has shown that substance abuse treatment is a cost effective method for addressing substance abuse and that treatment is effective in limiting substance abuse, criminal activity, and improving quality of life outcomes for as many as five years...
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...A STUDY ON DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP 青年濫藥與家庭關係的研究 THE FINAL REPORT (FINAL version) February 2011 1 PREFACE The project on the study on “DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP” (“the Study”) is being undertaken by the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong (“the Consultant”). The research team comprises the principal investigator (PI), Professor Paul YIP, Director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and Professor of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong, and eight co-investigators (Co-Is), Dr. CHEUNG Siu Lan Karen (Demographer), Dr. Sandra Tsang (Social and Family Worker), Dr. Samson Tse (Focus group expert on mental health and drug abuse), Dr. Wong Oi Ling (Family therapist, Family Institute), Prof. Karen Laidler (Sociologist, expertise on assessing drug abuse problem), Dr. Paul Wong (Clinical psychologist), Ms. Frances Law (Social Worker), and Dr. Lilian Wong (Associate Consultant, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Hospital Authority). We would like to thank Mr. Gary Ip, the research assistant of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Ms. Garlum Lau, the senior research officer 2 of the Department of Sociology, the participants and NGOs for focus groups and case studies for their kind and valuable support on this...
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...A STUDY ON DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP <<青年濫藥與家庭關係的研究 青年濫藥與家庭關係的研究>> 青年濫藥與家庭關係的研究 THE FINAL REPORT (FINAL version) February 2011 1 PREFACE The project on the study on “DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIP” (“the Study”) is being undertaken by the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong (“the Consultant”). The research team comprises the principal investigator (PI), Professor Paul YIP, Director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention and Professor of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong, and eight co-investigators (Co-Is), Dr. CHEUNG Siu Lan Karen (Demographer), Dr. Sandra Tsang (Social and Family Worker), Dr. Samson Tse (Focus group expert on mental health and drug abuse), Dr. Wong Oi Ling (Family therapist, Family Institute), Prof. Karen Laidler (Sociologist, expertise on assessing drug abuse problem), Dr. Paul Wong (Clinical psychologist), Ms. Frances Law (Social Worker), and Dr. Lilian Wong (Associate Consultant, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Hospital Authority). We would like to thank Mr. Gary Ip, the research assistant of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Ms. Garlum Lau, the senior research officer 2 of the Department of Sociology, the participants and NGOs for focus groups and case studies for their kind and valuable...
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...Adolescent Substance Abuse Isaiah.R 3/27/14 In society today, a common problem among teenagers is the use of drugs. Teen age years are probably the most challenging periods of life. It is a stage of finding yourself versus confusion of knowing oneself. Belonging and being accepted in a group seems to be very important, as well as being “cool”. Troubled, teens turn to things such as drugs to help Suppress or ease the emotional/mental pain of things such as the common rejection. During these years of maturing, teenagers encounter their share of positive and negative experiences. Peer pressure, curiosity, and the availability of drugs are some of the factors that youthful and vulnerable teenagers have to cope with in their young lives. One of the significant reasons for teenage drug use is peer pressure, particularly from the influences among friends, acquaintances, school, and the media. If a teenager’s main social group is using drugs, then there is a strong pressure due to the fact that drugs are present and can easily be offered. Also, the person might get convinced to think that there is nothing wrong with trying drugs because “everybody else is doing it.” In the effect that teenagers will try drugs just to fit in the social norms, they might do it to impress their buddies to be considered “cool” as part of being in the group and gain acceptance by friends. The issue of using drugs is everywhere in this country and around the world. It’s available and accessible...
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...but a heavier degree of blame can be put on one thing. Some of the violent acts listed above are expressed through music. Gangster rap, which followed rap music, developed in the 1980's. Though the immaturity and lack of teaching morals has an impact on how we view and take in things, the context of gangster rap presents a negative image for people in society. Rap music has derived from other music categories. One of the first musical influences on rap music is hip hop. Hip hop is comprised of graffiti, break dancing, attitude and the dress of the people who listened to it. The start of hip hop, along with rap, can be located in the Bronx of New York. There were three major events that occurred in the Bronx that contributed to the hip hop subculture. The first event was the building of an expressway through the Bronx. This plan was carried out by the 1959 Parks Commissioner, Rober Moses. This expressway ran through the heart of the Bronx. Italians, Germans, Irish and Jews disappeared from the Bronx. They were replaced by poor blacks and Hispanics. As a result, crime, drug addiction, and unemployment sky rocketed. Rober Moses continued to put out projects that slowly changed the Bronx as it was previously known. He built a...
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...Depression in Adolescents: A Look at Effects, Causes, and Treatments Christopher Marshall Jaffe Vanderbilt University Abstract This paper describes and analyzes the very general term of depression, specifically keying on depression in adolescents. The paper is split into four main sections, the first being the definition of the problem. This section will discuss what the problem is and how it is defined in the scientific world. The second section will outline and present the effects and importance of depression on the individual, family, and society as a whole. The third section will discuss the causes of depression using theories such as the Hopelessness Theory of Depression, the Response Style Theory of Depression, and Beck’s Cognitive Theory of depression. And lastly the fourth section of this paper will discuss different treatments to the problem and their effectiveness. Definition Depression Depression has been around before the ancient Greeks and even before it got deemed “depression” the famous, “Greek physician Hippocrates, called it melancholia” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2012). It is so common in the psychological world now that some refer to it as the common cold. Depression can be described simply as, “A mood or emotional state that is marked by feelings of low self-worth or guilt and a reduced ability to enjoy life” (Encyclopedia Britannica...
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