...Eating, Substance Abuse, Sex/Gender/Sexual, Impulse-Control, and Personality Disorders The capacity for normal human functioning is reduced when an individual suffers from eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual, gender identity and/or personality disorders. When an individual suffers from an eating disorder their perception of the self is blurred with a constant need to be “skinner”. Society plays a major role in self-perception. Society portrays beauty as women and men who weigh ninety-five pounds. Due to this current obsession to be skinny in today’s society, many young girls and boys will develop an eating disorder, or turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to escape from the daily pressures to be beautiful in today’s society. This paper will analyze the biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of eating, substance abuse, sex/gender/sexual, and personality disorders. The DSM-IV-TR includes two axis I categories of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa—restricting and binge-eating/purging types—and bulimia nervosa—purging and non-purging types. Biological factors involved with eating disorders include genetic basis, hormonal excesses and deficiencies and abnormal neural activity. People who suffer from anorexia and bulimia usually have low serotonin levels as well as structural brain abnormalities. High expectations set by parents is a key factor in the emotional aspect of this disorder. Many strive toward high expectations and suffer the effects of...
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...Brave New World: Relevant or too Relevant? In the 1930s and 1940s, Aldous Huxley and George Orwell presented notions of a lurid future society in their novels. Huxley’s Brave New World is a dystopian novel that tells a tale of humans born in laboratories who are free to use drugs and have sex at their leisure, which mirrors a few aspects of today’s world. Today, sexual promiscuity and prurience has increased. Substance abuse has also proliferated. Moreover, many rapid scientific/technological developments have been made. Despite Orwell’s 1984 prophesying that telescreens and totalitarianism will be copious, our world is steadily racing toward a society that echoes Huxley’s Brave New World. The eerie resemblance is more than just a coincidence. Whether the circumstance applies to a teenager or an adult, sexual promiscuity has become increasingly common. By human nature, men and women will be aroused by someone whose attributes are in his/her favor (such as a large bosom or wide hips of women for men and muscularity or great hair of men for women), even if they are married and devoutly committed to his/her partner. Monogamous relationships are also threatened by divorce and extramarital affairs. Another reason marriages break apart is due to pornography— men and women may feel unsatisfied in their relationship and/or seek sexual gratification from a third party. A study by the Family Research Council and the Marriage and Religion Institute claims that 56% of divorces...
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...Drug and Alcohol Abuse Jeff is a college student who will be attending his first “rave” party on Friday. Once at the party Jeff is introduced to “X” Ecstasy by some friends. Excited to try this, Jeff purchases and swallows a “hit” and begins to feel energized. His world comes to life with exotic and provocative sensations. After a few hours he begins to come down from his high. He feels pain in his jaw from grinding his teeth, he feels slightly depressed a byproduct of Ecstasy. The depression continues for a couple of days and he continues to feel sluggish for a better part of the week causing him to fall slightly behind in his school work. On Thursday a friend invites Jeff to another “rave” on Friday and after a brief moment he decides he will go. In today's society alcohol and drug addiction along with abuse has become one of the most complicated, life-threatening issues. Individuals that become depressed usually resort to alcohol or drugs to escape from their stressful life. Alcohol and drug abuse is a disorder that is described as a destructive pattern of using a substance that leads to significant problems or distress. Alcohol & drug addiction has enormous and somewhat fatal consequences on humans. It has, directly or otherwise, an impact on the individual, family, friends and society. The majority of alcohol and drug related abuse and addiction cases have no single cause. There are a number of biological, psychological and social factors that can increase a person’s...
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...subs Substance Abuse Substance Abuse Psychological factors that influence substance abuse include family, peers, and some environmental factors. Individuals typically use drugs when they are with very close friends or family. People choose their friends according to similar interests, when one of them experiment with drugs, alcohol or smoking the other will be quick to jump on board. A family history of substance abuse is an important risk for individuals. The community and surroundings is also very important, people who live in areas with a high presence of drugs and friends that abuse drugs are more likely to develop a habit. In today’s society, the workplace requires alertness, accurate, and quick reflexes. Anything that impairs the requirements can cause accidents and may interfere with the quality of someone’s work. Hangovers and withdrawals from any substance may affect the job performance of the worker. Absenteeism and illnesses may affect the person’s productivity, causing problems if the worker has to meet certain goals. When dealing with substance abuse, the worker can never be 100% focused on their work, they will eventually become more concerned on when and how they will be able to obtain their next fix. This will ultimately affect their attention and concentration. Employee assistance programs offer employees who may be suffering from substance abuse and opportunity to obtain the help that they need whenever they may need it. It helps them...
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...not only apply to substance and alcohol abuse. Recently the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (D.S.M.), the standard reference work for psychiatric illnesses, announced [in the last decade] updated definitions of substance abuse and addiction, including a new category of behavioral addictions (Markel).'' Although substance addictions are accompanied by a variety of...
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...and Treatments for Adolescent Substance Abuse Substance abuse is no stranger to today’s society. In fact, substance abuse has been an issue for many, many years now. A somewhat recent issue with substance abuse is that adolescents are becoming more involved. Teenagers, in particular, are more vulnerable to experiment with drugs and alcohol. With adolescents being introduced to such harmful substances it can lead to many problems. Not only does substance abuse pose issues with social problems, it also poses issues with educational issues, and it may even lead to death. While there are many problems with adolescent substance abuse, there are ways to solve this prevailing issue. Toddlers and young children are completely dependent on their parents while teenagers are going through different phases in which they are trying to transition into adulthood. Often detrimental stimuli are being introduced and adolescents are more prone to be susceptible to give in peer pressure because the judging process within the brain is not fully developed. (Kirst-Ashman, 2013). With this being said, the actions of teenagers are mainly based on the people that they hang out with. Therefore, if teenagers are around other teenagers that are smoking, drinking, or using other substances then they are more likely to try those substances as well. While a teenager’s peers have a lot to do with the actions they take other factors can lead to substance abuse too. Gangs have been a huge issue...
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...Health Issues Doreen Austin HCA/250 University of Phoenix Psychology and Health Issues Substance abuse is a large problem, that can be found everywhere, and is does not only affect certain groups of individuals. When individual’s turn to substance abuse and become addicted, they will be dependent on whatever it is they are using to prevent from having physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, which creates a cycle many cannot break on their own. There are two main stages of addiction to substances, or addictions in general, which the first stages is dependence where the individual’s life is dominated by the search for the substance because they depend on it physically and psychologically (World Health Organization, 2013). The second stage is when the individual becomes tolerant to the substance, which causes the individual to start consuming larger amounts of the substance to reach the same effect they had when they first started using. As mentioned before, substance abuse is a very serious public health problem that affects individuals in all areas of their lives, and it does not matter what background they may be coming from. Substance abuse can bring along many problems for the individual that is addicted, as well as their immediate surroundings, including friends, family, and the work environment. There are many reasons as to why one may start using illegal substances or prescription medication, like having other psychological problems like anxiety, and depression...
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...What is the first thought that comes to mind when asked about drug abuse in the United States? What are its long-term effects on humans and society? Drug abuse in the United States is often overlooked, but drugs such as cocaine have caused irreversible destruction to our society. These effects can be seen through families, increase in drug related crimes, death, and neighborhoods with violence. In today’s world people only tend to see cocaine as a white substance and don’t fully realize from where it originates. Cocaine is a drug extracted from the “leaves of coca plants” and later turned into “white powder” or a “rock” through a tedious process of chemicals (Cleveland Clinic). It is an influential brain “stimulant” which means that when it...
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...Nicole Buckman PHI105 November 13, 2012 Lisa Tervo Teenage Drug Abuse There are many illnesses that can take over a child’s life and even cause death. Drug abuse is at the top of that list. Teenage drug abuse is a common problem in today’s society and has increased over the last fifty years but, what most do not realize is that an increase in drug abuse leads to addiction and that addiction leads to an incurable disease. Many people do not understand how or why anyone could become addicted to drugs, especially teens. Studies have pointed out “having fun” as a teens number one reason for using drugs, but recent studies show that teens are now using drugs to problem solve or to hide feelings. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that “by 8th grade, 52% of adolescents have consumed alcohol, 42% percent have smoked cigarettes, and 20% have used marijuana”, (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2012). The top five reasons teens abuse drugs are: stress, social acceptance or low self esteem, self medication, to rebel, and to experiment. The problem is that drugs do not care what the reason is for using them, and effects on the body and brain are the same whether teens are using to deal with a problem or using to have fun. The truth of matter is that the earlier teens starts to use, the greater the risk of becoming addicted. Dr. Manny Alvarez wrote an article on teen drug abuse becoming an epidemic. He addresses how easy it is to get a hold of prescription drugs at any age...
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...Addiction: A Disease of Choice? Annisa W. Sandage COM/156 University Composition and Communication II April 5, 2015 Instructor Kara Polhemus Addiction: A Disease of Choice? “Sometimes I am terrified of my heart; of its constant hunger for whatever it is it wants. The way it stops and starts” (Edgar Allen Poe). Is addiction a disease, or the life changing result of personal choices made by an individual in the efforts to reach a sense of self-efficacy? The battle against drug abuse has been a widespread problem in the United States for decades and continues to threaten its very existence. Research reveals that adolescents and teenagers are the largest majority among active drug users (CDC, 2014). Challenges in overcoming addiction lies in finding alternate things to do in order to occupy oneself that does not involve the use of drugs (Goldstein, 2001). The vast array of substance abuse treatment programs available has had no significant effect on the number of users that actually need treatment (Nationwide Trends, 2014). However, additional research suggests that once physically and/or mentally addicted relapse is inevitable and in most cases expected (Witkiewitz, 2007). Despite the numerous treatment programs available, addiction continues to dominate, having a negative societal impact claiming the lives of many of its victims every day (Reinberg, 2011). Addiction is prevalent everywhere, from the tabloids of celebrities, to television, to a close friend, or maybe even...
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...problem rather than a social issue (Brecher, 2006). Drugs can be defined as ANY substance other than food or water that when taken into the body alters its functioning in some way (College, 2011). Cocaine, Heroin, Crack, and Alcohol are not the only drugs that alter the body that can be considered a drug. Caffeinated soda, coffee, diet pills, tobacco, prescription medication, and more all affect the body and alter the mind in a negative way. Going back in time when Christopher Columbus founded America, we wer e introduced to our very first drug known as tobacco (Cushman, 2011). That’s 520 years ago and still an issue in society. Smoking is set to kill 6.5 million people in 2015 and 8.3 million humans in 2030, with the biggest rise in low-and middle-income countries (National Cancer Institute at the National Institues of Health). Each day about 13,500 people worldwide die from smoking-related diseases (National Cancer Institute at the National Institues of Health). Yet it is a legal substance that alters the mind and body, amazing how that works. Alcohol is another substance that is very harmful and alters the mind and body. Some will argue that used as a social substance alcohol cannot become harmful. People need to realize there are people that abuse alcohol and then there are alcoholics. While both alcohol abuse and alcoholism involve engaging in the use of alcohol, abuse of this substance does not include the person having withdrawal symptoms or needing more and more...
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...Veterans with PTSD: Should Society Get More Involved? November 11th, also known as Veterans Day, is the day citizens all over the United States celebrate the soldiers who serve for America. A person can tackle his or her daily duties under the protection and services of the soldiers fighting for freedom. Soldiers put in work everyday and sacrifice more than what a lot of people realize. But most importantly, veterans and soldiers alike are human too, meaning they also have problems and struggles in life; most commonly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Because of soldiers’ great sacrifice to protect civilians and their country, more actions must be taken to assist in reintegrating veterans with PTSD back into society. When dealing with a particularly...
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...Contents INTRODUCTION 1 EFFECTS OF THE DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES ON THE FETUS 2 Marijuana (also known as weed, pot or grass): 2 Cocaine: 2 Alcoholism 3 LAW AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE MOTHERS 4 THEORIES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE 6 Biological Theories 6 Genetic Factors 6 Metabolic Imbalance 7 THEORECTICAL PERSPECTIVE 8 MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT 10 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 11 EXPECTED RESULTS/TIMEFRAME 12 CONCLUSION 13 REFERENCES 14 PICTURES ILLUSTRATING PREGNANT SUBSTANCE ABUSE WOMEN AND FETUS 15 INTRODUCTION Social problems exist at the door step of every community it has been in existence decades ago and still lives on today. Social problems can be defined as an issue that relates to society’s perception of an individual’s personal life and their behaviour is considered to be out of the norm. Substance abuse has vast becoming an epidemic in today’s society and it is considered as a social problem. Substance abuse is one thing but to see pregnant women abusing these endangering substances is another issue. People use drugs for many different reasons but for a pregnant woman to use drugs she may be mentally ill or depressed. Substance abuse may not have a serious or long-lasting effect on you but the same is not always true for a foetus. Mothers that abuse substances give birth to "drug babies." These children have serious developmental problems. Researches show that using substances legal or illegal during pregnancy has a direct impact on the foetus, whether smoking...
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...In today’s society, almost everyone knows an individual abusing drugs. Most will say the drug user is an addict by choice; but that may not actually be true because addiction may be a disease. By definition addiction is “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming” (dictionary.com). Currently, whether addiction is a choice or disease has become a highly debated topic. When individuals are addicted to a substance, chemicals in their brain are altered causing the individual to need said substance to survive daily life. This is called chemical dependency (Noble 72). When this happens, it is no longer a choice. While it may initially be a choice to start using a drug, once...
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...Running Header: Substance Abuse Adolescent Substance Abuse Dana Sweitzer Liberty University Abstract Adolescent substance abuse is a major problem in society. There are many risk factors that can contribute to adolescent substance abuse. One of the main risk factors is peer pressure. When adolescents start at a young age there is an increase in health problems, addiction, and over all poor social outcomes. Parental influence has substantial effect on adolescents because the adolescent sees their parents and they learn by their example. Media plays a role in the use of drug and alcohol use among young people. Many school systems have implemented programs that teach adolescents about the problems of substance abuse that is funded by the government. The community health nurse helps provide education in the community. The cost for substance abuse can be astronomic. Emergency room visits, treatment programs and even court costs lead to billions of dollars annually. The key to prevention is education. Adolescent Substance Abuse In society today adolescent substance abuse is a growing problem. There are many risk factors that can lead to substance abuse. It is important to understand the reasons behind why the adolescent begins the experimentation of drugs and alcohol. Media plays a role in adolescent substance abuse. Many times advertisement and movies betray alcohol or drug use as fun and not addictive. Many times the people are happy and having a good time. This gives...
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