Drug Overdose Drug Analysis

Heroin and opioids have grown in appearance in communities. Since, 2008 in Allegheny County alone there was more than two thousand overdose deaths, with one hundred-seventy-seven deaths in this year alone (Pennsylvania). Furthermore, in 2015 there was only one -hundred-twenty-six;

Ecstasy is extremely popular among young adults due to the effect it has on an individual. Ecstasy is known as the love drug because of the warm feeling it provides the user with. Kuhn, Swartzwelder, and Wilson note that it causes the user to have "good feelings for all those around them" (80). It also provides the user with an extreme feeling of empathy. Encarta Dictionary defines empathy as the ability to identify with and understand another person's feelings or difficulties. A first time user described the effect of the pill, ecstasy:

Additionally, opioid medications are the primary cause for overdose deaths in the United States. According to the Weekly Standard, “In 2014, the most recent year for which we have measurements, 47,055 Americans died from drug-induced deaths, with almost 29,000 dying from opioids…” (2), a figure that includes illicit synthetics, heroin, and prescriptions. From 2015 to 2016 in Maryland, fentanyl deaths rose by 268 percent and heroin deaths by sixty eight percent. Fentanyl has contributed to this dramatic increase in OD deaths because of its potency and lethality. It only takes two milligrams of fentanyl to kill a human. In fact, a single kilogram of fentanyl is capable of killing 500,000 people (Murray, Blake, and Walters 2). More than 30,000 opioid deaths occurred for the first time ever in 2015, which is 5,000 more than in 2014. Since the 1990s, heroin deaths had not surpassed prescription opioids (oxycodone and hydrocodone) until now. In 2007, gun homicides outnumbered heroin deaths at a rate of five to one, however at the height of the epidemic, now heroin OD deaths outnumber gun homicides (Ingraham 2). It is obvious that these unprecedented levels of drug deaths are derived from the opioid epidemic and need immediate attention.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (2013) reported that U.S. prescription drugs, especially opioids analgesics, have been increasingly involved in drug overdose deaths. Unfortunately, drug overdose deaths from prescription drugs, especially opioids analgesics outnumbered deaths related to motor vehicle accidents back in 2009. Actually, in 2010 only, 16,651 deaths were connected to opioids overdose, an increase of 60 percent of overdose losses from any other drug class, prescribed or illegal. Specifically, in Florida, the attorney general of Florida (2012) stated that an average of seven Floridians die every day as a result of overdose from prescription drugs, which is five times greater than losses from the use of all illegal drugs put together.

In this sad, cruel world you see drug overdoses are quite common. In 2015, there has already been four-hundred deaths due to drug overdoses just in the Dayton Area. Dayton is ranked number one in drug overdoses. While knowing people who have been in the hand of addiction, I truly cannot comprehend losing someone to drugs. You can be lectured repetively about the consequences and having the ability to comprehend the science the brain and drugs combined, but until you see the effects drugs have and the consequences it holds, you will learn. Unfortunately for Rhonda Jerman she went through a similar situation.

Drug overdose deaths have become the leading cause of injury death in the United States. We all know that a pill is a commonly use prescribe in the United States in terms of clinically intervention to individuals seeking solution to their problem. Sociocultural beliefs can shape the approach to and behavior regarding drug use and drug abuse. People take drugs or pill for a variety reason; to feel good, to feel better, and to comfort the needs, and to relieve the pain. Most people take this drug when they feel depressed, Anxiety, back pain, headache ect… For example, hydrocodone pill, people think of this kind of pill is a quick pain reliever which it is not necessary to take them. When they craved for this pill, they become addictive and led

During the 1980s-1900s, it was considered a “safe drug” since it was said to create relaxation, emotional openness, intimacy, and empathy (Duterte, M. et al, 2009). Despite this, long time usage can create more negative outcomes than positive. Over time its positive effects have been proven wrong, and many negative psychological effects on the human mind and body have emerged. For example, abusers may experience memory loss, depression, anxiety, and “impaired decision making” (Brecht & Christina, 2002) Initial Effects Depending on the type of pill and amount taken, about 40 to 60 minutes after the ecstasy tablet is consumed, users will start feeling the immediate effects of ecstasy. The effects slowly build up, but once it kicks in it is described as a rush and wave of emotions. After about two hours of consumption, users will fall from the high of ecstasy (Brecht & Christina, 2002). During the build up phase once ecstasy is consumed, users will have heightened senses and will become extremely emotional and aware of their surroundings. As time goes on and the peak hits, users will experience an immense desire of empathy towards one another and will have the urge to engage in intimate

The drug that this article discusses is cocaine. Cocaine is a very strong agonistic stimulant that is often used as a recreational drug. The second most frequently used illegal drug, cocaine is commonly administered by intravenous injection, snorting and inhalation. Some of the symptoms of the physiological toxicity that may come from consuming cocaine include a fast heart rate, sweating, and large pupils, as well as very high blood pressure or body temperature when consuming high doses. These effects usually begin within seconds of consumption and usually last between five minutes and ninety minutes. The symptoms of the behavioral toxicity often disillusion from reality, mood swings, an intense feeling of bliss, or anxiety. Withdrawals may result in dysphoria, physical aches and pains, depression, cravings and anxiety. The neurotransmitter that is affected by cocaine is dopamine ("How Cocaine affects the Brain").

Another name for stimulants is called uppers. These drugs can be taken in many different forms; people smoke them, swallow them, inject them, and even snort the drugs. For a short time a stimulant can give the sense of unlimited energy to the user and believed to “cure” aliments and clearly can easily be addictive. Stimulants can be detrimental to someone’s physical health as well as their mental health.

Being a stimulant, it is a drug of choice among people who wants to get “high” to clear their thoughts from any pain, disappointment or fear. Some individuals may feel that they could not go on with their lives having to deal with the everyday stress for which they turn to drugs with the hope of being relieved from all the negativities and be relaxed.

Recreational drugs are made up of chemicals that tend to affect the brain by becoming involved in the way our brain’s neurons send, receive, and process their information. Drugs can also interrupt or change the way in which neurotransmitters relay messages. One of these drugs is MDMA (Methylenedioxyphenethylamine) which first became very popular in the late 80’s as a party drug taken at dance clubs and parties, and is now well know among college students. This drug is used recreationally among college students in its various forms, the big one being Ecstasy.

Heroin use has reached epidemic levels In the U.S. The overdose deaths have nearly quadrupled and has increased 63% within 11Years (CDC). Tom Friden, director of the CDC thinks that the addiction to prescription painkiller may be contributing to the rise of heroin use. According to the CDC, “most heroin users have a history of non-medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers...” (ReadWorks). The government needs to become more active in regulations relating to prescription drugs. The people using need help both in treatment and realization of what damage people are doing to their body buy using heroin. For the sake of others the continuation of this epidemic needs to be shut down and put on high priority. Heroin use has reached an unhealthy,

Illicit drugs are typically come to mind when people think about someone who has died from a fatal drug overdose. While illicit drug use is a cause for concern, it is not the only problem. In fact, the number of people dying from a prescription

This can further be explained by endorphins and enkephalins which are neurotransmitters in the brain that are similar to morphine naturally. As far as, short term effects of the drug, other than the euphoria, user experience severe itching, dry mouth, flushing of the skin, clouded mental functioning and “nodding out” which is “a back and forth state of being conscious and semi-conscious” (NIDA, 2017)

How would you feel if one of your family member’s died because of addiction? Over the past two and a half years, 23.5 million men and women have died because of drug addiction and overdose. Overdose, is an excessive and dangerous dose of a drug. Drugs on the other hand are chemicals that can often be taken and can quickly change how your body works all depending on how often the drug is being taken, how quickly it gets to the brain, and the person 's body size, shape, and chemistry. Even though medications can make you feel better, does not make it right to constantly take them. More men than women die from overdose each year. Death for men in 2014 was about 13,000, and death for women was almost 10,000. Although drugs can be used to make people feel better, does not mean you should use it for pain reliever, which can lead to death, brain and heart diseases, or change in one 's personality.