Epidemiology For the epidemiology of this patient we focused on the effects and causes that illicit drugs can have on patients and diseases, which in this case is some sort of myocardial infarction or compromise. Epidemiology is defined by the CDC as “a method used to find the causes of health outcomes and diseases in populations;” and also as “the study (scientific, systematic, data-driven) of the distribution (frequency, pattern) and determinants (causes, risk factors) of health-related states and events (not just diseases) in specified populations (neighborhood, school, city, state, country, global)” (Dicker, 2006). The cause of this patient’s cardiac issues most likely may be directly related to his drug use. Most illegal drugs can have adverse reactions on the cardiovascular system. One drug of significant interest and importance is that of cocaine, which is considered “the perfect heart attack drug” by the American Heart Association (AHA, 2015). A study done by the AHA showed that young and healthy individuals that use cocaine and other illicit drugs recreationally are still at great risk of heart attack from higher blood pressure, thickened heart muscle, increased heart rate, and stiffer arteries (AHA, 2015). Many people also combine other drugs with cocaine such as amphetamines increasing the effects of the drugs (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2016). Cocaine is a very prevalent drug in American society and is not limited to one age group or demographic. It is
To illustrate the magnitude of the research problem and provide a frame of reference, this section begins with a brief overview of the increased use of pharmaceuticals and prescription drug abuse in the US. The section continues with the relationship between illicit drugs and prescriptions, adolescents’ abuse, personal and social factors; then concludes with the theoretical approach. The Social-Ecological Theory, will be applied in researching prescription drug abuse, possible influences and protective factors in adolescents in relation to prescription drug abuse, to develop focused intervention strategies and educational programs for this population, similar to other substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.
The United States has the world's highest incarceration rate. With five percent of the world's population, our country houses nearly twenty-five percent of the world's reported prisoners. Currently there are approximately two million people in American prisons or jails. Since 1984 the prison population for drug offenders has risen from ten percent to now over thirty percent of the total prison population. Federal prisons were estimated to hold 179,204 sentenced inmates in 2007; 95,446 for drug offenses. State prisons held a total of 1,296,700 inmates in 2005; 253,300 for drug offenses. Sixty percent of the drug offenders in prisons are nonviolent and were purely in prison because of drug offenses (Drug War Facts). The question then arises,
According to the text, what factorshave been major contributors to the demise of the two-parent household?
Countries all over the world are dealing with a rise of drug use and drug-related public health concerns. Many nations adopt vaguely similar methods of battling the “War on Drugs”, from strict border control to harsh criminal punishments for drug-related offenders, violent or not. Even with these efforts put in place, many places are not seeing the desired results. Drug use is mainly treated like a crime, and that may be the problem. Countries that have concerns with rising drug use among their citizens should follow Portugal in decriminalizing the possession and use of small quantities of all illicit drugs.
Drug abuse is one of the most discouraged behaviors in our country. In the United States of America, we, the people value several things, some of which are freedom, expanding and taking care of our families and our financial security. We, the people, take such things for granted. We also discourage some behavior, such as crime, laziness and use of illegal drugs.
The textbook pointed out that drug prevention and drug ________ might have different goals and use different approaches.
1b. List and describe briefly the major structures of the brain, as presented in your textbook, including the function of those elements that are most related to psychoactive drug reaction.
This is particularly true for orally administered AS. The parentally administered AS seem to have less serous effects on the liver. Testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate and other inject able anabolic steroids seem to have little adverse effects on the liver. However, lesions of the liver have been reported after neither parental nor testosterone administration, and also occasionally after injection of testorone esters.Painkillers (codeine and morphine based tablets): It has been shown that regular use of pain relievers may have an increased risk of high blood pressure. There are health implications because blood pressure has significant issues for men and women if uncontrolled. Even when diagnosed, it has been shown that high blood pressure has an adverse effect on mortality and morbidity. Cough Linctus (Gee’s Linctus, collis Brown Mixture): These medicines contain opium tincture and have a suppressant effect on the respiratory system. They slow metabolism and heart rate, decrease pupil size, dry mouth. Alcohol: Alcohol is a legal substance used by many, clear and undisputed evidence that it impairs the user. The excessive use of alcohol dehydrates the brain and the body. It causes sclerosis of the liver, slurring of speech, tendency of violent behaviour. Illegal drugs
gives the user a sense of well-being and extra energy. Cocaine is one of the most
The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen.
Heroin use and overdose related deaths have increased considerably in the United States in recent years (Jones, Logan, Gladden, & Bohm, 2015). The results of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [NSDUH] (2014), showed in the year 2013, approximately 517,000 Americans abused heroin, which was almost a 150 percent increase since 2007 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2014). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA] (2014), in the year 2011, 4.2 million people who were twelve years of age or older said they used heroin at least once in their lifetime. Furthermore, data from NSDUH showed approximately 460 people, twelve years of age or older, used heroin each day in 2013 (Lipari and Hughes, 2015). An even more frightening statistic is death rates doubled for people who were twelve years of age or older as a result of heroin overdose in the years 2010 through 2012 (Hedegaard, Chen, and Warner, 2015).
Past History: Smokes ½ a pack of cigarettes per day (since she was a teenager)
Do people ever think about the consequences about drug abuse? Not many of us do but we all know what it does to us. Drugs are harmful to the brain and the body system itself; they affect the heart in many ways and because of that people become unconscious as to what their actions are. They do not realize how badly they can harm the community around them. Drugs are normally used by those who are not involved in activities such as, religious clubs, sports, etc. The users are normally stressed out with life and at times they just need something to set their minds aside from problems which occur in their everyday life. There are many reasons as to why and how drugs affect the community around the drug user
Drugs and alcohol have become a serious problem in the United States of America. People are addicted to the ingredients found in these substances. The effects that happen immediately after consuming drugs and drinking alcohol are what people desire and is often the reason they do it. Although, there are many side effects to undertaking drugs and drinking alcohol that can affect people’s body. One of the worst drugs that causes damage to the body is tobacco.
A drug is a chemical substance applied into treating, diagnosing and preventing one from disease infections or a substance that is used by a person to enhance his or her physical and mental state in the perceived effect. Drugs used for different purposes and their effect depend on which cause for usage. It causes both positive and negative consequences directly to the user and in the long-run it affects the whole society or community. Drug addiction is the activity of uncontrollable dependence on a substance by the user no matter the harm caused by its usage. It is a habit that has been in many years hard to curb especially among the youths. “We must recognize that substance abuse and addiction is a disease, not a moral failing or easily abandoned self-indulgence,” (Califano, 2008).The cases of drug abuse have been on the rise over the recent years and resulted in crimes. The cases have a great effect affected the society in general since the reliable energetic youths have turned to drug abuse. However, some measures have been initiated to mitigate, curb and treat drug addiction in the society as outlined in the essay.