Millions of Americans take daily medications or supplements to treat both chronic and acute conditions. This can include prescriptions, vitamins, drops and over-the-counter remedies. During this time of the year, many of us also take over-the-counter medications to treat cold, flu and allergy symptoms that might otherwise keep us out of commission. What we may not realize, however, is that any medication we put into our systems – particularly if we combine it with alcohol or another medicine – could possibly impair us, leaving us with slowed response times, profound sleepiness and an inability to safely operate a vehicle. We also may not know that the impact of a medicine can last long after any immediate effects have worn off. For example, we may take an OTC cold medicine at night in order to sleep better. We may assume that, come morning, the depressant effect of the medication is out of our system and that we are fine to go about our business. That isn’t always the case; studies have shown slowed reaction times and drowsiness can last up to a full day after taking an OTC medication designed to induce sleep. If we drive while in this slightly impaired state, we could potentially harm others or ourselves because we are literally falling asleep behind the wheel. …show more content…
Such an effect is common with some types of medications, including those to
Towards the end of the 20th century, most of the studies focusing on substance abuse focused on the needs of men. This means that the percentage of women affected by substance abuse remained unknown for several decades. In the recent past, studies have been done to analyze the psychological, health, and economic challenges affecting women who abuse different substances (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2015). This marginalized group has been selected in order to understand the major health problems and experiences affecting them. By so doing, the information obtained from the study can be used to design evidence-based care models to support the target population.
An off-duty police officer was invited to a house party by an old high school friend. A majority of the party was being held in the backyard where all the drinking took place. After getting a few drink the officer when into the home to utilize the bathroom and on his way in he noticed several people in the bathroom snorting cocaine.
According to the Diagnostic Statistic Manual 5 (DSM-5) substance use disorder is when the individual has a dependency on alcohol or drug, followed by penetrating craving and antisocial behavior to acquire the substance. The terms substance abuse and substance dependence refer to substance use disorder, which has been separated into three classifications as follows
With access to prescription drugs, people are able to treat a multitude of diseases and illnesses. These drugs help deal with pain, inability to sleep, depression, and much more. Every day we are increasingly living in a world where there is better living through chemicals. However, what most do not seem to see is the rising tide of pain, illness, and ultimately death being caused by the pills people take every day. Most keep drugs in a special place in their minds, where they see them as harmless. Sadly, this is not the case, and in some cases our prescription drugs can be just as harmful as illegal drugs (King 68).
According to the SAMHSA (2010) report on the national survey on drug use and health almost 22.5 million people are reported to be associated with substance abuse disorder (SAMHSA, 2010). This illness was found to be very common in all age groups, both sex, and seniors. There are several effects on these individuals and their families. Many people who suffer from substance abuse disorders fail to acknowledge these serious consequences. First of all, no response of pain relief can be seen with smaller doses of pain medications, as their bodies are used to high levels of various substances at the same time. Nurses become frustrated when they try to treat and help these patients with pain. Sometimes it is difficult to think about ethical principles when nurses have to deal with such patients with pain and suffering.
The scenario I am choosing describing the variables or conditions involved in drug abuse will be hitting close to home. As long as I can remember my father’s drug abuse choice was always alcohol.
Annotated Bibliography Thesis: In the American society today, many families today and individuals are affected by the constant abuse of drugs and alcohol. Both alcohol and drug abuse victimize children and teens of all ages, ruin lives and damage families. Crimando, William, and T. F. Riggar.
Mark Rodriguez English 3 Honors Christina Nidowicz 29 October 2017 Annotated Bibliography Dr. Tedros. “Substance Abuse.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 2017, www.who.int/topics/substance_abuse/en/. Dr. Tedros, director of the World Health organization, refers to the harmful and hazardous use of psychoactive substances. He explains how the use of these drugs can lead to a change in behavior, a strong desire to take the drug, difficulty in controlling its use, and a severe change in behavior. He then explains the many policies his organization has to prevent the use of non medication cannabis.
The 2014 Act provides the police and local councils with fast and flexible powers to stop and prevent illicit drug use, production or distribution from premises. If activities cause nuisance to the public or disorder near the premises the new closure power can be used. An important innovation is that the new power covers a wide and flexible range of behaviour that can be used immediately to close a building for up to 48 hours.
Other substance/medication-induced disorders are disorders that develop as a direct result of drug use. It must occur within one month of a person engaging in drug use. It must be identified that these disorders did not develop until a person engaged in drug use and no longer remain once a person is no longer engaging in that particular drug. The exclusions to this criterion is substance-induced neurocognitive disorders or hallucinogen persisting perception
Thousands of years ago, humans first started drinking wine, then later on in around 4000 B.C. narcotics were used, but during the 19th century is when the active substances in drugs were found. Many of these substances were given over the counter and weren 't regulated, which meant that people could easily obtain substances such as morphine, cocaine, landuam, and many others. During the early 1900s, an estimate of about 250,000 people were abusing a substance within the United States. Substance abuse is a serious problem which can affect one 's physical and psychological capabilities, their relationships, and also their daily life overall. Overusing a substance may lead to addiction, which can be hard to overcome, but it 's not impossible.
Governors Highway Safety (2015) and Leader (2014) states that over 400 drugs are tracked by NHTSA that can cause impairment and there is growing evidence that shows drugs are just as capable as alcohol in automobile related fatalities. People do not realize that any type of drug, even sleeping pills can lead to low performance on the road (Kuehn, 2013). Kuehn states that even after sleep, individuals who have taken sleeping pills may remain too impaired to drive. This shows how even prescribed medication can cause impairment, so not only are illegal drugs impacting the safety of the roads, but medication people take that doctors prescribe are putting people at risk. National Institute on Drug (2015) and NHTSA (2015) states that drivers who used marijuana and then drove were associated with greater risk of crashes due to lane weaving, and poor reaction time and attention to the road. Marijuana alters the mind just like alcohol does, the effects are different, but both substances cause impairment. These effects on society are only hurting people, but there are ways to combat the
Prescription drugs such as opioids, stimulants, and sedatives are being used appropriately for medical reasons, however fifty-two million people have used these drugs for non-medical reasons (Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), 2012). Unfortunately, it has been realized that this issue is becoming an epidemic, and that seventy-eight people are dying each day from prescription overdoses setting a record high in 2014 and beating out
According to the CDC, driving under the influence of alcohol causes one death every 51 minutes in the United States. While the driving public may not know this exact statistic, they are aware of the general effects that this legal drug has on driving. However, many are completely in the dark about other drugs that also impair one's ability to drive. These are prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs. These drugs also slow down reaction times, impair judgement, and cause drowsiness. Some people mistakenly believe that only alcohol and illegal recreational drugs affect driving. Others are willfully negligent about driving under the influence of prescription and OTC drugs.
It is very scary that a known fatal substance is so readily available in today’s society. A lot of people like to relax with a drink of alcohol; however, it can cause many serious problems for others who start to become dependent on it.