Pharmaceutical formulations as prescription or over-the-counter medications are used to treat human and animal disease conditions (Thiele-Bruhn and Beck, 2005). Generally, drugs and other related compounds are biologically active and their molecular weights may range from 200 to 500 / 1000 Dalton. Currently, there is paucity of information on the total global administration of drugs to humans and animals. Despite the unavailability of data, sales in 2004 alone totaled $518 billion (Kümmerer, 2009). An increase to about $1.2 trillion by 2016 is expected due to the influence of merging markets, biologics and generics (IMS Health, 2012). Consequently, increased production, sales and ingestion of pharmaceutical chemicals (PHCs) may translate to higher residues in the environment. Typically, an ingested drug becomes metabolized and a part is excreted through urine and / or feces possibly in different forms. However, their removal during conventional wastewater treatments is inefficient because of their nature (Zuehlke et al., 2004; Daughton, 2007). Prescription (branded and non-branded) and over-the-counter medication are the major classifications of pharmaceutical products available to the United States (U.S.) population. Previous studies have detected chemicals in wastewaters, effluents and surface waters in the past. For example, several organic compounds were found in UK estuaries (Thomas and Hilton, 2004), Spanish waters (Gaffney et al., 2015) and source water from
In the novel, Zeitoun, Kathy tried many times to convince Zeitoun into evacuating, when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Unfortunately she was unsuccessful, and therefore he stayed in the city through the hurricane. The novel, explains Zeitoun’s obstinate refusal to evacuate from New Orleans with his wife and children during the hurricane. “[Zeitoun's] grandmother had stayed put during countless storms in her home on Arwad Island, and he planned to do the same. A home was worth fighting for.”(Zeitoun, 70, Eggers). Despite the fact that a house is may seem replaceable, this is actually symbolic of assimilation in the United States, just like Zeitoun’s grandmother refused to leave her house during many storms on Award Island, Zeitoun's has now settled in New Orleans and he is not planning on leaving.
Concentrations of pharmaceuticals and acesulfame detected in Sydney estuary water were generally lower than for other marine/estuary waters and considerably lower than typical waste water (dilution factors up to 1000) reported in the literature, how- ever propranolol, fluoxetine, iopromide and carbamazepine were at similar levels to other marine locations. Generally low concen- trations of pharmaceuticals in Sydney estuary water are expected as none of these chemicals should be dispersed to this water
Prescription drug abuse is as dangerous to your health as illegal drug use. According to the article “Prescription Pain Medications: What you need to know,” there are many pieces of evidence that show the danger of prescription medications. Three examples of theses dangers from prescription medications in the article is that people can stop breathing, can begin addictions that may get worse, and overall overdosing on prescription medications. These prescription medications, opioids, such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Percodan, etc. are made with a plant called the Poppy Plant, which is also an ingredient for illegal opioids such as heroin. In paragraph five it says, “In fact, they now outnumber deaths from heroin and cocaine combined.” Furthermore,
A symbol is something used to stand for something else. In literature, a symbol is most often used to represent an idea more complex in scope and meaning — often a moral, religious, or philosophical concept or value. “Nathaniel Hawthorne has a perfect atmosphere for the symbols in The Scarlet Letter because the Puritans saw the world through allegory.” (Cliffs Notes).
New drugs present an opportunity for new money. People have not seen this before and advertisements on television, in magazines, and online present their drug as some kind of miraculous discovery. The world is constantly changing and improving, we know new and better technology is coming out daily, and we believe the same about health care, to a certain extend we are correct. Over the past hundred years we have drastically improved healthcare, for prescription drugs with a brand name, it needs to be understood that this is a for profit business. Advertised prescription drugs are not a news flash from the medical field, they are a ploy from a pharmaceutical company to encourage consumers to purchase their brand. Aspirin, while having a multitude
9) Administration and Control of Medicines in Care Homes and Children’s Services June 2003, and
Prescription drugs killed 47,055 people last year. Marijuana killed none. “You would have to smoke 15,000 joints in 20 minutes for it to become toxic” (Joel Warner). It is not a drug you can easily overdose on. That’s why it is a good choice for people who are struggling mentally or physically. It has been proven to help people suffering from PTSD, anxiety, and depression. It slows the effects of alzheimer's and helps with the pain that chemotherapy causes. It would be like giving these people prescription drugs like the ones used to help with depression and anxiety, except it isn’t harmful to the body at all.
In taking any medication there are always positives and negative side effects. Overprescribing medication and over diagnosing different disease in children has caused these effects to become increasingly prevent in society today. An increasing number of children and teenagers are being prescribed drugs as a “quick fix” rather than treating the root problem.
To continue, erosion is also a prominent cause that brings contaminants into watercourses[ix]. Other important toxins that can end up in the water cycle and affect water quality, plants and animal[x] are metal sources found in fertilizers, animal feed and manure, such as the nutrients of copper, zinc, manganese and iron.[xi] Finally, high concentration of nutrient waste, such as domestic sewage effluents, can cause cyanobacteria to expand[xii]. Once water contaminants reach a lake in large concentration, cyanobacteria can suddenly develop and “result in safe water bodies becoming a toxic soup[xiii]”.
An important, and often overlooked issue that school administrators face is the widespread use of pharmaceutical drugs to address mental health problems. Statistics show that prescription of mental health drugs has been on an upward trend. In 2001, thirty-nine out of a thousand children were using antipsychotics (Harris, Sorbero, Kogan, Schuster, & Stein, 2012, p. 1). While these drugs may have a short-term positive impact, this tactic is not effective long-term due to the side effects and the potential for abuse of these drugs. According to Compton and Volkow, “prescription drug misuse was second, after marijuana, in terms of prevalence among the illicit substances among 12th graders”. They further state that utilization of pharmaceuticals
Have you ever noticed how many advertisements there are on TV for prescription medicine? How about in magazines or on web pages? Pharmaceutical companies have a preponderant influence in America’s use of medicine than you might think, and not just by making the medicines we use. These companies have also contributed to the rising spending on medications and use falsehood to sell more products. Drug companies have a huge effect on our lives as Americans, but not always in the best way.
Polypharmacy refers to the concurrent usage of multiple medications. These agents include both prescribed and over-the-counter products like antacids and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbals. Most people assume that all dietary supplements are safe however just like any other medications, dietary supplements could cause adverse reactions and drug interactions. It becomes harmful when patient are prescribed too many medications by multiple providers working independently of each other. The more drugs a person takes, the risk for error increases including an increase in adverse reactions, drug interactions, cost and a poor compliance with drug regimen. In order to prevent these complications, providers should educate patient and
Postpartum depression is one of the most commons disorders in the early few weeks of child birth. According to the American Psychology Association almost 1 in 7 women are Likely to inherit the disorder. Postpartum depression is caused by the rapid drop of estrogen and progestrone hormone following the birth of a child. The effects include excessive crying without reasoning, irritability, anxiety, loss of memory, and the inability to focus. Within the early weeks of child birth it is expected for a mother embrace her baby however; The symptoms of postpartum depression can cause intrusive thoughts that can harm both mother and child. Many women suffer from the postpartum due to the lack of a support system. It is likely that if a mother doesn't
“A common misconception is that all man-made chemicals are harmful, and all natural chemicals are good for us. However, many natural chemicals are just as harmful to human health, if not more so” (Lorch). Dorea Reeser provides a different perspective to counteract the harmful effects of manmade chemicals. Dorea Reeser upholds a Ph. D. in environmental chemistry at the University of Toronto. She researches and studies the chemical reactions at water surfaces, and how the chemical and physical properties influence these reactions and the release of important trace gases into the troposphere.
Global pollution is increasing due to the variations in natural and anthropogenic activities, leading to contaminations in various aquatic and