The Struggle With Drugs And Depression

As the second decade of the 21st century progresses, the population approaches seven billion. With so many people, how are people supposed to stand out in job applications, or catch the administrators’ eye as he or she reads applications to highly prestigious colleges and universities? More and more people are asking this question, and more and more people are finding help in a small pill. Originally diagnosed for Alzheimer’s disease and ADHD, these drugs are increasingly used off label in universities and workplaces. In society, people call this form of off label use of neuroenhancing drugs chiefly two different things: smart drugs informally, and nootropics formally. The word nootropic originated from a Romanian Dr. Corneliu E.

I was first drawn to (psychology/counseling) after a close friend of mine attempted suicide during our senior year of high school leaving him with permanent brain damage. I had no idea he was experiencing those feelings to begin with, and thus I began to educate myself on how to identify signs of depression and how to provide help. Later the same year, I lost my primary guardian, my grandmother, very suddenly and unexpectedly. I then began to notice my own developing depression and thus entered counseling where I became aware of just how powerful the therapeutic relationship is. I also witnessed second-hand the capabilities of this relationship through a close friend of mine in college who successfully recovered from major depression and anorexia nervosa. All of these events lead me to take an introductory psychology course upon beginning college and to ultimately choose to pursue a psychology degree.

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.

In order to understand drug and alcohol use, it is important to be clear about what we mean by the terms ‘drugs’ and ‘alcohol. Alcohol is a legal, sedative drug, which changes the way we think, feel and do. It can make you more relaxed or it can take away your judgment. For most countries, like Canada, it is legal for adults over 18 years to buy and drink. There are many different types of alcoholic drinks such as beer, wine and spirits (whiskey, vodka, gin etc.). Drugs are chemicals which, when taken into our bodies, alters normal bodily function, resulting any psychological and behavioral change. Some drugs are legal, such as caffeine, tobacco/nicotine and alcohol. Other drugs like cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin are illegal. Legal drugs also include medicines that are available over the counter at a chemist or prescribed by a doctor. A person can misuse these drugs by taking them in a way, which they are not supposed to be used or in amounts not prescribed by their doctor.

Social conflicts and struggles are an inevitable part of any society in any country. These struggles can include an increased rate in crime, unemployment, domestic/general violence, and overall civilian depression. When governments cannot seem to find a means to an end, they often turn and look for something to blame for their struggles, and that thing is more often than not, drugs. For many years, several opiates and drugs were primarily used for medicinal purposes, were seen to have an abundance of health benefits and was widely accepted among communities. Although, with the increasing social conflicts and economic conditions, authorities turned to and targeted many different forms of once accepted drugs, and made them the scapegoat for the problems they were facing.

One of the fastest growing epidemics in the United States is prescription drug abuse as reported by the DEA (Partnership for Drug Free Kids, 2013). All ages are guilty of abuse of medications, however, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2016) reports young adults abuse these prescription drugs at the highest rates compared to all other age groups. The NIDA reports misuse and abuse is highest among opioid pain relievers, ADHD stimulants, and anti-anxiety drugs (NIDA, 2016). The use of these prescription drugs to treat a variety of physical and mental health issues is quickly becoming a top conservative treatment option. While pharmaceutical companies make extreme amounts of profit off of these physical and mental issues, young adults are increasingly taking on the consequences of addiction and overdose.

Spearheaded by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, the movement known as the “War on Drugs” sought to control the sale and use of psychoactive drugs as well as promote access to treatment for those who abuse and misuse these substances (Bagley, 1988; Elkins, 1990). Policies implemented prohibited the possession and distribution of narcotics (e.g. marijuana, cocaine, heroin); the punitive policies, which often resulted in hefty fines and prison sentences for violators, ultimately prompted the emergence of a black market, more potent and lethal drugs, synthetic drugs as well as led to the increase in organized crime and prison population (Bagley, 1988; Broden, 2013; Cussen & Block, 2000; Elkins, 1990; Friedman, 1991; Henderson, 1990; MacCoun, 1993; Powell, 2013). Despite the initial intention, there was rarely sufficient funding allocated towards achieving the latter goals—of promoting and advocating treatment for drug addicts (Bagley, 1988).

This can make it difficult to tell precisely which drug is affecting an individual’s emotions. Doctors do, however, have a pretty good idea of what each narcotic can do due to research in individuals that have taken one drug at a time.

At the same time my mental illnesses were beginning to materialize. Once I realized something was wrong and had been officially diagnosed, I began to develop and intense interest in the human mind. Last semester I took a concurrent general psychology class. By the end of the first week, I knew that there was no other profession for me. After intense research and planning, I finally made the decision to major in psychiatry. This will allow me to work in a career field that will not only hold my interest, but will provide me with an atmosphere that will satisfy my need to help others.

“Substance Use Disorders” are new to the DSM-5. Previously, the terms “abuse” and “dependence” where used instead. In general, the DSM-5 considers a Substance Use Disorder to be recurrent drug use that causes impairment and continued use, despite substance use related problems. The DSM-5 also focuses on how substance use causes a change in brain functioning. The change is primarily responsible for intense drug cravings, as well as repeated relapses. Finally, the DSM-5 divides use into four groups, including impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. It may also be difficult for substance abusers to be accommodated at home and it may not be tolerated in the community of residents of rehabilitation programs. The author states, that they end up losing their support systems

The cause of Clinical depression has long been a mystery to physicians and researchers. Many different theories have been proposed, but no conclusive evidence has been put forth. However, most of what we know about depression stems from the results of certain drugs which have been successful in treating the clinically depressed. These anti--depressants have led to the assumption that depression is most likely due to a chemical imbalance (of neurotransmitters) which somehow leads to the symptoms of depression. To try and write a paper on all the theories of depression would be endless, as would be a study on all the different types of

Working in the psychiatric field was a choice I made at a young age. However, the profession in which I would like to work within the psychiatric field continued to evolve as I grew. Throughout my high school years, I explored the options of psychologist and therapist. As I learned more in depth about what each profession was capable of doing in the psychiatric field, I worried there was more paperwork than actual patient interaction. By the beginning of my senior year of high school, I was focused on becoming an inpatient psychiatric nurse.

Ever since I was only a few months old, my birth mother put drugs and herself before anyone else, including my father and I. My father is originally from Saudi Arabia and came to America for better opportunities and to make his family proud. After a few months of living in Oklahoma, he met my mother and they ended up getting married. They soon found out that my mother was pregnant with me and they were both elated. After I was born, my father began to notice that my mother was acting strangely and not being herself; this was obviously a result of her getting back on drugs. My father did not have the prior knowledge that my mother had been on drugs and had quit them multiple times before having met him. One night my father came home from work

Abusing hard drugs and getting addicted may come from low self esteem which can cause many problems. People with low self esteem have more of a hard time getting over negative thoughts or feelings, which can cause them to turn to drugs to change these thoughts and feelings to positive ones. Depression and anxiety also factor in drug addiction. Depression causes low energy and sadness, and anxiety causes irritability and trouble falling asleep along with staying asleep. These two can lead someone to turn to drugs such as Mephedrone, Crack and Heroin. These drugs have one thing in common; they give someone a sense of wellbeing. When people take Mephedrone they experience feelings such as feeling alert, elevated mood and a sense of wellbeing. Crack can make people experience feelings such as exhilaration, increased confidence and a sense of wellbeing. Heroin causes people to have feelings of pleasure, being warm and content and a sense of wellbeing. These all cause intense feelings, and after someone takes it, they may want more because they no longer have negative thoughts. Depression and anxiety, caused by self esteem issues, can cause drug addiction.