...past-time activity is still on the rise with new casinos being built every year. Before 1978, there were no casinos outside of Nevada (Grinols, 2006). Today there is some form of legalized gambling in every state except two: Hawaii and Utah. (Kearney, 2005) Commercial casino revenues increased 266% from $8.7 billion in 1990 to $31.8 billion in 1999. (NGISCR, 1999) Commercial casino revenues were recorded at $37.5 billion in 2007. (AGA, 2011) Revenues were recorded at 34.6 billion in 2010 (AGA, 2011), a staggering amount even after the drastic economic decline our economy endured in the previous years. With the ever-increasing popularity and access to these structures, increases in the negative impacts are being felt. Gambling addictions and pathological gamblers are growing in numbers, and more and more people are surfacing in addiction centers seeking help (Pavlako, 1999). (Pavlako, 1999) points out that the pathological gambling addiction can be compared to that of an alcohol...
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...The Economic Benefits of Addiction Treatment Versus Prison Economics 2302 CRN 11789: Chu Nguyen Fall 2013 Lisa Carpenter The Economic Benefits of Addiction Treatment Versus Prison In 2010, it was estimated that there were 22.6 million Americans that were addicted to illicit drugs. The economic effects of drug addiction are staggering. It affects everything from health care costs to prison costs, to unemployment and social costs. In the past, the solution to drug addiction was to lock up the drug addicts and dealers in prison, get them out of the eye of society and the problem will go away. The prisons became overcrowded and new prisons had to be built to accommodate them. In the 1990’s, states started to implement drug courts and began to address the problem of addiction. By treating the demand (the addiction), the supply, and all of the problems that go along with it will ultimately be greatly reduced. A woman, whom I will call Sarah, became addicted to the pain killer, Vicodin when she had her wisdom teeth out. For years, in order to feed her addiction, Sarah would go from doctor to doctor requesting the medication. Eventually, the addiction became so out of control that she needed more pills than the doctors were willing to prescribe her. At this point, if she just stopped taking the medication she would go into physical withdrawals similar to heroin. To get the quantity of medication she needed on a daily basis, she started calling in to the pharmacy...
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...including; unemployment, divorce, foster care for children in homes of addicted individuals, domestic abuse, child abuse, overcrowding of prison systems, and the list goes on and on (NIDA, 2012). This business proposal presents a new medication called Probuphine created to assist individuals fighting the battle against opioid addiction. The market structure and elasticity of the product is discussed throughout the proposal, with a specialized focus on the rationale for pricing related to the elasticity or non-elasticity of the product. Marginal cost and marginal revenue are analyzed as the proposal progresses and non-pricing strategies are evaluated to choose which strategy is the optimal choice for the success of the business. Last, the fixed and variable costs associated with the production of the medication are determined and discussed. Many people believe that addiction is something that can be controlled by will power or choices, but in fact, research shows that addiction is a complex disease, much like bipolar, schizophrenia, or even diabetes (NIDA, 2012).When considering other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as; asthma or heart disease, similarly, addiction can be managed successfully. When relapse occurs, which will most likely happen in the initial phase of treatment, it does not indicate treatment failure, it indicates that treatment must be...
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...to gamble those things to feed their addiction. Same as an adult expect they may have the money.I’ve learned that is newest form of an addiction. Gambling was once classified on the DSM as an ICD Impulse Control Disorder. Categorizing gambling as an addiction made it clear that people cannot control themselves. Adolescents are the primes example Carl Robertson says because the brain has not fully developed. After age 25 adults are then considered to understand the choices being made. Our influences regardless of age but of social media and its influence are what encourage these behaviors. In the article “To play or not to play: A personal dilemma in pathological gambling” apply gambling to a cognitive identity. That it controls your mind in decision making, and all important implication. It can become an adrenaline thing where the higher the risk and reward regardless of the short outcome. Although the secondary article “Pathological Choice: The Neuroscience of Gambling and Gambling Addiction” stands to believe that it is a cognitive approach they focus more so on the mechanisms, or the economic understanding, and cognitive distortions associated with gambling. In the article “To play or not to play: A personal dilemma in pathological gambling” this APA style paper demonstrates a focus on purpose of study. This article had more scientific study approach. They studied rather than only providing information human personality traits, economic situations, with doing self reports...
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...homeless are where they’re at as a result of their own actions. As a result of being homeless, individuals are left to fend for themselves in the streets, and ultimately these individuals are more vulnerable to using drugs, alcohol, committing crimes, and even prostitution. This only makes the people who already label these homeless individuals deviant as even more deviant. I argue that homelessness is not a form of deviance, that it is not a personal choice to be homeless but that there are conditions that are out of those individuals control that can lead to homelessness. It is more of an economic and lack of information issue than it is an issue of whether it is deviant or not. Homelessness itself isn’t deviant, but under certain circumstances it can lead to deviant behavior. As Jeffery Chaichana Peterson states on his article on homelessness (2012), “As a result of urban deprivation, economic decline, a rise in housing costs, and a decline in blue-collar wages, homelessness remains a major problem in the United States” (p. 248). Peterson then goes on to provide several statistics and estimates on homelessness throughout the years. Peterson (2012) states “The National Alliance to End Homelessness (2012) estimated 636,017 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a given night in 2011 (approximately 21 homeless people per 10,000 in...
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...Drug Addiction Drug abuse is rife in many countries. Billions of dollars are spent internationally preventing drug use, treating addicts, and fighting drug-related crime. Although drugs threaten many societies, their effects can also be combated successfully. This essay looks at some of the effects of drug use on society, and suggests some solutions to the problem. Drug abuse causes multiple problems for countries and communities. The medical and psychological effects are very obvious. Addicts cannot function as normal members of society. They neglect or abuse their families, and eventually require expensive treatment or hospitalization. The second effect is on crime. Huge police resources are needed to fight smuggling and dealing. Criminal gangs and mafia underworlds develop with the money from drugs. However, the menace of drugs can be fought. Education is the first battle. Children need to be told at home and in school about drugs. People need to be aware of the effects so that they can avoid this problem. A second approach is to increase police manpower and create effective laws to stop dealers. However the main target should be the user: Families and counsellors need to talk to children and people at risk. Parents need to look at their children and help them to become responsible. Worthwhile jobs and housing are also needed to give people a role in society. In conclusion, although the problem of drugs may seem impossible to eliminate, there are concrete...
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...Equality greatly [plays into the wellbeing of society and through economic, social and cultural rights, degrees of equality and achievable. Richard Wilkinson and Kate Picket’s chapter “Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better”, on equality and health along with additional rights, highlight how inequality due to an economic gap can affect society as a whole (Wilkinson and Picket, 2011). Different ways in which the economic gap may be shortened and how the current measures addressing adversities scrutinize people on the poor end of the gap are important concepts that were highlighted through the resources. After the data and arguments presented in Wilkinson’s TED Talk and his chapter with Kate Picket, there remain questions on the feasibility...
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...QBT Task 5 Mwandaga,J Western Governors University Language Communication- Research QBT Task 5 Question: Does drug abuse affect the society and the economy? Drug abuse is the misuse of prescription drug or use of illicit drugs to an extent that adversely affects the individuals health(Collins & Lapsley, 2008)It is a relapsing condition that affects an individual, family and the society and impacts on the quality of life of the family, victims of the abuser and the abuser.(Harwood, Fountain, & Livermore, 1998).According to Califano,2008,drug abuse in one of the top five official government killers, with recorded 40 million suffering from disabling and debilitating illnesses and injuries and death of about 600,000 Americans . Rampant use of illicit drugs by Americans started in the second half of the 19th century during The Civil War. During the same period, pharmaceutical companies added opiates and cocaine in their products (Califano, 2008, p. 19). Illicit drugs include (but not limited) marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, methamphetamine and illicit use of legal psychoactive medications. (Harwood et al., 1998).Drug abuse affects individuals and the society, socially, economically and physically and is a contributing factor in increasing mortality and morbidity. (McGinnis & Foege, 1999). According to Harwood et al,1998, 23, drug-related deaths occurred in 2000 due to different causes, for instance poisoning, overdose, HIV, homicide and hepatitis B and...
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...of serious illnesses or injuries among Americans. Abused drugs include Amphetamines, Anabolic steroids, Club drugs, Cocaine, Heroin, Inhalants, Marijuana and Prescription drugs. Drug addiction is actually a disease and quitting is more than having a strong will or good intentions. Drugs change the brain which causes quitting to be more difficult even if the abuser is ready to do so because of withdrawals or other symptoms. It has so many negative consequences on the abuser and society. Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States, including productivity and health- and crime-related costs, exceed $600 billion annually. Estimates of the total overall costs of substance abuse in the United States, including productivity and health and crime related costs, surpass $600 billion annually. This includes approximately $193 billion for illicit drugs, (1) $193 billion for tobacco, (2) and $235 billion for alcohol. (3) As bad as these numbers are they don’t fully describe the other prices people pay such as crime, loss of employment, failure in school, domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness and death. It harms unborn babies and destroys families. There are different types of treatment for drug abuse. But the best is to prevent drug abuse in the first place. Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, regardless of the harmful consequences to the addicted person and to those...
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...that warm cup. Tired, stressed, anxious. It's not surprising this working mom savors those caffeine fixes. It's a bad habit, for sure. But could it be something more? Increasingly, experts say that certain seemingly harmless habits taken to excess - are actually soft addictions Soft addictions are an escape from uncomfortable feelings," says Judith Wright, who wrote a book on the subject, The Soft Addiction Solution. A hot cup of coffee becomes a Band-Aid for work stress. More stress means more coffee. "If it leads to an unsustainable emotional high, or a feeling of numbness," says Wright, "that's a soft addiction." Unlike "hard" addictions, like drugs or alcohol, which can pose grave health risks, soft addictions aren't life-threatening. However, they can act as roadblocks that people aren't aware of. According to a Harris poll of more than 1,000 people, up to 90 percent of respondents suffered from soft addictions. Some of the most common: watching a lot of television, stress snacking, drinking too much caffeine, shopping, emailing and social networking. "Whenever you place something - be it caffeine or an email- above the important people in your life, you're causing harm," says Jennifer Ginsberg, MSW, an addiction specialist with more than 15 years of experience. "You're telling your child or husband or friend that a latte or an email is more important. That's a tiny hurt that you inflict everyday, and in the case of a true addict, several times a day." Ultimately, these actions...
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...On any given day homeless numbers rise and fall due to economic conditions, incarcerations, death and possibly successfully pulling yourself up out of the situation. There are many factors that can lead to homelessness: job loss, addiction, domestic abuse and mental illness. Once a person is in the grip of homelessness it is hard to rise out of. Survival becomes the number one concern. They face challenges everyday that most people never have to face. Getting money for food, or alcohol or drugs is their most basic goal. A person is at such a low point in their life that they feel worthless, suffer from low self-esteem and hopelessness. For many addiction doesn’t begin until after they find themselves homeless as it is a way to get through the day and forget. Economic problems in society today stemming from the subprime mortgage crises have led to a high number of foreclosures. Unemployment rates have risen at a fast rate and people are finding themselves financially unstable. Combine the two some are finding they have no options left and nowhere to go. Tent cities are growing in numbers which we haven’t seen since the 1980’s. The majority of people living in the tent cities are people suffering because of the economic recession. The addict and mentally Ill can be found in other locations. Many women find themselves in dire straits due to domestic problem. They get married and have children early in life with no post secondary education and one day found themselves in dire...
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...try this activity. Today gambling is a socially accepted as night out at the movies and as common as baseball while most people gamble for recreation and suffer no ill effects, the number of problem gamblers has flourished as the industry has grown, both families and communities fell the economic and societal effects of gambling. Gambling is a behavior which causes disruptions in all areas of life psychological, physical and social. It has and element of addiction similar to that of drug and alcohol addiction controlling the impulse. The gambler slowly loses control over the impulse to gamble and becomes emotionaly caught up in the need for the excitement, when losing gamblers are caught up in a frenzy to try to win back losses and when wining become over confident that they will win more, this cycle leads to a preoccupation with gambling. The need to plan the next venture and where to get money consumes the gamblers every thought. These toughts can lead a person into doing things they would normally not do at this stage gambling starts to affect other aspects of the gamblers life. Gambling is very harmful addiction which may lead to the destruction of person and their family and should there for...
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...accurate depiction of the effectiveness of a decriminalized state focusing on harm reduction. The state’s drug policy should be a total legalization of all drugs, with an emphasis on harm reduction, public health, and strict regulations. Prohibition has caused more harm than good for minorities and developing nations. For over a century, prohibition was believed to be the only effective method of controlling drug usage; this is no longer the case. Thus, the main objectives of prohibition are pointless to begin with. The current prohibition laws have created vast economic disparities for millions of minorities. The skewed enforcement of drug laws on minorities allows for discretionary arrest, making victimization is all too easy. Tougher drug laws are the reason why 29% of black American men spend some time in jail, compared to 4% of white males. The profiling of drug users has created an immense socio-economic issue for minorities, creating a continual cycle of poverty and crime. The model of a democratic society, of all equal citizens is not possible with prohibition. Most opponents of prohibition are concluding that the effects of our current drug policies are...
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...“Homelessness is a worldwide problem that affects millions. You will find them sleeping on sidewalks, under bridges, on park benches, in cars and in any little cubby hole they can find. You will see women, men, young kids and families” (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). ("The Portland Rescue Mission" ( 2015 ). Retrieved from http://www.portlandrescuemission.org/learn-more/myths-about-homelessness According to ‘the Portland Rescue Mission’ (2015), “The methodology for finding and counting the homeless is imperfect; we simply do not find everyone”. “Why are they all out there? What is Homelessness and what causes it? Homelessness is a very complicated issue that has no social or economic boundary. Mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and economic times affect all ages of the Homeless” (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). 1. Homelessness and Mental Health Mental Illness seems to be one of the leading causes of homelessness. “During my involvement with the homeless, I knew of a women name Frankie. Frankie was a school teacher, had a husband and two children. One night their home burned down with Frankie’s husband and children being lost in the fire. Frankie lost all rational thinking, not understanding why she lived. Frankie had a complete mental breakdown and ended up on the streets of Dallas homeless. This is a case of mental illness being the cause of homelessness. (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015)....
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...In the Psychological model, the addiction was driven from stress. Guilt and shame were usually associated with the addiction, but other reasons while play a role in the addiction (Lewis, 2014). The client uses blame for using, like another person caused them to do self-medicate. Therapist may use behavior therapy, or use coping mechanisms to encourage a total recovery (Lewis, 2014). The psychological model suggests that the addiction is an individual program (Lewis, 2014). Within the Psychological model, drugs, like heroin, work to mimic the brains own chemicals because they activate neurons, which do not active neurons in the same way as they normal would, this leads to abnormal messages that are transmitted in your brain (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014) Drugs, for example, Cocaine, can release neurotransmitters that prevent...
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