...alarm about the growing problem of drug abuse. This paper identifies some of the risks of experimenting with narcotic substances. It contains the brief history of drug use and how it changed throughout the years. This paper examines three major risks: health risk, addictiveness of drugs and antisocial behavior. Keywords: drug, narcotic substances, risk, behavior, addictive. The Risks of Experimenting with Drugs For thousands of years, people have used drugs. Archeology and literature help us to assume that narcotic substances were known by mankind throughout the whole history. They were used by different people, for different reasons. For example, Ancient Greeks used drugs in their religious rituals, cannabis was known in Ancient China as a very good painkiller and shamans of different tribes used hallucinogenic mushrooms. In the early history of the humankind drugs were considered sacred. Only much later, people began to realize the negative consequences of the use of narcotic substances. Nowadays pretty much all people know about risks of experimenting with drugs. But still, according to the latest research, 1 in 20 people aged 15 to 64 worldwide used an illicit drug at least once in 2009 (“Worldwide illegal drug use estimated at 200 million people a year”, 2012). Probably the most talked-about risk of experimenting with drugs is health risk. Narcotic substances can cause different illnesses, both physical and mental. Consequences of drug use may differ, depending on the type...
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...Risks of Mental Health Drugs for Our Youth Rapa Barsel Prof. Stephen Webber ENG 215048VA016-1142-001 February 15, 2014 Although there is a considerable amount of children with mental health disorders, more research and stricter regulations are necessary to investigate the diagnoses and the overuse of prescribing mental health drugs to our children. In our current age of advanced technology, medicine is also advancing. Although, these advances can detect many illnesses earlier on, they may not be an accurate diagnosis for minors. Thousands of children are prescribed antipsychotic drugs without proper medical assessments. I have a two and half year old son and I would not be willing to put him on any mental health drug unless I was absolutely certain it was necessary. These mental health drugs can cause suicidal thinking and behavior. It can also lead to an altered personality, or lack thereof. These drugs can be harmful to brain and physical development in younger children. According to the U.S. Surgeon General (2000), as many as 1 in 10 American children and adolescents a year have “significant functional impairment” as a result of a mental health disorder. The trends in administering psychotropic medication to young children are on a rise in the U.S. Since psychotropic medications are substances that affect brain chemicals related to mood and behavior (NIMH, 2009). These trends have caused a great deal of debate. All parties without an economic agenda agree...
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...The potential risk involved in bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to the market is huge. The actual timescale of the project is longer then a decade, and the success rate is around 1 in a 1000. In fact for every 1000 compounds that are produced only around 30 of these show any sort of promising result. Therefore introducing a new drug into the market does not simply involved one idea and one compound but in fact a complexed process of trial and error so to speak. After years of research on difference compounds have taken place the company can then progress to a stage know as the ‘preclinical stage’. This is where animals are tested upon and it is also the initial stage in the labs. The time scale varies from 3 and a half to four years and the main aim of this stage is to look at the biological activity of the compound and also to evaluate its safety. After the animal testing has been completed they company are not allowed to start testing on humans until their investigational new drug application (IND) has been approved. The company have to file a IND with the FDA, they do so to gain approval to start the next stage, which is on humans. The FDA has 30 days to disapprove. The investigation carried out looks at previous experiments and also information on the new study being evaluated i.e. how is conducting the study, where it is taking place etc. They also look at the chemical structure of the new drug and what its new purpose will be in the market. The next stage of testing...
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...101: How the Food and Drug Administration evaluates, communicates, and manages drug benefit/risk Shirley Murphy, MD, and Rosemary Roberts, MD Silver Spring, Md A prominently displayed boxed warning, the so-called ‘‘black box,’’ is added to the labeling of drugs or drug products by the Food and Drug Administration when serious adverse reactions or special problems occur, particularly those that may lead to death or serious injury. Healthcare providers are often not knowledgeable about the origin, meaning, and implications of these ‘‘black box’’ warnings. In this review, our goal is to provide insight into how the Food and Drug Administration evaluates, communicates, and manages drug benefit/risk. We discuss drug labeling, the emphasis on safety throughout the drug approval process, legislative initiatives for safe use of drugs in children, and postmarketing safety surveillance. In addition, we encourage health care providers to report drug reactions to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch program. A discussion of new Food and Drug Administration initiatives to improve drug safety processes and methods to serve the public better are highlighted. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006;117:34-9.) Key words: Food and Drug Administration, adverse drug reactions, MedWatch, ‘‘black box’’ warning, drug labeling, drug benefit/risk, risk management, postmarketing surveillance, drug development Abbreviations used AERS: Adverse Event Reporting System CDER: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research...
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...one of these levels and how each level has accuracy and sterility for the safety of patients. These things are very important when working in the medical field. When making a drug and administering a drug. The first level is the Low-Risk level. This is the most sterile level. Low-Risk compounding is only done using sterile products. You also have to preform aseptic techniques. When compounding a product you can only use three sterile products at a time. Everything you do has to be aseptic. For example if you are reconstituting a drug each time you use a needle to pull up or insert a drug you have to change the old needle to a new sterile one. After compounding sterilely you have to properly store the drugs. The main storage temps are room temp, in the fridge and in the freezer. For Low-Risk room temperature should only be stored for no more than 48 hours. Refrigerator drugs should only be stored at a temp of 2C to 8C for 14 days. Drugs that need to be frozen to a solid state should be stored for 45 days at a temp of -25C to -10C. Low-Risk compounding is the most important to follow because if you do not compound aseptically you can harm a patient....
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...Case Analysis #1 Tuesday, January 22, 2013 Matt Janes Merck & Company, Inc: The Recall of Vioxx Introduction Geroge W. Merck stated once stated, “We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It is not for the profits. The profits follow. Initially, Vioxx was the blockbuster drug that Merck needed due to the upcoming Zocor patent cliff in 2006. With an estimated 27,785 heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths that could have been avoided if Celebrex had been used instead of Vioxx, Merck faces the possibility of not only having to pay enormous civil and criminal penalties, but also losing the trust of patients. Many parties are partially culpable, but Merck faces the severe uphill battle of regaining a reputation that once served as a market differentiator; in the 1980’s, Merck was voted the “Most Admired Company in American Business” for seven consecutive years. A critical issue in this case is to analyze the events listed in the case and propose an alternate course of action that may help prevent future deaths from other pharmaceutical drugs while not prohibitively restricting innovative research that could potentially save lives if tested properly. Critical Points and Issues Merck was relying on the success of Vioxx due to Zocor’s expiring patent and the direct competition Vioxx was engaged in with Celebrex, which had a first mover advantage. While Celebrex was also a Cox-2 inhibitor, Vioxx was the only Cox-2 inhibitor proven to be beneficial...
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...Gigi Rowe HCS{451} September 23, 2013 Tammy Czarnecki Risk/Quality Management There are different organizations that can be chosen to study the relationship between both risk and quality management. Risk management and quality management can be applied anywhere in the health care system. Risk management and quality management go hand in hand and have a complementary relationship. This relationship can be applied to the pharmacy organization. The pharmacy organization is the organization that definitely uses all that risk and quality management can offer. Pharmacy is the organization that was chosen using background knowledge and new information. Pharmacy is “the branch of the health sciences dealing with the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilization of drugs.” Pharmacies deal with prescription drugs and fulfilling out prescriptions to patients. Pharmacists employ the use of science and the knowledge they gained during their schooling. With this knowledge they perform tasks such as helping over physicians decide was is best for their client in terms of selection and compatibility with other prescriptions. However, they do not only help in providing information but gathering information as well though observation and communicating with the client. Through observation and communication, pharmacists can provide quality medication to clients and help them with their health in other ways. Pharmacists are not limited to just helping...
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...Unit 5 (M1): Discuss how different types of health promotion are used to benefit the health and wellbeing of individuals and the nation, using selected examples. The health promotion activities can include: • Health-risk advice • Health-promotion campaigns • Medical intervention Health-risk advice How does health-risk advice benefit the individual? – Drug awareness The health and wellbeing of individuals can be promoted in many ways for people to be able to get accurate information especially for adolescences to help them on improving their health and lifestyle. Drug awareness to adolescences is to inform them on the effects of drugs and the consequences of consuming these drugs. Different drugs have different effects. There are different categories of drugs which are stimulants,...
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...ethics as: * Ethics is the systematic study of what is right and good with respect to conduct and character. * The beliefs and behaviors to which members of the profession subscribe. * A critical evaluation of assumptions and arguments. * A discussion about what ought to be done or ought not to be done. Using Merrill’s’ definitions as a rough guide we can evaluate the legal and ethical decisions of PharmaCARE’s use of the diabetic drug AD23 in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug was reformulated to maximize its effect on Alzheimer’s treatment however, PharmaCARE took actions to avoid the Food and Drug Administration in the reformulated drug for Alzheimer. PharmaCARE setup its own pharmacy company CompCARE to sell the new formulation to the public. CompCARE was able to take advantage of PharmaCARE’s databases, networks, and sales and marketing expertise to create a high demand of the product. Once the high demand was there, CompCARE started to advertise AD23 directly to consumers and marketing the drug directly to hospitals, clinics and physicians. After the success of AD23 CompCARE was sold to WellCO. Two weeks later AD23 was linked to 200 cardiac deaths. Research three to five (3-5) ethical issues relating to marketing and advertising, intellectual property, and regulation of product safety and examine whether PharmaCARE violated any of the issues in question. Multinational Corporations have grown to the point where their wealth can...
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...simultaneously, as though guided by an “invisible hand,” promote the public or social interest.” (Flynn, 2015) Their need for success and wealth drives them to provide the best products and services at a price their consumers are willing to buy them. This trend can help with many of society’s problem, one being the use of illegal drug, more specifically, marijuana. It’s been stated that marijuana, also known as cannabis and weed, originated in Asia. A record dating back to 4000 B.C. reports that it was used during surgery as an anesthetic. The plant made its way around the world and finally arrived in the U.S. around 1910. It was first outlawed in 1915 in Utah, when it was named as the reason crimes were being committed. By 1937, it was illegal in all states, made official by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Marijuana was and still is considered a controlled substance, but its positive aspects are becoming increasingly harder to ignore. (Blasczczak-Boxe, 2014) In the past couple of years, marijuana has been slowly but surely making its way over to the legal market. With its many benefits being acknowledged, there is an increasing demand for this once illegal drug. The legalization of marijuana began with the acknowledgement of its many medicinal benefits that have been proven through various studies. Studies have shown that marijuana has...
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...Paper 3: Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Belinda D. Hicks Liberty University Abstract This paper offers a perspective on adolescent alcohol and drug abuse by focusing on identifying common predictors of adolescent drug, and alcohol. Alcohol and other drug use among adolescents has been a public problem for decades. However, it seems that the problem is increasing more every year. Although, some adolescents make it through these years with, on balance, more positive experiences, but as the writer indicated more negative experiences of alcohol and drugs are on the rise. Substance abuse can lead to serious problems such as poor schoolwork, loss of friends, problems at home, and lasting legal problems. Alcohol and drug abuse is a leading cause of teen death or injury related to car crashes, suicides, violence, and drowning. Adolescences experience tragic consequences and others develop chronic problems of abuse and dependence. The broad developmental themes during adolescence and the transition to young adulthood, heavy drinking and drug use increases during the transition from junior high to high school and has to potential to extend to college. The majority of young people make it through. There will also be a discussion on how the family- peers and individual characteristics/variables are correlated with drug and alcohol abuse in adolescence. There will also be review connections between each system risk factor and information...
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...the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among metal health consumers. Approach: Selective Article Reviews are being used. Findings and Implications: Metabolic and cardiovascular side effects such as weight gain, diabetes and hypertension are some of the risks of Antipsychotic drugs; however, there are other underlying factors that cause this such abnormalities such as genetic factors, lifestyle, and other medications. Hence, education, early monitoring and lifestyle modification is highly recommended. Conclusion: Atypical drugs are the frequently used treatment for mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia; but despite of its metabolic and cardiovascular side effects still it’s used is increasing. Therefore, early intervention and monitoring must be implemented, with the promotions of education, lifestyle and diet management. Introduction It is well known that psychotropic drugs, in general and antipsychotic drugs, in particular have as one of their side effect liabilities and potential to cause weight gain and disturbances in metabolic parameters; and the prevalence of these risk is high among patients taking these drugs. At this point, it is still unclear why these drugs caused this such abnormalities and we don't know the way in which the potential to cause weight gain,...
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... Travel and drug use in Europe: a short review 1 THEMATIC PAPERS Travel and drug use in Europe: a short review Travel and drug use in Europe: a short review emcdda.europa.eu Contents 1. Introduction 2. Travelling and using drugs Young people Problem drug users 3. Examples of drug-related destinations 4. Prevalence of drug use among young travellers Young holidaymakers in Europe Young backpackers Young clubbers and partygoers 5. Risks associated with drug use while travelling Health risks Risk related to personal safety Legal risks Risks related to injecting drug use Risks to local communities 6. Potential for prevention interventions 7 Conclusions . Acknowledgements References 3 4 4 4 6 9 9 10 11 13 13 14 14 14 15 17 19 21 22 Travel and drug use in Europe: a short review emcdda.europa.eu 3 1. Introduction Recent decades have seen a growth in travel and tourism abroad because of cheap air fares and holiday packages. This has been accompanied by a relaxation of border controls, especially within parts of Europe participating in the Schengen Agreement. As some people may be more inclined to use illicit substances during holiday periods and some may even choose to travel to destinations that are associated with drug use — a phenomenon sometimes referred to as ‘drug tourism’ — this means that from a European drug policy perspective the issue of drug use and travel has become more important. This Thematic paper examines travellers and drug use, with a focus...
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...FACTORS AFFECTING DRUG RELAPSE AMONG DRUG DEPENDENTS: BASIS FOR IMPROVED REHABILITATION SERVICES A Research Paper Presented to The Faculty of Lourdes College Cagayan de Oro City In Partial Requirement for the Degree Bachelor of Science in Social Work Batuampar, Haya Bueno, Ma. Margarita Pates Kris CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM Introduction Drug abuse is a rampant social problem. Drug abusers are placed in rehabilitation centers that help the residents recover from abusing drugs. As stated in R.A 9165 Art. II Sec 15 “ A person apprehended or arrested, who is found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six (6) months rehabilitation in a government center”, these residents are then reintegrated into the society after their rehabilitation. But sometimes, these residents turn back to using drugs and undergo relapse. Out of all drug users, 14.72% are readmitted into centers because they undergo relapse. (Dangerous Drug Board, 2012) Marlatt and other studies have shown that people who receive treatment for problematic drug and alcohol use are likely to return or ‘relapse’ to problematic use. In fact Marlatt and Denovan (2005) contend that many will have multiple episodes of abstinence and relapse. According to Marlatt in order for a person to undergo relapse he/she must first experience any high risk situations. The result whether he/she will relapse is able to cope and increase self-efficacy...
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...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 counselors 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. Drug abuse today is a major cause for concern and has a negative effect on society at large. Drug abuse solutions can be viewed from many perspectives. On a national level, solutions are based and discussed in terms of the reduction in supply of drugs. From a social perspective, solutions are usually discussed in terms of prevention, early intervention and treatment. Prevention is better than cure. This adage holds good in fighting drug abuse too. Public education campaigns and stricter laws regarding purchase and use of legal substances are measures that have been adopted by states in the USA The first step is to educate the public, as drugs are still a touchy subject for most Americans. This solution involves shifting the American perspective on the issue of drugs into a whole new light. There would have to be tireless efforts to inform the public on the horrible injustices and blatant failures...
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