Review Template

Name:  Faten K. Alghamdi

Date  November 11, 2014

Blog Review 2

Name of Blog Post: Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

Peer review article citation in APA format: Elliotee, E. T., Souder, C. A., Privette, T., and Richardson, W. H. (2008).  Teen Prescription Drug Abuse.  Clinician Reviews, 18(11), 18-23.

The focus of the research was to highlight an alarming increase in the use of nonmedical purpose drugs by teens.   Abuse of prescribed drugs increase the risk of accidental disability and death because of overdose, addiction, or toxication.   The research indicates the main reason for abusing prescribed drugs is the perception among teens that those drugs are safer than street drugs.  However, they miss to learn that those drugs are controlled substances for reasons that might harm the body if abused or taken for a long period of time. 

The blog was informative but the main discussion seems to counterpart the article message, which is to alert of an increasing abuse of medication drugs among teenagers.   I believe the blog lacked to support the reasons that make abusers seek prescribed drugs over other drugs available in the streets.   I agree there are many factors where drug abuse is more epidemic, such as demographical pattern, race, age, and population of cities.   More importantly, the peer-reviewed-paper focuses on the relationship between availability of medical drugs, the perception of it being safer, and assigning responsibilities.  In my opinion, the control starts from the doctor’s office and then at home to limit and monitor the use of medical drugs.  In addition, controlling drug abuse is a responsibility of a community including schools, churches, and home.  It is important to educate teenagers about the purpose of prescribed drugs, the importance of using it as prescribed by the doctor, and learning the harmful consequences of abuse.  

Review Template

Name:  Faten K. Alghamdi

Date  November 11, 2014

Blog Review 1

Name of Blog Post: Parental Alcohol Exposure

Peer review article citation in APA format: Moore, El, Migliorini, R., Infante, M., and Riley, E. (2014).  Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Recent Neuroimaging Findings.  Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 1(3), 161-172.

The focus of the research was to trace the development trajectory of the brain for children with birth defect due to alcohol exposure during pregnancy.  Alcohol consumption during pregnancy increase risk of having children with birth defects called Fetal Alcohol syndrome.  Defects are expected to affect the development of the brain cells, shapes, and sizes.  Research shows psychological behavior, social, and comprehension problems with babies born to moms who drank heavily or frequently during pregnancy.

The blog was informative but included technical terms which did not serve the purpose of summarizing a technical paper for general audience.   In general, the post covered most of the topics presented in the paper about related issues with alcohol exposure such as brain growth, processing, and facial deformation.  More importantly, the peer-reviewed-paper focus on the relationship between alcohol exposer and brain defect in terms of growth, activity, attention deficiency, and performing normal activities.  In my opinion, alcohol is toxic for the development of baby’s during pregnancy and has to be avoided.  Women who are planning to have babies should stop drinking and use healthy diet to support the development of their upcoming baby’s.

Crack Cocaine Use and Women’s Health

By Faten K. Alghamdi

Researches are identifying growth in the number of women addicted to smoking crack cocaine, who are going through significant health problems.  It is believed that those women with their abusive addiction are isolating themselves from the society which prevents them from receiving proper treatment.  Alarming numbers are showing women suffering of major health problems, being abused, not having normal life, and socially isolated.  Significant evidence is discovered relating risk of getting HIV in women who are addicted to crack.

Smoking crack requires the use of pipe, push stick and a flame source.  The pipe is usually made of glass, where the push stick is commonly a car antenna.  Steel wool is used as primary filter, which causes burns to the mouth and throat as it travels in flame through the pipe.  Also, constant use of antenna as a push stick for the crack causes the glass in the pipe to weaken and break increasing the risk of cuts in the hand.  The research showed that women who share smoking equipment have contributed to spreading infections, which increased the risk of getting life threatening diseases. 

The finding of the research shows that women health problems are not only caused be crack cocaine smoking but also related to their lives.  Women with previous trauma, experiences of violence, and are poor, are more likely to smoke crack to find comfort and as a result experience major health problems.  Poverty was considered the main cause of most health problems, since women would tend to find income through prostitution.  Evidence was found to relate women addiction to crack cocaine with health diseases from sharing smoking equipment and prostitution, and deaths by suicide or homicide in the streets.

Reference

Bungay, V., Johnson, J. L., Varcoe, C., Boyd, S.: Women’s health and use of crack cocaine in context: Structural and ‘everyday’ violence.  International Journal of Drug Policy. Volume 21, Issue 4, July 2010, pages 321—329.

Control Smoking Market for Better Health & Environment

By Faten K. Alghamdi

Smoking is a practice of recreational drug use that is legal in the market for consumers.  Smoking brings harm to the health as well as to the environment.  Because the environment is shared by every living soul, it is important to keep it clean.  The carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide released by smokers affect the environment and has great impact.  Health implications of smoking include lung cancer, throat cancer, mouth diseases, heart diseases, and increased blood pressure.  According to researchers, 480,000 people lost their lives in USA with diseases caused by smoking.

Tobacco has gained popularity and became important for economy, but because of the danger of tobacco use in our health, and the impact on environment, researchers are proving the reduction in smoking as a result of raising price of tobacco sales.  Health complications of smoking lead to the same fate of using drugs like smoking crack, or marijuana.   Because of the easy access to buy tobacco and low price, more people are likely to smoke.  Smoking is considered recreational, but addiction is what keeps people make it a habit. 

Researchers consider many strategies that they believe are helpful in reducing number of smokers.  One strategy is to apply Tobacco taxes to raise tobacco prices which are thought to be the most effective control to limit access to tobacco.  Another strategy is to apply a minimum price on tobacco product to eliminate use of coupons and discounts on purchases of tobacco.  There are many approaches to control sales of tobacco, but these are believed to be effective to reduce number of smokers and make tobacco less appealing for youth to explore.

Reference

McLaughlin, I., Pearson, A., Laird-Metke, E., Ribisl, K.: Reducing Tobacco Use and Access through Strengthened Minimum Price Laws.   American Journal of Public Health, 104.10: 1844-50.  October 2014.

Mental Health Relationship to Alcohol Consumptions

By Faten K. Alghamdi

More than 100,000 college students have been screened to investigate the growing concern of poor mental health, sleep problems, and its relationship to heavy alcohol consumption.  Several national studies conducted in 2010 and 2011 have showed 85% of students experiencing significant daily stress, and 33.3% feels depressed throughout the day for the past year.  Students with poor mental health involving stress, depression, anxiety are more likely to heavy alcohol consumptions.

Recent studies have developed models to extend the relationship of mental health, sleep deprivation, to alcohol consumptions and consequences.   In this model; social, coping, and comforting motivation were examined as mediators of the relationship toward alcohol use.  Outcomes of such studies have shown that 80% of college students consume alcohol yearly, and more than half experience heavy drinking.  Motivation to heavy drinking was related to how the students view themselves compared to others, or related to trying to cope and socialize with others.  However, mental health, depression, and anxiety were the most motives to consume alcohol to find comfort.   Students with strong mental health showed less motivation toward drinking compared to student with poor mental health. 

As a consequence, the risk to have legal issues such as sexual assaults, physical abuse, and risking academic career increases.  It has been found that alcohol consumption is related to most outraged behaviors among college students.

In conclusion, colleges should consider screening for student complaining of sleep deprivation, anxiety and stress for a long period of time.  These problems are evidence of mental health issues and are strong motive to find comfort in drugs or heavy alcohol consumption.  Early examination and curing of mental health issues will help student prevent health risk and bad consequences in the future.

Reference

Kenney SR. Mental Health, Sleep Quality, Drinking Motives, and Alcohol-Related Consequences: A Path-Analytic Model. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. 2013-11-01;74:841.