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.

Alcohol Consumptions during Pregnancy

By Faten K. Alghamdi

Evidence on the safe limit of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not known yet.  The effect is not the same for all women.  In United States, up to 15% of pregnant women consume alcohol once a month.  Most women have self-control on limiting their use of alcohol while pregnant.   Research had shown that women, who had experienced hazardous alcohol complication prior to being pregnant, have reduced their use of alcohol.  The study showed more than 50% of pregnant women have stopped consuming alcohol, less than 30% had alcohol once a month, 15% consumed alcohol 2-3 times a month.

Of course, alcohol consumption increase risk of miscarriage in pregnant women, which studies have shown that happens in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy.  Women who identify themselves as moderate drinkers with one drink a month, have better chances to go beyond the first 13 weeks.  Studies have shown no evidence of high risk of abortion on low to medium consumers of alcohol.  There is enough evidence to prove risks of having babies born with low weight.  However, risk of miscarrying a baby increases with every ounce of alcohol consumed per day by more than 20%. 

Alcohol consumption in moderate to high quantities affect the development of the brain cells in babies.  Research shows psychological behavior, social, and comprehension problems with babies born to moms who drank heavily or frequently during pregnancy.  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.

Reference

Guerrini, I., Jackson, S., and Keaney, F.,: Pregnancy and alcohol misuse. Journal of BMJ. March 30, 2009; 338:b845.