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Recommended: Effect of drug abuse
Cocaine is an addictive and powerful stimulant of the central nervous system. Cocaine abuse is a big problem not only in the general population but also among pregnant women. “Nearly 4 percent women in the Unite States used cocaine during and other illicit drugs that may pose various risk for pregnant women and their babies” (March of Dime, 2013, para.1). The usage of cocaine during pregnancy is very dangerous and can harm the pregnant woman and her unborn baby in many ways. As adults, we have the ability to make choices/decisions and control our own behavior whether right or wrong. However, a child or baby in the womb has no choice and are also subject to suffering the drug abuse. And that is why I’ve focused on this topic.
Background
Here is some information that could help you to understand the background of cocaine use during pregnancy. Throughout the early months of pregnancy, women who use cocaine may increase the high risk of miscarriage.(Gorski, 2002, para.2) Furthermore, women who also used cocaine during their pregnancy are twice as likely to have a premature baby as othe...
In “The Ascent” Ron Rash introduces us to a child who is brought up by cocaine addicts name Jared. Jared ventures out into the Great Smokey Mountains National Park to escape his sad home life and on his little adventure Jared finds the lost plane authorities had been looking for, for months. Upon leaving Jared takes the ring from the woman on the plan and returns home where he finds that his parents have already run out of drugs. His father takes the ring Jared had found and then sales the ring for money. His surroundings along with foreshadowing suggests Jared will have to make a life changing decision, but his youth suggests he is too naïve to come to such a realization.
“My crimey here think the way to go is more drugs. But I know better. I think making money is okay, but not making it just by dealing. You gotta go legit, at least for a minute. You gotta go state fresh, all the way live, if you wanna do anything worthwhile out here. Everybody thinks they can make crazy dollars, but they confused. It aint like that. I’ve seen co-caine bust many a head – they get fucked up and be clocking out after they find out they cannot find the key to understanding that mystery skied. But you know what? But-but0but you know what? They don’t have a clue. Word.” (Williams, 1989)
Cocaine is a classified ‘Schedule II’ drug, also known as “crack”, and “coke” it is a powerful drug, and addictive stimulant well known as a psychoactive substance. That comes from a plant called coca leaf that has been around since the mid-1800s and throughout the 20th century. “In the mid-1980s, addiction to the drug was seen as exaggerated or dismissed as psychological and not addiction” (Miller, Gold, Smith, 1997, p.62). In the past, cocaine’s original use was for medical purposes as local anesthetic for surgeries. Now its usage is illegal and this drug is immersed into the body through various ways. However,...
Drug and alcohol use in pregnancy poses a threat to the neonate’s development and the obstetric provider has an obligation to screen for substance use. Substance use in pregnancy can place the developing fetus at risk for in-utero opioid dependence, fetal-alcohol syndrome, preterm labor, and other consequences of maternal alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use.(6) Within the past three years La Crosse County has seen a marked increase in the amount of heroin use.(7)
NAS has turned into an epidemic espicially in the state of Tennessee a little more than 320 babies were born with NAS in 2013. Tennessee was the first state to start keeping track of the number of cases of NAS. NAS occurs when pregnant women take drugs such as heroin, codeine, oxycodone, methadone, or buprenorphine (“Babies are being born addicted to drugs”). This happens when the substances pass through the placenta that connects the baby to its mother. Then the baby becomes dependent on the drug like the mother. Hospitals began treating these cases with morphine, by administering a dosage of morphine every few hours as needed and reducing the dosage until the baby was better. During this process doctors need to keep a look out for the babies since the morphine can cause them to stop breathing. A baby born with NAS usually suffers from low birth weight and respiratory problems. Heroin and cocaine are some of the most common drugs being abused, and they both have short and long term effects other than withdrawal symptoms: Such as ph...
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience on the history of cocaine, current prevalence rates and health effects among other issues.
The effects on caffeine during pregnancy were explained and detailed. I explained the causes and effects on caffeine and the major dangers that affect the offspring. Caffeine is the most dangerous cause of danger in pregnancy and their offspring. It can infect the metabolism, the fetal, and can cause miscarriages. The blood flow can easily be decreased by having to much caffeine and can in danger the baby.
In Less Than Zero, cocaine addiction tests a group of three friends against the backdrop of glamorous, 1980’s Los Angeles. I chose this film because I’ve read the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. While the movie differs quite a bit from the book, it still touches on some key points about drug use that Ellis speaks to in the novel. At the beginning of the film, Clay, Julian, and Blair have graduated high school in Beverly Hills. Clay chooses to leave and attend a prestigious university. Blair (Clay’s girlfriend) stays in Los Angeles because she is too afraid to go to school. Julian’s father gives him a large sum of money to start his own recording studio. By Thanksgiving, Clay returns to Los Angeles to find Julian and Blair sleeping together. At
Drug (alcohol, tobacco & cocaine) addiction is accepted by the medical community as a disease. The medical model explains that consuming drugs excessively is a symptom of this medical condition. However, those in power that adhere to a conservative ideology do not accept the medical model's explanation as to why pregnant women would continue to use drugs knowing the adverse affect this will have on the fetus. Historically punitive measures involving incarceration and subsequent removal o...
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a group of problems a newborn experiences when exposed to addictive drugs that the mother consumes during pregnancy. NAS is a growing concern in the United States and can have significant adverse effects on newborns. Shortly after birth, the infant can display many physical symptoms of withdrawal. In addition, substance abuse during pregnancy can cause premature birth, low birth weight, seizures, birth defects, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and possible long-term cognitive and behavioral problems. The 2010 results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings reported incidence of substance abuse among pregnant women within the United States....
The use of cocaine in the United States has declined over the last twenty years while the use of crack has increased. Many people avoided the use of crack because of the harmful chemicals used in creating the drug. One of the reasons why crack became popular is because of not needing to inject the drug hence less risks of being infected by the AIDS virus. Carroll (2000) states cocaine is the most powerful stimulant of natural origin. Most users snort or inject the drug to enable a quicker “high.” Cocaine use brings on many health problems. Fatal complications occur from regular use, for example, liver damage, seizures, elevated blood pressure causing stroke, heart failure, or heart attack.
“Beatrice Sparks was an American therapist and mormon youth counselor who was known for producing books purporting to be the ‘real diaries’ of troubled teenagers”. The book Go Ask Alice was created and uncovered by supposedly editor, Beatrice Sparks, uncovering horrifying acts upon teenagers. Go Ask Alice is a censored book in some or many states because of the use of sexual content and inappropriate language.
Cocaine is an illegal drug that can be either smoked in a crack form, or inhaled in a powder form. According to Charles F. Levinthal, cocaine is a stimulant that increases the production of dopamine in the brain. Along with the desired feeling resulting from the increasing dopamine levels, there are many other things taking place inside of the body after intake not only for the user, but also for the growing organism inside of the user (2005). While the drug is in affect in the body (for about 20 to 30 minutes), Laura E. Berk’s research has found that cocaine constricts the user’s blood vessels causing oxygen delivered to the developing organism to fall dramatically for 15 minutes following a high dose (2003). This depravation of oxygen to the developing baby is one of the causes of damage. One of the problems that can result from cocaine ...
A 5 page introduction on the importance of obstetric/gynecology centers on many aspects of women's health care. Identifies the problems inherent in crack cocaine use among pregnant women and stresses the importance of educational programs in the reduction of crack cocaine usage and suggests that viable alternatives for these types of programs could be revealed by reviewing crack usage among pregnant women outside the large urban environment.The drug problem affects all types of students. All regions and all types of communities show high levels of drug use. Thirty percent of 1990 high school seniors in nonmetropolitan areas reported illicit drug use in the previous year, while the rate for seniors in large metropolitan areas was 33 percent. Although higher proportions of males are involved in illicit drug use, especially heavy drug use, the gap between the sexes is closing Bibliography lists 4 sources. The drug problem affects all types of students.
Chambers, C. D., Polifka, J. E., & Friedman, J. M. (2008). Drug safety in pregnant women and their babies: ignorance not bliss. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 83(1), 181-183.