Substance Abuse

Background information/Research

PH paper (litmus paper) determines how acidic or how basic a substance is. The ape changes color accordingly to the color code on the pH scale. The pH scale starts from O to 14. The lower the number the more acidic it is. Zero is the most acidic, and 14 is the most basic c while 7 is the neutral number for example water. Examples of an acid Are lemon Juice or multip repose cleaner. Examples of a basic substance Are shampoo or liquid soap. We use pH for the products we use and food that we eat to check if it is safe to use for us humans and not harm us. With PH. Products have become safer and less harmful to our environment and ourselves. Materials Various indicators BRB blue Phew red Met red Methyl blue.

Procedures

1. Take 6 indicators that are all different colors.
2. Take the 4 unknowns numbered 14.
3. Take a watch tray and wash it down before using it.
4. Put the indicator that Is numbered 1 in 6 slots on the watch tray. (Only put in one d rope).
5. Take each Indicator and put It in 1 slot each, each slot should have a different Indict taro color. (Again only one drop) .
6. Record results and observations down on a table. Observe If It changed color If It changed from
7. Wash down the watch tray again so you do not mix chemicals, or else your data will be inaccurate.
8. Repeat steps 47 for the last 3 unknowns. Results After the LAB I had various different results for each indicator reaction to the unknown. All together I had 24 results, 6 results for each unknown. A couple of the indicators reacted to the unknown differently than the others. They started to change one color, then a bit late r it would change to a different color.

Honduran children, stakeholders or not

Even Honduran street children are H.B. Fuller stakeholders to a certain degree.  They are not legitimate consumers of the glue products.  But they are beneficiaries of Fuller’s business activities through it’s subsidiary, Kativo. Many of these children are potential future employees of the company. Currently they are members of the community that Fuller/Kativo helps to support economically.

What is missing (and disturbing) is detail about what constitutes street children in Honduras, how they became street children, and what are their unmet needs that they are trying to satisfy through drug abuse.  Fuller and Kativo are stakeholders in the Honduran community and future beneficiaries of the labor and  purchasing power of these children once they become adults.  Fuller should take an active interest in its future employees and customers.

H.B.  Fuller’s obligation to solve social problems

Fuller’s mission statement is full of buzz words and phrases like “good corporate citizen.”  The mission does not express or imply that Fuller takes any responsibility toward the community that does not fall under employee, customer, or shareholder.  The portion that says  “…support the activities of its employees in their communities” can be misinterpreted to assume that Fuller supports the activities of the communities in which its Kativo affiliate operates in.

That is probably not the case.  However, good corporate citizenship includes helping to deal with social issues in the community as a way to build the customer base, to attract top notch employees, and to attract shareholders.  Good corporate citizenship is actually a powerful marketing tool; possibly more effective than media and print advertising.  If Fuller does support the activities of its employees, then the question becomes what community activities are those employees involved in.

If the answer is few to none, then Fuller should extend its liberal policies toward employees to foster activities that help make the community better.  If an employee can get a day with pay, then how about offering the same for a day of community service?  In this case, for a day of going out doing drug abuse education similar to the D.A.R.E. programs in the U.S.

Kativo or H.B. Fuller HQ, who is responsible

Both the headquarters and the local affiliate must be involved in a drug abuse education and prevention initiative.  Fuller’s headquarters can provide foundation financing as well as other resources to begin an anti-glue sniffing campaign.  The local affiliate must do all the legwork.  After all, Kativo is in the heart of the community.  However, it is important to understand that Fuller and Kativo is not solely responsible for solving the Honduran glue sniffing crisis.  It is also unreasonable to expect Fuller/Kativo to take all of its products off of the shelves. Also read Sunbeam corporation case study

Meddling in a cultural problem

Fuller and Kativo should enlist the help of its local employees, customers, and shareholders.  These people are not only Fuller stakeholders, but are the neighbors and relatives of those youth who are abusing the glue products.  The local population understands the local culture best.  Employees at Kativo, with proper support from headquarters, can completely take the initiative to do what it takes to at least abate the glue abuse program.  If the local stakeholders start and manage the process, then Fuller will not be meddling in a cultural problem.  What Fuller and Kativo will be doing is facilitating a culturally based solution to a local cultural problem.

References

Beauchamp & Bowie. H.B. Fuller in Honduras: Street Children and Substance Abuse. Ethical Theory and Business (7th ed. pp. 91-93).

Substance abuse in the workplace is defined as overdependence on or overindulgence in a certain chemical substance resulting to effects that harm the mental and physical health of the individual or the wellbeing of others. The substance taken by the abuser does not have any medicinal or therapeutic effect on the individual. Substance abuse at the workplace is not a new issue but the problem has affected many companies and business organizations for a long time.

Some of the most common substances that are abused in the workplace include alcohol, opium alkaloids, cocaine and barbiturates among others (King and Chassin, 2008: 629-637). Abuse of substances not only affects the workplace but it may also lead to criminal penalty and at the same time the individual involved may be harmed socially, physically and also psychologically depending on the local authority within the individual’s environment. Substance abuse in most cases results to substance dependence or addiction to the substance and so the individual is unable to work without the substance.

Individuals who are addicted or dependent on a certain substances need to develop some tolerance for them to cope with the problem and these results to withdrawal symptoms. Substance dependence and abuse are different from substance addiction in that addiction involves duress to using the substance no matter the negative effects of the substance on the individual and in some cases it may involve chemical dependence although not always. Substance dependence implies some kind of abuse although abuse takes place without dependence and in most cases it occurs when an employee first engages in the abuse of the substance.

Dependence is a physiological process and on the other hand substance abuse shows an intricate interaction between the individual, the society and the substance abused by the individual (King and Chassin, 2008: 629-637). SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN THE JOB Substance abuse in the workplace is not a new concept and at various instances throughout history there have been issues of substance abuse in the workplace. In the past years the abuse of substances in the work place has encountered a dismissive attitude and so many organizations have tried to adopt working with the problem rather than developing ways to counter the issue.

Many organizations have therefore come to a conclusion that substance abuse and especially alcohol abuse in the workplace is not a problem that can easily be secluded from the workplace. Currently it has emerged that substance abuse is detrimental both to the workers and the organization although this concept has not been universally accepted. Most organizations have realized that for them to be internationally competitive they need to deal with the issue of substance abuse among the employees in an effective manner.

The following are some of the reasons behind substance abuse in the workplace: Psychological disorders are a cause of substance abuse in cases where some employees use substance abuse so as to reject, adapt to or hide a fundamental psychological disorder. Depression in the workplace may also lead to substance abuse because it affects an individual’s ability to work effectively in the daily activities like caring for family members and going to work. Schizophrenia is also another cause of substance abuse in the workplace.

Panic disorder in the workplace leads to periods of irrational fear and this may lead to substance abuse so as to get rid of the fear. Social phobia may also lead to substance abuse. Social phobia affects an individual when he or she has an intense fear of being humiliated socially, this happens when the person does not want to embarrass himself in front of other workmates. Emotional stress may also lead to substance abuse in the workplace. Emotional stress in the workplace may be as a result of a lot of work or difficulties in the family of the affected individual.

There are a number of syndromes that may lead to substance abuse in the work place, these include: Austrian syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and also the Gulf War syndrome. Harassment in the workplace may also lead to substance abuse as a result of trying to cope with the threats posed by the harassment (wrong diagnosis, 2009). Although the above factors may result to substance abuse in the workplace some individuals may become addicted while others do not. This is because of the following factors: The genes that people are born with are very unique and this means that the level of addiction of people varies due to the genes present.

Gender, social status, ethnicity and other mental disorders also affect the level of addiction to a certain substance. An individual’s environment which includes the family, friends, workmates and the quality of life affect the individual’s risk of substance abuse. Peer pressure and parental guidance affect the course of substance abuse and the level of addiction of an individual. The level of addiction vulnerability is affected by developmental stages of the individual.

Although substance abuse at any developmental stage may lead to addiction there is evidence to show that the earlier the substance abuse begins the more likely it is to progress to serious cases of addiction. Adolescents have a higher chance of trying substances because their brains are still undergoing development in the sections that determine self-control, decision making and judgment (Robert and Neil, 2009). SYMPTOMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE AT THE WORKPLACE Different substances may have differing effects on the overall health of the individual but the pattern of the effects on the individual’s mental and physical health is similar.

Acquiring and at the same time using the substance becomes more essential to an individual as compared to everything else like friends, workmates or the family. Substance abuse causes some emotional and physical damages to the individual and so the individual is faced with a problem of functioning in the right way and also the ability of the individual to make appropriate judgments is also affected. Substance abuse affects the brain and the physical body in a direct way as it is the case in some substances that increase the blood pressure and the heart rate.

Some substances that act as stimulants in the body for example cocaine increasing the activities of the body resulting to increased blood pressure and therefore the individual lacks the ability to sleep. On the other hand there are some substances that slow down the level of activities in the body for example barbiturates, these substances reduce the blood pressure of the body and also reduce the level of breathing and sometimes it may go to some dangerous levels. There are several physical signs of substance abuse and addiction in the workplace which include some instances of increased energy.

This is when an individual is seen to act in a way that shows he or she has some increased energy although the source of the energy may not be known. One major symptom associated with stimulants is restlessness and the lack of sleep by the worker. Although some workers may be naturally restlessness it is always necessary to carefully note any changes in the workers’ levels of restlessness as it may be as a result of substance abuse. Some strange behaviors expressed by the workers may be a symptom of substance abuse, some of these behaviors include: slow reaction time, unusual slow movements, slow speeches or confusion at the workplace.

Most of these behaviors are common with those individuals who abuse opium or barbiturates. Another symptom is a rapid loss of weight or in some instances it may be a sudden gain in weight. Cycles of abnormal sleep is also a symptom of substance abuse. A rapid change in the manner of dressing may also be a symptom of substance abuse, for example wearing long sleeved shirts at all times so as to hide the scars caused by injections in the process of substance abuse. An increased severe dental condition is a symptom mostly with those workers who use methamphetamine.

If a certain worker is suspected of being in possession of drug paraphernalia like syringes and pipes, this may be an indicator of substance abuse by the worker. A major symptom for those substances that are snorted is severe troubles with nosebleeds or frequent nose bleeding. Substances that are normally smoked have a major symptom of continuous coughs which at high levels of substance abuse may increase to coughing of blood or excessive mucus. Substance abuse affects the mood of the individual because the substance is consumed to provide temporary feelings to the individual.

The temporary feeling resulting from substance abuse may vary with the substance used by the individual although the following are the major emotional and mental symptoms of substance abuse. A period of an individual being unusually talkative with a lot of energy or some times the individual becoming unusually cheerful is a major emotional symptom of substance abuse. An increase in the level of verge for violence expressed by the individual is another emotional symptom of substance abuse. Workers who show signs of increased irritability, fury and agitation may be involved in substance abuse.

Another major emotional and mental symptom of substance abuse is unexpected calmness or workers becoming unresponsive. Lack of interest and depression may also be an emotional symptom of substance abuse. Other minor emotional and mental symptoms include hallucinations, fear, temporary psychosis and increased anger (Joanna, Jeanne and Deborah, January 2009). Other physical signs that indicate a person is abusing a certain substance or he is under the influence of a certain substance vary from one substance to another, for example: A worker who uses tobacco will have a frequent odor of tobacco, discolored teeth and finger tips.

Individuals who use cannabis experience abnormal levels of hunger, excessive happiness and the white parts of their eyes are red in color. Those who use cold medications have slow heart rates and are sleepy at most times. Inhalants are characterized by running noses confusion and irritability of the users. Users of narcotics experience pain at a lower level, slow rates of breathing and excessive happiness. Those who use anabolic steroids experience an increase in their levels of irritability, increased muscle development and loss of hair.

Dissociative anesthetics are associated with an increase in the heart rate resulting to increased blood pressure, loss of memory and also increased irritability. Hallucinogens are associated with sleeplessness and blurred perceptions. Club drugs are associated with very active individuals who do not sweat and they also seem to like everyone they meet or having excessive euphoria. The following behavioral symptoms are associated with the abuse of substances. Mood swings: All the substances abused end up producing some changes in the moods of the individual, a person may shift from euphoria to depression.

A person who is into abuse of substances may be passive at one time and in the next few minutes he is angry. Personality changes are also a symptom of abuse of substances in the workplace. This is evident in that individuals become depressed and avoid communication with their workmates. Defensiveness is also a symptom of substance abuse in the workplace because individuals blame others and they claim to be accused falsely. Those who are into substance abuse soon become self-centered and they do anything their own way without consulting their workmates.

Withdrawal from family activities is also a symptom of workers engaging in substance abuse, this includes rejecting any family events or not eating together with the other family members. Change of friends, for example termination of a long relationship or spending time with suspicious friends is a behavioral symptom of substance abuse. Sudden lack of self discipline and capability to follow rules and regulations in the workplace is a sign of substance abuse too.

Work problems like absences, tardiness, avoiding senior staff members, missed deadlines and a drop in the quality of results obtained is a behavioral sign of substance abuse. EFFECTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ON PERFORMANCE AND WORKSAFETY According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), in the recent years there has been an increased realization in many countries concerning the effects of substance abuse on the performance of the employees. The fact that substance abuse is detrimental to both the employees and the organization has been widely accepted in the past few years although the issue has not been recognized universally.

Substance abuse does not only affect the performance of the work as a whole but it also results to increased accidents, absenteeism, mortality and illness. These effects of substance abuse are related to the cost of doing business and therefore for businesses to succeed they should come up with ways of reducing substance abuse among the employees. Over the past few years studies have shown that absenteeism is three times higher for substance users compared to other employees (ILO, 2009).

Absenteeism has a direct effect on the business in that the business may not achieve its target therefore it may be unable to satisfy its customers and hence a negative reputation from the public in general. Absenteeism due to substance abuse leads to overwork of the other employees which may then result to poor quality of work leading to poor quality goods and reduced sales. Very high rates of absenteeism in an organization as a result of substance abuse may lead to complete closure of the organization due to lack of employees.

Study has also shown that employees who are substance abusers may claim three times more sickness benefits compared to the other employees (ILO, 2009). The sick benefits increase the cost of operation of the business and so the business suffers financially because a huge portion of its returns is used to cater for the sick benefits. Workers who are substance dependent file more compensation claims as compared to those who are not, this increases the expenses the organization incurs in litigation processes and therefore it reduces the profitability of the organization.

Study has also revealed that almost a quarter of all the accidents that occur in the workplaces are caused by intoxicated workers who either harm themselves or end up harming other workmates, this reduces the performance of the organization as resources are used in treating the injured. Accidents due to intoxication of some workers also lead to absence of workers which is fatal to the organization (ILO, 2009). As a result of increased research in the area of substance abuse and work performance it is evident that the problems in the workplace as a result of substance abuse are not restricted to alcoholics and drug addicts only.

Although alcoholics and heavy drinkers are groups most likely to cause accidents in the workplaces their numbers are quite low in most of the workplaces. Due to this moderate and occasional drinkers are responsible for most accidents in the workplace resulting due to alcohol or intoxication. The level of consumption of some substances is directly related to the performance of the individual. According to a research carried out to investigate the effects of alcohol on the performance of pilots, it was noted that before any consumption of alcohol 10% of the pilots could not carry out their operations in the right manner.

After consumption of alcohol up to an alcohol-blood concentration of 0. 11/100ml of blood, 90% of the pilots could not perform all the necessary operations in the right way. After all the alcohol had gotten out of their systems 65% of the pilots could not carry out all their operations in the right way (ILO, 2009). A similar research to the one carried on pilots was carried on workers who use other types of substances and the results were almost the same. This is a clear indication of the fact that substance abuse negatively affects the performance of workers therefore leading to poor results.

Research has identified not only those areas that are at the risk of substance abuse but it has also identified the reasons behind the occurrence of substance abuse problems in some industries and not in all industries. Out of a number of major workplaces that were researched upon the following were identified as the areas that are most likely to be affected by substance abuse: construction industry, military, transport sector, catering sector, maritime sector and the entertainment services industry.

Workers who are of a lower status and young are more likely to indulge into substance abuse and hence their performance in the workplace is quite low. The other groups of workers who reduce the performance of their industries due to substance abuse are lawyers, doctors, police officers and company directors. The performance of workers who engage themselves in substance abuse is highly affected due to the fact that this group of workers tends to fall sick more frequently as compared to the other workers and therefore their level of performance is below the optimum.

Substance abuse also affects organizations in that it lowers the productivity of the organization because of absenteeism, accidents and health issues related to the workers. Family problems also occur due to substance abusing and these problems may end up being extended to the workplace, for example a husband who is into substance abuse may cause problems in his home that may affect the productivity of the wife in her workplace.

Job loss is another effect of substance abuse and these leads to lack of enough workers in the workplace and therefore the productivity of the organization is greatly affected. Substance abuse affects the employers in that it leads to safety problems that affect the whole organization, the employees and the general public and it also increases the costs incurred by the organization, decreases the productivity of the organization and reduces the competitive advantage of the organization.

Security of most enterprises whose workers are into substance abuse is also affected because some substances may cause individuals to be angry and violent. Violence in any enterprise affects the performance of the enterprise because the workers are not freely working as they fear being affected by actions of those workers who are into substance abuse. Substance abuse also leads to continued disagreements in the workplace and therefore the workers spend a lot of time arguing, this time would have however been spent in productive activities of the enterprise.

Health issues that are as a result of substance abuse affect the performance of the workers; a good example of this is the case of alcohol. Excessive consumption of alcohol leads to health problems as a result of liver failure, workers who are affected by this condition may find it difficult to work at their normal rates and this causes them to reduce their performance level in the workplace. Employers will mostly make the decision of not adopting substance testing policies because they assume that they will confidently detect the abuse of substances among their employees.

Regrettably the effects of substance use are rarely noticeable in the first stages until the employers have greatly incurred losses as a result of substance abuse. Those beginning substance abuse are not likely to portray the typical characteristics of a substance user although the substance in his body affects the ability of the employee to function efficiently. At the entry level of the substance the employee has shifted from the recreational use of the substances and now the substances are required by the employees to help them cope with their daily stress.

The major effects of the abuse on the employee performance at this stage are seen by: increased tardiness and absenteeism, an increase in the rate of errors as a result of lack of attention and proper judgment and the increase in the number of unachieved deadlines at the workplace. At the second stage the employee develops a habit of using the substance in secret place so as to hide the increase in the intake from other workers.

At this stage the employee develops the following problems lower quality of work notable by all people even the workmates, lower levels of concentration in the workplace, high rates of hospitalization leading to increased absenteeism and the employee is no longer dependable. At this point the co-workers can feel the effect of the substance abuse as the abuser becomes more irritable and begins to borrow money from workmates. At the third stage the employer begins to notice although the employer may not clearly see the relation between the poor work performance and the substance abuse.

This stage is also characterized by the abuser disappearance from work and the refusal to discuss the issue of substance abuse with other people. At this stage the abuser no longer hides the use of the substance and he or she suffers from financial or legal issues. The last stage is when the abuser sees the work as an obstacle to his substance use and therefore he or she might accept drug test so as to be laid off or the abuser may just disappear from work (Elliot and Shelley, 2009).

AMELIORATIVE ACTIONS According to the U. S Department of labor, the issue of workplace substance abuse is best dealt with by establishing all-inclusive programs so as to achieve a win-win situation to both the workers and the employers. Developing a workplace program to deal with substance abuse at the workplace can reduce the cost incurred by businesses and at the same time improve the health status of the workers (U. S Department of Labor).

There is no accurate model that can be perfect for a specific company but the needs and the circumstances of the individual organization are what determine the kind of program to adopt in solving substance abuse in the workplace. Training education is another action that can be taken to counter substance abuse in organizations. The supervisors are trained to understand the policy governing the issues of substance abuse in the organization so that they are able to correctly identify those employees who are in the vice and then refer them to the appropriate people for assistance; say counselors.

The employees also need to be educated about the substance abuse program adopted by the organization so that they learn of any assistance that is available to them from the organization. Depending on the size of the organization it may either adopt an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) within the organization or outsource the program to other organizations specialized in the area. Drug testing is another action that can be used to reduce cases of substance abuse in organizations.

In this method the employees are tested for certain chemicals in their bodies and if the levels are too high then the employees are laid off from the organization depending with the formulated policies of the organization. The method is not feasible to many organizations because the drug test package is very expensive and drug testing is not allowed in all countries. Developing a strong discipline within the organization is a good option for those organizations that cannot afford the drug test (Patrick, 2009).

In conclusion substance abuse has fatal effects on organizations both to the management and the employees. Substance abuse should therefore be eliminated in the workplace as it can lead to severe damages to the organization and at times it may also lead to the complete failure of an organization if the number of abusers is at a high level. Substance abuse not only affects the organization and the employee but it also affects the public as a whole.

Introduction

Drugs are a major problem in our society. There are many people trying to stop it. Some techniques are imprisonment, school programs such as D. A. R. E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), and parental guidance. This simply is not making the drug use go down. What we have been doing in the past is not working. The best possible solution for this epidemic is to legalize drugs.

Body

More than 20 million American’s over the age of 12 use illegal drugs.

Over the past 40 years it has cost the tax payer 1. 8 trillion dollars to stop the drug cartels. The failed war on drugs has cost billions of dollars, tens of thousands of lives, and incarcerated hundreds of thousands of people. There are plenty of people trying to fix this problem but there is a solution that is better which is .

Solutions

In the past we have tried imprisonment by taking them off the streets, which failed. Those same people come out and use drugs again.

We have tried after school programs such as D. A. R. E. which also failed. According to the U. S. General Accounting Office, the U. S. Surgeon General, the National Academy of Sciences, and the U. S. Department of Education, “Scientific evaluation studies have consistently shown that DARE is ineffective in reducing the use of alcohol and drugs and is sometimes even counterproductive—worse than doing nothing. ” Talking to kids about drug use not working. More and more kids are using drugs at a young age.

Legalizing drugs is the best solution.

My Choice

Legalizing drugs is best solution:

• People use because it is illegal and enjoy taking a risk so by legalizing it would make less people wanting to do drugs just because it is legal
• There wouldn’t be more people using, it would be the same people who use it now
• Drug legalization would also reduce government costs and raise tax revenue, so a portion of the money made would b put back into drug rehab facilities and classes on educating the effects of drug use

Partial Legalization of drugs:

• Drugs would be available only under controlled circumstances
• Mandated labels with dosage instructions
• Restrictions on advertising
• Age limitations
• Restrictions on the amount purchased at a time
• Requirements on the form supplied

Call to Arms

Ther are many children being raised without their parents because of drug use, overdose, and drug cartel violence. On Easter morning Sean, 12 years old woke up and found is father in his home office passed out with a needle in his arm.

Emily never knew her father because he was sent to jail for drugs her whole life, every time he got out he would go use, and eventually he died of drug overdose. Legalizing drugs could have saved their lives by better educating them, using in controlled circumstances, and having restrictions. To think had we just legalized drugs there would be a decrease in drug abuse, eliminate drugs cartels and violence, and these young children would have grown up with their parents.

The topic I chose for this project was the link between domestic violence and substance abuse. From the research that I did, there is a definite link between domestic abuse and substance abuse. According to the National Coalition against domestic violence, “Regular alcohol abuse is one of the leading factors for intimate partner violence. ” Approximately 61% of domestic violence offenders also have substance abuse problems. Domestic violence is the use of intentional emotional, psychological, sexual, or physical force by one family member or partner to control another.

These acts can include, verbal abuse, threats, physical abuse, sexual abuse, destroying the victim’s possessions, slapping, punching, kicking, burning, stabbing, shooting, or killing the victim’s. A woman is beaten every 15 SECONDS in the United States, 30% of female trauma patients have been the victim of domestic violence. The medical costs for women who have been injured by their partners total to more than 44 million annually. Researchers have found that one-fourth to one half of men who commit acts of domestic violence also have substance abuse issues.

A study conducted by the “Department of Justice” of murders in families found that more than one half of defendants accused of murdering their spouses, as well as almost half of the victim’s, had been drinking alcohol at the time of the incident. Alcohol and drugs may be used to cope with the physical, emotional, and/or psychological pain of family violence. “Regular alcohol abuse is one of the leading factors for intimate partner violence, also men who batter frequently use alcohol abuse as an excuse for their violence.

They attempt to rid themselves of responsibility for their violence by blaming it on the effects of alcohol. ” (NCADV) The effects on children of substance abusing parents is also great, “Children of substance abusing parents are more likely to experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse than children in non-substance abusing households” (NCADV) In fact 80% of child abuse cases are linked with the use of alcohol and other drugs. These children are also at a greater risk of not only developing domestic violence issues of their own, but also substance abuse issues. An estimated 3 million children witness acts of violence against their mothers every year, and many believe that violent behavior is an acceptable way to express anger, frustration, or a will to control. ” (Recovery Network) Common myths about domestic violence are as follows: domestic violence is caused by substance abuse, this is not true, domestic violence and substance abuse are two separate problems and must be treated separately.

Two, substance abusers cannot control their violent behavior, contrary to that belief, it had been proven that batterers know how to hide the violence they inflict, even under the influence of alcohol or drugs. And three, treating the substance abuse issues will end the domestic violence, this is also a myth because there is no guarantee that successful treatment for substance abuse will stop the domestic violence. The evidence between the link in domestic violence and substance abuse is great.

In fact, “About 40% of children from violent homes believe that their fathers had a drinking problem and that they were more abusive when drinking. ” (Recovery Network) Also, when a child is subjected to physical abuse, they are more like to develop drug abuse later in life. Another interesting fact is that “teachers have reported a need for protective services three times more often for children who are being raised by someone with an addiction than for other children” (Recovery Network)

Other connections I learned about while doing my research are that many times alcohol and other drug abuse may be used to cope with the physical. Emotional, and/or psychological pain of family violence. Often times the behavior is learned, because we learn in our families and social groups that certain events or behaviors are connected and expected. Denial often is a major factor in domestic violence too, because an abusive individual excuses their violent behavior and, are often excused by their partners and other family members because they were drunk and “not in control. Also, “Research supports the connection between substance abuse and domestic violence. Members of families in which one or both parents abuse substances are considered to be at high risk for physically abusing and neglecting their children. ” (Recovery Network) The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse found that as many as 80% of child abuse cases are associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs, and the link between child abuse and others forms of domestic violence is well established.

As far as treatment, the treatment for domestic violence and substance abuse needs to be approached separately. Because, in most cases substance abuse treatment does not address the problems that are associated with domestic violence. “Effective treatment for domestic violence offenders includes cognitive therapy, which helps the offender develop alternate ways of reacting to anger, and skill development, which helps the offender learn how to establish loving relationships that are free from violence. (Sober living by the sea) I learned a lot from doing this paper. As a woman who has been through domestic violence myself, it was intriguing to learn about the links between domestic violence and substance abuse. When I was married to my ex-husband, we both did marijuana, he had a lot of mood swings and violent tendencies. Now that I look back and now that I know what I know about the connection of domestic violence and substance abuse, I can see where he maybe would have thought his actions were “justified. Also, knowing , I think it would be a tai assessment that although he received treatment with his substance abuse issues and has been sober for about 7 years, he never received treatment for the anger issues and I can still see those types of behaviors in him today. Living with someone for that long ,you get to know aha their moods are, and I still know to this day when I can and when I cannot approach him about something, basically, I know what kind of mood he is in as soon as I see him.

His anger is written all over his face, it is days like that when I realize that I am happy I was able to walk away from the relationship. The fear of never knowing how someone is going to react and always having to walk “on eggshells” is a heavy burden to live with everyday. Also being a recovering addict, I know that a lot of my own anger came from my guilt, resentments, and self-loathing, working on those issues and learning to love me for me and also working with the counselors at the Shock program and in treatment, helped me to be able to control my anger and take a “timeout” if I need to.

Now that myself and my ex-husband are sober, I can only hope that we will have broken the cycle of addiction and domestic abuse so that our children do not have to experience the same thing. Domestic violence and substance abuse are two huge problems that, I think, is becoming more and more of a problem in the world today. Being able to recognize the link between these two, I hope that I as a counselor, will be able to help more of my clients who are experiencing the same kind of situation.

No Laughing Matter: A Comprehensive Overview of Nitrous Oxide Abuse Ryan Ardelle Anatomy & Physiology, Period 3 Mr. Syvret Due: March 14, 2013 SUBSTANCE OVERVIEW The issue of inhalant abuse is a multifaceted problem, stretching across many communities and locales in the entirety of the United States. Inhalants as a class of drug vary widely, ranging from volatile solvents and aerosol propellants, to more broadly, any drug delivered by inhalation. Nitrous oxide straddles these categories, as it finds use not only a common dental analgesic, but also as a propellant, in such uses as whipping cream, automotive racing, and rocketry.

As a result, nitrous oxide is found in many forms: medical-grade, food-grade, and industrial-grade, with various purities (Erowid). Commonly known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide wears many hats and goes by many names. For example, those who use nitrous oxide in automotive racing or rocketry applications know it as NOS (Alai). In this usage, nitrous oxide is applied as a powerful oxidizer, allowing a vehicle’s engine to combust gasoline more rapidly, with an associated increase in horsepower (Winter). This form of nitrous oxide is packaged with many additives to not only improve its performance but also to deter its abuse (Erowid).

When abused recreationally however, nitrous oxide finds many more colorful nicknames, such as “hippie crack” and “nangs” (Erowid). It is a true gas, existing as a gas under atmospheric pressure at room temperature, although it assumes a liquid state when compressed in a gas cylinder (Alai). Nitrous oxide is a strong oxidizing agent with a density of 1. 9kg/m 3, and it has a linear molecular form consisting of two atoms of nitrogen and one atom of oxygen (Winter). Nitrous oxide has no color and has a sweet odor, familiar to anybody who has tasted whipped cream (Erowid).

Nitrous oxide is commercially manufactured by heating ammonium nitrate to 240C. Impurities such as ammonia and nitric acid in addition to excess water vapor are removed through an extensive gas scrubbing process. Food-grade nitrous oxide is often stored in white, 8-gram cylinders with a sealed metal puncture cap and packaged in boxes of 100 cylinders. Medical-grade nitrous oxide is stored in French-blue cylinders and is pressurized to ~4400 kPa at room temperature. The Pin Index Safety System configuration for nitrous oxide cylinders is 3-5 (Banks and Hardman). HISTORY OF NITROUS OXIDE ABUSE

British chemist and Presbyterian minister Joseph Humphrey first synthesized nitrous oxide gas in England in 1772. Priestly later published his work in a 1776 journal, “Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air” (Priestly). This publication proved extremely intriguing to the scientific community, leading to additional research and Humphry Davy’s influential 1800 book, “Researches, Chemical and Philosophical: Chiefly Concerning Nitrous Oxide. ” Throughout the remainder of the nineteenth century, nitrous oxide’s usage as a recreational drug became increasingly popular.

Traveling medical shows and carnivals featured affectionately named “Nitrous Oxide Capers,” in which attendees paid a small fee to inhale a minute’s worth of gas (Brecher). In 1844, Dr. Horace Wells, a British dentist, first demonstrated the use of nitrous oxide as a dental anesthetic. His initial testing on a patient at Harvard Medical School was unsuccessful, resulting in the public dismissal of nitrous oxide as a legitimate anesthetic. Nevertheless, nitrous oxide had a sudden resurgence in the dental community in the early 1860s, thanks to a series of dental institutions opened by lecturer and showman Gardener Quincy Colton.

These practices utilized nitrous oxide as their primary form of dental anesthesia, henceforth standardizing its usage in the United States (Erowid). METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION Nitrous oxide is administered via inhalation of compressed gas. Users most frequently obtain nitrous oxide from small, 8-gram canisters used to charge whipped cream dispensers. These canisters are readily available for purchase in most restaurant supply stores, on the Internet, and in head shops across the nation (Narconon).

Once obtained, the contents of the canisters are released into empty whipped cream dispensers or into a balloon. A pressure release valve, or “cracker”, must be used in order to safely siphon the gas into a balloon (Erowid). These valves are also available for purchase online or in head shops (Narconon). Users with access to larger cylinders of nitrous oxide sometimes inhale the gas through a nasal hood or anesthesia mask, as used in dental surgery. However, this method is extremely dangerous without proper medical supervision, as users can inhale larger amounts of gas without access to fresh oxygen.

As a result, the vast majority of nitrous oxide users prefer to use the aforementioned whipped cream dispenser or balloon methods of inhalation (Wagner, Clark, Wesche, Doedens, and Lloyd). Whipped cream canisters and standard latex party balloons have a maximum capacity of approximately three 8-gram cylinders. Depending on personal preference, users can fill their vessel of choice with one, two, or three cylinders at a time (Creamright). Once the whipped cream dispenser or balloon is filled to the user’s liking, the gas inside is rapidly inhaled into the user’s lungs.

The gas is often held in the lungs for twenty to sixty seconds to induce hypoxia and enhance the euphoric effects. The gas is then exhaled normally, and the user resumes regular respiration of room air (Erowid). IMMEDIATE EFFECTS Once inhaled, nitrous oxide is immediately absorbed through the lungs, dissolving directly into blood plasma. Within ten to fifteen seconds, nitrous oxide molecules replace oxygen molecules in the user’s lungs, thereby stimulating a euphoric sensation. Users then experience a brief “high” usually lasting between thirty seconds and two minutes with a standard dose (Erowid).

Symptoms of nitrous oxide abuse include slurred speech, impaired coordination and balance, difficulty thinking clearly and processing information, unresponsiveness to verbal and painful stimuli, and occasionally loss of consciousness. Assuming the user returns to regularly breathing room air after the initial gas inhalation, these symptoms should subside within two minutes. The onset and peak effect timing of nitrous oxide is determined by the quantity consumed (Narconon). Nitrous oxide inhalation impacts the function of numerous physiologic systems.

First, nitrous oxide decreases tidal volume and increases respiratory rate following activation of the central nervous system. Myocardial depression and an increase in central sympathetic outflow also occur following nitrous oxide inhalation. Inhaled nitrous oxide may produce the second gas effect, as nitrous oxide has a more rapid rate of diffusion across alveolar basement membranes than nitrogen gas. This rapid exit of nitrous oxide from the alveoli initiates a concentration of other alveolar gases, thereby accelerating the uptake of nitrous oxide into the bloodstream (Banks and Hardman).

The primary method of nitrous oxide elimination is via the exhalation from the lungs. Nitrous oxide exits the body entirely unchanged in chemical formula and structure. Small amounts of nitrous oxide diffuse through the skin and the renal system, and anaerobic bacteria in the GI tract reduce any outstanding nitrous oxide into nitrogen gas (Erowid). ACTION ON THE BRAIN Nitrous oxide causes vasodilatation, resulting in an increase in cerebral blood flow and causing a corresponding increase in intracranial pressure (Erowid). Unlike most inhalants, nitrous oxide does not augment the effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockers.

Accordingly, nitrous oxide does not produce the same neuromuscular depression experienced with other inhalant abuse. Nitrous oxide activates opioid receptors in the periaqueductal grey of the midbrain, stimulating a release of norepinephrine and activation of 2-adrenoceptors in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord (Banks and Hardman). LONG TERM EFFECTS Risks involved in nitrous oxide inhalation revolve primarily around displacing oxygen. Although nitrous oxide does not bind with hemoglobin and instead dissolves into the blood, continued inhalation of pure nitrous oxide without supplemental oxygen can lead to hypoxia.

Nitrous oxide-induced hypoxia is especially dangerous because users may not realize that they asphyxiating themselves – the impulse to breathe is triggered by a build-up of carbon dioxide, rather than a lack of oxygen (Banks and Hardman). Aside from hypoxia, there are relatively few physiologic dangers associated with nitrous oxide abuse. The most significant of these effects is Vitamin B depletion and deficiency. This can potentially lead to acute or chronic paresthesia, the sensation of “pins and needles,” and can inhibit the activity of methionine synthetase, thereby interfering with DNA synthesis in leukocytes and erythrocytes.

However, Vitamin B and Folate supplements can prevent these side effects (Banks and Hardman). Nitrous oxide can also induce potentially dangerous airspace expansion in the body, such as pneumothorax or bowel obstruction, due to its rapid diffusion properties. Other potential side effects include respiratory depression, apnea, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, dizziness, neuropathy, nausea, vomiting, ileus, bone marrow depression, and malignant hyperthermia. Pregnant women should not use nitrous oxide, as the gas diffuses into the placenta and can cause fetal depression (Erowid).

A few cases of frostbite on the vocal cords have been recorded following direct inhalation of nitrous oxide from a canister (Banks and Hardman). Also, nitrous oxide users are at risk of traumatic fall injuries such as broken extremities and concussions due to impaired balance and possible loss of consciousness (Narconon). STATISTICS Nitrous oxide abuse is most common among younger adolescents aged 16-17, although abuse does occur among older individuals. A 2011 study from the University of Michigan showed that 13% of 8th grade students reported abusing inhalants at least once (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

A similar study from the University of Virginia revealed that nitrous oxide was one of the top five substances abused by adolescent inhalant users (Narconon). According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the rates of inhalant abuse “increased steadily from 3. 4 percent at age 12 to 5. 3 percent at age 14, then declined to 3. 9 percent by age 17 from 2002-2006. ” Data from this study also showed that “adolescents age 12 to 17 represented 48 percent of all substance abuse treatment admissions reporting inhalants. Among these adolescent admissions reporting inhalant abuse, 45% had a concurrent psychiatric disorder (SAMHSA). Erowid. com, a popular website that provides information on psychoactive drug use, conducted a series of online surveys in September 2009 in a study examining the possible presence of contaminants in nitrous oxide chargers. One of the surveys asked regular nitrous oxide users their preferred method of inhalation; 46% preferred using a cracker with a balloon, 34. 4% preferred inhaling directly from a whipped cream dispenser, 11. % percent preferred a whipped cream dispenser with a balloon, 1. 7 % preferred a cracker with a bag, 0. 7% preferred a whipped cream dispenser with a bag, and 5. 0% preferred other methods (Erowid). Nitrous oxide is not physiologically addictive, although certain individuals can use it compulsively. While psychological addiction is possible, the only symptom of withdrawal is the desire to inhale more nitrous oxide (Dartmouth College). Furthermore, statistics on inhalant-related deaths are difficulty to determine, as most deaths are severely under-reported.

Most of the time, death is attributed to cardiac or respiratory failure subsequent to inhalant abuse. Studies from the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse between 1990 and 1993 revealed an average of 15 inhalant abuse-related deaths per year in the state of Texas. Of those deaths, 94% of victims were male, and 91% were Caucasian, on average (National Inhalant Prevention Coalition). Most recreational nitrous oxide-related deaths are caused by hypoxia when users affix masks without oxygen or place bags over their heads to concentrate the gas (Erowid). EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ABUSE

The topic of inhalants has been addressed by multiple small grass-roots efforts in local communities, but has also seen national discussion. Although no national legislation is in place restricting the sale, consumption, and distribution of nitrous oxide, several states and municipalities have passed laws in an attempt to curb usage. Most of these laws specifically target underage consumption and sale of nitrous oxide to minors (Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics). For example, the Article 34 Title 7 § 3380. 5a-5b of the New York State Controlled Substances Act states: a) No person shall use nitrous oxide for purposes of causing intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction or the dulling of the brain or nervous system of himself or another. (b) No person shall sell any canister or other container of nitrous oxide unless granted an exemption pursuant to this subdivision. In no event shall any canister or other container of nitrous oxide be sold to a person under the age of twenty-one years. “Any person who violates any provision of subdivision four or five of this section shall be guilty of class A misdemeanor” (New York State Legislature).

A number of non-governmental organizations such as the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition work to educate the public on the facts and dangers of inhalant abuse. These organizations frequently lobby on the state and federal level in attempt to pass more restrictive anti-inhalant abuse legislature. These preventative efforts have helped to several states integrate inhalant abuse education into primary and secondary school health education curricula (National Inhalant Prevention Coalition). Works Cited Alai, Nili N. “Nitrous Oxide Administration. ” Ed. Rick Kulkarni.

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National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, 2013. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. <http://www. inhalants. org/VPT. htm>. Wagner, Scott A. , Michael A. Clark, David L. Wesche, David J. Doedens, and Alan W. Lloyd. “Asphyxial Deaths from the Recreational Use of Nitrous Oxide. ” Journal of Forensic Sciences 37. 4 (1992): 1008-15. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. <http://library-resources. cqu. edu. au/JFS/PDF/vol_37/iss_4/JFS374921008. pdf>. “Winter, Mark. “Nitrous Oxide. ” WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements. WebElements, n. d. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. <http://www. webelements. com/compounds/nitrogen/nitrous_oxide. html>.