Category: Abuse

Elder abuse was largely ignored because it was seen as a social welfare issue. However, it has evolved into a public health and criminal justice challenge owing to the fact that it involves the violation of fundamental rights. It is an important matter to consider since this segment of the population is increasing in size as societies gain access to effective health services that prolong life.

The Description of Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is the physical, psychological, or sexual abuse of older people. It also includes the financial manipulation and neglect by an institution or individual on the basis of disability or age (Stuckey, 2017). It is vital to note that these violations occur in a variety of settings such as care facilities, the community, or homes. They often manifest in scenarios where there is an expectation of trust or when unscrupulous entities target the individual in question

The Abusers

It is essential to note that some of the culprits associated with the vice work in long-term care facilities. The abuse of older residents by other inhabitants in these institutions is a well-recognized problem that is more prevalent than physical abuse by employees (Stuckey, 2017). In 2014, 7.6% of all the cases reported to the National Ombudsman Reporting System involved gross neglect, abuse, and financial exploitation (Stuckey, 2017). Other perpetrators include family members interested in profiting from the victims finances, caregivers tasked with meeting the older persons needs, and hospital staff in various jurisdictions.

The signs of Elder Abuse

There are various signs that should alert a health professional to possible elder abuse. For instance, emotional and behavioral signs include changes in mannerisms, altered sleep patterns, depression, and anxiety. Physical pointers that are commonly seen are cuts, unexplained sexually transmitted illnesses, fractured bones, dehydration, and poor nutrition. Finally, financial indicators of mistreatment are pending bills, fake signatures on documents, inexplicable changes in the victims will, and strange bank account activity.

The Preventive Measures

Adult Protective Services Agencies are instrumental in ensuring that elder neglect and abuse are prevented. The institution of evidence-based policies and guidelines in the management of elderly patients in hospitals and care facilities ensures that the vice is minimized. In addition, screening for abuse in healthcare settings is essential because it raises service providers awareness of mistreatment and facilitates the provision of suitable services to affected clients. Finally, continuous professional education on the identification of elder abuse is an essential protective measure.

The Resources for Elder Abuse

Social service networks are an essential resource for elder abuse victims. In addition, private, voluntary, and charitable institutions that offer consultation and training services make important contributions to abuse victims care. The creation of a system designed to address cases of elder mistreatment is an essential step in ensuring vulnerable members of society are protected. Support groups and emergency shelters are beneficial because they offer affected individuals an avenue to share experiences which is critical in ensuring they recover from the psychological trauma associated with maltreatment.

Conclusion

Elder abuse is the violation of an elderly individuals rights while in the community, at home, or in a care facility. The people implicated in these vile acts include hospital staff, family members, and other residents in healthcare institutions. Some of the signs associated with abuse are poor sleep, depression, unexpected changes in the victims will, and fractured bones. The vice can be prevented by implementing regulations outlined by agencies tasked with the protection of vulnerable members of the community.

Reference

Stuckey, R. E. (2017). Elder abuse. JOJ Nursing & Health Care, 2(3), 13. Web.

Fraud and abuse schemes in medicare have been a serious issue for many years. These are especially dangerous since the victims risk not only their money but their health and, sometimes, lives. The most common methods of deceit are billing for appointments that did not take place, procedures that were not performed, or unnecessary medical services (Johnson and Khoshgoftaar, 2019). The last one is the most dangerous and is often described as an abusive practice because it usually implies directly deluding patients. A lot of fraud complaints become OIG cases and are actively investigated. According to Ogrosky and Shuren (2020), an OIG case is the one investigating fraud committed by federal payers since only this organ has the authority to issue subpoenas to those organizations. Theoretically, any report of a significant fraud can become an OIG case, but not every one of them is resolved.

The hardship of combatting fraud lies in the complexity of this process and well-prepared methods of concealing it. Despite that, there are ways of minimizing fraud and abuse cases by detecting them and gaining control. One of the strategies is using machine learning and big data for fraud detection. As explained in a study by Johnson and Khoshgoftaar (2019), smart medicare data sets are very effective at indicating anomalies and frauds in healthcare institutions computerized systems. However, neural networks are far from being absolutely stable and require additional investments. Until that, there is another essential action Medicare beneficiaries can do to reduce deceit cases  bringing attention to this issue. If both the patients and the local government become aware of fraud possibilities, they will act more cautiously and monitor their interactions with healthcare institutions.

References

Johnson, J.M., & Khoshgoftaar, T.M. (2019) Medicare fraud detection using neural networks. Journal of Big Data, 6(63), 1-35. Web.

Ogrosky, K., & Shuren, A. (2020). DOJ and OIG Health Care Fraud Enforcement in 2020 and Beyond. Journal of Health Care Compliance, 22(1), 17-24. Web.

Introduction

Drug misuse and abuse are increasingly widespread problems that lead to higher levels of morbidity and mortality in all groups of the population in the US. It is fascinating how the same active ingredients contained in medicines that help treat severe illnesses can become dangerous if taken in the wrong doses or with other drugs. Healthcare practitioners should have a thorough understanding of how drugs can affect peoples lives. Many aspects determine how the drug interactions may be leading to drug misuse, which means that clinicians should give comprehensive advice to patients regarding drug use practices. Just as important, intentional drug abuse that may cause drug addiction can be prevented if drugs are sold strictly by prescription. This research aims to determine the best ways to prescript drugs, the importance of drug interactions, and the potential dangers of drug abuse.

Literature Review

The researcher analyzed the Harvard Medical School Commentaries on Health to understand what determines the drugs, why the drug categories matter, and how patients can cope with the growing arrays of information concerning the OTC drugs and their interaction (What Makes Drug a Drug?). The article provides important data on the functions and aims of drugs and widens the understanding of which types of medication can pose adverse health effects on different people. Similarly, the article from The Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health provides an insight into the dangers older people using medications expose themselves to when consuming certain drugs (Drug Interaction). The article notes that drug interactions can lead to a change in the excretion of certain drugs from the body and an increase or decrease in the effect. Various age groups suffer different health effects based on their health conditions and the nature of the medications. The first article gives crucial information detailing reasons for using drugs for their specific purposes, which is essential in informing the choice of drugs for any age group. The second informs on how drugs interact with each other to cause undesired effects.

Notably, older people usually abstain from drug abuse but may be at higher risk for dangerous drug interactions. In an article from The Encyclopedia of Aging, it is noted that drug abuse among older people remains underestimated since many of them use alcohol, tobacco, barbiturates, and other opioid drugs for self-recreation (Medication Misuse and Abuse). Lynch presents a more extended discussion about the ways and types of interactions between drugs and other substances (1). This discussion also looks at the dangers of drug abuse by teenagers. The effects differ across various age groups due to the body functions. Aged people have weaker bodies compared to teenagers and young adults. To expand further on the dangers of drug abuse among adolescents and adults, the researcher studied Robinsons article presenting 11 types of prescription and OTC drugs most widely used by addicts. These drugs include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, sleep medicines, codeine and morphine, OxyContin and Percocet, Vicodin, Lortab and Lorcet, amphetamines, methylphenidate, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine.

The detailed descriptions and photos of drugs present comprehensive information that doctors can use later when consulting parents of teenagers or potential addicts. According to an article from the Mayo Clinic website, the most widespread symptoms of drug abuse vary widely across individuals. Consequently, adults must understand how their teenagers react to various drugs, especially when the parents oversee the administration of such medications. Clinicians mostly understand such symptoms and can provide helpful information when consulting the patients and prescribing them drugs, thus helping them from becoming addicted.

Drug abuse has several adverse effects, which include addiction and sometimes serious health consequences. Schepis et al. discuss how drug abuse may lead to a reduction in life expectancy in different age groups, including an analysis of suicidal tendencies caused by drug-related depression. Schepis et al. further reveal that experts unanimously agree that drug misuse and abuse are dangerous and happen in all age categories. The authors opine that the drug abuse menace should be addressed by the healthcare practitioners responsible for increasing patients understanding of the related risks. Some articles are focused on older populations, while others discuss the drug problems of adults and adolescents.

Significance

Reviewing the previous research reveals there is insufficient clarity and best practices on how healthcare practitioners can prescribe drugs prone to abuse. The current research on drug misuse and abuse is important as it considers the causes and consequences of drug use, which can be useful for doctors and nurses who prescribe medications to different patient groups. The current research emphasizes the dangers for older and younger groups regarding using drugs. Therefore, this research provides more details on the issue, supports the previous research, and gives recommendations on how to address drug abuse from a clinical perspective. The research also joins the discussion concerning the dangers of drug abuse and misuse.

Research Method

The current research used literature review and interviews to gather the required information. For the interview, the researchers communicated with pharmacist Shan C., who has more than twelve years of experience in pharmacy and can be seen as an expert in the topic discussed. The following questions were asked during the interview: What do you think is the most common misconception about taking drugs? Why?, Why is important to know side effects and drug interactions?, If you had the chance to change something about drug abuse. What would it be? and Do you think prescription drugs should be free for all? The answers to the questions helped the researcher gain a better understanding of the research question regarding why a thorough attitude towards prescribing drugs is so important.

Research Analysis and Discussion

First, it was important to find out what determines the drug and to understand which aspects of interaction should be considered during the prescription. The drugs are determined as devices intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and objects (other than food) intended to affect a structure or any function of the human or other animal body (What Makes a Drug Drug? para. 3). Prescription medication, OTC drugs, cosmetics, and dietary supplements should all be seen as drugs with the potential for interaction. Ms. Shan notes that it is important to know side effects and interactions because, for example, an interaction with Oxycodone and Opioid drugs will be causing higher levels in the body, leading to respiratory suppression, difficulty breathing, drowsiness, and more. As a pharmacist, Ms. Shan advises such patients not to drive and to share the information about their drug intake with all their doctors. In other words, a better understanding of drug interactions leads to more thorough prescription advice.

There are several types of drug interactions, including interactions between OTC products and prescription drugs. Common interactions are defined as duplication, opposition, and drug alteration (Lynch). Interestingly, Robinson notes a particular danger of the OTC Pseudoephedrine pills, which are designed to reduce cough symptoms but can react with heavier drugs containing methamphetamine. As a result, these cough medicines are available in many pharmacies with requisites. Ms. Shan notes that interactions between OTC and prescription drugs could be avoided if the clinics accepted the shared computer system in the entire United States for all healthcare facilities such as hospitals, pharmacies, to monitor patients prescription activity, especially for controlled substances, and improve drug abuse. Therefore, the provision of advice by pharmacists regarding drug interactions can be facilitated using IT tools.

Drug abuse may cause severe symptoms of addiction that often lead to patients death. Mayo Clinic experts name some of the symptoms of opioid abuse that include constipation, nausea, euphoria, slowed breathing rate, drowsiness, poor coordination, problems with memory and concentration (Prescription Drug Abuse para. 8). At the same time, symptoms of stimulant abuse may include high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat; drug abuse with hard drugs can lead to coma and death. Ms. Shan says that she does not believe that prescription drugs should be free because they could cause a higher chance of drug abuse. Notably, clinicians who sell and prescribe drugs should be very careful when a patient asks for a repeat prescription or terminates a course of strong pain medication early and pay attention to whether such patients have symptoms of dependence. Timely intervention by doctors can save the lives of patients or avoid serious health consequences.

Limitations of the Research

Limitations of the study include the inability to put into practice some experimental recommendations in advance. At the same time, new research could expand the intervention or focus of clinicians who prescribe drugs for patients. Analysis of the responses of dependent patients may have great potential for further research, as the processes of drug abuse remain poorly understood. Therefore, the researcher recommends conducting follow-up surveys of the broader populations that are at risk.

Conclusion

Thus, the best ways to prescript drugs, the importance of drug interactions, and the potential dangers of drug abuse were discussed, and the related recommendations were provided. A better understanding of drug interactions leads to better advice to help patients avoid drug misuse and drug use misconceptions. The use of IT solutions for prescriptions can be a very handy tool for pharmacists to help reduce the levels of drug abuse and misuse among patients. Finally, clinicians should pay attention to the symptoms of drug abuse since addiction can lead to severe health consequences and death.

Works Cited

Commonly Abused Prescription and OTC Drugs. WebMD, 2021. Web.

Drug Interactions. The Gale Encyclopedia of Senior Health, 2022.

Lynch, Shalini S. Drug Interactions. Merck Manual, 2019.

Medication Misuse and Abuse. The Encyclopedia of Aging, 2022. Web.

Prescription Drug Abuse. Mayo Clinic, 2022.

Schepis, Ty S., et al. Prescription Drug Misuse: Taking a Lifespan Perspective. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, vol. 14, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-12.

What Makes a Drug a Drug? Harvard Medical School Commentaries on Health, 2022. Web.

Child abuse is defined as any act or failure to act by a parent or caregiver that results in harm, the potential for harm to a child, and such abuses can take different forms. On the other hand, elder abuse is when a caregiver or another person abuses, neglects or mistreats an elderly person. An example of elder abuse would be when a caregiver pushes an elderly person in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs. Child and elder abuse have been key challenges among the young and the old in societies, respectively, but a few agencies have been formulated to reduce abuse cases.

Children are one of the most vulnerable populations in the world. They are at an increased risk for abuse and exploitation due to their size, dependency, and lack of experience and knowledge. There are many types of child abuse, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect (Read et al., 2018). Each type can have devastating long-term effects on a childs development and future relationships. There are a few factors that make children more vulnerable or at high risk of experiencing abuse. Firstly, children are physically smaller and weaker than adults, making them less likely to be able to defend themselves (Överlien, 2017). Secondly, children depend on adults for survival and may be reluctant or afraid to report abuse. Thirdly, childrens brains are still developing, which can make them more susceptible to psychological trauma (Levine & Meiners, 2020). Finally, many people view children as innocent and deserving of special protection, making it easier for perpetrators to get away with abuse.

Concerning child abuse, there are two agencies responsible for care coordination for abused children: Child Protective Services (CPS) and The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). CPS is a government agency whose purpose is to protect children who are subject to abuse or neglect. The foundation of CPS is the belief that all children should be safe, nurtured, and protected from harm (Slack et al., 2017). The agency was formed in response to the national outcry over child abuse and neglect cases that made headlines in the early 1990s. CPS is charged with investigating reports of child abuse and neglect, providing services to protect children who are maltreated, and working with families to prevent child maltreatment from occurring.

When a child is reported as being abused, the CPS agency will investigate the allegations. If they are substantiated, the CPS agency will work with the state social services department to create a case plan for the child. This case plan will include a list of safe places for the child to live, as well as a schedule of visitations for the parents (Slack et al., 2017). The CPS agency may similarly recommend therapy or other services for the child and family. Conversely, NCMEC assists law enforcement in preventing child abuse, locating missing children, and supporting their families. NCMEC also operates a CyberTipline, where individuals can report child sexual exploitation (Bursztein et al., 2019). In addition to its national functions, NCMEC assists with international child abduction and exploitation cases.

On the other hand, the elders are groups of people who are typically sixty-five years or older. They are vulnerable to abuse because they may have physical or mental impairments that make them less able to protect themselves, be financially dependent on others, and be isolated from friends. Elderly individuals can be at high risk of abuse due to many reasons. First, many older people live alone or with only one other person, making them more susceptible to abuse (Girgus et al., 2017). Second, many older adults have physical or mental health issues that can make them more vulnerable to attacks. Finally, because they are seen as weaker and less able to defend themselves, older adults are often targeted by abusers. Unfortunately, elder abuse is a common problem, and every year, millions of seniors are abused, neglected, or exploited (Banerjee, 2020). In order to help protect this elderly population from abuse, it is vital for society to be aware of the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and know how to report it.

Police departments and Adult Protective Services are the two agencies typically involved in the coordination of care for elder abuse. APS is a government-funded agency that aids in coordinating care for elders who are victims of neglect, abuse, or exploitation (Deem & Lande, 2018). When elders are placed under the guardianship of APS, it means that a third party is managing their safety and well-being. APS works with the elders family members, caregivers, and service providers to ensure that the elder is receiving the best possible care. This may include arranging for in-home care or nursing home placement, providing therapy or counseling services, and arranging for financial assistance. In some cases, APS may also petition the court to have the elders assets transferred to a protective trust. Police departments assist in coordinating care for elder abuse by connecting victims with the appropriate social services and support systems (Patterson & Swan, 2019). Additionally, they provide crucial investigative services that can help bring perpetrators to justice and protect elderly victims from further harm. Police departments are an important line of defense against elder abuse, and their work is critical to keeping seniors safe and secure.

In conclusion, there are several agencies that deal with child and elder abuse. The police are the first responders and are responsible for investigating crimes. CPS is a government agency responsible for investigating child abuse and neglect. NCMEC is a private, non-profit organization that assists law enforcement in finding missing children and combating child sexual exploitation. APS is a government agency that is responsible for investigating and protecting vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

References

Banerjee D. (2020). Age and ageism in COVID-19: Elderly mental health-care vulnerabilities and needs. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 102154. Web.

Bursztein, E., Bright, T., Clarke, E., DeLaune, M., Elifff, D. M., Hsu, N., Olson, L., Shehan, J., Thakur, M., & Thomas, K. (2019). Rethinking the detection of child sexual abuse imagery on the internet. The World Wide Web Conference on  WWW 19. Web.

Deem, D., & Lande, E. S. (2018). Transnational scam predators and older adult victims: Contributing characteristics of chronic victims and developing an effective response. Dept of Just. J. Fed. L. & Prac., 66, 177. Web.

Girgus, J. S., Yang, K., & Ferri, C. V. (2017). The gender difference in depression: Are elderly women at greater risk for depression than elderly men? Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland), 2(4), 35. Web.

Levine, J., & Meiners, E. R. (2020). The feminist and the sex offender: Confronting sexual harm, ending state violence. Verso Books.

Överlien, C. (2017). Do you want to do some arm wrestling?: Childrens strategies when experiencing domestic violence and the meaning of age. Child & Family Social Work, 22(2), 680-688. Web.

Patterson, G. T., & Swan, P. G. (2019). Police social work and social service collaboration strategies one hundred years after Vollmer. Policing: An International Journal, 42(5), 863886. Web.

Read, J., Harper, D., Tucker, I., & Kennedy, A. (2018). Do adult mental health services identify child abuse and neglect? A systematic review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(1), 719. Web.

Slack, K. S., Font, S., Maguire-Jack, K., & Berger, L. M. (2017). Predicting Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement among low-income U.S. families with young children receiving nutritional assistance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(10), 1197. Web.

Consumption of prescription drugs in a manner that has not been prescribed by the doctor is an outstanding community health issue. This can be more harmful than people understand. In reality, it is drug abuse and is just as illegitimate as consuming street drugs. Overindulging in drugs is not the only technique through which drugs can lead to death. Chemicals and composites sometimes retort with one another. It is, therefore, dangerous and noxious to consume certain drugs jointly (Critser, 2007, p. 258). Prescription drugs are faster to obtain than street drugs. They are mostly got from relatives and colleagues. Prescription drugs assist many people to live industrious lives. They free people from the signs of medical situations like hopelessness or concentration discrepancy hyperactivity disability. This only happens when these drugs are stipulated to heal a specific disease (Hyde, 2005, p. 150).

Research conducted in 2009 shows that prescription drug abuse is increasing at an extremely high rate. It is mostly found in teenagers. The population of this project is college students. This is because there are high chances of prescription drug abuse by the youth in colleges. They think that prescription drugs are secure and less devote. They involve themselves in consumption of prescription drugs thinking that this is not illegitimate since these drugs are assigned by doctors (Lundy & Janes, 2001).

Prescription drugs are however only safe for persons who have directions for their use. The doctor has checked them and assigned them the correct dose of medication. It is only these patients who have knowledge of the manner in which they should take this medication and what to stay away from while in prescription. They are also knowledgeable of possible harmful side effects. The most frequently consumed prescription drugs include opioids, Central Nervous System drugs and stimulants. They have led to burdens in the society with the most serious one being insurance costs. This risk can be decreased by having all medications filled in the same health centre. The patient should then adhere to all directions on each drug. People should avoid as much as possible consuming someone else medicine even when suffering from the same ailment (Critser, 2007, p. 258).

Health promotion is the general approach that will be taken to solve this community health issue. It is an effective way of dealing with prescription drugs among the youth. It involves allowing the youth to amplify control over and to advance their health. It moves past a focus of personal behavior towards a broad range of societal and interventions of the surrounding. The basic way of promoting health is through establishing public health policies that meet the prerequisites of health. These include earnings, shelter, food availability and employment. This approach is arguably beneficial since it puts together learning from diverse sectors to eliminate prescription drugs (Hopkins, 2009. P. 431).

One of the greatest problems facing prescription drug abuse is the internet. Prescription drugs are being sold online. The increasing online supply of frequently abused prescription medications has increased interests in Public health. For instance, the parallel development of high-speed online utilization in the US has led to expansion of US prescription drugs misuse. It was established that each 10 percent rise in high speed online use at the nation level, related with medication service admissions for the abuse of prescription drugs increased by a percentage of 1. Admissions for the misuse of liquor, opium and heroin which are not willingly bought over the internet had little growth. These results proposed that better scrutiny of internet prescription drug trade is acceptable. Aggressive measures to curtail illegal internet pharmacies should be put in to practice (Lundy & Janes, 2001).

Another problem with Rx drugs is not just the young people, but the aging population. Older people are abusing medications. This is due to several reasons. To start with, the physiological alterations of aging raise the risk for medication issues among the aged. They cannot do away with medications from their body functions as effectively as the young people. They chances of older people consuming numerous, distinct medications are high due to manifold chronic illnesses, which raise hazards, for issues caused by drug exchanges. Finally, it is quite hard for the aged to know how different medications relate or how a dosage may influence them in a different way (Critser, 2007, p. 258).

References

Critser, G. (2007). Generation Rx: How Prescription Drugs Are Altering American Lives, Minds, and Bodies. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Hopkins, V. (2009). Prescription Alternatives: Hundreds of Safe, Natural, Prescription-Free Remedies to Restore and Maintain Your Health. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Hyde, S.S (2005). Prescription Drugs for Half Price Or Less. New York: Bantam Books.

Lundy, S. K. & Janes, S. (2001). Community Health Nursing: Caring for the Publics Health. Sudbury: Jones.

The issue of drug abuse in pregnant women has remained relevant over recent years. Indeed, several policies have been proposed to tackle the problem, namely financial support for therapy, voluntary sterilization, and criminal persecution. However, the effectiveness of the proposed measures differs in their ability to achieve the desired outcome, the financial costs these measures entail, and the possibility to serve a large number of people. Applying Collinss five criteria model, it has been found that while therapy policy may be costly in execution, it allows to embrace the largest number of women and is the most effective one in terms of reaching the desired outcome.

According to Collins (2005), five criteria should be applied during treatment evaluation: relevance, progress, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact. Out of the three policies considered, only financial support for therapy and voluntary sterilization policies allow to achieve positive outcomes. Thus, financial support for therapy allows combatting drug addiction and, at the same time, significantly reduce the number of infants born with low birth weight, thus diminishing infant mortality rate (Minozzi et al., 2020). Voluntary sterilization, while it is not instrumental in combatting drug abuse, still helps to avoid giving birth to children with health disparities. Criminal persecution, vice versa, does not reach any desired aims, since it prevents women from seeking help and effectively managing their opioid use disorder.

In terms of cost-effectiveness, voluntary sterilization is the cheapest option. Being an irreversible procedure, it solves the problem of having unwanted children for mothers with opioid use disorder effectively. However, the procedure does nothing in terms of disorder treatment. Criminal persecution presupposes unnecessary expenses since, instead of offering help to pregnant women, the system of prosecution makes them shy away from any governmental services, thus subjecting their unborn babies to higher risks (Faherty et al., 2019). Financial support for therapy is the most cost-effective policy since it acts on two planes. First, it helps to reduce the number of children born with serious health disparities, the subsequent treatment, and rehabilitation of whom is much costlier than the treatment of pregnant women with opioid disorders (Minozzi et al., 2020). Secondly, the treatment of women allows for further integration into society so that they can contribute to its development through taxation.

Moreover, financial support for therapy policy allows to embrace the largest number of women since this policy is beneficial for the mother-to-be and the unborn baby as well. As a rule, women are willing to take free medication in the hope that the proposed treatment is effective and they can lead a normal life. Voluntary sterilization policy allows reaching only a limited number of women due to the irreversible character of the procedure. Many drug-taking women, though they understand their predicament, still desire to get cured and have a family and babies in the future (Lalonde, 2018). That is why many of them are unwilling to undergo the procedure. Finally, the criminal persecution policy makes pregnant women with disorders shy away from any governmental or medical services, thus disguising the problem and not solving it. This policy has the lowest number of people it can effectively serve.

On comparison of financial support for therapy, voluntary sterilization and criminal persecution policies in terms of their correspondence to Collinss five criteria model, it has been found that support for therapy suggestion is the best option. This policy has been found to be the most cost-effective one since it allows simultaneously benefitting the mother-to-be and her unborn child. Moreover, the money spend on treatment is likely to return through taxation when two people  the mother and her child  are integrated into society. The financial support for treatment policy also allows serving the largest number of people, since it does not have adverse effects that voluntary sterilization and criminal persecution policies entail.

References

Collins, T. (2005). Health policy analysis: A simple tool for policy makers. Public Health, 119(3), 192-196. Web.

Faherty, L. J., Kranz, A. M., Russell-Fritch, J., Patrick, S. W., Cantor, J., & Stein, B. D. (2019). Association of punitive and reporting state policies related to substance use in pregnancy with rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome. JAMA Network Open, 2(11), e1914078. Web.

Lalonde D. (2018). Regret, shame, and denials of womens voluntary sterilization. Bioethics, 32(5), 281288. Web.

Minozzi, S., Amato, L., Jahanfar, S., Bellisario, C., Ferri, M., & Davoli, M. (2020). Maintenance agonist treatments for opiate-dependent pregnant women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Finding helpful material on how to conduct research and the effects of substance misuse was made more accessible by using ProQuest, ERIC, and Google Scholar and comparing their functionalities. Considering its comprehensive record, Google Scholar is the best search tool available. Nonetheless, toggling between the three different search engines facilitated discovering a wide range of important information. Some resources, for instance, were accessible via one search engine but not others. Substance abuse is expensive for society and hurts the economy, healthcare, and communities if it is not addressed.

Assignment Question

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7^th ed.). American Psychological Association. Web.

This book establishes that an annotated bibliography is academic writing in which summaries of the works cited in a bibliography are included. An APA in-text citation for a work by three authors or more should only have the first authors name and et al. The location of the publisher is no longer included in the bibliography.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). High-risk substance use among youth. Web.

This website asserts that while most young people enjoy good health, some are more likely to engage in risky activities that might negatively affect their bodies, such as using drugs or alcohol. Most people who fulfill the diagnostic criteria for an addiction to drugs or alcohol began their substance abuse in their teen or early years. Substance disorders in young people are linked to an increased risk of developing psychological and physical health problems, a general decline in health, and a lower quality of life.

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Parental substance use as child abuse. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Childrens Bureau. Web.

As affirmed in this website, substance use disorders afflicting parents and other caregivers can have detrimental impacts on childrens health, welfare, and safety. There is rising worry about the adverse effects on children when parents or other members of the family use alcohol or drugs. In 14 states, exposing a kid to any step in the drug production or distribution chain is prohibited.

Grim, B. J., & Grim, M. E. (2019). Belief, behavior, and belonging: How faith is indispensable in preventing and recovering from substance abuse. Journal of Religion and Health, 58(5), 1713-1750. Web.

Medicines that save lives and psychological help are essential to rescue and recovery but are not sufficient on their own. Medical interventions alone may not be able to solve all of the problems that contribute to drug dependency, but religion and religious participation are paramount. It is worrying that the number of people identifying as religious in the United States is falling.

Kirschenbaum, M. (2017). 10 ways to spot a fake news article. EasyBib. Web.

The blog post confirms the widespread belief that information seekers are frustrated by the prevalence of biased or false data. Since most writers who take the time to create a well-researched news item want their byline to appear on the finished product, the absence of an authors name on an article is a warning signal. Sharing fake news items boosts them up in search result pages, causing others to come across them rapidly and believe the content.

Nishimura, M., Bhatia, H., Ma, J., Dickson, S. D., Alshawabkeh, L., Adler, E., Maisel, A., Criqui, H., Greenberg, B., & Thomas, I. (2020). The impact of substance abuse on heart failure hospitalizations. The American Journal of Medicine, 133(2), 207-213. Web.

This journal article confirms the lack of clarity surrounding the prevalence of substance addiction among heart failure patients and its connection to subsequent emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Substance disorders are a major cause of morbidity, although less common than highly prevalent comorbidities in patients with heart failure. Patient outcomes in heart failure may benefit from increased awareness of and access to treatment for substance use.

Pinedo, M. (2019). A current re-examination of racial/ethnic disparities in the use of substance abuse treatment: Do disparities persist? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 202, 162-167. Web.

The purpose of this article was to reevaluate whether racial/ethnic differences in treatment utilization still exist. Racial disparities persist despite efforts to expand insurance coverage and access to such programs. Substance abuse and the resulting negative consequences can be effectively treated with specialized care.

Seitz, N. N., Lochbühler, K., Atzendorf, J., Rauschert, C., Pfeiffer-Gerschel, T., & Kraus, L. (2019). Trends in substance use and related disorders: Analysis of the epidemiological survey of substance abuse 1995 to 2018. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 116(36), 585-591. Web.

It is encouraging to see declining rates of cigarette and alcohol consumption. Prevention and early diagnosis measures should be taken to ensure that the trends continue in the future. Even so, it is important to keep a careful eye on how often people take analgesics and to increase the intensity of necessary preventative measures.

Zhang, S., Duke, N. K., & Jiménez, L. M. (2011). The WWWDOT approach to improving students critical evaluation of websites. The Reading Teacher, 65(2), 150-158. Web.

This article presents a framework to help students become more aware of the need to analyze websites critically as information sources and develop their ability to do so. The WWWDOT framework asks students to evaluate a website on at least six different criteria. It teaches students to recognize the importance of checking the veracity of online information and improves their ability to assess a websites reliability across many facets.

References

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7^th ed.). American Psychological Association. Web.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). High-risk substance use among youth. Web.

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Parental substance use as child abuse. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Childrens Bureau. Web.

Grim, B. J., & Grim, M. E. (2019). Belief, behavior, and belonging: How faith is indispensable in preventing and recovering from substance abuse. Journal of Religion and Health, 58(5), 1713-1750. Web.

Kirschenbaum, M. (2017). 10 ways to spot a fake news article. EasyBib. Web.

Nishimura, M., Bhatia, H., Ma, J., Dickson, S. D., Alshawabkeh, L., Adler, E., Maisel, A., Criqui, H., Greenberg, B., & Thomas, I. (2020). The impact of substance abuse on heart failure hospitalizations. The American Journal of Medicine, 133(2), 207-213. Web.

Pinedo, M. (2019). A current re-examination of racial/ethnic disparities in the use of substance abuse treatment: Do disparities persist? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 202, 162-167. Web.

Seitz, N. N., Lochbühler, K., Atzendorf, J., Rauschert, C., Pfeiffer-Gerschel, T., & Kraus, L. (2019). Trends in substance use and related disorders: Analysis of the epidemiological survey of substance abuse 1995 to 2018. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 116(36), 585-591. Web.

Zhang, S., Duke, N. K., & Jiménez, L. M. (2011). The WWWDOT approach to improving students critical evaluation of websites. The Reading Teacher, 65(2), 150-158. Web.

Introduction

In some cases, the use of narcotic drugs has medical indications and takes place under the supervision of a doctor. Nevertheless, issues in which people use drugs illegally and become addicted are more common. Drug abuse has negative social, medical, and mental consequences for the individual. In this case, all outcomes can be divided into several categories. For example, some effects are reversible upon discontinuation of the drug, while others are irreversible. In addition, there are general consequences characteristic of all types of drug addiction and specific ones that occur depending on the type of drug. Therefore, this essay will analyze the main outcomes of drug abuse.

Medical Consequences

Taking drugs worsens the condition and ability of the normal functioning of all body systems and internal organs. Moreover, Frusinoiu and Banacu note that addiction can lead to direct drug-related deaths, indirect deaths, premature deaths or death caused by illicit drug use disorders (477). First of all, drugs affect the human brain and nervous system. Drug abuse can lead to brain and nerve damage, both small and large. For example, brain dysfunction can manifest in behavioral impairments, cognitive dysfunction, epigenetic changes, and autophagy dysfunction (Guerri and Pascual). The severity of some of these effects can be reduced by therapy, while others by modification, like epigenetics, are irreversible. In addition, damage to the nervous system can lead to impaired coordination and serious motor system disorders, paralysis, and paresis.

In addition, drug abuse can lead to serious damage to the cardiovascular system. Among the minor adverse effects is cardiac arrhythmia, which occurs in all drug abusers (Smith and Hiller). Moreover, drug abuse can lead to cardiac pathologies such as Cardiomyopathy, Coronary heart disease, and heart failure. In most cases, these diseases occur due to impaired blood supply.

Another consequence of drug abuse is liver and kidney disease. These organs are responsible for removing toxins from the body, but they cannot perform their functions when there are too many toxins. It leads to cirrhosis and increases the risk of contracting hepatitis of various types. Moreover, for women, drug abuse threatens pregnancy problems, adolescent maternity, and other problems associated with motherhood (Smith and Hiller 17). Furthermore, abuse leads to a greater risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Consequences for Mental Health

Another important consequence is the impact of drugs on mental health. Drug abuse leads to a change in personality, a decrease in the range of interests, and the development of depressive states. The emotional spectrum of a drug addict is usually much smaller. However, at the same time, it is distinguished by its instability and uncontrollable emotional reactions to various situations and events. Moreover, one of the most common problems is anger. This aggression can be directed both at others and at the person himself, which causes an increased risk of suicide among drug addicts (Smith and Hiller 18). Lack of interest in anything other than getting a new dose leads to spiritual emptiness, depression, and suicidal tendencies.

Moreover, most people who abuse drugs cannot critically evaluate their actions. Most patients lack self-control, self-preservation, and ethical and moral standards. These mental disorders lead to the exclusion of the dependent person from society, which aggravates his mental state. In addition, drug abusers are much more likely to commit crimes due to mental disorders (Shafiei et al.). In most cases, the mental health effects are reversible but require long-term treatment.

Moreover, this effect is observed for all types of drugs. For example, opioids, although they bring joy and euphoria when used, cause negative psychological states during withdrawal. Drug withdrawal is a very complex process often associated with serious health risks. Moreover, drug addicts may experience an increase in suicidal tendencies during withdrawal. Therefore, it should occur in stationary conditions under the supervision of an appropriate specialist.

Social Consequences

Violations of a persons mental state lead to negative consequences in the social sphere. Often, people who abuse drugs lose social connections due to a loss of social trust and respect (Shafiei et al. 1032). Addictions, in most cases, are condemned and condemned in society, so drug addicts often become outcasts. Moreover, the consciousness of an addicted person is often distorted due to the knowledge of drugs, because of which he ceases to be a full-fledged member of society.

Another consequence is the breakup of the family and the loss of support from loved ones. As a rule, a person who abuses drugs tries to hide his addiction and begins to move away from loved ones. Problems arise in the family, which are manifested by increased conflicts, exacerbated by the aggressiveness and rudeness of the drinking family member, economic difficulties, which lead to the destruction of family values, and divorce (Shafiei et al.). Especially in such families, children suffer because the negative behavior of a dependent parent negatively affects the vulnerable childs psyche. Moreover, in some cases, the loss of family support can threaten being homeless and a tramp for drug addicts.

In addition, due to brain damage and loss of interest in life, a frequent consequence of drug abuse is work and a source of income. It, in turn, becomes the reason for the involvement of drug addicts in violent activities and leads to an immoral way of life. Shafiei et al. note that the drug abuse-crime relationship is observed as a result of a co-existence of deviant behaviors (1029). People who abuse drugs cease to recognize common human values, morality, and ethical norms, which expands the boundaries of acceptable and lawful behavior in their minds. At the same time, women most often turn to prostitution in order to earn money for living and buy a new dose. On the other hand, typical behavior for men is theft or other serious crimes.

In drug addicts, control over their behavior is reduced, and a person loses a sense of responsibility. In addition, a person can harm not only their health but also cause serious injury to another person. This is especially true for drivers since road traffic accidents committed while the driver is intoxicated are one of the most common causes of disability and death (Frusinoiu and Banacu). That increases the risk of death not only among drug addicts but also among other people. Moreover, there are many unintentional killings while under the influence of drugs (Shafiei et al.). Drug addicts cannot identify their own emotions and the emotions and intentions of other people, which is why the most common reaction is aggression with the use of physical force.

Teenagers are one of the most vulnerable groups to drug abuse. First, adolescents tend not to think about the consequences of their actions but are more interested in having new experiences (Latief and Solli 391). This desire is caused by self-identification processes characterized by increased curiosity and empirical exploration of the world. In addition, adolescents tend to rebel and violate established prohibitions. It may be in response to pressure from parents and the environment that has lack understanding upon adolescents (Latief and Solli 391). In addition, at this age, people are most susceptible to influence from social groups, especially those wanting to become part of the community. Therefore, drug abuse in adolescents may be due to their environment and social interactions.

The beginning of drug abuse threatens irreversible damage to the health and mental system of adolescents. In addition, such adolescents are involved in seizure activity from an early age (Muhammad et al.). An increase in adolescent seizures threatens the social exclusion of such adolescents in adulthood. Moreover, even after stopping drug abuse, people need long-term therapy to stabilize the nervous system and learn social interaction. Some people who have abused drugs cannot become part of society even after drug abuse has stopped. It causes them to become isolated, which leads to an increased risk of suicide among former drug addicts.

Conclusion

Thus, drug abuse negatively affects all spheres of human activity. It leads to serious disturbances in the work of internal organs and their dysfunction and serious changes in a persons mental health. Moreover, all the consequences lead to the destruction of the social life of the drug addicts and their exclusion from society. Some of these effects can be eliminated with proper treatment, while more severe conditions are incurable. In addition, drug withdrawal always requires additional specialist help and long-term therapy aimed at restoring mental health and providing social support.

Works Cited

Guerri, Consuelo, and María Pascual. Impact of neuroimmune activation induced by alcohol or drug abuse on adolescent brain development. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, vol. 77, 2019, pp. 89-98. Web.

Frusinoiu, Paula Stefania, and Cristian Silviu Banacu. The consequences of illicit drug use. Estimation, methods and challenges. Technium Social Sciences Journal, vol. 34, no. 1, 2022, pp. 472-482. Web.

Latief, Muhammad Iqbal, and Agustinus Solli. Social challenges of teen in recovery from drugs addictions: A case study of Makassar, Indonesia. Enfermeria Clinica, vol. 30, no. 2, 2020, pp. 390-393. Web.

Muhammad, Anasin Salisu, et al. Menace of Drug and Substance Abuse Problems to Adolescents and the Society. African Scholar Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, vol. 21, no. 6, 2021, pp. 157-170. Web.

Shafiei, Fatemeh, et al. Substance Abuse, Criminality, and Social Consequences: The Lived Experiences of Male Outpatients in a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program in Iran. Journal of Addiction and Recovery, vol. 4, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1028-1037.

Smith, Mintzer Forman, and Holling Curtin Hiller. Influence of drug abuse on human health in United States of America. African Journal of Emerging Issues, vol. 3, no. 11, 2021, pp. 16-28. Web.

For a writer, it is significant to understand how to overcome writers block in the writing process. Enhancing the workplace and planning a time are the most important suggestions. (Purdue University Global, 2019). The first helpful habit I use to overcome writers block is focusing on the materials, not grammar or spelling, which helps to avoid writing paralysis. The second habit is to create a bullet points draft, which guarantees a fast and successful writing process. Finally, I usually prepare for work by practicing meditation and relaxation. Conclusively, the most successful suggestion for me as a writer is creating a solid draft before starting a work, which makes the whole working process structured and fast.

Many factors lead to substance abuse of teenagers. These include lack of parental supervision, poverty, unemployment, and school failure. In addition, there is a growing trend of using drugs on social media such as Instagram or Snapchat, which has become more common among teenagers nowadays. The use of drugs can lead to other problems, such as depression together with anxiety, which can cause suicidal thoughts and deeds (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Another factor that leads people into substance abuse is their history with the substances they are taking. For example, supposing someone has had a bad experience with alcohol. In that case, they may associate drinking with those negative feelings and therefore decide to try it themselves without knowing what effect it will have on them or how dangerous it could be for them regarding health risks. Teenagers are known to be impressionable, impulsive, and often rebellious. The youth years are crucial for minds development; therefore, teenagers must not use drugs during this time as it could possess long-term consequences on their cognitive abilities.

People take many different types of substances, including illegal ones such as heroin or cocaine, which are highly addictive substances that produce an altered state of consciousness when taken into the body. In contrast, legal ones such as cannabis create a modified form in their body (Pinedo, 2019). Still, they do not usually result in addiction unless they take higher amounts than they typically take due to their psychoactive properties. Once teenagers stop taking them, their bodies will slowly return to normal. Most people who commit suicide do not use any form of the drug. In contrast, some studies show around 80% do not have any form of substance abuse within them (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Other types include hallucinogens which alter perception by altering signals sent from their brain.

Teenagers do not usually result in addiction unless taken in higher amounts than they would typically take due to their hallucinogenic properties. Once teenagers stop taking it, their body will slowly return to normal. Although this does not mean all people who use these types also commit suicide; however, some may choose this route because they had experienced hallucinations while under the influence (National Institute of Mental Health, 2021). The drugs adverse effects abuse on physical health causes liver disease, liver bronchus; heart disease; lung disease; hepatitis; tuberculosis; damage to blood vessels causing hemorrhaging.

In addition, damage to nerves causing paralysis; brain damage leading to memory loss or personality changes; kidney failure due to toxic effects on body organs from long-term alcohol consumption (Nishimura et al., 2020). Drugs like marijuana cause you down a path towards harder substances. This would also apply if you were using both substances at once, like methamphetamines which could cause severe psychosis if combined with other substances, such as alcohol or opiates (Seitz et al., 2019). Regardless if society reduces usage among teenagers, there will still be others abusing substances anyway, so reducing usage among all ages would still help reduce overall rates of substance use, which would benefit society greatly. In return for reducing all these adverse outcomes associated with drug or alcohol use, reducing youth substance use lowers the chances of contracting diseases and increases lifetime.

In conclusion, there are many reasons individuals engage in drugs consumption teenagers, including peer pressure, family problems, difficulties with finances, various health issues, and internet usage. However, one thing we know for sure is that reducing these factors among young adults can help reduce future suicide rates across generations, mainly since most suicides occur during adolescence (Schindler, 2019). The research has been written to show that there are many different reasons why teenagers engage in substance abuse and, therefore, should be looked into as a possible cause for future suicides. A lot more research could be done on this topic; however, this report has shown key points, such as peer pressure, family issues, mental health issues, and constant usage of internet media, which may have contributed to the frequent suicide casualties among young adults across generations. As with all things, there is always more research that can be done. However, this report might help one understand why so many young adults choose to engage in substance abuse and, therefore, may help reduce future suicides across generations, especially during adolescence when most occur.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). High-risk substance use among youth. Web.

National Institute of Mental Health (2021). Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. Web.

Nishimura, M., Bhatia, H., Ma, J., Dickson, S. D., Alshawabkeh, L., Adler, E., Maisel, A., Criqui, H., Greenberg, B., & Thomas, I. (2020). The impact of substance abuse on heart failure hospitalizations. The American Journal of Medicine, 133(2), 207213. Web.

Pinedo, M. (2019). A current re-examination of racial/ethnic disparities in the use of substance abuse treatment: Do disparities persist? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 202, 162167. Web.

Purdue University Global (2019). 7 ways to overcome writers block. Web.

Schindler, A. (2019). Attachment and substance use disorderstheoretical models, empirical evidence, and implications for treatment. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10(1), 727-741. Web.

Seitz, N. N., Lochbühler, K., Atzendorf, J., Rauschert, C., Pfeiffer-Gerschel, T., & Kraus, L. (2019). Trends in substance use and related disorders: Analysis of the epidemiological survey of substance abuse 1995 to 2018. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 116(36), 585-591. Web.

Annotated Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). High-risk substance use among youth. Web.

This article reveals the risks of substance use among teenagers and youth. The advice on why it is crucial to address high-risk substance use by young people is explained. A reader can also receive information about the facts and consequences observed during youth use of the high-risk substance. The article is helpful for readers from different age groups, especially young people because it enlightens the information on various risks and behaviors.

National Institute of Mental Health (2021). Substance use and co-occurring mental disorders. Web.

This article describes the notion of SUD, which is substance use disorder  a mental issue that impacts the human brain and behavior. It explains how a persons behavior changes under the influence of a substance and the symptoms that appear. After reading the article, a reader is acquainted with information about risk factors and other mental disorders that SUD causes. The given literature is helpful because it describes the problem and gives recommendations on how to diagnose and treat this disorder. An audience can also find information about the establishments that help people affected by SUD.

Nishimura, M., Bhatia, H., Ma, J., Dickson, S. D., Alshawabkeh, L., Adler, E., Maisel, A., Criqui, H., Greenberg, B., & Thomas, I. (2020). The impact of substance abuse on heart failure hospitalizations. The American Journal of Medicine, 133(2), 207213. Web.

The article shows the specific research devoted to the problem of substance abuse and its influence on heart diseases. A group examined mainly involves patients with heart failure who are hospitalized. For this reason, the authors evaluated different medical records of the patients and identified the abuse level by employing various diagnoses. This article is helpful because a reader can see the precise results of the research and understand the problem and its specifications to the full extent.

Pinedo, M. (2019). A current re-examination of racial/ethnic disparities in the use of substance abuse treatment: Do disparities persist? Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 202, 162167. Web.

The article explains to the readers how different ethnic groups are treated for the use of substance abuse. The research results show that Blacks and Latinos, compared to Whites, are not disposed to regular and effective treatment. A reader can find a lot of helpful information in this article because it reveals the tendency for insurance coverage increase connected with treatment abuse among various ethnic groups.

Purdue University Global (2019). 7 ways to overcome writers block. Web.

When writing any work, a writer must concentrate and avoid distractions. The given article explains the importance of overcoming writers block. The topic of substance abuse among youth is a hard one and requires a lot of attention to be researched and discussed. A writer has to devote quality time to writing this topic. So, the article helps readers understand how they can prepare themselves for writing and avoid different types of blocks that hinder good writing.

Schindler, A. (2019). Attachment and substance use disorderstheoretical models, empirical evidence, and implications for treatment. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10(1), 727-741. Web.

This article researches information about individuals with disorders of substance use. It is explained that attachment theory reveals that the attachment can be insecure and can lead to substance use disorders. This article aims to show a reader the link between different types of attachments, substances, and disorders, which are present in various age groups. After answering the following questions, a reader can find this link: does the link between substance use disorders and attachment exist; does the link between several attachments and substance use disorders exist? When answering these questions, a reader opens new ways of analysis of the given problem.

Seitz, N. N., Lochbühler, K., Atzendorf, J., Rauschert, C., Pfeiffer-Gerschel, T., & Kraus, L. (2019). Trends in substance use and related disorders: Analysis of the epidemiological survey of substance abuse 1995 to 2018. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 116(36), 585-591. Web.

The research in this article provides a piece of information about the epidemiological survey of substance abuse during the last two decades. A reader can learn about the negative impact on the population caused by various psychoactive substances that are contained in substances. The articles usefulness is presented by its results, which show how the consumption of alcohol, cannabis, and cigarettes can lead to substance-related disorders.

There has been a lot of talks about if Corporal Punishment is getting out of hand and if it’s wrong or not 70% of Americans believe this is right and the other 30% think it’s wrong. But in reality, it’s causing kids many emotional, social and academic problems and it shouldn’t be legal.

Using physical discipline is wrong and parents shouldn’t ever do it. For example, “The NAPNA issued a statement noting that the children who experience frequent corporal punishment are more likely to engage in violent behaviors in adulthood.” That could be easily avoided if parents know what they are doing is wrong and the impact it might have on their kid when they grow up. Children who are often hit by their parents are more likely to think physical abuse is acceptable in problem solving because that’s what their parents taught them growing up. Physical abuse is shown a lot in the novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ for example, when Okonkwo finds out his son wants to convert to Christianity. “Nwoye did not fully understand. But he was happy to leave his father. He would return later to his mother and his brothers and sisters and convert them to the new faith”. When Okonkwo found out his son wanted to convert, he was angry and held him by the neck and started chocking him out of anger and disappointment, that was wrong of him to do because that just made Nwoye want to leave and convert even more and want nothing to do with his father. If he sat down and controlled his anger and let Nwoye explain himself and how he’s feeling than Nwoye wouldn’t have had this anger and resentment towards his father.

To further elaborate on why physical abuse with your children is wrong is because it can cause emotional problems as the kid gets older. For example, when you compare kids who’ve been physically abused as children and children who haven’t their lives and how they act are totally different. “Abused children compared with non-abused children may have more difficulty with academic performance, self-control, self-image, and social relationships”. When you physically abuse your kids, it has more of an impact on them than you think, they don’t do as well in school as they should, and they most likely would grow up having trust issues because of their parent’s actions. Other kids just don’t know how to express themselves or they fear to. “Other emotional problems include anger, hostility, fear, humiliation and an inability to express feelings.” Children who are physically abused or they were when they were growing up are dealing with problems like that because they fear being in the wrong and people’s reactions to what they have to say and how they want to express themselves because with their parents it’s usually a negative result.

On the other hand, some may say that Physical abuse is good and that it’s a good form of punishment and keeps their kid respectful, aware and keeps them from doing wrong. “Today many black parents fear that a loose tongue or flash of temper could get their child killed by a trigger-happy cop. They would rather beat their offspring than bury them.” (NY Times) Many people beat their children not out of enjoyment or resentment towards them but instead they want to straighten them up and teach them not to walk around thinking nobody would ever lay a finger on them so when there out in the real world they know how to deal with the situation in a good manner or even how to avoid it. Another reason why parents think physical abuse is okay is because they think that’s the best way to get through to their kids because they’re going to remember it since it’s painful. “The single desirable association was between corporal punishment and increased immediate compliance on the part of the child”.

To conclude, Corporal punishment is wrong and shouldn’t be legal, as the child gets older there going to have many emotional, academic and social issues and they grow up thinking physical violence is okay. Parents need to find new ways to discipline their children and avoid the physical abuse, like don’t respond in anger all the time, learn how to control your emotions and think about how to discipline them rationally.