MODULE TITTLE-Substance use and misuse (health) Essay

MODULE TITTLE-Substance use and misuse (health) - Essay Example The Royal College of Psychiatrists has acknowledged the problem and is working collaboratively to bring integrated treatment systems for individuals with co-morbidity problems (Hussein, 2002). Schizophrenia and cannabis abuse. Substance abuse is very prevalent among schizophrenia patients and it has been found that â€Å"the most often misused substances are alcohol and cannabis† (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.123). The first study to find a connection between cannabis use and schizophrenia was done by Andreasson, Allbeck and Rydberg (1987), and this study concluded that there is some incontrovertible association. One estimate is that â€Å"roughly one quarter of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders currently use or misuse cannabis† (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.123-124). In an Australian study also, it was found that 40.9% of the 852 schizophrenic patients were having lifelong use of cannabis (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.201). Other research findi ngs have also indicated that â€Å"patients with schizophrenia are more likely to use cannabis than other psychiatric patients or normal† persons (Hall and Pacula, 2003, p.90). A comprehensive study that examined about 4000 studies from around the world has also warned youngsters that using cannabis will make them more vulnerable to schizophrenia (Moore et al., 2007). While exploring this curious connection, researchers have found out that â€Å"cannabis use (induced) psychotic symptoms in adulthood† and resulted in an â€Å"earlier age at onset† (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.124). In many schizophrenic individuals, the â€Å"first social/occupational dysfunction, first negative symptom, (or) first psychotic episode† occurred after the use of cannabis (Weinberger and Harrison, 2011, p.124). Another projection made by a UK study was that â€Å"by 2010, †¦approximately 10% of schizophrenia cases† would be attributable to cannabis misuse (Wei nberger and Harrison, 2011, p.201). As almost all the studies on the connection between cannabis use and schizophrenia have been done taking adult male samples only, all these findings are mostly applicable only to adult males. But it has also been noted that the rate of occurrence of schizophrenia has not increased in proportion with the rate of use of cannabis among young males (Degenhardt, Hall and Lynskey, 2001, pp.32). Opposers of this view, on the other hand have argued that â€Å"in Australia — where marijuana use is heavy among teens — it’s not uncommon for 20 to 30 per cent of new episodes of schizophrenia to be among patients who use marijuana daily or almost daily† (Turning Point Detox, 2011). Why individuals who suffer from schizophrenia misuse cannabis. The question that arises from the above discussion and which is relevant to this study is why individuals suffering from schizophrenia often misuse cannabis. One answer could be that â€Å"sc hizophrenic brains may be more sensitive to toxic influences† (Aronson, 2008, p.480). The impact of cannabis on risk taking behavior is another aspect that needs to be considered as schizophrenic patients most often will be in an abnormal mental state and it will be easy for them to get used to the risk involved in substance abuse. Generally, there has been a controversy raging on whether cannabis use leads schizophrenia or whether schizophrenia prompts an individual to use cannabis. A third possibility including both is also there. One assumption has been

Ethical Dilemmas Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ethical Dilemmas - Assignment Example Due to her experience and her reputation on evaluation, Fiona is the best person to deal with the case as she will combine her prowess with the interests of her department and come up with a sound decision. Ethical behavior is not so much a matter of following principles as of balancing competing principles (Stake & Mabry, 1998). I would ensure that ethical values are observed and that they are balanced with the commissioner’s goals. I would critically assess the Human services program, how funds are used, whether there are areas where funds were wasted and if some projects are not benefitting the program. I would then moderate the usage of funds in the projects, ensure that all the resources are used effectively, and get rid of projects that are not important to the program. As a result, I would have cut back on the meaningless projects, retained useful projects, and ensured that there was effective use of resources. Fiona’s benefits after the evaluation process include job security during the commissioner’s period in office. There may also be other advantages such as salary increments and more jobs from the commissioner’s office. She will also able to make decisions based on her principles and the needs of the branch even if she is expected to cut back on the budget eventually. The implications include judgment from her team who may think that she is being influenced when making decisions. They may not trust her decisions in future. She will also start questioning her principles and wondering if she made the right decision. The agency shall benefit because its most urgent needs shall be met during the budget cuts. However, program cuts may lead to the loss of jobs because it may get rid of some projects that would have been important to the program in the long

Comparative Politics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Comparative Politics - Research Paper Example Federalism is antagonistic to separatism and the federalists believe in achieving a common good by running the affairs of the government by sharing power and at the same time a reasonable degree of autonomy is granted to the units of federation. Federalism is currently being practiced in many countries of the world which include United States, Canada, India, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and is found to be very useful for sharing power between a central government and the provinces and states. In most of the federal democracies, important issues like currency, foreign policy, energy and defense are governed by the central government whereas the issues related to public welfare and social service such as health, food, education and infrastructure development etc are dealt by the provincial government (Pennington). The division of power in federalism is explicitly stated in the constitution of the federation and thus the right of government of the central government and the states is safeguarded by the constitution and a rational autonomy is granted to the states and provinces forming the federation. Keeping foreign policy, national security and currency with the central government is imperative for creating a strong federation and thus in most of the federations these powers rest with the central government. The remaining powers are divided between the central government and the provinces as per the political and geostrategic scenario of the federation and thus the power sharing pattern differs from one federation to the other. For example in the federation countries like United States and Germany the powers about which the constitution is silent and are not explicitly stated to rest with central or the provincial/state government are retained by the state governments whereas in India, Canada and Argentina such powers are retained by the central government. Federalist system of government provides a