Assignment: employing psychoactive drugs

Assignment: employing psychoactive drugs
Assignment: employing psychoactive drugs
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Assignment: evaluate the employment of psychoactive drugs from the aspects of a risk-benefits analysis.
Using the literature and your own insights into these issues, formulate an argument as to why the problem has reached its current scale.
“Nevertheless, at least 5,000 years ago, humans discovered the psychoactive properties of the plant, and its ability to reduce fatigue, thirst, and hunger was appreciated for many centuries by the indigenous Indian population,” (Advokat, Comaty, & Julien, 2014, p. 201). People from all walks of life can experience problems with their drug use, regardless of age, race, or background. While some can use recreational or prescription drugs without experiencing negative effects, others find that substance use takes a serious toll on their health and well-being. Abusing drugs can leave you feeling helpless and ashamed. I think the reason the problem has reached its current scale is that of technology and the availability. At one time you practically had to have a prescription to take any form of prescription drug.
Now, you can easily make drugs yourselves or buy it off the streets such as methamphetamine. “It has been estimated that 35 percent of methamphetamine (MA) in the United States comes from clandestine laboratories. It is easily synthesized from readily obtainable chemicals, including pseudoephedrine. Methamphetamine was originally an approved drug, effective in the treatment of ADHD. Today, however, it is rarely used legitimately and has clearly demonstrated neurotoxicity,” (Advokat, Comaty, & Julien, 2014, p. 216).
In your discussion, evaluate the employment of psychoactive drugs from the aspects of a risk-benefits analysis and ethical considerations such as the risk of addiction versus the cost of punitive action.
Cocaine is a stimulant. “One disturbing symptom of cocaine-induced psychosis may be the sensation of bugs crawling around under the skin, a phenomenon called formication, from the Latin word formica, meaning “ant.” (Advokat, Comaty, & Julien, 2014, p. 209). Through the sharing of needles, heroin use by injection is the main vector for transmission of infectious agents such as HIV and hepatitis B and C virus in many countries. Second, there are the acute or short-term biological health effects of the substance. Notably, for drugs such as opioids and alcohol, these include overdose. “Because the psychostimulants activate the sympathetic nervous system, they produce the characteristic physiological effects of an increased heart rate, blood pressure, vasodilation, and bronchodilation,” (Advokat, Comaty, & Julien, 2014, p. 209).
Along with the use of heroin, cocaine has its many risk factors as well. Cocaine addiction is associated with the possibility of overdose, potential death, HIV, hepatitis B or C, mood disorders, heart disease, unhealthy weight, cognitive defects, and organ failure. “Methamphetamine users are at risk for various types of cardiac toxicity, such as strokes, heart attack, and tears of the aorta,” (Advokat, Comaty, & Julien, 2014, p. 218). Before a patient is offered a psychotropic medication, thorough diagnostic evaluation and careful review of the patient’s history (including past symptoms and response to treatment) are essential.
“The ethical practitioner needs to keep up-to-date with empirical findings on all somatic and psychosocial treatments, including their indications, adverse effects, and contraindications. Informed consent is the legal and ethical foundation of ethical health care. The therapeutic relationship is deeply respectful of the patient and places primacy on promoting health and alleviating suffering as the basis for any treatment recommendation. It is dedicated to beneficence and nonmaleficence (ie, seeking good and avoiding harm in the patient’s care),” (Hoop, Layde, & Roberts, 2009). It is very important to psychologists, and other doctors follow the ethical guidelines when treating patients to avoid potential punitive damages such as malpractice lawsuits.
Assignment: employing psychoactive drugs
Also explain purely pharmacological issues such as pharmacokinetics and routes of drug administration and dose.
“Cocaine is absorbed from all sites of application, including mucous membranes, the stomach, and the lungs. Cocaine hydrochloride crosses the mucosal membranes poorly because the drug is a potent vasoconstrictor (one of its defining pharmacological actions), constricting blood vessels and limiting its own absorption. Cocaine penetrates the brain rapidly; initial brain concentrations far exceed the concentrations in plasma. After it penetrates the brain, cocaine is rapidly redistributed to other tissues,” (Advokat, Comaty, & Julien, 2014, p. 205). The blood level then progressively declines. “The biological half-life of MA is more than 11 hours. After distribution to the brain, about 60 percent of the methamphetamine is slowly metabolized in the liver, and the end products are excreted through the kidneys, along with unmetabolized MA (about 40 percent is excreted unchanged) and small amounts of its pharmacologically active metabolite, amphetamine,” (Advokat, Comaty, & Julien, 2014, p. 217).
If needed, include factors such as supply, cultural attitudes to drug use, and the context of drug use.
I think culture plays a significant role in drug use. Culture is transmitted through the family. The way this worldview is taught in any particular family is unique because it is also influenced by the dynamics that shaped our parent’s in their childhood. Children usually imitate what they see, and if drug abuse is a norm in their family, most likely that child will become a drug abuser. Drug abuse not only can come from the home, but it can also come from social context and surroundings that includes the physical and social settings. Drug abuse can be imitated by friends and family.
Reference
Advokat, C. D., Comaty, J. E., & Julien, R. M. (2014). Julien’s primer of drug action: A comprehensive guide to the actions, uses, and side effects of psychoactive drugs (13th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Hoop JG, Layde J, Roberts LW. (2009). Ethical considerations in psychopharmacological treatment and research. In: Schatzberg AF, Nemeroff CB, eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychopharmacology. 4th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc;1477-1495.