Medicine or Illicit Drug?: Marijuana’s Social Acceptance

Medicine or Illicit Drug?: Marijuana’s Social Acceptance

The harmful effects of marijuana are certainly debatable in today’s society. We hear about marijuana use being condemned by some government and health experts, but we also hear about the medicinal purposes of marijuana. Well which one is it, and where do we draw the fine line between medicine, and harmful drug?

Marijuana is socially accepted in todays society-especially among our youth. By social acceptance, I accept the idea that those who use (or abuse) marijuana are not looked down upon as “drug users.” In fact, professional athletes and famous actors are caught using marijuana illicitly, and are not looked at from a negative point-of-view from the general public. Marijuana is extremely prevalent amongst our youth. It is the second most abused substance just behind alcohol for young adults. In fact, 48% of twelfth graders report using marijuana at least once.  (NIDA, 2009)

Since marijuana is prevalent in our communities, it is important to examine the possible negative side effects of the drug, and determine if the negative side effects outweigh the possibility of using marijuana as a form of medicine. Because of Proposition 215 which was passed in California in 1996, people with specific medical conditions are eligible to have a prescription to use marijuana. Once the patient is given the prescription, they are entitled to possess, cultivate, and use a large amount of marijuana. The amount one can possess is unique to the specific jurisdiction. From past experiences, I can attest to the fact that the actual number of marijuana plants a patient can possess and cultivate can be up to 99 plants, which is far more than is necessary for personal use.

The abuse of Proposition 215 is rampant throughout the state. Obtaining a prescription to cultivate and possess marijuana is as easy as contacting The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, and paying about one hundred dollars for the actual subscription. The symptoms you need to explain to your doctor could include headaches, loss of appetite, and/or anxiety to receive a medicinal marijuana recommendation. It is also not uncommon to see high school-aged young adults in possession of a “California Green Card” because of how easy it is to obtain a prescription, and how doctors who prescribe medical marijuana do not perform comprehensive physical tests to determine if marijuana is properly suited for the individual. The bottom line is that somebody can enter a specialized doctor’s office with the intent to obtain a medical marijuana card, and receive one.

Sufficient research has not been done to determine that marijuana use is an optimal way of increasing appetite, and easing pain. Other forms of medicine have similar effects as marijuana, only they do not produce the euphoric “high” that inhaling marijuana produces. Therefore, those who desire to have a medicinal marijuana prescription are able to reap the euphoric as well as “medicinal” benefits.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/MarijparentsN.html (NIDA)

 

MDMA Movement

            MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a psycho-active stimulant that contains psychoactive properties. This drug is very popular amongst young people, and especially popular known to be prevalent in nightclubs, raves, and social gatherings where the stimulant effects can be exaggerated and multiplied. In 2008, 2.1 million Americans age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once within the year being surveyed, which means that the drug is fairly common amongst young Americans, along with marijuana and alcohol use (NIDA, 2008)

            MDMA has a severe negative impact on the user. Similar to dextro-methamphetamine, more commonly known as “crystal meth,” MDMA has the ability to permanently disrupt the body’s natural production of serotonin, and dopamine which are responsible for emitting nuero-chemicals that determine mood, and well-being. Other effects include depression, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and severe addiction to the drug.

            MDMA became very popular in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s then slowly became less popular because of the widely known effects as well as the number of organizations which manufactured MDMA were dismantled. However, the MDMA trend had picked up ground again in 2001, when the popular rap artists in the San Francisco Bay Area began glorifying the drug and started to endorse the recreational use of MDMA. This phenomenon was known as the “Thizz Movement.” Along with the increase use of MDMA, the San Francisco Bay Area began to see an increase in crime, as well as sideshows which became increasingly more popular.    

            MDMA is a chemical cousin to methamphetamine which is seen as a much harder drug, but in reality has very similar effects. Through personal experiences I have heard many people say that they would never use methamphetamine, but would not refrain from using MDMA. It is important to understand the similarities of the drug, and to understand that both synthetically manufactured drugs are equally as dangerous.

 

Student Groups and Alcohol Consumption

Student Groups and Alcohol Consumption

            Many students first have had their first experience with alcohol consumption by the time they enter their first year in college. Alcohol is socially accepted in the college community and is very assessable to the common student which makes alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse such a problem in colleges throughout the country. In fact, a recent study conducted by Knight et al. (2002) measured 23,751 undergraduate students aged 18-24 from 119 four-year colleges around the country. The study states that only 15.6% of college students abstained from alcohol while 24.6% engaged in occasional heavy episodic drinking. The study went on to say that 19.5% of the college students surveyed engaged in frequent heavy episodic drinking, which is defined as three or more occasions of heavy episodic drinking in the past two weeks. It is evident that college students prefer to drink during social events. An increased attendance to social events could make a student more likely to consume a greater amount of alcohol more frequently.

            Student groups on campus, such as Greeks or athletic teams, are often times associated with large social gatherings during the weekend. Fraternities and sororities are known for hosting themed parties and other events often. In most of these events, alcohol is present. Unfortunately, an increased attendance to parties can lead to an excessive amount of alcohol consumption and also lead to binge drinking. According to the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey (NCHRBS) as cited by DeSimone (2007) 69% of fraternities, sororities, and other student group affiliates reported binge drinking, which is defined as five or more alcoholic beverages within a few hours, while 42% of non-student group members reported binge drinking. Student group members are more likely to consume alcohol because of the environment in which they are subjected to more often than those who do not belong to a student group. Student group affiliates are also exposed to a greater amount of peer pressure from fellow student group members who would cause an increase in alcohol consumption. It could be noted that a student group member who rarely drinks could often be pressured into drinking because 69% of his/her student group are heavy alcohol consumers according to DeSimone (2007).

             Another self reported survey conducted by Reis and Trockel (2003) examined fraternity and sorority chapters, and measured members’ alcohol expectancies as well as any possible increase in consumption. (The alcohol expectancies were measured with items used to assess the degree to which people believe that alcohol has positive effects.)  Reis and Trockel (2003) also noted that alcohol consumption was positively associated with Greek life and was glorified among students. Fraternity and sorority members had seen alcohol as a socially acceptable part of Greek life and believed that their college and Greek experience would be enhanced through the use of alcohol. Reis and Trockel (2003) also used their available information to state the different aspirations of consuming alcohol between the two genders.  They concurred that males used alcohol for enhancement of social interactions while females used alcohol for stress reduction. Unfortunately, the use of alcohol for mood altercation is a sure sign of alcoholism. Reis and Trockel’s (2003) survey sheds some light to the fact that alcohol abuse for some people can start in college through the use of social drinking, but can easily gain momentum and become a huge problem later on in life.

            Binge drinking among college students is a much bigger problem than most would expect because of all the other factors that go along with drinking such as disorderly behavior, drunken driving, and forced sexual activity. Aside from an excessive amount of harmful outcomes, binge drinking and alcoholism will hinder a student’s chances of maximizing academic potential.  DeSimone (2007) connected other harmful habits and behaviors that fraternity and sorority members are more likely to participate in versus a college student not affiliated with any student group or organization. DeSimone (2007) stated that fraternity, sorority, and other student group members are more likely to smoke cigarettes, use marijuana and other controlled substances, and are even less likely to wear a seatbelt when driving in a vehicle. The ability to abstain from alcohol consumption is something that is very difficult for some people, especially for those in college.

 

 

 

 

Knight, J. R., Wechsler, H, Kuo, M, Seibring, M, Weitzman, E.R., & Schuckit, M.A. (2002).    

          Alcohol abuse and dependence among U.S. college students. Department of Pediatrics,

          Harvard Medical School & Department of Medicine: Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 263-

          270.

 DeSimone, Jeff (2007).Fraternity membership and binge drinking. Journal of Health            

Economics.26, 950-967.

Reis, J., & Trockel, M (2003). An empirical analysis of fraternity and sorority individual-

          Environmental interactions with alcohol. Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 33, 2536-

           2552.

Methamphetamine and Violence

Methamphetamine and Violence

Methamphetamine use and violence are synonymous. The effects of methamphetamine create a feeling of euphoria, confidence, motivation, and will also impair judgment. With a user’s inability to make rational decisions, methamphetamine abusers are liable to act violent. Darryl Inaba and William Cohen, authors of Uppers, Downers, and All Arounders, stated that, “The increased suspiciousness, paranoia, and overconfidence lead to misinterpretations of others’ actions, and hence to violence reactions.” (Inaba and Cohen, 121) It is noted that excessive methamphetamine abuse, such as when a user is under an amphetamine psychosis, will amplify symptoms and lead to atrocious thoughts such as suicide, homicide, and other acts of violence. These statements show the dangers of methamphetamine use, and the liability of violence that comes with its use.

A 2008 article written by Elizabeth A. Tyner and William J. Fremouw entitled “The Relation of Methamphetamine Use and Violence: A Critical Review” discusses the consequences of methamphetamine use, and the correlation between abuse and criminal activity. Even though it can be speculated that methamphetamine abuse drastically influences the crime rate, it is noted in the article that “In 2003, 21.5% of all drug arrests made by the DEA were methamphetamine related. Methamphetamine abusers were also described as being amongst the highest risk of offenders of property and violent crime.” (Tyner and Fremouw, 2008) The above statement describes methamphetamine abuse to be a national epidemic that is elevating our crime rates.

The authors state in the reading that the main findings in the article are inconclusive and continue to claim that the “Relation between methamphetamine and violence is methodologically problematic and limited merely to a vast accumulation of findings.” (Tyner and Fremouw, 2008) Although no data has been correlated to directly link methamphetamine use to violence, it is evident that methamphetamine abuse is indirectly correlated to violence simply because the symptoms of methamphetamine use and the ambiguous relevance it has to violence.

One examination found in the article was particularly interesting in relating methamphetamine use to violence. The study used a sample of 1580 arrestees from California (89.2% non- meth users, and 10.8% meth users), completed a survey shortly after they were arrested. Of the sample, 27.6% of methamphetamine users reported violent behavior compared to just 18.1% of non-meth users. (Tyner and Fremouw, 2008) Since the number of methamphetamine users was disproportionally smaller than the amount of non-meth users, this finding can speculate that methamphetamine users are more liable to commit violence crimes.

The one problem the article had was assessing and measuring drug use and violence together. Researchers must first define methamphetamine use (amount taken, frequency of use, and duration of use), and also define what constitutes violence. However, appropriate data taken from existing users who have a history of violence (through criminal backgrounds), can yield more conclusive results, thus making samples more relevant and conclusive. I believe that would make the article and its findings stronger, and hold more value.

This article reiterates the dangers of methamphetamine use, and the irrational decision making that can result. Through this reading, and the comprehended information I have obtained, methamphetamine use has the potential to alter the brains natural chemistry, and cause severe mental disorders for months after the drug has been removed from the system. If there was a past mental condition, symptoms of withdrawal as well as mental problems can last even longer. (Inaba and Cohen, 121)

Methamphetamine use and its relation to violence is apparent when the effects of the drug are examined. Looking at methamphetamine, and the effects it has on the body, it can be hypothesized that methamphetamine use will aggravate violent crime rates because of the way it alters a user’s state-of-mind and causes them to act irrationally. Methamphetamine users also must maintain their rather expensive habits, and will resort to violent acts such as robbery in order to make money to satiate their need for methamphetamine.  This article merely hypothesizes the connection between methamphetamine use and violent crime. Even though their samples and designs were methodologically problematic, it can be assumed that methamphetamine use and violent crime rates are interrelated. 

Tyner, E. A., & Fremouw, W. J. (2008). The Relation of Methamphetamine Use and Violence: A Critical Review. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 13, 285-297.

Inaba, D., & Cohen, W. (2007). Uppers, Downers, All Arounders. Medford, OR: CNP Productions Inc.

Alcohol Abuse and Police Officers

Alcohol Abuse and Police Officers

            The job of policing may be one of the most stressful occupations a person can have. It is inevitable that every police officer will come upon grief from victims and families, witness horrific scenes, and also encounter violent people who would like to do harm to them. It would be easy to say that police officers are highly susceptible to become alcoholics (because of its legal status and societal acceptance) more so than other members of the general public because of the many negative aspects associated with the profession. However, in 2008 “Police Quarterly” released an article entitled, “Police Officers and Their Alcohol Consumption: Should We Be Concerned” by Vicki Lindsay. The article examined 1,328 full-time police officers in Mississippi and measured their alcohol consumption. The goal of this study was to determine if, in fact, police officers were more prone to abusing alcohol than other members of the general public.

The results of the study confirmed that there was “No statistically significant difference in the amount of alcohol consumed by police and the general population.” (Lindsay, 2008) The article also went on to state that only a small number of police officers in Mississippi possess a problem concerning alcohol consumption (1.4%). (Lindsay, 2008) That statistic can be matched up to the fact that “10-12% of the 140 million adult drinkers in the U.S. suffer from alcoholism,” (Inaba and Cohen, 225) which would disprove the idea that police officers are more likely to suffer from alcoholism than other members of the general public.

It is noted in the journal that alcohol consumption, in moderation, does not pose significant health risks. In fact, “As long as person stays within the parameters of 8g of ethanol per week, the person is not in significant risk.” (Lindsay, 2008) The article disclosed that majority of the police officers examined were in the safe range when it came to alcohol consumption. The small group (1.4%) of officers in Mississippi, who did possess a problem with drinking that required administrative intervention were young, white, single, males who worked during the dayshift, which gave them the option of drinking alcohol at night. The study also confirmed that age, marital status were the strongest predictors of a police officer being at risk for alcohol problems; while race, region, drinking partners, occasions of consumption, and number of drinks per consumption were lesser indicators of risk. (Lindsay, 2008)

In order to make this article stronger, the examination could have included a wider selection of police officers from outside of Mississippi. It would be rather interesting to compare alcohol consumption statistics from police officers in Mississippi and compare them to police officers in California. However, I can hypothesize that the results would be similar to the ones found among Mississippi police officers, and would probably determine that police officers’ consumption of alcohol in other states is similar to the rate of consumption along with the general public of that particular region.

This article examined an area that is sometimes hard to uncover, and often times not thought of.  I find it particularly interesting that the general public believes that police officers consume more alcohol than the general public because of the many stressors associated with the profession. This article went on to show that police officers, at least those in Mississippi, consumed less alcohol than the general public, albeit not by a large amount, and had a lower rate of alcoholism. If anything, this article may have given the reader a reminder that police officers are still regular people when outside of work, and are still are exposed to the everyday stressors of life and the “self-remedies” that one may succumb to. It is evident that alcohol may be the “go-to” drug in today’s society because of the legality of it, as well as the social acceptance factor, but I believe that society, as a whole, frowns on those that use other drugs such as prescription pain-killers or marijuana as a means of “self-medicating” themselves, and therefore view alcohol as a more acceptable outlet.

 

 

Lindsay, Vicki (2008).Police Officers and Their Alcohol Consumption: Should We Be

Concerned?. Police Quarterly. 11, 74-87.

Inaba, D., & Cohen, W. (2007). Uppers, Downers, All Arounders. Medford, OR: CNS

 Productions Inc.

Steroids and Our Youth

 

Almost all sports fans are aware of the anabolic steroid scandals going on in professional sports. Unfortunately, the use of performance enhancing drugs is not only an epidemic in professional sports, but also at the high school sports fields. Even with the increased awareness regarding the danger that comes with anabolic steroid use, the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) reported that “2.2% of high school seniors reported using anabolic/androgenic steroids”. Most of the students who chose to use anabolic steroids were probably athletes and hoped to use anabolic steroids in order to enhance their performance and strength, as anabolic steroids will synthetically and drastically raise the testosterone level of the user and create unnatural strength gains. The 2.2% of high school seniors that use steroids do not know the serious and sometimes irreversible affects that anabolic steroids can have on the body such as “hormone imbalances, halted growth in teenagers, as well as liver and kidney tumors.”

Unfortunately, steroids are not uncommon even amongst professional athletes. Some of the best and most influential athletes in the world including Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Marion Jones have either openly admitted or have been linked to steroid use. Since these athletes are idolized by many children who wish to follow in their footsteps, children may feel that steroid use is acceptable since no physical harm is initially seen by the viewer.

 Undoubtedly, every athlete wishes to be bigger, faster and stronger in order to be the best at their particular sport. In high school aged children, being successful at a sport may potentially yield a college scholarship, while a professional athlete may be awarded a lucrative contract for being a valuable player. With this in mind, it is easy to understand why some athletes will risk taking steroids in order to have the “edge” over their competitors.  With the many risks that accompany the use of anabolic steroids, the NIDA website has provided resources in order to reduce the use of steroids among young adults.  For example, ATLAS (athletes training and learning to avoid steroids) is a program designed for young athletes by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. This program is intended to work with coaches as well as athletes in hopes of making a safe alternative to steroid use through proper nutrition.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/steroids.html

Blog #2: Alcohol/Substance Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence

         Domestic violence is becoming an increasing problem all across America. Domestic violence, often called family violence, or intimate partner violence, does not only affect abused victims, but can also lead to social problems when children are involved. Often times, adults who abuse their intimate partners suffer from alcoholism and/or drug abuse and usually have violent encounters with their intimate partner while under the influence. The aftermath of domestic violence can also lead to many problems with substance abuse. Alcoholism and drug abuse, coupled with problems in intimate relationships can lead to a variety of horrific problems such as homicides, assaults causing great bodily injury, and serious depression. 

            A study conducted by Christopher I. Eckhardt (2007) revealed the relationship between alcohol consumption and martially violent and martially nonviolent subjects.  The goal of the study was to verify the hypothesis, stating that “maritally violent men given alcohol would exhibit higher levels of anger experience during anger-arousing articulated thoughts in simulated situations (ATSS), than violent men in other beverage conditions or nonviolent men in general” (Eckhardt 2007).  The study consisted of 46 maritally violent and 56 maritally nonviolent men randomly assigned to receive alcohol, placebo, or no alcohol. Participants that volunteered were between the ages of 21 and 35, and completed 3 ATSS scenarios after one group was given satisfactory blood alcohol content (BAC) for the test. The ATSS scenarios instructed the 3 groups of men to listen to audio taped scenarios imagining they were involved. They were then asked to share their comments into a microphone which was being recorded. The scenarios included 1 neutral and 2 anger arousing themes which tested the subjects’ behavior and demeanor.

            The results showed that maritally violent and nonviolent men had similar reactions to the scenarios, but maritally violent men made more aggressive and angry statements during the course of the test when given alcohol. This did not necessarily mean that alcohol intoxication would lead to an increase of intimate partner violence, but instead implies difference in overall mood and state of being.  The study primarily suggested that the original hypothesis was not supported, and that further investigation needs to be conducted in order to suggest that alcohol intoxication and intimate partner violence is connected. One suggestion that the study did conclude on is the statement which says that intimate partner batterers have problems controlling their emotions, but one factor cannot make such a broad conclusion concerning the problem with intimate partner violence. The test conducted by Eckhardt (2007) support only the notion that alcohol use coupled with anger arousal disturbances contribute to intimate partner violence.

            Another study conducted by Stuart et al. (2008) determined the precise role of illicit drug use and the affect it has on intimate partner violence (IPV). The study used 271 men and 135 women that were arrested for domestic violence related offenses. The test subjects were 18 years of age or older and were attending mandatory batterer intervention programs assigned by the state of Rhode Island. The volunteer participants were asked to complete measures based on the 1-year period prior to enrollment in the batterer intervention program. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence that controlled substances and alcohol have on intimate partners, and also determine the likelihood of having domestic violence related problems as a result of the substance abuse.

            The finding of the study done by Stuart et al. (2008) suggested that both men and women batterers abuse illicit substances at a much higher rate than the general population. The study also found no difference between arrested male and female batterers and the amount of illicit drugs used.  Lastly, the test established that men had a relationship between the numbers of drugs used and the frequency of physical violence. The more men abused drugs and alcohol, the more likely they were to engage in violence with their intimate partner. The study went on to say that the recidivism rate for drug and alcohol abusers who abuse their intimate partner is extremely high. It suggests that domestic violence intervention classes should incorporate some kind of a substance abuse program into their curriculum.

            The above research focused on the connection between domestic violence and substance abuse. A study conducted by Kaysen et al. (2007) concentrated more on the motivations and symptoms of alcohol abuse and the connection it has with domestic violence victims. The study suggests many reasons for people to abuse alcohol, and concentrates on the affect alcohol has on battered women. Most women in this particular study who abuse alcohol use to it cope with a certain aliment that they are trying to overcome, such as a battery by an intimate partner. Alcohol abuse amongst battered women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of a domestic violence issue is prevalent as women may look at alcohol as a way to “self-medicate.” In the study conducted by Kaysen et al. (2007), 369 women participants from battered women shelters were screened over the phone and were asked to complete a battery of self-report and interviewer-administered test which assessed frequency of alcohol use, motives for alcohol use, and a trauma symptom inventory.

According to Kaysen et al. (2007), battered women who suffered from intimate partner violence, and reported using alcohol, consumed alcohol a total of 7 days per month with an average of 4.2 alcoholic beverages per day of alcohol consumption. These study results show that victims of domestic violence and traumatic situations are likely to associate with and abuse alcohol. The study confirms the original “self-medication” hypothesis as their results show patterns among domestic violence victims and alcoholism.

Substance abuse does not cause domestic violence, but can lead to an increase of emotion as well as anger and arousal. It is evident that intimate partners have more episodes of violence when alcohol is added to the equation.

Blog #1 9/14/09: How Dangerous are Drug Addicts?

           The question of whether or not a drug addict is a danger to society is often times unnoticed. Today, more than ever, the legitimacy and the necessity for drug laws that have been instilled for decades are being questioned. Some say that today’s drug laws are overbearing, and our criminal justice system should have their focus honed more towards violent crimes, while others believe that our current drug laws are lax and do not punish serious offenders, especially those who traffic drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s statistics on prisoner populations, there are 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States. Of those 2.3 million prisoners, 253,300 of them are being held for drug related convictions. Are there too many drug offenders in prison? Is the money we are spending (~$45,000) for each drug offender really worth it?

            It is easy to get lost in the idea that drug offenders who are sentenced to prison for crimes relating to drugs are only addicts constantly living with demons on their shoulders. Even though this may be true at times, we cannot stray away from the fact drug addicts are prone to committing violent crimes. This is not made to say that all violent criminals are drug addicts, nor is it meant to state that all drug addicts are violent criminals. The message being sent is that drug addicts are more susceptible to resort to violent crimes because of the need to satiate their drug craving, and also because the experience of being on drugs (the “high”), gives the user an inability to make rational decisions. 

            As of late, the California Legislature is faced with a very difficult decision regarding the release of thousands of prisoners from the California state prison system. The prisoners expected to be released within the next year are those being incarcerated for non-violent offenses which include drug and property crimes. Unfortunately, prisoners being held for non-violent offenses are looked at as a lesser risk than releasing a prisoner convicted of a violent crime even though that drug offenders are at a higher risk of committing violent crimes than others.  (Inaba and Cohen, 121) The reason for this is because drug use makes a user susceptible to violent reactions because of a drug’s ability to alter neurological chemicals in the brain, such as those that control reasoning, and decision making. A drug addict’s increased craving for a drug can escalate such emotions even further.

            With the expected release of thousands of prisoners within the next year in California, we must first examine whether or not the person found with methamphetamine in their pocket is the same individual who would rob another in a dark alley at 4am while coming off of a four day binge. Even though these individuals were arrested for a “mere” possession violation, they are still the same people who are dangerous, detrimental people in our society, who have the capability and liability to commit violent crimes.

           

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Inaba, D., & Cohen, W. (2007). Uppers, Downers, All Arounders. Medford, OR: CNS

 Productions Inc.