Substance use - Essay Example

Substance Use Describe the most typical pattern of opioid abuse in the early 1900s, in the middle to late 1900s, and in recent times.  According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), during the early 1900s, opioid dependence was predominantly detected in white, middle-class individuals, especially women (276). Further, the details from the book indicate that medical personnel have tendencies to abuse the drug due to their easy access (APA 276). During the middle to late 1900s, the Encyclopedia of Medical Disorders revealed that “minorities and those from lower socioeconomic groups have been overrepresented among those with opioid dependence.

It appears that availability of opioids and subcultural factors are key in opioid use” (Encylopedia of Mental Disorders par. 19). In recent times, opioid abuse has increased through being given routine 30-day prescriptions for opioids as painkillers for illnesses requiring only a day or two for the pain to subside (Kluger par.2). 2. Give some examples of the use of hallucinogenic plants or drugs in connection with religious practices. The article on hallucinogens published in Medical Discoveries indicates that hallucinogenic plants or drugs have been used in connection with religious practices. (1) “Medicine men, shamans, and other spiritual leaders have used natural hallucinogens found in plants and mushrooms since ancient times, believing in their power to help contact the spiritual world or mystical beings for guidance in serving their people” (par. 4); (2) “In Mexico, mushrooms called Psylocybe mexicana, which contain the fungi psilocybin and psilocin, have been used in religious rituals since the time of the Aztec civilization” (par. 6); (3) “Peyote is the only psychedelic agent that has been authorized by the federal government for limited use during Native American religious ceremonies” (par. 7). 3.

We know that smoking tobacco cigarettes is associated with increased mortality, especially due to cardiovascular problems and cancers. Compare this situation to what we (and don’t know) about the dangers of marijuana smoke. The Berkman Center for Internet and Society revealed that smoking regular marijuana endangers the immune system; higher risks in respiratory illnesses (pulmonary infections and respiratory cancer); mental disorders (acute toxic psychosis, panic attacks (one of the very conditions it is being used experimentally to treat), flashbacks, delusions, depersonalization, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, and uncontrollable aggressiveness) (Berkman Center for Internet and Society 1).

Some only know that marijuana is less dangerous when compared heroine, cocaine, cigarettes and even alcohol. However, the risks and health illnesses abovementioned prove that habitual use of marijuana destroys vital systems of the body and can eventually lead to “indirect effects on health. Its effect on coordination, perception, and judgment means that it causes a number of accidents, vehicular and otherwise” (Berkman Center for Internet and Society 1). Works Cited American Psychiatric Association.

"Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders:" American Psychiatric Pub, 2000. Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Health_Concerns: WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL DANGERS OF MARIJUANA USE? N.D. 22 July 2011 . Encylopedia of Mental Disorders. Opioids and related disorders. 2011. 22 July 2011 . Kluger, Jeffrey. Pharmageddon Deferred: New Measures to Stop Opioid Abuse. 16 September 2010. 22 July 2011 . Medical Discoveries. Hallucinogens. 2011. 22 July 2011 .