Alcoholism And Spiritual Influence Health And Social Care Essay

Alcoholics Anonymous ( AA ) is an old pattern, dating back to twelvemonth 1935 when Bill W, experienced a reawakening in religious footings taking him on a way of recovery from the ironss of alcohol addiction ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Since that clip, many other people with alcoholic dependences have attributed the same sort of alleviation to this ideal motion. AA is referred as a religious family by its subsequent members. However, it is new to many, and they hardly understand the mechanisms, which underlie the construct of recovery ( George, 2005 ) . The spiritualty proof, an puzzling term, must apparently be based on physiological and psychological findings. An initial component of this paper is supplying a definition of spiritualty in empirical footings as done by AA Services ( 2002 ) stating that it is â€Å" that which develops in people some intent and significance in life. † This definition was amplified by indicating out that spiritualty as a human facet can be achieved â€Å" with engagement in a faith ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . It can every bit good be much broader than this, for case belief in naturalism, rationalism, God, household, humanitarianism, and humanistic disciplines. † The usage of such a term with this intension is of recent beginning. Anthropologists surprisingly have applied the word â€Å" religious † on many other concrete spiritual facets and shamanic pattern ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . The current use of the same is apprehensible to hold derived ideally from legion beginnings, some of them specific to tendencies go oning late in American civilization at least apparent over the past century ( George, 2005 ) . Credence of this construct on orientation to oecumenic faith has led to an credence of the fact that the ritual pattern formalities may be less of relevancy than the values, which legion spiritual denominations hold. Acceptance of these bases of patterns for case speculation and complementary medical specialty has brought in another dimension to the construct. The AA outgrowth as a personal transmutation potent vehicle has besides been committed and vastly influential, as it brings in the term spiritualty to the spotlight of the mental wellness professionals every bit good as the general populace ( AA Services, 2002 ) . All these leads to acceptance by the populace of the several spiritually doctrines and pattern used in back uping the recovery from an unwellness, which have emerged outside of the cardinal sphere of biomedicine. Most psychiatric modes associate with a remarkable mechanism. Physiological research argues that spiritualty may be critical to the healing of legion upsets ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . Persons hiting higher on personality traits that relate to religious transcendency have been seen as holding characteristic activity in peculiar serotonergic encephalon sites, which suggest single physiological differences in response to religious attention ( AA Services, 2002 ) . The close relation between dream symbolism and symb olic idea is apparent from the activation of peculiar encephalon centres and inactivation of others, proposing an association between nervous map and religious metaphor. Response to the societal context of transition to the spirit may besides be related to neurophysiologic map ( George, 2005 ) . A individual in a diverse societal scene where a spiritually oriented position is present with strength may be influenced and follow that position ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . Bill ‘s experience at the origin of AA, where he was â€Å" caught up in the ideal rapture which there is deficiencies words to depict, † can non be researched with easiness. On the same note, bordering the methods to analyze the function of AA on recovery of alcohol addiction is hard. Twelve-step families need namelessness of their member ( George, 2005 ) . They are besides oriented toward the members ‘ primacy of their demands beyond research aims, which research workers might suggest. Because of such demands, legion result surveies and researches on recovery through AA tie to followup on patients take parting in professionally based intervention and go toing AA meetings. Uncontrolled appraisals utilizing the Twelve-Step â€Å" Minnesota Model † for residential rehabilitation in a long-run facet in a professionally directed puting show promising consequences, nevertheless, one important survey that relates to AA-based recovery stands out due to its deducti on to experimental controls and randomisation ( AA Services, 2002 ) . A large-scale National Institute on Alcoholism rating was carried out utilizing the long-run followup. It showed clearly that Twelve-Step Facilitation, a grounded mode in design to advance AA attending, at least was every bit effectual as cognitive, and motivational techniques ( both of which in development were from through empirical observation grounded theoretical accounts of research ) , and it was extremely effectual than the techniques in developing long-run abstention ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Twelve-Step Facilitation, hence, has been a professionally based intercession, and AA application is a peer-led family. However, this result highlights the relevancy of farther controlled research on the 12-step plans engagement ( George, 2005 ) . Professional intervention of maltreatment of substance impaired doctors on the same note, offers an penetration into AA ‘s value, with the fact that long-run abstention has critical public wellness deductions for the habit-forming populatio n. A sample of doctors, antecedently holding abused substances and abstainer for at least two old ages, in AA-based intervention antecedently, reported 12-step rank as the chief ground for the long-run recovery they achieved every bit good as the abstention ( George, 2005 ) . In add-on, in a sample of 101 doctors indiscriminately selected in a group of those monitored by a doctors ‘ , found that 97 per centum of the 1 who antecedently had been in a 12-step plan further engaged in the plan in the monitoring period ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Research on the spiritualty function in the recovery procedure separate from professional direction has been through empirical observation modeled, and the dealingss between AA engagement and the result have been a topic of concern ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . In any instance, no uncertainty prevails to the fact that rank in AA ; characteristically seen to tie in with its religious foundation now has been used by 1000000s of people enduring depend ences and they all recognition plan for their recovery ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . The 12-step experience develops a sense of communality, and this is different from the running conventional institutional context. It is, hence, the ground why this solidarity hails every bit critical to the plan ‘s religious nature ( George, 2005 ) . The family ‘s orientation ideally to common support facilitates a shared sense of single reclamation formalizing the behavioural demand of entire recovery and abstention known as keeping abstention. For nuts, the orientation to common support besides sustains the construction and unity of AA as a motion ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . Substance-impaired doctors have established a strong, supportive web via AA-related Caduceus groups in AA ( AA Services, 2002 ) . The clinical benefit of AA ‘s plan has been in presentation in the controlled researches on enhanced result in intervention plans, on lowered demand for professi onal staffing in outpatient rehabilitation, and on intervention of dependence with psychiatric attention for persons with double diagnosings ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . Surveies suggest that legion patients have a religious life sing their religious wellness every bit good as physical wellness as momentous, every bit good. On the other manus, people may keep greater religious demands in times of unwellness. A reappraisal of published surveies, systematic reappraisals, capable reappraisals and meta-analyses, analyzing the association between spiritualty and physical, health-related life, wellness and spiritual engagement, mental wellness, and other wellness results indicated that spiritualty and spiritual engagement associate with better wellness results, which includes get bying accomplishments, health-related life quality and greater length of service ( even in the event of terminal unwellness ) and depression, self-destruction and less anxiousness ( George, 2005 ) . Several surveies show that turn toing the demands of the patient particularly the religious 1s enhance recovery from certain unwellnesss. Acknowledging, back uping and spoting the reli gious patients ‘ demands can be done in a straightforward mode ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Conversely, when people consult doctors in finding the intervention and cause of an unwellness, they at times may besides seek seeking replies to some inquiries that medical scientific discipline do non supply an reply for illustration, â€Å" Why an unwellness happens to a peculiar person? † legion patients rely on a religious model every bit good as spiritual beliefs naming on religious or spiritual attention suppliers to give them replies to the several inquiries ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Indeed, over the old ages in history, spiritualty and faith and the medical pattern have been intertwined. Because of this, many faiths embrace the attention of the ill as a primary mission, and legion universes ‘ taking establishments of medical specialty have religious or spiritual roots ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . Therefore, the twelve-step plan has been unusually celebrated and serves as one of the most supported attacks in handling alcohol addiction ( George, 2005 ) . The twelve-step plan is a set of rules that guide a patient. The plan outlines a class of action to be of usage in the recovery from irresistible impulse, unnatural behavioural jobs or an dependence. The plan was originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous ( AA ) . It was ab initio a method of recovery for patients enduring alcohol addiction. The Twelve Steps foremost came to be published in a book â€Å" Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism in 1939 ( AA Services, 2002 ) † . The method so came to be adopted ; going the foundation of the ideal twelve-step plans developed subsequently for case Cocaine Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Co-Dependents Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous ( AA Services, 2005 ) . As the American Psychological Association summarizes, the procedure is all about: aˆ? Admiting the fact that one can non is non under control of his or her dependence or irresistible impulse ; aˆ? Acknowledging a power, which is greater and that can supply strength aˆ? Examining past mistakes utilizing he aid of a patron aˆ? Making amendments to the several mistakes aˆ? Learning how to populate a new and better life with a freshly developed behaviour aˆ? Helping other people enduring from the same irresistible impulses or dependences The Twelve-step methods ideally have been celebrated adopted in turn toing a assortment of substance maltreatment and other jobs associating to dependence. Over 200 organisations known as families with a planetary rank and holding 1000000s employ the twelve-step rules in their recovery procedure. Narcotics Anonymous formation was by nuts who did non hold extended dealingss to the intoxicant dependence particulars. Similar penchants associating to the nuts ‘ drug of pick besides led to the start of Cocaine Anonymous, Pills Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous and the Crystal Meth Anonymous ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Behavioral issues for case irresistible impulse for, and/or dependence to, sex, billboard, gaming, nutrient and work are besides under reference in legion other families for case as Overeaters Anonymous, Workaholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Sexual Compulsives Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous. Auxiliary groups for case Al-Anon and Nar-Anon, for household members of nuts and alkies, are portion of a response in usage to the intervention of dependence as a disease, which is enabled by household systems ( George, 2005 ) . The Twelve Traditions besides accompany the new and adept Twelve Steps. The Traditions give guidelines for single, group administration ( AA Services, 2005 ) . They were started in AA in assisting with the declaration of struggles in the Fieldss of fundss, promotion, and faith. Most twelve-step families adopted the developed rules for their administration ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . The Twelve Traditions of AA include: aˆ? Our public assistance should be foremost ; personal recovery is dependent upon the AA integrity aˆ? For the group intent, there is merely one ultimate authorization, which is a loving God. Leaderships are merely sure retainers and do non regulate aˆ? The lone demand for AA rank is a strong single desire to halt imbibing aˆ? Each group must be independent except in issues that affect other groups or AA aˆ? Each group has a individual and primary intent, which is transporting its message to the agony alky aˆ? An AA group should ne'er finance, impart or back the AA name to any endeavor, lest issues of prestigiousness, money, and belongings diverts us from the chief intent aˆ? Every AA group should be to the full self-supporting, and diminutions outside parts aˆ? Alcoholics Anonymous must stay non-professional forever. However, the service centres can or may every bit good employ distinguishable workers aˆ? AA, hence, must ne'er be organized ; but can make commissions or service boards responsible to those they serve straight aˆ? Alcoholics Anonymous do non hold an sentiment on some outside issues ; hence, the AA name must ne'er be presented in public contention aˆ? The public dealingss policy footing on attractive force and non publicity ; we required to keep personal namelessness ever at the degree of movies, imperativeness, and wireless aˆ? Anonymity is the foundation of all the traditions, of all time maintaining usage to remind and put rules in front of personalities ( AA Services, 2005 ) . In the twelve-step plan, the construction of worlds is symbolically represented in dimensions including religious, physical, and mental ( AA Services, 2002 ) . The jobs the person, groups trade with are known to attest themselves in several dimensions. For alkies, the ideal physical dimension is described best by the allergy-like reaction in the organic structure, which consequences in the irresistible impulse to utilizing substances after the preliminary usage ( George, 2005 ) . For single groups non related to maltreatment of substance, the physical manifestation is more varied with elements such as distractibility, compulsive billboard, eating upsets, hyperactivity, hypomania, dysfunctional enabling, insomnia, deficiency of motive, crossness, passion, panic onslaughts, indolence, psychosomatic unwellnesss, cunctation, self-injury, hapless impulse control, and suicide efforts. The statement in the initial Measure that the individual is â€Å" powerless † over the substance-a buse that relates to behavior at issue connotes the deficiency of control over the single irresistible impulse prevailing for long despite any negative effects, which may be endured ( AA Services, 2002 ) . The mental compulsion in the description is the cognitive procedures, which causes the individual to reiterate the behaviour after some clip abstaining ; either cognizing that the ulterior consequence will be a developed inability to halt or run under the interior psychotic belief that the consequence ideally will be changing. The description in the initial Step of the life of the individual enduring from alcohol addiction or nut as â€Å" unwieldy † , connotes the deficiency of pick that the single head of the nut affords sing whether to utilize once more ( AA Services, 2005 ) . The religious dimension unwellness, comparatively known as â€Å" religious malady, † is considered in the several twelve-step single groups to be self-centeredness. The theoretical account is non intended to be explained scientifically, it is merely an single position that twelve-step plan discovery utile ( George, 2005 ) . The procedure of working the plan stairss is intended to wholly replace egoism with a turning willingness for selflessness, moral consciousness and unselfish constructive action ( AA Services, 2002 ) . In twelve-step groups, it is referred to as a spiritual experience or comparatively, religious waking up ( AA Services, 2005 ) . This should non be mistaken with catharsis, bring forthing dramatic alterations. In twelve-step families, the construct of â€Å" religious waking up † is inferred as developing, most often over a long period. It is suggested that single members on a regular basis attend meetings joined by other members who portion their recovery job. In conformity with the initial Step, twelve-step groups make accent on self-admission by single members of the job they intend to retrieve from ( AA Services, 2005 ) . It is in this spirit that single members identify themselves frequently along with their job admittance for case â€Å" Hi, I ‘m Mike and I ‘m an nut. † Such catch phrases widely associate with such support groups usually. Some meetings are popular as dual-identity groups promoting attending from peculiar demographics ( George, 2005 ) . Some countries have, for case, work forces ‘s groups ; homosexuals, sapphic, adult females ‘s groups ; and transgendered groups. There are besides in some, novice ‘s groups and â€Å" old-timer † groups restricting who portions, or speaks in these meeting, by the length of clip each member has in that family ( AA Servi ces, 2002 ) . Alcoholics Anonymous is, hence, ranked high in its effectivity. It is known to be one of the largest of the established twelve-step plans ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . The Narcotics Anonymous comes 2nd with the twelve-step members who recover from dependence coming from drugs or intoxicant ( AA Services, 2005 ) . The bulk of plans, nevertheless, combat the unwellnesss and non the dependence. For case, the 3rd twelve-step plan, known as Al-Anon, assists members of a household of nuts and alkies ( George, 2005 ) . About 20 per centum of plans engage in dependence recovery, the staying 80 per centum address several of jobs stretching from debt to depression ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . It would be an tremendous mistake presuming the effectivity of twelve-step attacks at handling jobs because they are certainly effectual. From its critics, Alcoholics Anonymous ( AA ) is merely a placebo, non even able to vie with more effectual interventions. They besides refer it as a unsafe cult. For its protagonists AA having the Lasker Award ( America ‘s highest award in the medical field for advancement ) is adequate to warrant the procedure. George ( 2005 ) argues that because detoxified alcoholic persons relapse often, the psychological professions as good those from medical do non hold an outstanding record in the handling of alcohol addiction. Over the long-run, many of what has been in pattern to handle alcohol addiction professionally is what can be termed as a placebo ( AA Services, 2005 ) . On the first note, remedy from dependence of all sort does non come via psychodynamic penetration. In a survey of Harvard work forces done late, 26 alkies received 5000 hours of psychotherapeutics, with an norm of 200 hours per adult male. Merely a individual adult male recovered from alcohol addiction. Life-saving detoxification is besides non effectual for long in managing alcohol addiction ( AA Services, 2002 ) . As Mark Twain quipped, ‘I found discontinuing smoking so easily after making it 20 times ‘ . This is the same for alcohol addiction. Indeed, long-run researches show that waiting for intervention ( a pla cebo therapy signifier ) is every bit effectual as the detoxification attack. Additionally, cognitive behavior therapy is non peculiarly efficient since it works less good. Linda and Mark ‘s surveies of developing alkies and assisting them return to command imbibing [ 8 ] became celebrated globally for old ages until patients in their survey were followed after a 10-year grade and found as still fared no better than the research controls. In the last 20 old ages, there are two drugs holding made clinicians in the field of alcohol addiction hopeful including naltrexone and acamprosate ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . However, many surveies indicate that they are merely successful in the short term footing. Conversely, with 15 old ages holding passed, the long-run researches that could turn out the efficaciousness of the several interventions are still undone ( George, 2005 ) . The grounds for the professional therapy failure in forestalling the eventual backsliding, and, hence, changing the natural alcohol addiction history, are two times. First, there is a clasp that drug dependence in human existences ne'er rest in our cerebral mantle. The clasp of dependence of any sort on the human heads lies in the reptilian encephalon. The clasp emanates from regular, cellular alterations in mesencephalon karyon for case the superior tegmentum and karyon accumbens ( George, 2005 ) . Finally, the malleability loss of neural response in the two centres renders abstinence unachievable and holds down the self-control. Therefore, you can understand why the drug does non assist and why AA comes in as a better replacement ( AA Services, 2002 ) . The 2nd ground that frequently professional intervention f ails in forestalling the backsliding in alcohol addiction is similar to the backsliding in diabetes. Change in the clinical class in diabetes and alcohol addiction is merely accomplishable by backsliding bar ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . Lady Macbeth ‘s a long helping doctor quotes ‘Therein the single patient is responsible in ministering to herself ‘ . There are several factors normally present in forestalling backsliding for most dependences ( George, 2005 ) . The factors, which assistance in the bar of backsliding, are ritual dependence on a new love relationships, viing behavior, and deepened spiritualty ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . Normally, two factors must be present for the bar of a backsliding to happen. The ground that the factors are effectual is that likely unlike many of the professional interventions, these factors do non work in the creative activity of decreased imbibing or impermanent abstention. They work to consequence the bar of backsliding ; and, hence, like the self-administered insulin in patients enduring diabetics, they should be used for a drawn-out continuance. This holds all to the construct of utilizing AA in the intervention other depending on the medical substances ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Alcoholics Anonymous, merely like many personal trainers, facilitates motivation from without, hence, proposing that clients return once more to the same plan modus operandi. In AA, members are advised to happen a patron to see and telephone frequently. They are advised to ‘work the stairss ‘ and ever prosecute in the proviso of the service ( George, 2005 ) . Each of the activities is dedicated in supplying a day-to-day nonvoluntary reminder with everything hitting the head that intoxicant is an enemy, and ne'er will be a friend. The activities provide supervising from the external supervisors, or in the linguistic communication of AA ‘always maintaining the memory green ‘ . However, AA besides comprehends that compulsory supervising is tremendous and works best when it is by single pick. George ( 2005 ) adds to this fact by stating that people suffer under the rigorous regulations of a manager, but they ever evade prohibitions of which they do non O.K. ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . Second, it is critical to happen a replacement dependence or comparatively known as a viing behavior for any sort of dependence ( AA Services, 2002 ) . One can non easy give up a wont particularly without holding another thing to make and hedge practising the same behaviour ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . For case, Antabuse, prescribed frequently because it makes the alcohol consumption sickening, fails largely to bring around the dependence because though it may be taking alcohol off, Antabuse has no replacing and finally the nut stops the medical specialty and it does non, hence, aid ( George, 2005 ) . Nevertheless, viing dependences for case, dolophine hydroc hloride care in maltreatment of diacetylmorphine facilitate bar of backsliding because they offer a replacement ( a carrot or a stick ) . AA besides was initiated on the construct that, in contrast, imprisonment as a method of cut downing backsliding to heroin maltreatment has ne'er worked ( Richard, 2001 ) . This is because penalty entirely does non alter deep-rooted wonts. Alcoholics Anonymous acknowledges what all behaviourists know, and it understands what many parents and physicians forget that such dastardly wonts taking to dependences necessitate replacements ( George, 2005 ) . Alcoholics Anonymous on this note provides supervising every bit good as a gratifying agenda of service activities every bit good as societal penchants in the presence of now-healed alkies, peculiarly at times of high hazard given an illustration of vacations ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . On the same statement, AA operates on the thought that new love relationships are critical to full recovery. It seems critical for ex-addicts to bond with other individuals who they have ne'er met or hurt in the yesteryear and to who they do non hold deep emotionally dealingss or in debt ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Indeed, it is supportive of persons assisting them bond with other individuals who they can assist and have aid. Alcoholic Anonymous meetings comparatively are full of sober former pub-crawlers that the nuts befriend but individuals who one does non owe ( George, 2005 ) . On the same note, an AA patron, similar to a new partner, promotes the bar of a backsliding better than many other enduring members whom they torture for old ages. The common characteristic in recovery from any signifier of dependence is the find of spiritualty. This is intensely controversial and surges a het argument. Inspirational, selfless person, group rank every bit good as belief in a greater power than ‘me ‘ seem critical to recovery from all sorts of dependence. In the Religious Experience, William foremost articulated the relationship between a recovery from alcohol addiction and spiritual transitions. As Carl Jung directed the AA cofounder Bill Wilson: The cosmopolitan theoretical account that Frank describes in his plants, Healing and Persuasion, for effectual psychotherapeutics resembles religious mending closely ( AA Services, 2002 ) . In Frank ‘s theoretical account, the therapist should hold the ideal position ( for illustration a few old ages of abstention ) , be equipped with legion unambiguous conceptual theoretical accounts of the debatable issues ( for illustration, AA ‘s Big Book ) and must make in the patient remedy anticipation ( Richard, 2001 ) . Alcoholics ‘ Anonymous assemblies, after all, are the topographic points across the Earth, which are populated dumbly by alkies with soberness ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . Finally, Frank argues that in group therapy complete healing came from people caring for one another, non oneself. The Twelfth Step of AA delivers a message of mending. But there are other grounds that in the ideal dependences spiritualty is critical for bar of backsliding ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . First, there is a ample difference between a connexion of mending in religious communities and with a hierarchal clinical psychologist or spiritual leader ( George, 2005 ) . In autocratic faith every bit good as in medical specialty, the wise priest or physician asks the sinful, unenlightened patients or ill to wallow in dependence alleviating their past losingss and cholers. In contrast AA and other ideal democratic religious communities have a flat playing land. One of the Akron rummies in the early yearss, to whom Dr. Bob brought their message of retrieving from alcoholic, expressed the reciprocality good that people speaking to him wanted to assist him, and his pride prevented him from listening to them ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Second, spiritualty influences single behaviours, non through ground but by its emotion entreaty. Four central surveies have provided cogent evidence that, after control of variables like intoxicant ingestion prohibition, spiritual engagement when the younger coevals reduces coffin nail ingestion and intoxicant when at grownup coevals ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . Religious prohibition of usage of intoxicant ( for case Church of jesus christ of latter-day saintss in Islam in Saudi Arabia and Utah ) has been all along successful ( George, 2005 ) . In contrast, prohibition against intoxicant ingestion by the authorities has been less effectual ( for illustration, prohibition in America in the 1920s and in the 1990s in Soviet Union ) . Third, alkies and nuts unlike most evildoers are non raging ( Monica & A ; Scott, 2000 ) . Alcoholics have inflicted tremendous hurting frequently every bit good as hurt on others. Therefore, when sober, the nut may see guilt from the anguish, which they inflict on others ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Even though a hapless tranquillizer and an antidepressant, intoxicant are likely the most powerful solvent ideally for a guilty scruples, which modern pharmacological medicine has devised. Therefore, absolution from guilt arbitrated by a ‘power more than ourselves ‘ generates an option to alcohol going a critica l portion of the alky ‘s procedure in mending ( George, 2005 ) . Finally, spiritualty, for case human fond regard – both arbitrated by the temporal lobe and limbic circuitry may be a worthy replacing for drugs ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . In other words, faith and spiritualty present a replacement to the high facilitated by drugs. Religion, Marx ‘s ‘the people ‘s opiate ‘ and Jung ‘s spiritus, perchance will be an indirect manner, which we have of actuating our limbic encephalon every bit good as its endorphins. However, efficaciousness of AA and information on the AA efficaciousness is difficult to acquire. First, as an establishment, AA is uninterested in the field of research ( Richard, 2001 ) . Second, because of unconscious competition and differences, medical research workers from several bookmans sometimes have difficult times in the appraisal of AA without prejudice ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Finally, in the procedure of their chronic upset, nuts and alkies come across many, diverse intercessions, at the same time. Therefore, unlike the instance with most drug tests, there is no absolute manner that one can carry on a controlled survey ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . Until recent times, it was non clear whether AA attending resulted to abstinence or whether go toing AA was merely a manifestation of greater conformity with therapy or abstention. The overall grounds, however that AA works as a better ‘cure ‘ is converting ( George, 2005 ) . First, multiple surveies, which jointl y involved more persons, suggest that absolute and effective clinical results are correlated significantly with frequence of go toing AA, with holding a patron, with chairing meetings, and with battle in a Twelve-Step work. Second, for 35 old ages I have been Director of the Study of Adult Development. From consequences in a community survey, half of the sample abused intoxicant until they died or until present. There were few clear differences separating the work forces accomplishing stable abstention from the 1s who remained alkies in a chronic province ( Monica & A ; Scott, 2000 ) . Poor instruction, multi-problem, low IQ did non place the sample population that would neglect in accomplishing stable abstention. Nor did hazard factors copiousness for alcohol addiction, for case alcoholic heredity, young person hyperactivity and sociopathic behavior, endure in foretelling the chronic province ( George, 2005 ) . However, it was singular that the sample population in the satisfactory result groups indicated go toing at least 20 times as many meetings of AA as the work forces in the hapless result take parting groups ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Another multimillion-dollar survey, referred to as Project Match compared the diverse effects of interventions upon alcoholic patients geting at several decisions ( George, 2005 ) . Project Match indicated that in the event of the first twelvemonth AA as a intervention attack was every bit effectual as the professional options including motivational sweetening therapies and cognitive behavioural therapies. Surely, AA in some degrees was better than the cognitive, behavioural therapy. On the other manus, the Match followup besides indicated that in malice of the original intervention arm ( motivational, Twelve Steps or cognitive behavioral ) the more meetings held by AA and single attending, the better the result ( Richard, 2001 ) . However, there is a ‘scientific ‘ inquiry associating to AA efficaciousness. Even with cogent evidence that AA cures alcohol addiction, what is the degree of its safety? The inquiry aims at turn toing the AA side effects. Indeed, AA has its ideal disparagers and critics sing its operations. Designed to act upon the reptilian encephalon, the emotional linguistic communication and the rhetoric of the spiritualty of AA usher, journalists every bit good as other societal scientists fear that AA is a cult ( George, 2005 ) . Cults can take to development every bit good as instances of demagogy, and this is one large shooting used in knocking AA. They argue that faith can ensue in exclusion, war and dogmatism. Individual alkies who attend incompatible AA single groups or ally themselves with inopportune patrons sometimes are informants of horror narratives sing the family ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Many of the beliefs that members in AA express sing alcohol addiction, are similar t o the dogmas of any tradition non related to scientific discipline. For case, if work forces are followed for 40 old ages it is clear that alcohol addiction is non as usually expressed as a ‘progressive disease ‘ . Something reconstructing the safety of AA is that as an establishment, it is non a faith. The establishment has incorporated rules intentionally in an effort to avoid cultic maltreatment. Religions for case patriotism draw circles, which draw some, people out and, hence, non first-class when it comes to affairs of recovery. On the other manus, Alcoholics Anonymous draws circles, which draw others in and, hence a favourite. The AA religious foundation came from the rational experience of work forces who were profoundly leery of all faiths. These work forces, William with his Religious Experience Varieties, Carl Jung passing his prescription ideally known as ‘Spiritus contra spiritus ‘ and cofounder of AA, Dr. Robert Smith, of whom each pupils of what was mending between the prevailing faiths ( George, 2005 ) . This sort of spiritualty normally develops to love, humbleness, tolerance and awe toward the planetary existence. These are several qualities intensifying human relationships ( AA Services, 2002 ) . Surely, AA is non all about faith but more deep into other constructs. The Alcoholics Anonymous foreword categorically states: â€Å" Alcoholics Anonymous is practically non a spiritual establishment. † The lone rank demand is a desire to abstain from imbibing. Alcoholics Anonymous, hence, passes the universality trial so critical in separating safe spiritualty and dividing it from dissentious faith, in the facet that spiritual strong belief does non hold the capacity to forestall rank to AA ( Richard, 2001 ) . Over the last two decennaries, AA rank increased to an estimated 10-fold in Hindu India, in Catholic Spain and in Buddhist Japan. Membership has besides been on the rise in unbelieving Russia exponentially ( Paul, Mueller, David & A ; Teresa, 2001 ) . Per capita, there are an estimated three times as legion AA groups in El Salvador and Costa Rica as in the America ( Monica & A ; Scott, 2000 ) . Today, at least one-third of members from AA are adult females and an estimated one-fourth are flatly less than 31 old ages old. Scholarly research fails in the designation of clear personality differences among the legion alkies who are non attenders of AA. Neither instruction nor societal category, neither mental wellness nor extraversion distinguishes the 1s utilizing AA from the 1 who do non ( AA Services, 2002 ) . The lone variable that systematically distinguishes AA members from nuts and alkies who attend professional intervention centres merely is that members of AA tend to hold had more alcohol addiction symptoms. It is of virtue noting, however, some of the peculiar ways that AA as an establishment has avoided to developing to a cult ( Monica & A ; Scott, 2000 ) . First, from the beginning, AA has developed no clear differentiation between ‘the family of AA ‘ and the supreme God. There has been a tacit, if non explicit, permission ever of replacing the construct of God, with the single ‘home group ‘ . On the other manus, the AA spiritualty does non hold the capacity to vie with medical specialty ( Richard, 2001 ) . Alcoholic Anonymous work published in books is clear that it is ‘absolutely incorrect striping any alky of medicine that are capable of relieving or commanding other disenabling emotional jobs, every bit good as a physical job ( AA Services, 2002 ) ‘ and that ‘no member of AA as an establishment, dramas physician ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) ‘ . Additionally, some worry that the establishment like cults, exerts control of the human hea d and removes freedom. Mark, a New York head-shrinker, defined cults as groups of personal appeal with ‘characteristics of a high societal coherence degree, a profoundly held belief system and a powerful influence on its single members ‘ behaviour ( George, 2005 ) ‘ . As Mark noted, this is true of AA as an alcoholic recovery establishment. Finally, another difference between all AA and cults is their governing construction. For cults, their features are by magnetic leaders holding infallible powers every bit good as an bossy construction of administration ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . In AA ‘leaders ‘ trust is been held as retainers ; they ne'er govern ( George, 2005 ) ‘ . Most of the AA places of service are unpaid and legion occupations are rotated often so that the power consolidation ne'er occurs ( AA Services, 2005 ) . The AA organisational chart evolving is a pyramid on its caput. Responsibility places within AA are in definition, ‘service as holding no authorization ( Richard, 2001 ) ‘ and the procedures of AA statute law are democratic to a mistake. In AA, the amusive thing is that unlike in faiths and cults, they respect the minority sentiments ( AA Services, 2002 ) . A unfavorable judgment of cults, every bit good as AA, is that they hearten dependance. And so it is critical to distinguish the dependance that is AA engendered from the dependance that is cults engendered. Dependences in several countries weaken or strengthen the persons ( AA Services, 2002 ) . This is because a human being is weakened by dependance on debris nutrient, coffin nails, or slot machines. Finally, AA ‘s Twelve Traditions are a contemplation of the laminitis Bill Wilson ‘s 20-year cleft to encompass spiritualty protecting AA from developing into a cult ( Mark & A ; Robert, 1996 ) . Alcoholics Anonymous, as the instance with the early Christian Church, strives to remain hapless successfully ad, hence, works out suitably ( George, 2005 ) . Decisions In general, the function of spiritualty in alcohol addiction recovery relates to the persons ‘ publicity of achieving a meaningful life. The attacks to recovery, for case usage of speculation, spiritual revivalism, and household therapy, represent the value of extract of the person and personal significance into the procedure of recovery. All the several attacks associate with the factors termed nonspecific frequently underlying the healing effects apparent across diverse psychotherapeutics schools. It is, nevertheless, arguable that religious influence is one of the major constructs on recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. It is a procedure affecting the 12 stairss as illustrated in this treatment. It is absolute that spiritualty is peculiarly a latent concept ; one inferred from legion constituent dimensions, for case societal psychological science, intervention result and neurophysiology research. Mechanisms that relate to its function in recovery publicity in AA are in treatmen t from diverse position and use to single otherwise. What is clear is that Alcoholics Anonymous ( AA ) being an old pattern has been first-class and successful and continues to keep land as an attack to cut down alcohol addiction.

Famine, Affluence, and Morality Essay

In Singer’s article Famine, Affluence, and Morality, his main goal is to get the point across that there are people in the developing world that are starving and have a lack of healthcare and the lack of shelters. He argues about how affluent countries react to the issues like Bengal and the way they look at the moral issue surrounding it. He also argues that the way of life is taken for granted by affluence people. The first counter- argument in the article is â€Å"the view that numbers do make a difference† (Singer, 1971). It refers to if every affluent person would give 5 dollars to the Bengal Relief Fund that money would add up. Therefore, there is no reason to have to give more money than anyone else in the same position. Singer argues that this is based off a hypothetical situation. He, however, says in the article that there is no way for that work since no one would give more than 5 dollars then there would not be enough money to provide food, shelter, and medical care. He says by giving more than 5 dollars he will be able to end more suffering. The second counter argument people do not judge the way Singer suggested they should. Many people tend to keep their judgments to themselves unless they go overboard, step out bounds, and break some type of moral code. The example that Singer uses is taking someone else’s property. Most people tend not to look bad on owning expensive items instead of giving to people less fortunate. Singer’s response to this argument is, â€Å"unless that principle is rejected, or the arguments are shown to be unsound, I think the conclusion must stand however strange it appears. It might, nevertheless, be interesting to consider why our society, and most other societies, do judge differently from the way I have suggested they should. † (Singer, 1972) At what point do people draw the line at what should be done and what is good but not mandatory. Singer brings up a point that, â€Å"In a society which held that no man should have more than enough while others have less than they need. † (Utilitarian Philosophers, NDG) Many people are influenced by the people around them. If people are giving less than people around them are likely to give less, but if people give more than people around him are likely to give more. The third counter argument is the difference between duty and charity. The argument is that in some utilitarian theory that everyone should work full time to increase happiness over misery. Meaning that, if people work more, are paid more money than people would not be as miserable, many people say money cannot buy happiness. Singer’s reaction to this counter- argument is that, â€Å"we ought to be preventing as much suffering as we can without sacrificing something else of comparable moral importance. † (Utilitarian Philosophers, NDG) Singer defines marginal utility as the level at which giving more would result in suffering in his dependents or himself. The meaning of this is that one would limit their material possessions to less than nothing. He further explains that he proposed a more moderate version of marginal utility, â€Å"that we should prevent bad occurrences unless, to do so, we had to sacrifice something morally significant, for one might hold that to reduce oneself and one’s family to this level is to cause something significantly bad to happen. (Singer, 1972) It relates to his arguments because he insists that we need to limit our material possessions to that of the Bengal refugees. Singer compares the distinction between duty and charity as not an easy line to draw. However Singer gives an example as this, â€Å"The charitable man may be praised, but the man who is not charitable is not condemned. When we buy new clothes not to keep ourselves, warm but to look â€Å"well-dressed† we are not providing for any important need. We would not be sacrificing anything significant if we were to continue to wear our old clothes, and give the money to famine relief. By doing so, we would be preventing another person from starving. † (Singer, 1972) In other words, instead of buying expensive worthless stuff for yourself giving the extra money would benefit more people and make it more charitable; however, you do not give the extra money to charity you are not looked at any differently. I do agree with some parts of his article, however, I disagree with most of it. First, I think that his article come off with a major attitude in my mind. He does however make some good points like the way he talks about how some people are influenced by the people around them. Another good point that he made is it should not matter how far the distance is wither they are in the same area as you are thousands of miles away. I do not agree with how he insinuates that the richer you are the more you should give. I believe that a person should give as much as he or she wants. I also believe that a person giving charity should not be held at a higher pedestal then someone that is not able to give to charity.

Archimedes Essays (740 words) - Buoyancy, Archimedes, Pumps

Archimedes Ren.C Archimedes was a Greek mathematician and scientist. He was born in Syracuse, Sicily in the year 287 B.C. He was educated in Alexandria, Egypt. Due to the lack of information about Greek mathematics, many Greek mathematicians and their works are hardly known. Archimedes is the exception. Archimedes was very preoccupied with mathematics. For instance, he often forgot to eat and bathe because of his always wanted to solve problems. He found areas and volumes of spheres, cylinders and plain shapes. He showed that the volume of a sphere is two-thirds of the volume of the smallest cylinder that can contain the sphere. Archimedes was so proud of this concept that he requested that a cylinder enclosed a sphere, with an explanation of this concept, be engraved on his grave. Archimedes also gave a method for approximating pi. He was able to estimate the value of pi between 3 10/71 and 3 1/7. Math wasn?t as sophisticated enough to find out the exact pi (3.14). Archimedes was finding square roots and he found a method based on the Greek myriad for representing numbers as large as 1 followed by 80 million billion zeros. One of Archimedes accomplishments was his creation of the lever and pulley system. Archimedes proved his theory of the lever and pulley to the king by moving a ship, of the royal fleet, back into the ocean. Then, Archimedes moved the ship into the sea with only a few movements of his hand, which caused a lever and pulley device to move the ship. This story has become famous because Archimedes said, "Give me a place to stand on and I will move the earth. Another invention he invented was the Archimedean screw. This machine was built for raising water to highland areas in Egypt that could not receive water directly from the Nile River. This device is still used today for irrigation purposes even is some countries today. The most famous story of Archimedes life involves the discovery of Archimedes' Principle. The story begins when King Hieron asking a goldsmith to construct a gold wreath to the immortal gods. After some time, the king came to suspect that the wreath was not pure gold but rather filled with silver. In order to end his suspicion, the king asked Archimedes to determine whether the wreath was pure gold or filled with gold without destroying it. Archimedes agreed to try to solve the king's problem. Then one day, while he was taking a bath, Archimedes noticed that the water level rose in the bath as he entered the water. Archimedes was so excited by this discovery that he jumped out of his bath and ran naked through the streets yelling, "Eureka, Eureka!!? meaning, I have found it. Archimedes had discovered that a body immersed in a fluid displaces its weight of fluid. This principle in turn helped Archimedes prove that the gold wreath was not solid gold. Archimedes was probably most famous during the time he lived because he developed techniques defenses for Syracuse against the Romans. Syracuse was able to hold off the invasion for three years due to Archimedes?s inventions. He invented catapults, which hurled blocks of stone, and cranes, which dropped large stones on approaching ships. Also, he developed scaling ladders, which helped soldiers climb over enemy walls. Archimedes can use mirrors to reflect sunlight on the adversarial ships burning them. The Romans finally invaded Syracuse and overtook the city Archimedes was drawing circles in the dirt. When a soldier commanded Archimedes to surrender, Archimedes instead drew his sword and told the soldier that he wanted to finish the proof he was working on before surrendering. The soldier became angry and killed Archimedes. This shows that Archimedes was so committed to his expertise that he took the chance to dying in order to work on his last problem. Archimedes was so thoughtful with the study of math, and because of it, it led to many important discoveries and principles for us today. What helped me the most were encyclopedias, books and the Internet. I think I got enough information to basically point out the general account of it. I can?t really think of anything I can do differently. I learned that Archimedes was

Risk Assessment Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Risk Assessment Paper - Essay Example The risk assessment plays an important role both in helping the judge in a case of juvenile crime determine the level and type of punishment or correctional service necessary. This paper assesses the cases of a fifteen year old girl Coleen M. and a 17 year old boy Xander L. It analyses the effectiveness and shortcomings of the two methods in the analysis of the two cases. On the Missouri assessment scale, the high score is 15. This portrays the candidate with the highest risk level (Missouri Juvenile Risk Assessment Scale). On the Washington risk assessment scales the highest mark is 31 which shows the highest level of involvement in delinquency. (Washington State Juvenile Pre-Screen Assessment Scale). So the lower the score of the candidate, the better in terms of behavior and self-control. Coleen is 15 year old girl who is charged with the involuntary manslaughter of her neighbor by pouring a liquid pesticide on her. In addition, she was prior to that involved in the death of the neighbor’s sister by driving a mobile home into the victim’s car, though this was ruled an accident. She has been adjudicated as a delinquent and an assessment is necessary to determine her level of delinquency. On the Missouri scale Coleen’s assessment is as follows. Coleen has had no prior referrals. She scores 0 since her first referral is at age 15. She has not been formerly charged on any counts s misdemeanor or serious crime. So her score on that is 0. On placement, she has been placed out of her home permanently following the departure of father from homes and her mother’s joining of a drug rehabilitation center, so her score on that is 1. It is unclear from the information given whether there has been any serious negative peer influence on her, but since it is mentioned that she was in the company of three homeless men in a poppy field, her score on peer influence is 1. Though she has run away from home on two occasions, there is no

Is marihuana beneficial or destructive to society Essay

Is marihuana beneficial or destructive to society - Essay Example The rate of substance abuse among youths was higher compared to the number of adults aged 26 years old and older who have5% rate of marijuana usage. What could have possibly provoked them to use marihuana? We know that children decide to try marihuana because of pressure from other individuals, problems related to school and family, depression, and self-esteem. According to Dr. Bruce Beckum, child psychologist and noted authority on young adult drug use, â€Å"Seventy percent of young people who use drugs report difficulties at home and at school†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The alarming rates of increase marihuana among youths might be attributed to these intrapersonal and interpersonal factors and partnerships among government, parents, and youths themselves must be worked on in order to address these issues and completely eliminate marihuana use among youths. Marihuana puts children in danger. It is not the only drug that is most commonly used, but is also known to cause many other problems. An article from the Journal of the American Medical Association states that teens who use marijuana are 77 % more likely to try harder drugs (Smith, 64). How can people say that our society would benefit from the legalization of marihuana when this is only hurting and influencing children in a negative way? Are we only thinking in adults when we speak about marihuana? Probably, adults had thought of legalizing marihuana because of the medical benefits that can be derived from using it such as alleviation of undesirable effects of certain medications, treatments, and diseases. If just in case marihuana would have been legalized, patients will no longer experience extreme discomforts. However, legalizing marihuana would cause a lot of consequences even if it is for medical benefits. Well, let me tell you something that is not the case. Usually, the mos t affected by our

Strange Fruit Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strange Fruit Paper - Essay Example Billie Holiday composed and performed the song Strange Fruit in 1930s with the main themes of the growing hypocrisy by the southern American whites and the increased lynching of the blacks as explained by racial discrimination. The book by David Margolick however fails to have an extensive analysis of the politics of racial discrimination and lynching of the blacks by the song but touches on the issues of race as influenced the music industry of the time. The main concern of Margolick in the book is on how such a single song as ‘strange fruit’ would stir up awareness in subverting political cultures that are rather backward as well as ‘reaching to the soul’ of the listener. The song is therefore portrayed as having been very effective in exposing the behind scenes efforts by the whites to promote desegregation while black artists took a lead in using creative arts to express themselves and protest against racial discrimination in the time. The book is theref ore very clear on expressing such themes as martyrdom and suffering as were the song’s identity (Margolick 15-107). The Strange Frui song as originally composed is portrayed as having been a very controversial and powerful type of jazz ballad within the story. Unlike the common themes such as love and dancing that are typical of jazz especially in moonlight, the song moaned the strange ‘fruit’ that trees from the south bore. Blood was on the trees’ leaves, as well as roots and this right away raised the eyebrows of people when the song was first performed within the January of 1939. Through well planned and neatly organized piece of art, sad, harsh as well as unforgiving words are what illustrate the feeling of Holiday towards racism. Through taking the traditional vocal jazz format, the song rose be very popular, controversial and influential of the time. Thematic concerns of a ballad jazz are often much

2,500 EDU essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

2,500 EDU - Essay Example They usually outperformed the expectations of the community they served. There was no need to educate them about their code of conduct. Good practices were internalised in the course of the practice of their profession. Now the scenario has changed drastically and more people are taking up these professions as their career. Naturally, career progression and financial compensation packages have become important. With increase in the number of patients and lifestyle diseases, healthcare requirements have increased manifold. The rapid advancement of diagnostic and preventive technologies has facilitated setting up of improved infrastructure for healthcare. More hospitals, clinics and specialist health care centres have been set up in both government and private sectors. The requirement of qualified and trained health workers has increased considerably over the past many years. Associations have been formed to represent and promote the interests of the healthcare professionals. The government also have realised the need for setting minimum performance standards for healthcare and social work organisations and their professional practitioners, considering the drastic increase in the number and diversity of such organisations. Codes of practice have been framed by the government as well as professional bodies in response to this need. The same underlying causes have also contributed to many fold increase in the number of educational institutions and education professionals. It is in this context that we examine the hypothesis, "Education professionals have codes of occupational practice that are similar to those of health and social work professionals". The role and nature of work of the teacher has changed very much over the years. Teaching had followed a more or less rigid pattern with the teachers prescribing what to learn from well defined reference materials. The teachers therefore had absolute control and autonomy.

Diabetes Prevention in Undiagnosed Adult Population of Vulnerable Essay

Diabetes Prevention in Undiagnosed Adult Population of Vulnerable Groups - Essay Example The initiative 'Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health' developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services, in conformity with Healthy People 2010 goals focuses on areas of health disparity that are known to affect racially and ethnically diverse groups of the population. As the epidemiology of Type-II diabetes is manifested in socially and culturally diverse groups, this initiative tries to understand the scope and nature of the disease that contribute to such disparities. Literature reviews reveal that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States bear a disproportionate burden of diabetes epidemic, because they have higher prevalence rate, worse control, and higher rates of complications associated with diabetes due health disparity. In this context, it is essential to analyze health disparity prevalent among socio-ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups in the United States as well as success of the initiative Healthy People 2010 initiated in the year 20 00. The NIH Work Group on Health Disparities defines Health Disparities as "Differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the US." (Health Disparities). Recent research evidence suggests that in addition to racial, ethnic, class and gender bias, "direct and indirect discrimination are also important factors" for health care disparities. (Byrd & Clayton, 2003). The factors influencing direct and indirect discrimination are racism, biased clinical decision making, and access barriers caused by shortage of racial and ethnic minority providers. The healthcare needs, way of presenting symptoms and histories, expectations, responding to medical recommendations, and preferences of patients, which are socio-culturally perceived, presented before health care providers differ from individual to individual. Research literature in psychology, sociology, and physiology suggests that patient's experience and reporting of pain and other symptoms vary sharply. Similarly, the expectations and beliefs of health care providers are framed both by their professional training and experience as well as their exposure and social experiences and a patient's medical history, prognosis, and diagnostic test results may challenge physician's judgment. Studies on healthcare disparity reveals that household income has a direct influence on a family's ability to afford food and other necessities including health insurance, and low-income individuals experience worse health outcomes, suggesting that income disparities leads to health disparities. "Low-income individuals have poor nutrition and health practices and many African-American communities are poorer than the population as whole." (Danelly et al, p. 112). Employment status also has direct influence on household income and insurance status as employment ensures insurance coverage, and thereby assured health care option. Above all, educational attainment has significant role in health status, because a well

Theater Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Theater - Essay Example This paper will also examine how the role played by design elements in theatre has changed in the last 200 years. The various design elements in theatre play the overall role of creating feel desired by the designer. Lighting helps to enable the scenic influence to be highlighted. Without lighting it becomes virtually impossible for the audience to experience the intended scene. Costumes, another essential element of design in theatre, have had their function revised over time. Until the nineteenth century, little attention was paid to costumes. Since then, however, costumes have been given increasing prominence in theatrical performance. The fabric, design, origin, texture, cut, and weight of the costume are all well considered ensuring that the recreation of the era in question is done to perfection (Sheryl and Sianghio). Over the last 200 years, the elements incorporated in designing theatre have changed immensely. Today, new theatres have designs that are flexible and eclectic. Themes from different time spans are incorporated to produce different scenes that promote the delivery of the message. In the renaissance period, for instance, architectural features were relied upon to provide desired scenic elements. Today, however, scenes for theatre are specifically built, and painting is used in order to suit the intended scene. Until renaissance, most performances were carried out outdoors, so lighting was majorly done by the sun. When need arose for alternative means of lighting, oil lamps and candles were used. In the nineteenth century, however, modes of lighting started to change as gas lamps were introduced. Today, floodlights, and spotlights are used (Sheryl and

Black Madonnas Essay Example for Free

Black Madonnas Essay According to Scheer Black Madonna’s have went from majesty to mystery with the construct of race as a science toward the end of the 18th century. With this construct of race it begins to dramatically undermine the pious interpretations of the objects and images surrounding the Black Madonna. A common theme used is that the Madonna’s became black unintentional, has greatly affected the depth into which the study of the Black Madonna’s has gone. Michael P. Duricy gives three categories in which the Madonna’s can be placed: 1) Dark brown or black Madonna’s with skin pigmentation matching that of the indigenous population. 2) Those that have turn black as a result of certain physical factors such as deterioration of lead-based paints, accumulated smoke from the use of votive candles; and the accumulation of grime over the ages. The third and final category is a residual category with no ready explanation. Charles Rohault de Fleury and Stephen Beissel support the second category that the images were blackened by the surround elements. There are two strong theories that if the Madonna was indeed intentionally darkened it was because the Madonna was to illustrate a text from the Canticle of Canticles or Song of Songs that said â€Å"I am black but beautiful† Stephen Benko summarizes the other theory as relating the Black Madonna to the ancient earth-goddess and then converted to Christianity. The most fertile soil is black in color and the blacker it is the more suited it is for agriculture. Scheer mentions that the ideas of pre-Christian beliefs are preserved in the folk culture of the Black Madonna’s earth centered spirituality at the helm of the hypothesis of the color choice of the Madonna’s. Scheer says that there is no mention of color of the Madonna’s only the recurrence in motifs of a miraculous find and the refused removal of the object or painting. Lastly, Scheer mentions that the votive tablets do not speak of when the images became black but when they were perceived Black.

Recommendations For Teenage Drug Addiction Social Essay

Recommendations For Teenage Drug Addiction Social Essay Addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them. Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug abuse. They mistakenly view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem and may characterize those who take drugs as morally weak. One very common belief is that drug abusers should be able to just stop taking drugs if they are only willing to change their behavior. What people often underestimate is the complexity of drug addiction-that it is a disease that impacts the brain and because of that, stopping drug abuse is not simply a matter of willpower. Through scientific advances we now know much more about how exactly drugs work in the brain, and we also know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and resume their producti ve lives. People who are suffering emotionally use drugs, not so much for the rush, but to escape from their problems. They are trying to self-medicate themselves out of loneliness, low self-esteem, unhappy relationships, or stress.    This is a pattern that too often leads to drug abuse and addiction. Drug abuse and addiction are a major burden to society. Drug awareness and drug testing are two of the most powerful deterrents in identifying and preventing teen drug abuse. These are the three criteria to consider when there is a problem of drug abuse in teens. Awareness/Identification Prevention Eradication Awareness/ Identification: Clear communication by parents about the negative physical, emotional, and functional effects of drugs, as well as about their expectations regarding drug use have been found to significantly decrease substance abuse in teens. Adequate parental supervision has also been found to be a deterrent to drug use in youth. Specifically, parents knowing how, where, and with whom adolescents socialize, as well as limiting their childrens access to substances that can be abused have been associated with less teenage drug use. Limiting the amount of alcohol, cleaning solutions (inhalants), prescription, and over-the-counter medications that are kept in the home to amounts that can be closely monitored and accounted for has also been found to decrease substance abuse by teens. How can you tell if your child is using drugs or alcohol? It is difficult because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleeping habits and changes in hobbies or other interests are common in teens. What should you look for?    You can also look for signs of depression, withdrawal, carelessness with grooming or hostility. Also ask yourself, is your child doing well in school, getting along with friends, taking part in sports or other activities? These changes often signal that something harmful is going on-and often that involves alcohol or drugs. You may want to take your child to the doctor and ask him or her about screening your child for drugs and alcohol. This may involve the health professional asking your child a simple question, or it may involve a urine or blood drug screen. However, some of these signs also indicate there may be a deeper problem with depression, gang involvement, or suicide. Be on the watch for these signs so that you can spot trouble before it goes too far. In order for a parent to get their teen to be aware of the drug usage and identifying if their teen is involved in this matter, they have to do the following: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Have The Talk Let Them Know You Know You should sit down and talk with your child. Be sure to have the conversation when you are all calm and have plenty of time. This isnt an easy task-your feelings may range from anger to guilt that you have failed because your kid is using drugs. This isnt true-by staying involved you can help his/her stop using and make choices that will make a positive difference in his/her life. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Be Specific about Your Concerns Tell your child what you see and how you feel about it. Be specific about the things you have observed that cause concern. Explain exactly how his/her behavior or appearance (bloodshot eyes, different clothing) has changed and why that worries you. Tell his/her that drug and alcohol use is dangerous and its your job to keep his/her away from things that put his/her in danger. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Dont Make Excuses Although its natural for parents to make excuses for their child, youre not helping him/her if you make excuses when he/she misses school or family functions when you suspect something else is at play. Take the next step: Talk to your child and get more information. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Try to Remain Calm and Connect With Him/Her Have this discussion without getting mad or accusing your child of being stupid or bad or an embarrassment to the family. Be firm but loving with your tone and try not to get hooked into an argument. Knowing that kids are naturally private about their lives, try to find out whats going on in your childs life. Try not to make the discussion an inquisition; simply try to connect with your teen and find out why he/she may be making bad choices. Find out if friends or others offered your child drugs at a party or school. Did he/she try it just out of curiosity, or did he/she use marijuana or alcohol for some other reason? That alone will be a signal to your child that you care and that you are going to be the parent exercising your rights. Prevention: Drug addiction is a preventable disease. Results from a research have shown that prevention programs that involve families, schools, communities, and the media are effective in reducing drug abuse. Although many events and cultural factors affect drug abuse trends, when youths perceive drug abuse as harmful, they reduce their drug taking. It is necessary, therefore, to help youth and the general public to understand the risks of drug abuse, and for teachers, parents, and healthcare professionals to keep sending the message that drug addiction can be prevented if a person never abuses drugs. Drug prevention generally begins in the following places and programs: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Schools where drug education programs are initiated to children. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Family focused abuse-prevention programs à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Multidimensional family therapy (MDFT) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Multifamily educational intervention (MFE) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Rehabilitation centers Many programs lead to the scare tactic approach which usually does not work; it only leads to youth to wanting to try them anyway. New programs should be created which are more focused on speaking with the kids on their terms, not ours. Many of the speakers involved in the programs are former addicts themselves. They give a detailed account of their past experience with drugs leaving the child to form their own opinion of what drugs are like instead of telling them to just say no. Through these programs they will found out reasons why kids decide to quit using drugs (for those who are already using them), why they change their minds to not try or use drugs and why they believe so strongly to not use or try drugs. The programs also use a more appropriate amount of humor in their presentations. They found that children respond better to the light-heartedness of the issue, although they still know what a serious issue it is. Prevention of drug use is a hard issue to face. There are several programs out there geared towards children and young adults to help them make the right decision on using or trying drugs. Family focused abuse-prevention programs have produced reductions in adolescent drug abuse. Those who strongly identify with their communities and cultures have been found to be less likely to experience risk factors for using drugs compared to their peers who are less connected to their communities and cultures. Therefore, incorporation of a cultural component to drug abuse prevention programs may enhance the effectiveness of those programs. Moreover, teens 15 to 16 years old who use religion to cope with stress tend to use drugs significantly less often than their peers who do not use religion to cope. The Institutes of Drug Abuse recommends that treatment of substance abuse: be readily available when the addicted person is ready to enroll; be tailored to the complex, multiple and changing needs (for example medical, mental health, social, legal, and family) of each individual; and consider the use of medication treatment when appropriate and include random drug testing. There are numerous individual treatments for drug addiction in teens. Relapse prevention uses methods for recognizing and amending problem behaviors. Individualized drug counseling specifically emphasizes short-term behavioral goals in an attempt to help the individual reduce or stop the use of drugs altogether. Some such programs include drug testing. Twelve-step programs like Narcotics Anonymous are individualized drug-counseling methods. Motivational enhancement therapy encourages the teen to increase their desire to participate in therapy. Stimulus control refers to a treatment method that teaches the person to stay away from situations that are associated with substance abuse and to replace those situations with activities that are contrary to using drugs. Urge control is an approach to changing patterns that lead to drug use. Social control involves family members and other significant others of the addict in treatment. Family interventions for drug addiction that tend to be effective for teens include multidimensional family therapy (MDFT), group therapy, and multifamily educational intervention (MFE). MDFT has been found to be quite effective. Longer-term residential treatment of three to five months that addresses peer relationships, educational problems, and family issues is often used in treating substance abuse in teens. When one enters a drug rehab center many factors go into determining which program is right for you. A trained health professional, generally a doctor specializing in addiction medicine, makes a diagnosis to prescribe which treatment program is best for you. Programs usually include inpatient, residential, outpatient, and/or short-stay options. There is a slight difference between inpatient and residential programs. The inpatient services are provided by a licensed hospital, while the residential services are less meticulous in their medical care standards. The length of stay in the center depends and varies on the severity of the disease and the stage the person is in at the time. Recovery of drug abuse is a hard situation to deal with because every person is different in their degree of dependency, their attitude towards their abuse, their health at the time of entry to a center and their willingness to change their old ways and accept help for ways to live their life differently and better. Recovery is an ongoing process. Once a person leaves a center or treatment area, they must apply the skills they have learned into their everyday lifestyle. This can be extremely hard for some. However, some treatment centers do offer follow-up programs to ensure and monitor the process of ones recovery. The hardest part is realizing you have a problem and making the choice to enter a treatment facility. Eradication: You can begin to more closely monitor your childs activities. Have a few conversations. Ask: Who? What? Where? When? Reflect with your child on why he/she is using drugs and try to understand the reasons why so that you can help solve the problem. When you get a better idea of the situation, then you can decide next steps. These could include setting new rules and consequences that are reasonable and enforceable such as a new curfew, no cell phone or computer privileges for a period of time, or less time hanging out with friends. You may want to get them involved in pro-social activities that will keep them busy and help them meet new people Limiting their childrens access to substances that can be abused have been associated with less teenage drug use. Limiting the amount of alcohol, cleaning solutions (inhalants), prescription, and over-the-counter medications that are kept in the home to amounts that can be closely monitored and accounted for has also been found to decrease substance abuse by teens A community based program for the prevention of the drug usage should be developed. In order to rid communities of drug abuse and crimes related to drugs, we must put drug dealers out of business. Since drug trafficking and the sale of drugs are so profitable, it has become big business. The only way to put any business out of business is to decrease the demand for the product or service. To accomplish this, each community must provide preventive interventions in their small part of the world. Collectively, we can have a long-term impact on ridding the world of illicit drug use and drug abuse. Creating a substance abuse prevention program will change the lives of residents in your community. Drugs and crimes related to drugs are in every community. It does not matter if it is a wealthy community or the poorest of the poor. This is why it is so important that every community creates a program for substance abuse prevention. Accordingly, a powerful program for substance abuse prevention incorporates drug education with community mobilization, youth development, and community action. Yes, the community must get involved.* The law enforcement should be able to locate where the drugs are being brought in, they should find out the roots its coming from and destroy it there only. They should keep a watch on the people who bring it in and who are the people who get the stuff to come in the cities. The law enforcement is expected to keep the places clean and out of drugs so the young generation will not come in contact with these different substances that are being sold in the market. There should be brutal punishments for the sellers when they are caught selling these drugs to the teens or anyone. Short and Long Term Effects of Drug Abuse Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse Short-Term Effects: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Rush à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Depressed respiration à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Clouded mental functioning à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Nausea and vomiting à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Suppression of pain à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Spontaneous abortion Long-Term Effects: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Collapsed veins à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Bacterial infections à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Abscesses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Infection of heart lining and valves à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Arthritis and other rheumatologic problems Summary: In order to solve the drug addiction in teens, the above listed criteria play a big role because it is a must to identify is someone that you care about is on drugs. They should be well aware of the consequences and the effects of the drug they are using. When they know the right information and someone is to take them seriously and help them from getting out of this addiction will solve this crucial matter. Even if you have to get to the depth of it by finding out where is the supply coming from and getting those drug dealers in the right place where they belong which is prison will also eradicate the drug usage of your closed one. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a persons self control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take drugs. Fortunately, there are treatments that help people to counteract addictions powerful disruptive effects and regain control. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medications, if available, with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches that are tailored to each patients drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse. Recommendations: Based on the results and solutions to solve this problem of increasing the number of teens in drug addiction, I recommend: All the parents should make their kids well aware of the facts and effects of the drug usage and what could be the consequences of the usage of these drugs. Only the parents friendly behavior and necessarily restrictions can keep their kid away from using these substances. It is only the loved ones whom you care for can help the drug addicts get rid of this problem and put themselves in some rehabilitation centers if necessary. Also there should be more care given in rehab centers and more programs can be established to finish of this matter for good. Material Cited: 1. http://www.csun.edu/~vcpsy00h/students/drugs.html 2. http://www.medicinenet.com/teen_drug_abuse/article.html 3. Drug Addiction by John Hicks, Millbrook Press (August 1, 1997)