Public Health The Young Adults of America

Question: Write an OP-Ed Article and advocacy letter? Answer: OP-Ed Article Substance abuse is not something new among the young adults of America. Apart from the regular drug abuse, prescription drug abuse is also progressing among the age population of 18-25. However, for arguments sake, let us discuss the situations where an addict may safely take drugs without causing any harm to him or the society. For the argument, we need to identify the cause of taking the drug and the reason for the pursuit of pleasure they give. Human beings need pleasure along with the daily routine of life. There are various forms of pleasure like fashion, art, music, etc (Vrecko, 2013). These alter the brain chemistry and pleasure is derived from a unique experience. The use of the recreational drug is another form of pleasure and if other forms of pleasures are permissible, then drug use should be permitted. If the individual taking drugs know his responsibility level and have a strong grip on his cognitive abilities, then he can well enjoy recreational drugs without posing any danger (The University of Toledo News Releases, 2016). The above argument was done with the assumption that recreational drugs are harmless to the user. But that is not the fact. Drug addiction can cause a range of disorders to the user which includes brain damage, organ damage and death. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2.3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 used illicit drugs in 2014 (Rigg, 2015). Heroin is a member of the opioid family that is known in medical practice for its use as a painkiller, cough suppressant and anti-diarrheal. However, it is also used as a recreational drug that gives a euphoria pleasurable sensation. It can be found in different forms of powders as illicit drugs in white and brown colors. Heroin addicts can inject the drug, smoke or snort the drug. Heroin use is associated with wide range of complications and diseases that include cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, HIV and hepatitis. It has been estimated that in 2014, 1.3 million adolescents had such disorders. Accor ding to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2014, about 435,000 Americans have used heroin in the year 2013. This number has been increasing since 2007 showing an upward trend. Regarding Toledo area, Heroin is considered one of the drugs available abundantly at the University of Toledo (Tavolacci et al., 2013). Heroin nowadays has different street names. Commonly used names are boy, China, dog, dog food, dope, food and papers. It sells at the cost of $10 per gram. Heroin-related mortality has doubled in the year 2015. Around 145 cases were reported with 46 deaths related to heroin in 20 Toledo-area counties (High School and Youth Trends, 2016). The University of Toledo promotes an academic and work environment that is free from misuse and illegal use of heroin and other drugs, by all the laws and regulations of the country. Heroin abuse poses a threat to health to all the members of the university. So the university community has laid down policies to control, prevent and mitigate abuse of heroin and other substances (Youssef Sari, Ph.D., 2016) But what if any student overdoses heroin and falls sick? To counter such emergencies, the University of Toledo conducts training courses, especially for the medical students. Simulated environments were created to train the students how fatal it can get to abuse heroin and what are the measures to be taken in case of the heroin overdose (Jalal, Daher Hilu, 2013). After the completion of the training, the students were urged to suppress the natural tendency to get addicted to these recreational drugs. It has also been decided that Naloxone, the common antidote for an overdose of heroin, will be made widely available to the healthcare professionals and users of Ohio and University of Toledo. Several drug stores and pharmacies will be keeping the stocks of this antidote to face emergencies. However, there have been objections from the medical and law professional bodies regarding the available dispensing of Naloxone to the public (CDC, 2012). Advocacy Letter To, Date: xx/xx/xxxx XXXXXX, XXXXXXX. Sub: Advocacy letter for heroin use in the University of Toledo I am a resident of your area and would like to present to you a problem that is worrying the students and faculties of the University of Toledo in recent times. The problem is the Heroin use among University students in Toledo, OH, USA is progressing as a menace for the students and has its destructive effects on the society. It is According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health; 2.3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 used illicit drugs in 2014. Sir, as a resident of this locality, I would like you to improve and develop the present situation and help the University to build up a drug-free academic environment. I need you to develop a program for facing this problem of heroin abuse. You can have my extended support on the provided contact information for any help and inquiry needed. It has been estimated that in 2014, 1.3 million adolescents had disorders related to heroin and other drug abuse. Heroin is considered one of the drugs available abundantly at the University of Toledo. Heroin nowadays has different street names. Commonly used names are boy, China, dog, dog food, dope, food and papers. It sells at the cost of $10 per gram. Heroin-related mortality has doubled in the year 2015. Around 145 cases were reported with 46 deaths related to heroin in 20 Toledo-area counties. Therefore, as a student of public health and being a responsible citizen, I would like to seek your help for counter-action of this problem of heroin addiction among the students of the University of Toledo by developing programs. These development programs have to be designed and implemented by you along with the active participation from our side. We will, however, like to start with campaigns promoting the potential hazards of drug abuse, followed by a strict ban on the unauthorized sell of heroin. These can be well arranged and managed by you, which will ultimately benefit the students. Sir, I would request you kindly focus on the problem as it a potent threat to the life of the students of the university. In addition, the activity of drug peddlers can also affect the locality severely. Please do revert for any further information. I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration. Yours Sincerely, XXXXX XXXXX References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC. (2012). CDC grand rounds: prescription drug overdoses-a US epidemic.MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report,61(1), 10. High School and Youth Trends. (2016).Drugabuse.gov. Retrieved 10 March 2016, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends Jalal, S., Daher, E., Hilu, R. (2013). A case of death due to ibogaine use for heroin addiction: Case report.The American Journal on Addictions / American Academy of Psychiatrists in Alcoholism and Addictions,22(3), 302. Rigg, K. (2015, November). Comparing the Characteristics of US Adult Heroin Users and Prescription Opioid Misusers. In143rd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (October 31-November 4, 2015). APHA. Tavolacci, M. P., Ladner, J., Grigioni, S., Richard, L., Villet, H., Dechelotte, P. (2013). Prevalence and association of perceived stress, substance use and behavioral addictions: A cross-sectional study among university students in france, 2009-2011.BMC Public Health,13, 724. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-724 The University of Toledo News Releases. (2016).Wordpress.utoledo.edu. Retrieved 10 March 2016, from https://wordpress.utoledo.edu/newsreleases Vrecko, S. (2013). Just how cognitive is cognitive enhancement? On the significance of emotions in university students experiences with study drugs.AJOB neuroscience,4(1), 4-12. Youssef Sari, Ph.D.. (2016).Utoledo.edu. Retrieved 10 March 2016, from https://www.utoledo.edu/pharmacy/depts/pharmacology/faculty-YSari.html