Research Articles Base: Term Paper Examples

Self Reflection

TERM PAPER   Self-Reflection               I have never expected to learn so many things about myself and my family and the things that encompass our daily existence. What touch me most deeply is on how families could preserve and maintain its values intact with emphasis on parent-children relationship. It is hard, for sure, to run a family and keep it functional for always. Likewise, it is also hard to be a mother and a father and also a child. What is even harder is run a family in a collective, united and ongoing manner, with perspectives aimed at to similar direction. Familial conflicts arise when one of the family members has a vision very different from the rest. Such a situation could lead to even more conflicts when respect to that family member is lacking. Trust is also a commonplace, but a virtue that is always overlooked in the family, especially between spouses.   As such, it is of my best belief that family reconstruction should be in the forefront of familial literature today. For me, this is one among the many concepts that directly targets what the modern families ‘are’ now and in ‘what sense’. Families of today are increasingly becoming fragmented – physically and emotionally – with child/children, whom are always left in the middle, confused, hurt and alone. Separation must not be a solution; it should be the last resort, and in this manner that family reconstruction must work best. It should be that highest priority that an avenue must be created not just for parent but also for children to reclaim their self-worth and belongingness.   I was also stricken by the fact that indeed families are very unique in every sense of the word because of the individuals that make up the whole family. These differences made me realized that there are certain things that will work for a family but would not work ever for other families. A family, as people would always say, must be able to create and sustain an environment wherein emotional, spiritual, social, psychological, physical well-being are developed. This idea is reflected in a saying authored by , stating that: “If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable – each segment distinct.” True enough, families should know how to nurture, support, encourage, protect, communicate, have fun and work together as a team despite the uniqueness of each member. We are in an era where familial boundaries and structures are scattered, but there remains that necessity to be functional.   A functional family does not necessarily mean having two parents, but for me, a functional family is where love, trust, respect, communication and necessary limitations prevail. It does not matter if you have a mother or a father or don’t have both. What is important is every member of the family has a way to stop unhappiness whenever it lurks inside the family. With that said, functionality is a responsibility of every family member and what will keep the family grounded. The sad part is not all of the people are aware of this fact. Even I did not know all about this prior to taking the course.               Cleaning up my act is just one of the many wonderful things that the course had taught me. I always thought that love is my original birthright whether people gives love back in return or not. I have realized that for me to experience the love that people would possibly, spreading love and happiness shall start with me. Self-centeredness and insecurities always haunt me, perhaps the reason why I am hesitant to show my appreciation, affection and gratitude to other people even to my family. I am changing as I learned that congruence and communication are important in keeping yourself and the family you belonged to functional. Now, I held the determination to show people who I am really, being direct and straightforward but without meanness and bitterness. Further, I also learned that it is not only me who is being affected by what is happening to the family, and that when bad things happen, it is not I who is most broken or damaged at all.   Although I do not want to dig deeper with what I and my family went through in the past, I learned now that acceptance is at the heart of everything. And, communicating how I feel can lessen the pain more than I imagined. Handling conflicts inside should not be done in an isolated manner and must not be treated as a single event. Instead, responding to crisis inside the family must go through a process by which everyone is involved. It is not healthy for a family that one is coping fast while other family members are lagging behind. The most matured thing that I think I have learnt is that it is not happy that you are the only one happy within your family while your mother or father or sister or brother are into a lonesomeness that is slowly eating their capacity to function well as a family member. A family is a place wherein when one cries, the other cries too, and then will try to laugh together after the storm.        Case Counseling                Considering the case of Miss A, family reconstruction should be integrated into. Just like the iceberg floating into the water, there is a huge mass of family problems for Miss A which remains below the surface. At the onset, what is ‘above the water line’ I can say that although their structure is unbroken the family is very dysfunctional as evidenced by the relationship of Miss A with her parents. The relationship problems are present primarily between Miss and her mother, Miss A and her father, Miss A with her siblings and most probably Miss and herself. They are detached emotionally to each other and with suspicions that generally manifested in their actions especially that of the mother’s. There is a tension between the mother and the father with effects trickling down to the children.   Miss A is in a position where she could only resort in a counseling especially that she did not know herself what to do. Not to mention, here problem is not easy to deal with because there are relationships that must be fixed, reconciled and settled first prior to dealing with own problems of Miss A. Notable, however, is that when the problems of Miss A’s parents are addressed, it would have a positive effect on Miss A. With this, I will say that families are made up of complex interpersonal relationships, and with varying personalities, needs and interactions, the reason which might explain the family problems of Miss A. A fact is that people can choose to deal with their respective families and the problems that those families encounter in either positive or negative way. For Miss A’s problems, a proactive approach is the most necessary.               Miss A is like anyone of us, striving to have the ideal family but she must realized first that in order for her family to go back to the state of what it is before, dealing with her own problems first must be addressed. I already mentioned that when the problems of the problems are effectively dealt with, then follows that of the children including Miss A. What I mean when I said that dealing with the problems of Miss A is to process first her feelings, emotions, attitudes, perceptions and aspirations about what is currently happening. In here, I can try to use the positive affirmations so that Miss A can give herself back the confidence and trust that she can contribute in solving the problem while also reducing the guilt and unhappiness. She felt like she was caught in the middle, drowning with the depth of how troubled her family is.   As such, I shall confirm to Miss A how precious are family relationships are to her and what are the things that she is willing to give up just to put her family together again. How the relationship could be strengthened and the problems arising be better managed is a vision that must come from her since she deeply held the determination to bring her family back to right path. Bringing Miss A to a calm state of mind must be sought in order to try to solve the conflicts, therefore change the interaction for the better. What Miss A should learn is to communicate effectively her mind and also to negotiate the conflicts with other family member and help them to open the communication channel again. In this way, her depression could be managed and responded to as well in order that she and her siblings would not resort into self-destructive behaviors.   Family is one of the most common sources of stress and not all people are capable to cope with it. These are ‘at the water line’ that one minute we see and the other minute we don’t. Miss A’s siblings are affected both directly and indirectly and may have serious consequences when dealing with people outside their families. So, after dealing with Miss A’s own problems, the necessary next step is to process the feelings and emotions of the siblings and with the presence of Miss A whom will guide them in the intervention.               Below the water line is the deepening emotional separation between the parents and among the children. Expectedly, both mother and father are confronted with feelings of sadness, guilt, anxiety, confusion and even giving up. These emotions are all playing at the back of their mind at the same time, mixed emotions that is. Same with the children, they are secretly blaming themselves for what had happened to the family, aside from assumingly withdrawing from reality and living in isolation. At this point, Miss A, the parents and the siblings could ponder among themselves and to think objectively about the real problems of the family.   The parents would be the hardest to convince to sit down and deal with the problems from a family perspective, particularly the father. As such, it would be Miss A’s job to negotiate with the father, if not the mother. What I can advice to each of them is to give themselves the benefit of any doubt and regard themselves with the best motives for their individual behaviour. In this way, they could understand what they think they are doing wrongly. A strategic withdrawal of those things that the family has done imperfectly will be my aim.   Convincing them to do such would not be easy, and so the need to talk to them separately and then as a family. I figured that Miss A’s family is not a talker and that is what makes it difficult also. There are things that are not instantly evident, or those that are people cannot see just like the bottom of the iceberg and so, Miss A’s family should disclose in order to effectively deal with them. After looking at their family in an objective manner, discussing it would be the succeeding step.     Using Stair Model               What is currently happening to Miss A’s family is normal, however, the prolonged time for intervention lies in an abnormal state whereby she is now taking an unnatural role, trying to be the gatekeeper and at the same time the initiator and the solution-provider. Unstable relationships are inexistence with family members who do not know what to expect further, how to react and how to behave to the point that a family member (Miss A) is almost giving up. This is their current status quo.   Obviously, since the father is away, there is no one who will impose and implement family rules and the mother felt helpless and underpowered whom should give value to family rules imposed. Left unaddressed, the children also felt toxicities specifically Miss A who realizes the extent of the damage in the family relationships. They don’t necessarily enjoy being together because of the doubts that the mother has towards the father. Not to mention, the suspicions could be also impacting the children. There is the imbalance of the roles and actions. With this as a major problem, the family cannot cope with the expectations and dysfunctional pattern starts.               Opening up with the possibility of improvement could materialize if resistance could be addressed also. A thing noteworthy of mentioning is that Miss A is the only one who is eager to resolve the conflicts of the family, while also withdrawing at some part of it. Resistance is present at three parts. First is on Miss A’s notion of escaping the problem and leaving it as it is. Second is on her sibling who maybe are not that determined to play the role that Miss A’s accepted half-heartedly. Third is on the mother who is still in the state of denial and fear to confront her husband.   The critical issue here is the presence, or lack, of the father because of work, disconnecting with the mother and the children. Enter chaos, where the family is now floating in the unknown with shattered relationships, invalid expectations, ineffective reactions and impossible behaviors. Such condition triggers anxiousness and vulnerability specifically when support systems do not exist. So, in order that Miss A and her family could overcome resistance, reactions to deny, avoid or blame should be likewise overcame.                   Transforming Miss A’s family is a necessity now, realizing how they could benefit to the chaos that they are currently experiencing. Each family member should remember that everyone has a significant role to play and is valuable to one another, including the relationships that they have. Awareness of the new possibilities such as bonding moments and open interfacing with each other despite the physical distance must be realized by the family, and efforts should be given genuinely and spontaneously.   At this stage of integration, support is much more important as a family member could feel frustrated if it will not work. Members must be reassured and assisted in coping with the difficulties. In the late status quo, the actions, dreams and hopes of each family member must be in accord and assimilated. If not, their family problems will and could resurface, leaving them helpless and angered this time.   In becoming a healthy family, each family member should practice openly acknowledging their problems, discussing them openly and working toward changes cohesively. They must believe also that change is acceptable and actively solicit workable solutions from other family members. In this way, everyone in the family of Miss A could discover each family member as people and connect with them as human beings. Appreciate and connect deeply with them and move beyond the survival pain.   In addition, the parents and the children could obtain access to their inner resources and become their own responsible choice-maker aside from updating the past and reducing its impact to the future and unblocking distorted or limited perceptions of each family member about each other and about the family as a whole and then deal with unmet expectations. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Self Reflection

TERM PAPER Self-Reflection I have never expected to learn so many things about myself and my family and the things tha...

Community Economic Development

Community Economic Development   Economic Development Reference Guide. Neighborhood Economic Development. International Economic Development Council.   Neighborhood revitalization seeks to improve a neighborhood’s physical, economic and social conditions to improve the overall quality of life and economic opportunities for neighborhood residents. Like downtown development, it includes a range of initiatives that target multiple but complementary development goals including business development, infrastructure improvements, workforce training, façade improvements, amenity development and property reuse. Critical to this process is the revitalization of commercial areas, because it creates jobs for local residents, provides goods and services to the local market thereby keeping local dollars in the community, and improves overall image of the neighborhood by signaling that business can succeed there.   Many organizations in the community should contribute to neighborhood revitalization. Ultimately, successful revitalization efforts will have leveraged public, private and community resources to achieve a commonly held vision for the neighborhood, and the city more widely.     Community economic development (CED) initiatives expanded rapidly in urban and regional policy in the 1990s. Traditional evaluation method has however, proved to be extremely difficult to apply effectively to CED.        book The Fifth Discipline explores systems thinking as a discipline for seeing wholes, for shifting away from narrowing the focus to one particular part and instead expanding it to many parts that have an impact upon one another. The goal of using systems thinking in a community setting is to have community participants shift from being reactors to viewing themselves “as active participants in shaping their reality, from reacting to the present to creating the future.” On the other hand, a linear or otherwise nonsystemic view may erroneously suggest that some persons or entity has singular responsibility for an identified problem or solution. Seeing the individuals action apart from the underlying structure of the actions and their influence process could run the risk of remaining powerless to affect change in complex situations. However, in viewing a community as a complex system, the interrelationships that cannot be readily seen can be explored. In tandem with dialogue, systems dynamics modeling would be useful at several stages of a community project as part of contracting, the technique helps the consultant move beyond the initial problem and identify possible points of intervention.   In paraphrasing Pope John Paul II, in Centesimus Annus, Stackhouse writes that the two key forces likely to have the most direct bearing on the future are corporations and religion. Corporations are the instrument of economic productivity for the foreseeable future, and religion is the bearer of those decisive values by which we guide our production, distribution, and consumption of whatever wealth is generated.   (1920) and  (1996) srgue that economic and religious motives and institutions profoundly affect daily life.  vision that a larger entity governing community development in low-income neighborhoods is an example of this. He posited that the larger social issues of racism and classicism manifest themselves in religious, political, and economic institutions. Furthermore,  knows of the changing economy and its implications for securing livable-wage employment but he underscores efforts of local initiatives similar to CDC’s. What differentiates his model on a relocated leadership, a race and class – reconciled people, a redistribution predicted on relocation and reconciliation, and on the pivotal role of the parish church. The efforts of this leadership through a parish church and CDC engender the change and support necessary for low-income residents to respond to community development efforts.       The debate on the economic component of community revitalization strategies for inner-city development reveals a growing interest among academics and community scholars. The faction has been divided; several discussants challenged Porter’s conventional notions of economic growth and development through individual self interest and the profit motive. Many imply that if revitalization is to target both human needs and human potential, then cooperation and collaboration are key components of a comprehensive and holistic strategy.  Many who worry about the survival of inner cities recognize that collaboration and cooperation are and will continue to be critical elements in any strategy of community revitalization. The public sector, granting agencies, and community organizations are all considering partnerships around these principles, with increased discussion of economic development through collaborations and cooperation) as key components of social development.   The propose strategy of income and wealth accumulation through private enterprise development is not broad enough to respond to community concerns associated with housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, infrastructure development, health care, job training, education, crime prevention, and planning and community organizing, in a post-industrial, globalized economy. The reality is that the needs in these areas call for a comprehensive, holistic, and well-coordinated community-wide set of strategies which incorporate the building of creative, productive, and sustainable mechanisms of survival and prosperity which better the quality of life. Inner city revitalization and community economic development must mean good jobs, economic empowerment, and community cultural, political and social development- simultaneously.      (1999) presented a the four-level framework for community development system as a way to analyze efforts to improve the quality of life in low-income communities in the urban United States. The four leveles are: level zero (the grassroots or informal neighborhood organization), level one (front-line organizations that directly serve level zero), level two (local support or city- or metropolitan-level policy-makers, funders and technical assistants), and level three (non-local support). These levels describe the division of roles and responsibilities in the community development system and provide a means to analyze the ways in which its actors (people and organizations) relate to one another. In particular, the framework clarifies how, due to their differing roles, responsibilities, and interests, participants at different levels in the system may appear to have conflicting values and commitments even when they are in fact the same. Thus, it may be used to strengthen alliance building by helping people to see what they have in common, what they do not, and how they can work together more productively.   Despite macro-economic processes working against them, many people (both inside and outside low-income neighborhoods) are committed to improving conditions in them. Their efforts are often referred to as community development. According to (1999), the community development is asset building that enhances the quality of life of residents in low to moderate income communities, where communities are defined as neighborhood or multi-neighborhood areas. Thus, they divided assets into five parts: physical (buildings, land, tools, etc.), financial (all standard forms of financial wealth), intellectual and human (individual skills, knowledge and confidence), social (all formal and informal relationships, cultural norms, and shared understanding), and political (the capacity to exert political influence) ( 1999).   The rapid growth of the CDC movement has rested on its ability to articulate a unifying vision into action in a way that dramatically expanded both the resources available to the field and the major stakeholders in its success. As resources threaten to contract significantly, the movement’s future vitality lies in further diversification, organizational adaptation to new roles, and identification of additional partners and stakeholders. Despite dramatic and unfortunate changes in the nation’s urban neighborhoods and its political and fiscal climate since the community development movement began 30 years ago, the movement began 30 years ago and has matured into an industry. The vision for community development in the early 1980s was squarely grounded in the visible distress of central city neighborhoods, primarily in neighborhoods with color. Some had been devastated by urban renewal. Some had suffered damage in the riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King. Many were disillusioned by the unkept promises of the War on Poverty. Virtually, all had suffered badly in the national recessions of 1975-1977, which hit the nation hard and central cities even harder (1980). Spatial segregation of racial and ethnic groups may theoretically have positive or negative effects on the economic performance of those groups. ( 1997) examined the economic performance of racially segregated groups and found out that blacks in more segregated areas have significantly worse outcomes than blacks in less segregated areas. Racial segregation is the norm in urban America: on the average, 60% of blacks would have to change residents to create an even distribution of the races across neighborhoods, and the average black lives in a neighborhood that is 57% black. The spatial segregation of blacks from jobs, positive role models, and high quality local public goods has led some to speculate that segregation is a cause of the problems of the black underclass (1993). Urban social movements for civil rights, historic preservation, decentralized control of public services, and new environmental values inspired many citizens to participate in planning at the local and state levels for the first time. These movements created activists and organizations, planning processes, and public forums in which citizens began to make their multiple claims for diverse and emerging communities within the same political boundaries. The expansion of the public realm through citizen action ha provided both hard experience and creative opportunity to directly encounter the competing claims and values of others and to discover the dimensions of common ground for mutual benefit.  (1996) argues that our understanding of urban community today needs to be a story of the historical efforts and the ongoing choices that people make regarding their participation in an urban environment rather than debates over mutually exclusive views of the past or the ideal forms civic institutions should take. While community has no objective life of its own, it exists in multiple discourse and social practices that shape the way people define themselves. People create or challenge their right to make moral and economic claims on one another based on categories of race, class, gender, and generational lifestyles, among others.        Community Economic Development (CED) is a distinctive form of community development practice that has grown increasingly important during the past decade. Advocates place prime importance on creating non-profit  organizations and other organizational vehicles to attract capital and localize control over the development of housing and business in low-income neighborhoods and within communities of color. A central line of practice and research involves nonprofit community development corporations (CDCs), which operate as investment vehicles and service providers in central-city neighborhoods and poor rural areas. As (1976) describes it, the initial impetus for CDCs came from African American, Native American, and Latino leadership seeking investment in their historically segregated and poor neighborhoods.  and  (1987) describe three generations of CDCs and citizen action groups over the past twenty years. Interest in CDCs has grown along with their rapid growth in numbers since 1980. The  (1988) publication presents a snapshot survey of 835 CDCs in 1988. Haberfeld (1981) discussed the distinctive aspects of the grassroots or nonprofit approach to CED and the need for partisan in action in low-income and African American communities specifically. CRITIC ON CDCS and CED              (1970) offers a highly negative analysis of the African American control movements of the 1960s.  (1990) and Traynor (1993) argue that CDCs have become too dependent on technical expertise and need to return to an ethic of empowering poor citizens to become involved in planning and public policy for their neighborhoods. The authors in a special issue of Economic Development Quarterly (1989) represented public policy perspectives on the field. They use the term “neighborhood economic development” to refer to publicly initiated programs for financing infrastructure, housing, business attraction, job training, and commercial development in poor neighborhoods and poor rural areas. Both  (1994) and (1989) criticize the strategy of bringing jobs into poor neighborhoods and call for organizing for increased services ( 1989) or increasing incomes in poor households through direct federal assistance ( 1994).   Low income communities throughout the United States are caught in a downward spiral in quality of life as a result of deteriorating economic and social conditions (1985). The breach between the haves and have-nots is an increasingly serious threat to society ( 1992; 1991;1993). Despite the importance of social service institutions do not deliver opportunity to support positive change. The systemic nature of poverty, including interaction of issues and problems, makes intervention especially challenging. The failure of urban policy is in large part due to interventions that are less than systematic in their own approach. Such ill-conceived policy, which fails to consult with the community about development priorities and intervention strategies, may actually contribute to, rather than alleviate, problems and manifestations of poverty (1993;  1992).   Out of dissatisfactions, new efforts have evolved in both US and Latin American low-income communities that point in the same direction: community economic development, if its truly to empower people, must build community from the inside out- from the individual’s realization of self-efficiency and interconnectedness with the larger community. Practitioners are discovering the pivotal role of the individual as subject-not object of community economic development and social change. For many grassroots movements, empowerment involves a strong spiritual dimension. As a rule, the necessity for a spiritual dimension, and for the revival of the sacred in one’s everyday relationships with the world, seems to be rediscovered as a basic factor for the regeneration of people’s space. Thus, wherever this spiritual dimension has been present, it has, indeed, produced a staggering contagion of intelligence and creativity (1993). The spiritual dimension to community-based economic development is also seen in the desire for belonging to something larger than oneself: community building, along with a sense of interconnectedness and a desire for service. , founder of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, recalls that the most successful efforts at community economic development over his last 20 years have been those not on material ends but rather on a larger sense meaning, i.e. spirituality (1994). The spiritual dimension –like transpersonal psychology and transformational politics—provides not only a path for the inner empowerment, but a sense of connection with, and responsibility to, the larger community and all of humanity. Community Economic Development must arise from black churches, historically black colleges and universities, African-American officials, business leaders, teachers, and health and welfare professionals. In the real world, where group welfare functions are interdependent, only two possible long-term outcomes are both just and stable. A central tenet of Browne’s work on community economic development is the importance of institution-building as a necessary condition for urban revitalization. While skills, commitment, expertise, money and a host of other tangible and intangible resources must be present in black economic development which are precisely the resources that can be best mobilize through the creation of appropriate institutions. Thus, Browne asserts that dilemma of the black community is that it finds itself in the midst of a capitalistic society but virtually without capital. In his view, the major problem in the developing black community is that after consuming their income, little or nothing is left behind within the community the community to serve as a productive base for future expansion. Several other studies since 1988 have confirmed the Atlanta finding that even after controlling for income, education, and job security, blacks were four times less likely to be approved for conventional bank loans than whites with the same profile. Communities today are redefining themselves to encompass broader geographic areas. Building a community coalition requires paying attention to the human aspect of development in addition to the technical considerations. The purpose of coalition is to take charge of change rather than reacting to it. Strategic planning is a tool to do this which articulates goals and outlines steps needed to create change.   The central proposition of the spatial mismatch hypothesis is that the steady dispersal of employment (especially low-skilled jobs) from central cities, combined with limitations on the residential choices of African Americans (which result in highly segregated residential neighborhoods), accounts for low levels of employment and earnings in those neighborhoods. The policy challenge community development addresses is to ensure that the residents of poor and at-risk neighborhoods who do not leave have the opportunity to live safer, more civil, more productive lives than is now possible in many inner-city neighborhood. If this goal is accomplished, these communities may regain their ability to attract and sustain a mix of people with moderate incomes and connections to the labor force.                           Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Community Economic Development

Community Economic Development Economic Development Reference Guide. Neighborhood Economic Development. Internat...

TERM PAPER INVESTIGATION AND APPLICATION OF NURSING THEORIES AND CONCEPTS TO PROFESIONAL NURSING PRACTICE

TERM PAPER INVESTIGATION AND APPLICATION OF NURSING THEORIES AND CONCEPTS TO PROFESIONAL NURSING PRACTICE   Introduction             Neuman developed her nursing model while teaching community mental health at the University of California in Los Angeles during the late 1960s, in response to her students’ need to have an overview of nursing prior to learning specifics (2006). Her model was chosen for this paper because it presents a systems-based framework for viewing individuals, families or communities, and tackles several concepts, such as stress, adaptation, homeostasis, levels of prevention, intra, inter and extra personal factors, optimal wellness and basic structure ( 2000), which are all relevant concepts in everyday situations. With the importance of the concepts underlying the Neuman Healthcare Systems Model, it is important to investigate and summarize this model and its related concepts describing its theoretical basis for nursing practice, and to demonstrate the results of the investigation by applying the findings within nursing practice settings.               Part 1             The Neuman Systems Model was originally developed in 1970 at the University of California in Los Angeles, by  Neuman as a way to teach an introductory nursing course to nursing students. The goal of this model was to provide a wholistic overview of the physiological, psychological, sociocultural, and developmental aspects of human beings (2000). The theory of Neuman is a conceptual framework, a visual representation, for thinking about humans and nurses and their interactions, and views the person as a layered, multidimensional whole that is in constant dynamic interaction with the environment, with the layers representing the various levels of defense protecting the core being. There are two major components in the model, namely, stress reactions and systemic feedback loops. Clients or patients react to stress with lines of defense and resistance, while continuous feedback loops fine-tune the lines of defense and resistance to achieve maximum level of stability. In addition, the client is in continuous and dynamic interaction with the environment, so the exchanges between the environment and the patient is reciprocal to achieve optimal system stability and balance. Prevention is the main nursing intervention to achieve this balance, having three activities, namely, primary, secondary, and tertiary, which are used to attain, retain, and maintain system balance (2000).             The Neuman Healthcare Systems Model views the person, health, nursing and the environment in relation to the metaparadigm of the discipline of nursing. It views the person as containing a basic core, surrounded by lines of resistance, encapsulated by a normal line of defense and finally surrounded by a flexible line of defense, and is represented by concentric rings, which surround the basic core structure of the person. In addition, the person or the client system is made of an inner core, which is described as an open and dynamic system that is constantly interacting with both the internal and external environments. Surrounding this inner core are the lines of resistance, which is the usual wellness state, containing certain baseline features and characteristics, such as the client’s coping abilities, cognitive abilities, and genetic constitution. The normal line of defense represents what the client has become, and the state to which the client has evolved over time, or the usual wellness level, while the flexible lines of defense surround the normal line of defense, and ideally prevents stressor invasions of the client system, keeping the system free from stressor reactions or symptomatology (2006).             The model views health as being on a continuum ranging from wellness to illness, and is equated with optimal system stability, that is the best possible wellness state at any given time. In addition, health is viewed as a manifestation of living energy available to preserve and enhance system integrity, where health and illness can be represented on a continuum, where the client system is open and in constant interaction with the internal and external environments (2006). Moreover, the model views nursing as being primarily concerned with maintaining the client system stable, through assessment of the actual and potential effects of environmental stressors on the client system. The system stability is maintained by assisting clients with any adjustments required to achieve optimal levels of health or wellness, in accordance to the belief that nursing assists in achieving and maintaining client system stability through various levels of prevention, having three levels. Primary prevention or health promotion, is used for primary prevention of illness as the basis for wellness, and is used to protect the client systems normal line of defense by strengthening the flexible line of defense, by prevention of system stress and reduction of risk factors. Secondary prevention is used when there has been penetration of the client’s normal line of defense, and prevention is geared towards health attainment by treatment of symptoms in an effort to obtain client stability and to conserve energy of the client system. Lastly, the tertiary prevention is used for maintenance of system stability, and is concerned with regression or maintaining and supporting existing strengths and conserving energy within the client system (2006).             Furthermore, the environment is defined as all internal and external factors or influences surrounding the identified client or client system, and can be influenced by a client positively or negatively at any given point in time. The environment is classified as being either internal, external or created, and the dynamic interaction between the client system and the environment will produce outcomes, which will be either corrective or regulative for the overall client system. The internal environment consists of all forces or interactive influences internal to or contained solely within the boundaries of the defined client or client system; the external environment consists of all forces or interactive influences external to or existing outside the defined client or client system; and the created environment is a representation of the client’s mobilization of the system variables, which are being the physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, developmental and the spiritual, which goes beyond the internal and external environments, encompassing both ( 2006).             In relation to the Neuman Healthcare System Model, several works or studies have already been done, using the model as the basis of their arguments and findings. One of the many works related to this model is the study done by  (2006) evaluating the problems identified by student nurses during postpartum home visits, and whether interventions utilized by student nurses during postpartum home visits were consistent with interventions recommended in the postpartum literature. The Neuman Healthcare Systems Model provided the framework for this study for this model incorporates a total person approach to patient problems and conceptualizes health on a continuum dependent upon equilibrium of the state of the system (2006). Results of the study suggest that the student nurses identified problems in all four areas of the environmental domain, namely, income, sanitation, residence, and neighborhood or workplace safety, and these problems are reflected and consistent with those found in the literature, such as depression, role changes, and care-taking skills. Understanding these problems and concerns allows implementation of the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention interventions within the environment, psychosocial, physiological, and health related behaviors of the clients, with interventions including health guidance, teaching and counseling, surveillance, and case management. Study results also support research to evaluate postpartum nursing interventions, for the lack of research, verifying effective postpartum interventions for diverse problems makes it difficult for nurses to engage in research-based practice or to develop theory-based models of practice (2006).             Another study is the focus on the interdisciplinary use of the Neuman Systems Model in the practice setting, its application to education, and the use of interdisciplinary teams to facilitate the emergence of holistic client care goals from teams of diverse healthcare specialists ( 2000). Due to the fact that the Neuman model builds on general systems theory with the flexibility, which allows identification of the client as an individual, family, group or community, its use is equally appropriate for an interdisciplinary team in a public health department, for this broad range of adaptability facilitates model implementation in many community settings, which have increasingly become the location of healthcare delivery (2000). In addition, believing that the promotion of an interdisciplinary approach could enhance the quality of services rendered to clients by the helping professions, the researchers addressed the need for a shared conceptual framework with a common language and a structure for organizing client formation, and the Neuman model was chosen because it is a systems model that addresses the interplay of the subsystems within the system as well as their interaction with the environment. The study concludes that the work of interdisciplinary healthcare systems using a wholistic model of care is one of the few healthcare options leading toward increased levels of wellness for all people in all countries (2000).   Part 2             To further understand the  Neuman Healthcare Systems Model, it is essential to discuss a relevant example in relation to nursing practice. A relevant case study is the case of Janice, a 34-year-old married woman who has problems regarding their family’s transferring to another state, due to her husband’s job. She is currently on medical leave from her job as a teacher’s assistant, and was referred to an outpatient psychiatric group therapy program in order to gain assistance in dealing with depression and anxiety. Her problems regarding anxiety and depression started when they moved to the Lower Mainland from Ontario, two weeks before school started, and her three children were upset with the move, leaving Janice feeling guilty about the situation. Another stressor is her new job, where she was assigned to work with a child diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. She did not agree with the management style of the teacher when dealing with the child, and found it difficult to be assertive in dealing with this teacher, which marked the start of her anxiety attacks and insomnia. Due to this, Janice takes medication to relieve her from her anxiety, but leaves her problematic regarding her insomnia. At present, her goals for group therapy are to learn ways to handle her anxiety without medication, and to learn ways to minimize her depression (2002). In applying Neuman’s model, the initial assessment is to assess stressors, such as her depression and insomnia, being intrapersonal stressors, and the move from one place to the next, being her extra personal stressor. In this model, goals are set in collaboration with the client, so Janice’s goals are reasonable and relevant because they were determined by the client and were deemed by the nurse to be manageable goals in this practice setting (2002). Interventions were carried out at three levels, with the primary intervention being her referral to an outpatient therapy group. Secondary intervention is crisis intervention, where reaction to stressors is assessed and symptoms are treated. In addition, advising her to take medication in the morning, such as Prozac, and encouraging her to talk about ways to handle her anxiety would be secondary prevention. Tertiary prevention is the focus on the return of the person to wellness, and much of the work the client would do in an outpatient program would be tertiary prevention because it focuses on returning her to wellness. Tertiary prevention includes exploring anxiety triggers and exploring her depression, leading to gaining insight about ways to minimize the occurrence of future depressive episodes, which leads to primary prevention that is directed at intervention before symptoms occur (2002). The final stage is nursing outcomes or reassessment, which could be done weekly in some outpatient programs, and Janice would be asked about her perceived progress towards her goals and she would receive feedback from the nurse, which would lead to changes in her intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extra personal factors that determines the success of the nursing interventions (2002).    Conclusion             Although the applications of the Neuman Healthcare Systems Model are relevant and rational, there are some loopholes present in the model, which becomes its limitation. Its loophole is the fact that the client system is composed of layers, and this model does not delineate what layer is being evaluated and referred to. In addition, some concepts in the model are not specifically defined, which could somehow lead to confusion. However, despite the mentioned loopholes, Neuman’s model is still successful in its application in the nursing practice. Its strength lies on the fact that it encompasses the totality of all human aspects, such as a person’s physiological, psychological, socio-cultural, and developmental aspects. From the discussion of this model, it can be inferred that in assessing the condition of patients, it is best to see the totality of his or her situation to properly and effectively administer treatment. It is also helpful if the treatment and diagnosis will be done with the help of other healthcare professionals, to seek their opinion. It would be essential to apply this model to future researches, for with the use of this model, a wholistic approach regarding treatment and diagnosis can be achieved. This theory is also practical because with its use, healthcare professionals can properly assess the condition of the patient, which saves them the time and effort of committing mistakes and inconsistencies.         Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

TERM PAPER INVESTIGATION AND APPLICATION OF NURSING THEORIES AND CONCEPTS TO PROFESIONAL NURSING PRACTICE

TERM PAPER INVESTIGATION AND APPLICATION OF NURSING THEORIES AND CONCEPTS TO PROFESIONAL NURSING PRACTICE Introduction ...

Discuss in the three contexual relationships between drug use and crime

UNIT 1- Drug Abuse               Violent crimes are very rampant in our everyday society. It’s very rare that you see the evening news without any reports about crime and violence. It’s been said that one of the major factors of the continuous soaring of crime rates is the rampant usage of illegal drugs. Drug trafficking is no longer a new matter to the society. It’s been existing since the rebirth of drug use in the sixties. What’s really shocking is the youth’s constant involvement and dependence on drugs. Many of the crimes committed which are drug-related are often involving juveniles, or even young adults.             It is funny that illegal drugs are now very often used by our fellow citizens as “de-stressors”, or to alleviate whatever psychological or social stress they are going through, whereas before, these drugs were primarily used as medication. Early on, the Chinese immigrants had brought the habit of smoking opium when they were digging railways. Drug use was very accessible back then, it was sold even as cough syrup. During the 1940’s and 1950’s, drug use was at its ebb, even though large importations of heroin to the US were slowly growing.  (1991; 1991). But on the 1960’s, drug use found a revival in young adults. According to a survey, the proportion of the population reporting having used marijuana increased from 4 to 24 percent, and the heroin addict population grew from 50,000 to 500,000 (1978). Also, with the increase of drug use was also an increase on drug related crimes. It was also found that most of the drug users and assaulters were middle-class youths. That rise of drug use and crime triggered the government to declare war on drugs. Following that was a number of legislations that also tried to help remove illegal drugs from the society and away from young people. According to a newspaper report, “nearly half (48%) of all men arrested for homicide and assault, test positive for drugs at the time of their arrest.” (1994)             Here we have a table showing the different relationships of drug use and crime. Drugs and Crime relationship Definition Example Drug-defined offenses Violation of laws prohibiting or regulating the use, possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs. Drug possession or use. Marijuana cultivation. Methamphetamine production. Cocaine, heroin or marijuana sales. Drug-related offenses Offenses in which a drug’s pharmacologic effects contribute; offenses made by the user’s need for money to support continued use; and offenses connected to drug use itself. Violent behavior resulting from drug effects. Stealing to get money to buy drugs. Violence against rival drug dealers. Drug-using lifestyle Drug use and crime are common aspects of a deviant lifestyle. The likelihood and frequency of involvement in illegal activity is increased because drug users may not participate in the legitimate economy and are exposed to situations that encourage crime. A life orientation with emphasis on short term goals supported by illegal activities. Opportunities to offend resulting from contacts with offenders in illegal markets. Criminal skills learned from other offenders. (Source: 1994)             Here is yet another table showing the relationship of drug use and crime rate.   Table 1. Criminal behavior and substance use among 18- to 49-year-olds, 1991 provisional data     Criminal Activity Percent reporting alcohol and drug abuse in the past year Alcohol, cannabis and cocaine* Alcohol and cannabis only* Got drunk monthly (no illicit drug use) Alcohol only None Any violent crime 26.1% 14.6% 6.3% 4.8% 2.7% Any property crime 24.7 13.0   8.0 3.8 1.7   Driving under the influence 57.2 30.8 33.3 12.3 0.1   Sold drugs 15.1 2.2 0.2 0.1 0.0                 (Source:  1992)             In the tables above, we can see and the relationships linking drug use with crime. All of the above-mentioned relationships are dangerous and all invoke great threats to society, but drug-defined offenses invoke the greatest threat on society. Yes, it may be scary that a person could ruin his life because he now lives just to kill himself later on with constant drug-use. He may invoke great threat on the people around him, he may harm them, or he may even get the chance to kill. But the most threatening of all is when a user may contribute to making another user and ruining a lot of lives. Drug-defined offenses may not be as gruesome or as brutal as the other two but it is here that lay all the things that can turn those two other relationships into reality. The chance to ruin other peoples lives lie greatly on these undertakings. On the other two offenses, we are talking about singular individuals. But when you talk about drug defined offenses, we are talking about the majority of the people. Here is the root of all evil that drug usage brings. Therefore, all must be done to cut drug usage from its source.                UNIT 1-D B Drug Abuse               In my opinion, the “Drug Control Policy” has the biggest impact on the Drug-Crime relationship. In order to understand well how this policy works, let us examine their goals and objectives. The Drug Control Strategy divides the solution into five different goals, which are to: 1. Educate and enable America’s youth to reject illegal drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco. 2. Increase the safety of America’s citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence. 3. Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use. 4. Shield America’s sea, air and land frontiers from the drug threat. 5. Break foreign and domestic sources of supply.                Their first goal, which is to educate the youth on illegal drugs and alcohol, in my opinion, is a very good approach since we are letting the youth know the importance of resisting drugs and alcohol which may, in the future, ruin their lives. The following goals are also quite good because the only way, in my opinion, to reduce the rate of drug users in the country is to cut off the drug users from the root.             This policy of the government in my opinion is really very good since it tackles the two most important aspects in the drug and crime relationship. I think that if this policy of the government would indeed succeed, eventually, drug abuse and crime rate due to drug usage will die down.   Unit 1 Drugs, An Overview               Drug use is as rampant nowadays as crime. Studies have been conducted to prove the relationship of drug use and crime. It has also been proved that crime and drug use is positively correlated, meaning, as the rate of drug use goes up, the rate of crimes committed also go up. As shown in the following chart, the relationship between crime and drug use is clearly demonstrated. Table 1. Criminal behavior and substance use among 18- to 49-year-olds, 1991 provisional data     Criminal Activity Percent reporting alcohol and drug abuse in the past year Alcohol, cannabis and cocaine* Alcohol and cannabis only* Got drunk monthly (no illicit drug use) Alcohol only None Any violent crime 26.1% 14.6% 6.3% 4.8% 2.7% Any property crime 24.7 13.0   8.0 3.8 1.7   Driving under the influence 57.2 30.8 33.3 12.3 0.1   Sold drugs 15.1 2.2 0.2 0.1 0.0                 (Source:1992)               In the table above, we can see the clear relationship of more than one drug used to the extremity of the crime committed There are different effects for every drug substances there is. Let us examine Methamphetamine first. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that gives the user a feeling of Euphoria and constant rush that keeps them looking for more. It is more popularly known as meth or “poor man’s cocaine”. When it is in usable form, it usually takes a powder like appearance in a variety of colors and on some other times is sold in capsule forms. It may be ingested by the user in a number of ways: smoked, snorted, injected or swallowed. It may or may not emit odor. Here is a sample of Crystal meth or more popularly known as glass.               Similarly though, the effects of Amphetamines are much like those of other stimulant drugs. As amphetamines are ingested through smoking, snorting or swallowed, the user often feels a rush of Euphoria, alertness and excessive energy. Blood pressure and heartbeat are increased, thus reducing feelings of hunger and fatigue. The heart often palpitates when amphetamines are taken. Because the use of amphetamines dries the oral cavity, swallowing can become increasingly difficult, thus, the user may not choose to take in anything. The process of urination may also be difficult. Dilation of the pupils can occur and the user may take rapid speech then followed by slurred speech.             Long term effects of amphetamine usage can bring about skin disorders, ulceration of the stomach and mouth, malnutrition and other illnesses from lack of vital nutrients. Other effects of constant usage are weight loss and sleeplessness. Those who take meth intravenously have the risk of contracting deadly illnesses such as cancer of the lungs, heart diseases, AIDS, Hepatitis and other such diseases. Constant exposure to large amounts of amphetamines can lead to mental illness, violent death and often, suicide. Amphetamine psychosis includes a state of paranoia which occurs after taking in large amounts of amphetamine. .. Another substance is Marijuana. Marijuana is a type of hallucinogen whose main active ingredient is THC or Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. In some medical cases, Marijuana is used to relieve nausea and pain in chronic illnesses and to lessen eye pressure for those who have advanced glaucoma. Short term effects of using Marijuana are Sleepiness, damaged short term memory, lessened motor coordination and concentration, dryness of the oral cavity and increased heart rate. Long term effects include lessened motivational drive, lessened testosterone level and sex urges in men, inactive sperm for men and infertility for women, and risk of contracting cancer.             Cocaine is also a very dangerous drug. Cocaine is a strong stimulant that affects the brain directly. It has been around for more than an hundred years and is basically extracted from coca leaves. According to “Cocaine is generally sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder, known as “coke,” “C,” “snow,” “flake,” or “blow.” Street dealers generally dilute it with such inert substances as cornstarch, talcum powder, and/or sugar, or with such active drugs as procaine (a chemically-related local anesthetic) or with such other stimulants as amphetamines.” Cocaine in the brain – In the normal communication process, dopamine is released by a neuron into the synapse, where it can bind with dopamine receptors on neighboring neurons. Normally dopamine is then recycled back into the transmitting neuron by a specialized protein called the dopamine transporter. If cocaine is present, it attaches to the dopamine transporter and blocks the normal recycling process, resulting in a build-up of dopamine in the synapse which contributes to the pleasurable effects of cocaine. (Source2005)               According to certain parts of the brain are stimulated to create pleasurable sensations brought about by cocaine. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) contains nerve cells that extend to a region of the brain known as the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s key pleasure area, when stimulated by cocaine brings about certain feelings of euphoria.             In one case in the Philippines, a local leader of a benevolent group was accused of butchering his wife and her other family members. According to Michael Bengwwayan, from Dinagat Island, the Philippines, “(June 24, 2002) – There is no telling what evil can men do, especially under the influence of dangerous drugs. On  June 9, former Mayor  supreme leader of the four million strong religious cult Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association (PBMA), butchered his   wife, stuffed her in a plastic bag and had it thrown in a canal. Ten days later, he ordered the senseless killing of six of his wife’s family members.  The following day, he and hundreds of his loyal followers battled soldiers and policemen who attempted to arrest him, resulting in the death of 17 of his cult members and one policeman…  Talk of what drug-crazed men can do. It is beyond reason. But that is who Ecleo was, even when finally arrested after the futile fight. Dragged into the Philippine National Police Laboratory for drug test, he yielded positive to amphetamine use, otherwise known here as “shabu” use, according to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).             In this article, we can only partly blame the drug for causing this kind of crime. It was rumored that Ecleo has been planning to kill his wife due to unsolvable differences, it was also allegedly said that he only found the courage to do it when he took the drug.             Another article from Newsweek tells the story of a young mother who threw away her life for the rush of euphoria meth gave her. Methamphetamine ruined the life of a young mother and professional, Kimberly Fields, who was living in the stately Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge. She had everything she wanted, a husband, two kids, a car, and a great house. But she threw all of this away only for the high that Meth gave her. Soon after, she started shoplifting and stealing cold pills. She was left by her husband and he filed Divorce papers claiming that she was no longer capable of taking care of their kids. Soon, she turned her house into a meth lab. She was cooking Meth in her own house. She was arrested for drug-related cases.             Here, we can partly blame Kathy for the crimes she committed, but the drug she was using pushed her into doing all this insane things that ruined her life.             We can now say that illegal drugs can ruin the users life, no matter if it was the users fault, or the drugs fault.   UNIT 2-D B Drugs, An Overview               In my opinion, the most dangerous drug is Methamphetamine, more popularly known as Meth. According to Sarah Childress, “Methamphetamine is a ruthless drug, it leaves a feeling of euphoria that addicts chase it for the rest of their lives but never catch it. It even leaves them destitute and at the brink of death. It ruins their lives.”             Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly psychologically addictive. Pure methamphetamine is a colorless crystalline solid, sold on the streets as glass, ice, or crystal. A stimulant drug chemically related to amphetamine but with stronger effects on the central nervous system. Methamphetamine causes the user to be relatively keeps the user very alert and awake and gives them the “ultimate high” that they keep on chasing for the rest of their lives. Prolonged use of meth may also cause Methamphetamine Psychosis. According to , a senior research scientist from National Public Health Institute, “Amphetamine psychosis is a form of psychosis which can result from amphetamine or methamphetamine use. Typically it appears after large doses or chronic use; although in rare cases some people may become psychotic after relatively small doses.” Methamphetamine even dries out the saliva of the user, causing him to grind his teeth, thus causing decay.             These findings can support my opinion that Meth is the most dangerous drug of today. It not only destroys the lives of the users but also the lives of the people around them. They may even pose a threat on unknowing passers-by.             Methamphetamine ruined the life of a young mother and professional, Kimberly Fields, who was living in the stately Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge. She had everything she wanted, a husband, two kids, a car, and a great house. But she threw all of this away only for the high that Meth gave her. Soon after, she started shoplifting and stealing cold pills. She was left by her husband and he filed Divorce papers claiming that she was no longer capable of taking care of their kids. Soon, she turned her house into a meth lab. She was cooking Meth in her own house. She was arrested for drug-related cases.             As in the example above, the need for the feel of the rush brought by the drug, some users are pushed to the edge. They steal just to get the drug they need.   Unit 3 – Social and Psychological Aspects of Drug Abuse               Psychology, as by defined in the dictionary, is the “Scientific study of human behavior, mental processes, and how they are affected and/or affect an individuals or group’s physical state, mental state, and external environment. its goal is to describe, understand, predict, and modify behavior.” And so is sociology. Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Based on these definitions, we can already say that psychology and sociology have a big impact on drug use.             Sociology and psychology go hand in hand in shaping and sculpting the life of a person. Sociology and psychology are the foundations of the social life of every human being.             A human being is a social being. He cannot exist alone. He needs other people to survive. All humans are co-dependent on each other to fill their sociological needs. That’s the reason why everyone is subjected to peer groups and sociological leveling. He is also part of a culture, which means he has to conform to what society dictates of him. And besides that, he has to cope up with things that happen within himself.             These factors are enough to make him shrink away from society and turn to something else to alleviate any bad feeling that he has. Things like illegal drugs are easily at hand to suppress any bad feeling that he has. Peer pressure and stress are most often the biggest contributing factors to drug use and abuse especially in teenagers since they are the most lenient and are easily persuaded into doing these kinds of things. When people are subjected to social pressure, especially younger people, they easily give in. being part of a peer group and being “in”, are always the most important things for young adults, despite the health hazards they face. Being in a peer group in itself is not bad. It’s even good that one has people he can trust, hang-out with, have fun with, or even cry with. But the bad thing is when the peer group is the bad influence. At times, it’s inevitable that young ones get into doing things like trying drugs, or drinking. Even if the person was brought up properly by the parents, the pressures of society are still very heavy. Eventually, sooner or later, the person is bound to give in, especially if the peer group is attacking one’s manhood, or womanhood for that matter. But other researches link psychological factors to the development of the person’s inclination to drug use and abuse. In the longitudinal inquiry conducted by  from the University of California, Berkeley, children were observed from whence they were 18. A group was found to have tried drugs, basically experimenting. Another was composed of frequent drug users and the last was a group who never tried doing drugs. The group who had experimented on drugs was found to be the “best-adjusted in the sample”. The group who were frequent users was called “maladjusted,” and was found to be “showing a distinct personality syndrome marked by interpersonal alienation, poor impulse control, and manifest emotional distress”. The last group, the ones who never tried drugs, was found to be “relatively anxious, emotionally constricted, and lacking in social skills.”             According to  the difference between the three groups could be found in the type of parenting style they received. Also, the results of their study found that, “(a) problem drug use is a symptom, not a cause, of personal and social maladjustment, and (b) the meaning of drug use can be understood only in the context of an individual’s personality structure and developmental history.” Basing on their findings, it cold also be concluded that the current undertakings on the war against drugs are not attacking the right target. According to them, “… they focus on symptoms, rather than on the psychological syndrome underlying drug abuse. “             Whether psychologically or socially, drug use is still a very big contributing factor to a person’s inclination to eventually doing crimes he normally wouldn’t do if he were sober. For example, in the data sheet obtained from the US Department of Justice:   Table 1. Criminal behavior and substance use among 18- to 49-year-olds, 1991 provisional data     Criminal Activity Percent reporting alcohol and drug abuse in the past year Alcohol, cannabis and cocaine* Alcohol and cannabis only* Got drunk monthly (no illicit drug use) Alcohol only None Any violent crime 26.1% 14.6% 6.3% 4.8% 2.7% Any property crime 24.7 13.0   8.0 3.8 1.7   Driving under the influence 57.2 30.8 33.3 12.3 0.1   Sold drugs 15.1 2.2 0.2 0.1 0.0                 * Indicates use of each of these substances some time during the past year, not necessarily use of both/all at the same time. (Source:  1992)             As the table shows, whether the reason be psychologically or sociologically, under the influence of illegal dugs, the person has a higher risk of doing crimes, violent or not.   Unit 3 D B Social and Psychological Aspects of Drug Abuse               In my opinion and in the researches I have conducted, Psychological factors hold the biggest part in the person’s inclination to do drugs. In the longitudinal study I presented above, the researchers observed the samples from childhood till they reached the age of 18. They found that the parenting style given to them held the biggest impact on their future decisions, such as to do or no to do drugs. And also, they found that drug abuse is not the cause, but rather a “symptom” of social maladjustment and untowardly behavior.              According to them, the current war on drugs is not addressing the right problem. We could well be on the way to being drug-free if we re-examine the real cause of drug use. Are we really treating the children the way they should be?  Are we doing our part in ensuring that the children will never resort to drug abuse in the near future?             Evidently, the quality of parenting can make or break the child’s future. Long before a child is thrown into the unforgiving world, he is first taken cared of by his parents. If they raise him well, he may be able to resist the need to do drugs. But if the child is raised in a much to tight or much too loose environment, he may develop certain characteristics that may cloud his decision-making capability or may keep him from reaching out to others and may therefore resort to something else.     UNIT 4- Treatment/Prevention and the Business of Drugs               In order to fully understand the processes that occur in and out of drug courts we must first try to understand what drug courts really are and their purpose.             A drug court is a special type of court which hears selected cases committed by drug offenders. The most often cases heard in a drug court are felony and misdemeanor. According to the County of San Diego, only those drug users who are non-violent are eligible for a trial in a drug court. Those with heavy charges like sex criminals, those who manufacture illegal substances are not admitted in the drug court. Those who choose the drug court system will be spared from serving a jail sentence. The drug offenders who do choose to go through the drug courts instead of having a jail sentence, would have to do the various activities that are determined by the judge, such as the offenders constant report to the judge for a year, screening, etc. If the offender fails to comply with any of these requirements, the offender is removed from the program and will face anything the judge may choose to give to him.             Drug courts are very different from traditional courts. Also, according to the Utah drug courts, the methodology and results differ in drug courts and traditional courts. Some differences are of the following: 1. Level of Supervision   Traditional: Court involvement generally does not take place unless a probation violation has been reported. Therefore, follow-ups for urinalyses may not be as frequent. Drug Courts: Throughout the duration of drug court, defendants attend required and regular treatment sessions and court appearances as well as undergo random urinalyses. 2. Reductions in Recidivism   Traditional: According to the United States Department of Justice, 45 percent of defendants convicted of drug possession will commit a similar crime within the next several years. In fact, the more often a defendant is arrested for a drug offense, the more likely they are to commit an additional offense. Drug Courts: Drug court participants exhibit a lower recidivism rate ranging from five percent to 28 percent. The recidivism rate for drug court graduates is approximately four percent. Additionally, urinalysis reports for drug court participants are generally 90 percent negative. 3. Emphasis on Long Term Recovery   Traditional: In many cases, drug addiction may not be the only problem faced by offenders. Poor reading skills, low levels of self-respect, and troubled family relationships are just a few of the issues offenders face outside of the courts. Traditional processes may refer offenders to treatment programs but follow up is not generally conducted. Drug Court: Drug courts often recommend that participants develop skills and connections that will allow them to survive following treatment. For example, some programs suggest that participants attain their GED or develop ties with community mentors. Many Utah drug courts also encourage alumni groups so that the recovery process will continue after treatment ends.             According to Utah Drug court, there are three types of drug courts: 1) Adult criminal drug courts focus upon individual adult offenders charged with a felony drug crime.   2) Dependency drug courts hear cases where the state has alleged abuse or neglect on the part of the parent. These drug courts acknowledge that neglect and abuse may be a product of drug addiction. Subsequently, teams within this court hold parents accountable for their behavior by monitoring their treatment and encourage a focus on recovery so the family may be reunited.   2) Juvenile drug courts are aimed specifically at first time or second time juvenile offenders. Requirements of juvenile drug court include 60 hours of community service, written essays on the dangers of drug use, and on-going court supervision.             In the drug court system, there are certain processes that a drug using offender must go through.             The first process is called screening.             Most of the existing drug courts do not accept offenders who have heavy charges. They often only choose those with non-violent crimes. According to the Utah Drug courts, “The court is generally available to: Certain non-violent offenders charged with a felony drug crime. These crimes include forged prescriptions, possession with intent, and felony possession of a controlled substance. Offenders with at least one previous drug conviction for which a sentence was given. Offenders must be in the country legally.             This part of the whole process is very often easier to comprehend since it is only about how drug courts accept drug offenders. As mentioned above, only those offenders with crimes which are not very serious and offenders who have not any heavy charges are accepted in drug courts.             The next process entails the intervention of the judge.             According to REINVENTING JUSTICE: THE AMERICAN DRUG COURT MOVEMENT “Unlike the other traditional dominant actors, many judges find drug courts personally fulfilling, reinvigorating and liberating. In fact, the establishment of most drug courts is due to the administrative and political entrepreneurial activities of judges. Drug treatment judges are referred to as “un-common law” judges because of their departure from the typical role as neutral fact finders. By nature, drug court judges are activists. They interact with the community, lobby on behalf of the drug court program, cultivate media relationships, and seek support for other criminal justice agencies, and so on. Rather than remaining distant and impartial toward defendants, drug court judges cultivate an interest in their clients. Drug court judges are freer to depart from traditional rehabilitative methods and often experiment with new approaches in dealing with the drug problem. Most judges who participate in drug treatment courts are enthusiastic because they believe they are making a difference.” (2001)             In this part of the process the judge plays the biggest part since he keeps track of the responsibilities of the drug offender. He should make sure that the offender keeps away from drugs and crime as much as possible. He also has a say in what the verdict of the drug offender should be, whether he remains in the drug court or serves a jail sentence.             The next part entails the aid of the treatment centers.             This part of the process needs the help of the people in the treatment centers since that is really where the treatment and the healing of the drug offender takes place. The only problem in this part is that the funds for treatment centers are really not that large and they continually rely on the help from existing treatment centers so they can continue their operation. “Drug courts mandate treatment. Particularly in meth cases, coerced treatment is often only way the addict will access help. Studies show that coerced treatment yields the same, if not better treatment results by motivating clients to stay in treatment longer. Drug courts make treatment opportunities available that would not otherwise be afforded for meth addicts.” (2007) The last part is the incentives the drug users may get for entering the drug treatment facility.             According to , the attorney General of Illinois, “Defendants who complete all the requirements of the program and “graduate” from drug court may have the charges against them dropped (if they entered drug court before any trial or other adjudication) or have their sentences reduced or eliminated (if they entered drug court after pleading guilty to one or more offenses).” This part gives to the drug offenders what they may never get if they had trial on traditional courts. Here they are given lighter sentences and are allowed to have diplomas which are equivalent to high school diplomas. It also offers to the alumni a choice to give back the same services rendered to him by other people.       UNIT 4-D B Treatment/Prevention and the Business of Drugs   In your own words, define drug trafficking. Describe what you feel might be the solution to combat this “business of drugs.” Why do you think your solution would work? Support your theory. Drug trafficking is the selling of illegal drugs. I think the way to combat drug trafficking is by constantly keeping vigilant watch over what’s being imported or exported out of the country and making sure that no illegal drugs comes in or goes out of the country. The effects might not be immediate, but in a little while, the effects of this method will be felt.             This solution I offer is pretty simple: only to keep a very vigilant watch over what’s coming in and out of the country. That may not be so difficult. Just make sure all the borders are well guarded against anyone wanting to bring something out or into the country. The key to the success of this undertaking lies in the those people who guard the borders and check the baggage. That is where the success or failure of this undertaking is, because if those people chose not to put their hearts into doing their job, the whole undertaking is pointless. And also, dogs that could sniff out drugs from anywhere would really be a big help.             This solution would work because it’s relatively simple and only need the help of those people who really put their hearts into doing their job. It won’t even cost anything because there are no fancy equipments to buy, only the dogs. The only real downfall of this is if the checkers are lazy enough as not to check the baggage thoroughly and just to let things slide.             I strongly think that this theory will work because it will only illicit the help of people and that the drug trade will be cut off from its source. If supplies for making meth, for example, are no longer able to get into the country, the local industry of making meth would soon die down.             And also, as parents, we must also give the best quality parenting we can offer to our children, because we mold them to what they may become in the future.   UNIT 5 Drugs and the Law             In my opinion, the current policies are effective in battling the drug epidemic plaguing our country. Of course, the effect cannot be felt right away by because all these things take time. Give maybe around ten or twenty more years, the epidemic might go down to a single digit percentage, or it might even disappear all throughout. It only needs the help of the people, the effectivity of the people enforcing these laws and also, the faith of the people. Maybe sooner or later, the effect might be grater than was originally expected. Just give it a bit more time and also, the enforcers should also pour their hearts into what they are doing.             Honestly, I believe that all the laws that are being implemented are effective. The only problem is that it needs more polishing and a bit more help from people. Let’s take the Drug Control Strategy for example. Its objectives are: 1. Educate and enable America’s youth to reject illegal drugs as well as alcohol and tobacco. 2. Increase the safety of America’s citizens by substantially reducing drug-related crime and violence. 3. Reduce health and social costs to the public of illegal drug use. 4. Shield America’s sea, air and land frontiers from the drug threat. 5. Break foreign and domestic sources of supply.                All their objectives are good enough to shield us from the drug epidemic. They all aim to keep the people away from drugs. But the only drawback is that they don’t have any goal that aims to help those people already into drug use.             Therefore, I propose that we add another goal into the existing goals of the Drug Control Strategy. I propose this goal:             “ To help aid those already addicted to drugs and to keep them from further using illegal drugs”             This additional proposal helps make the Strategy very well rounded indeed because it all focuses on the people’s needs: to keep them from drugs and to help those already into the addiction. The only drawback here is if the people are not willing enough to participate and help. It needs the willingness of those who are already addicted to face the consequences of their actions and to pursue treatment so they would forever leave the wound of their past behind them.             I truly believe that all the policies that were proposed are good. The only drawback is that the people are not to keen on helping and some enforcers don’t seem to take their job seriously. Everyone must be join hands to stop this epidemic. If you want the society to be clean from drugs, one must start with himself!   UNIT 5 D B Drugs and the Law               In some aspects, I can favor decriminalization, because there are some acts that cannot really be considered criminal acts. Homosexuality for one. It’s not a crime to be a homosexual. Even if you one tries to be straight, there is nothing that can be done about one’s gender preference. That cannot be called illegal or anything against any man-made law. But on some aspects of decriminalization, I am really not in favor of it. Like the decriminalization of prostitution and some prohibited drugs. Why do you decriminalize prohibited drugs? They have been found out to have negative effects on humans, why decriminalize them? Maintenance drugs however, I find very understandable since there are a lot of people with chronic illnesses and one of the ways of keeping their illnesses in a safe side is by taking maintenance drugs. Maintenance drugs are also proven safe and effective. On Harm-Reduction, I’m not really in favor of this. It’s like allowing people to do some things they shouldn’t because of the fear that they may still do it in secret. It may lessen the people’s illegal actions but still, everyone knows it is illegal in a sense. I propose in lieu of decriminalization and harm-reduction on drugs, we should just keep our vigilant fight against these harmful things. They have been proven to bring harm to mankind; why should we decriminalize them? Therefore, we should keep them as far as possible from the human race to prevent any future damage thy might bring to us.   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Discuss in the three contexual relationships between drug use and crime

UNIT 1- Drug Abuse Violent crimes are very rampant in our everyday society. It’s very rare that you see the evening news ...