Drug Abuse Essay

DRUG ADDICTION Drug addiction is a problem that has been increasing immensely among our society today. Drug addictions can only hinder or restrain us from accomplishing goals or dreams in life. People sometimes feel they are too bright, too powerful, too much in control to become addictive. Addiction can trap anyone. It can lead to harming ones body, causing problems in family structure, and contribute to the delinquency in society. The sooner people seek help for drug addiction problems, the more chances they have of gaining control of their life once again. However, abstinence is the safest way to  live a longer and healthier life. We are greatly influenced by the people around us. Today one of the number one reasons of teenage drug usage is peer pressure. Peer pressure represents social influences that affect us. It can have a positive or a negative effect, depending on what path one follows. There is direct and indirect pressure that might influence a person’s decision i n using drugs. Direct pressure might be when a person is offered to try drugs. Indirect pressure might be when a person is around people using drugs and sees that there is nothing wrong with using drugs. Adolescents who use drugs seek out peers who also use and, in turn, are influenced by those peers (Berndt, 1992). A person might also try drugs just to fit in a social group, even if the person had no intentions of using drugs. Adolescents can try out different roles and observe the reactions of their friends to their behavior and their appearance (Berndt, 1992). One might do it just to be considered â€Å"cool† by the group. There are also other reasons why people might turn to using drugs. Emotional distress, such as personal or family problems, having low self-esteem, like loosing a close one, loosing a job, or having no friends, and environmental stress are all possible factors to causing one to use drugs.

Ecosystem toxic chemical threat Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ecosystem toxic chemical threat - Research Paper Example The environment is vulnerable to dioxins. Plants, animals and human beings are all vulnerable to dioxins. Unlike animals, human beings do not appear to be susceptible to fatal effects of dioxin. In Vietnam, dioxin-based pesticides were sprayed in the 1970’s. Consequently, chronic and acute health effects were observed in military personnel as and in the population of Vietnam. Therefore, this environmental threat is both chronic and acute depending on the genetic makeup of the organism. The severity of potential exposure to dioxins ranges from cancer to noncancer effects. Some of the noncancer effects are endocrine disruption, neurological effects, suppression of the immune system and effects on reproductive and sexual development. 95% of human exposure comes from food especially dairy products, fish and eggs. This is because of dioxins bioaccumulate in body fat of higher organisms. This chemical threat is systemic because it affects all living organisms in the environment. The se threaten the well-being of human beings, rodents, aquatic life and vegetation. The presence of dioxins in vegetation is indicated by wilting or color change in leaves. The methods of eliminating dioxins in the environment are not highly effective. This is due to the complex nature of the dioxin structure. This structure is hard to break down making it difficult to eliminate it from the environmentÃ'Ž The activities that I undertake determine what environmental, chemical threats I contribute to the environment. For an example, driving a gasoline car leads to carbon emission, which is a threat to the environment. Carbon emission also occurs when burning firewood, which is detrimental to the environment. Burning firewood especially in the presence of chlorine leads to emission of dioxins which are chemical threats to the environment. In order to mitigate the threat of dioxins to the environment, institutions such as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should regulate dioxin emission by outlining rules that govern the disposal of waste

The vulnerabilities of industrial control systems and possible Essay

The vulnerabilities of industrial control systems and possible solutions - Essay Example Industrial control systems (ICS) are imperative to the quality of life that most of society shares and depends on every day. These systems regulate the electricity, food supply, medical and chemical manufacturing, as well as many other processes and utilities that are used daily.After September 11, 2001, the threat of terrorist attacks became a high priority on the home front (Marsh 2006). Most people worried about airplanes, metro or subway systems, or bombs, but a few realized that with the computerization of control systems in a variety of industries becoming normal operating procedures, the risk of attack was just as possible as any other probable target. In fact, some of the systems, such as nuclear plants or chemical manufacturing companies, were more apt to be targeted than others. This concern led to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to lead a 500 member forum to discuss cyber-security of the ICS regulating our lives and our country.At the conclusion o f this 2004 forum, NIST produced the System Protection Profile-Industrial Control Systems (SPP-ICS) to use as guidelines and strategies to find the vulnerabilities in each facility and possible solutions. Some of the main concerns include terrorists and unfriendly governments, human error, disgruntled employees, bored teenagers, and natural disasters to name a few. However, most facilities looked only on the outside, without considering errors on the inside that could do as much damage as those external forces. (Barr, 2004; D'Amico, 2004; Marsh, 2006; NIST, 2004; NIST's process control, 2004; Wagman, 2008). NISTS findings were based on the System Target of Evaluation and all risks and vulnerabilities are determined by this standard. The corporate leaders should look at and consider the vulnerabilities and their solutions to help identify the areas that are in need of immediate attention in their own facilities and to make the cyber-connection of the location secure. Unfortunately some do not believe there is a real threat. For example, Tom Donahue from the CIA stated that "attacks on critical infrastructure lack the necessary dramatic display that seems to be preferred by this constituency" (Marsh, 2006, p. 12). This concept may have been true five years ago, but as the world becomes more connected the disruption of electricity, water, or gas would be a fairly dramatic event for those experiencing it, and for those watching it. Previously most facilities were separated by using their privately owned machines, hardware and methods of communication. However, with the onset of more facilities and corporations using "commercial, off-the-shelf" products the vulnerability increases (D'Amico, 2004). The SPP-ICS provides three main areas to watch; the type of agent, method of attack, and the asset that will be affected by the attack. The agent is the insider or outsider that either maliciously or accidently causes an attack on the ICS. The vulnerabilities of attack can include, but are not limited to, protocols, unnecessary systems attached to the ICS, outside remote access to the ICS, incorrect IT architecture, lack of security controls, and lack of risk assessment upon or prior to installation of the system. The assets consist of all the systems used to control the system software and hardware and the infrastructure of the company (Barr, 2004; NIST, 2004) When working to correct or strengthen the security of these systems, the company should look at physical items, the connectivity and if it is secure, authentication, backup and remote access as well as many other attributes of security. Understanding the

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) - No Specific subject yet Thesis Proposal

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) - No Specific subject yet - Thesis Proposal Example As experience has it, with a sudden change of that person, system appears back firing than functioning as per the previous standards. Despite the Drills, SOPs, Regulations, besides all the money and material benefits, the work force seem capable of disrupting the harmony and productivity of the system. Though, previous century witnessed enormous research in this regard. Management techniques have been revolutionized than 20th century methods, with increased economic incentives and social securities / assurance to the working force, yet it appears that Human element still tops complicating the Business triangle. With huge investments in personality development and skills honing, management transformation and all necessary amendments in coercion removal, still some irritant asks further pondering upon. The point offers a food for thought to further explore and work upon the Human and system factor to overcome flaws and suggest ways to help gear up the business machinery in forward motion. Reasons for deterioration on part of any organization may be attributed to both the linear or parallel way between management and work force. Partly the rigidity of the system and its requirements and partly Socio – Psycho make and type of the stake holders may be blamed. System’s Inability to drive and demand output through systematic checks and â€Å"will and skill matrix† of the persons involved running matters also affect the cohesiveness of the system. Ease of access to info and layered complexity of the life, where, tensions control attitudes, do have a part in play. Change, certainly is the hardest of idea to enforce as Jack Welch would have put it â€Å"Change Yourself Before†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.† R’aisen Detre calls for re evaluation of the existing management practices and re defining these outmoding norms amid transnational competitive work environment. Probably that’s why management level

Fungi as a source of food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fungi as a source of food - Essay Example There is vitamin d2 production when ergosterols in mushrooms are exposed to ultraviolet light. Fungi have certain interesting twists especially when one zeros down to the mushrooms. In the ancient Egypt for example, mushrooms were exclusively believed to be foods for the royalties. The unique flavors intrigued the powerful pharaohs to the extent of declaring them illegal for the commoners to consume. In china, Greece, Mexico, Russia and Latin America, the practice of mushroom rituals took place. They believed that mushrooms possessed properties capable of producing super human strengths. They also believed that mushrooms could help recover lost objects, and take the human soul to the presence of the gods (Phillips and Reid 62). Edible fungi like mushroom have been in consumption since the 18th century. France prides early leadership in the farming of mushrooms with certain accounts stating that Louis XIV being the first mushroom grower. Mushrooms were grown near Paris in special caves set aside for this activity. Mushroom farming later spread to England since the farmers there found it very easy to grow. It demanded low investments, less labor and space. Mushroom farming found its way to the United States in the 19th century though the growers there largely depended on the spawn they imported from England (Phillips and Reid 32). A book was published in 1891 shedding a lot of light on mushroom growing. Immediately after, the department of agriculture in the U.S allocated some money in research and produced a pure-culture virgin spawn cutting their dependency on imported spawn. The growth of mushroom production has since then achieved great development in the U.S. Recent research by scientists on hallucinogen psilocybin, which is an active ingredient in mushrooms, shows that one dose causes serious positive personality change in their patients. The changes were

Kants morally impermissible actions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Kants morally impermissible actions - Essay Example Deontological ethical theory Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher proposed the theory of deontological ethical theory; this has the foundation on the point that only essentially good will is derived from a good thing. This implies that an action is evaluated when the motives or maxim behind it are evaluated, these can be looked at from two angles. First, evaluation of actions by taking into consideration their consequences, this is rejected, a person can control motives and purpose but lack the inability to control the consequences of his/her actions. Secondly what is ‘ought’ means ‘can’ this means that a person is held responsible morally only for a limited number of actions that are under his/her control. Logic as the Basis for Ethics: What action can be described as permissible and hence the converse implies impermissibility? An action is said to be permissible if its cause can be found to be logically consistent and an action is said to be impermissible if its cause is found to be irrational, inconsistent or contradictory (Sullivan 163). This arguments aid in avoidance of mistake and prejudice, provides tenable defense of moral motives, and implies a reply to moral skeptics. The argument can also be said to provide moral universality theory and to give the impression that immorality implies inconsistency and irrationality. For an action to be praiseworthy, the action must have foundation on a logically rational or consistent motive. A praiseworthy action is one that has foundation on a given motive that is obeying the moral law, moral laws are those that are consistent for everyone and are applicable to every other person. Permissible actions are as defined above are those that are because of a consistent motive and are done out of moral duty. The Categorical Imperative: Kant suggested that the moral duty is given to an agent by reason as a categorical imperative (McCracken 131) a person is told how to behave out of an imperative statement. Imperative statements can be considered on two occasions, hypothetical imperative is built on commands for accomplish a particular objective; categorical imperative is modeled on natural law. This becomes the focal point of Kant’s moral principle; to him the foundation of the principle cannot be anything but absolute. An attempt to rationalize morally impermissible behavior will prove self-defeating; this is known as morally impressible action (McCracken 131). An act is impermissible if and only if the action is acted upon the foundation of the maxim that a person cannot will to a universal law; therefore, the permissible action implies the converse. This implies that a person will do an action given the circumstance and because of a certain motiv e, this gives the reason for the action-the maxim. Every person will do actions given the set of circumstances and because of those motives; this means that a person’s actions is consistent with everyone’s actions. The murder example If a person is considering killing another person for egoistic reasons, because, the other person is committing adultery with his wife, consider the impermissibility of this case. The action, which is murder for egoistic reasons this gives the circumstance and finally the motive, is adultery. Every person will kill those people for egoistic reasons, because, these people have committed adultery with their wives. The first argument provides the maxim principle while the second argument provides the universal law; this cannot consistently will that people will commit all those actions this therefore means that the action is impermissible. This example above illustrate classifications of moral duties, the classifications are premised on these divisions, first, the duties to self by implication to others and perfect duties by implication imperfect duties. Perfect duties are done at every other chance whilst the imperfect duties are done at a unique chance but the agent must put thought to it. Violation of

Medical Emergency Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Medical Emergency Team - Essay Example Research across nations has shown that a risk management approach, leadership skills, and other criteria utilised in a teambuilding activity may prove to be very efficient in implementing such a team in teaching hospitals (Lee et al., 1995); however, although possibility and feasibility of advanced practice nurses as leaders of such teams have been explored in some studies (Jenkins and Lindsey, 2010), in reality there has been no such attempts in creating such a team in a District General Hospital. The introduction above is actually the background of a project proposal to introduce a Medical Emergency Team in the District Hospital where this author works. Since this concept is new and unknown, and the hospital infrastructure is not yet ready for that purpose, it would need extensive organizational changes and changes in attitudes of the healthcare professionals engaged in different aspects of care delivery in this hospital. Thus implementation of such a programme would need provisions for planning and execution of the different stages of the plan. By organisation, it means the policy, process, people, principles, and promoters, since launching a new service would need manipulations in all these areas at the organisational levels. Obviously, while planning this project, all key concepts at the background of such a service must be incorporated, although some local changes must be made to suit the local needs of the hospital at the district level, which would definitely vary from the needs of a tertiary care hospital in the same area. The project would be feasible only when it would be grounded on the key concepts and not principles derived from the prevalent national health and social care policies. However, only this could not achieve the objectives of such a team unless it works on the principles of team building and integrated effort towards building partnerships among the stakeholders through appropriate leadership skills that bring the best of team work and change management. This author is an advanced nurse practitioner for the last three and a half years in this hospital. As already known, this position allows independent, autonomous, and accountable practice in different clinical areas including 20 years of work in the Accident and Emergency. This position allowed sufficient exposure to different emergent clinical scenarios that may be encountered in practice, and rapid response was absolutely essential in such care deliveries. It is very important to note that such care is possible through teamwork only, and it is called Medical Emergency Team. The basic tenet of such a project would be very collaborative teamwork based on as recommended by Kerridge and Saul (2003) continuing education on recognition of acute illness and processes involving audit and education. They must recognise the areas where in-hospital response to acute and critical illness outside the ICU is suboptimal. This author's experience in working in team, which is used to work in the hospital in day/night teams may this become useful for such projects. In this proposed project, there will be a team of 20-plus advanced nurse