Significance of U.S. Science the 1870s essays

Significance of U.S. Science the 1870s essays Science in the United States prior to the Civil War was straggling to rise more than a few feet off the ground. Lacking positive support and participation, the few scientific organizations that were established failed to conform to newer thinking styles. With new scientific leaders, holding powerful positions and the Civil War now over, science in the United States grew vastly. A new epoch in science had arrived. Prior to the Civil War, the National Academy of Sciences hung from a precarious cliff with failing membership and lack of governmental interest. When Joseph Henry took over the presidency in 1867, his goal was to bring back the academy and reinvent it into a useful institution. First, Joseph Henry worked to get rid of Benjamin Siliman. Siliman was a key figure in the scientific of revolution in the early 1800s but was known to be a pursuer of profit in regards to science. Many believed he was a shame to modern science, and while his disbarment was not successful, the issue of membership requirements came under scrutiny. With the backing of Congress, Henry was able to lift the limits on membership and recruit younger, fresher members. By removing the limit of members, Henry was able to balance out the different fields. Henry was able to recreate the National Academy of Science into an institution that was able to create standards, promote basic research in all fields of science, and becomes advocates of science to the public. The Smithsonian was another institute that branch in the tree of U.S. science that received a facelift after the Civil War. The Smithsonian was owned jointly between the government and privately. The Smithsonian was supposed to be a support for scientists without strings, and yet that could not be realized without some sort of governmental dependence. With the building of Spencer Bairds National Museum, the Smithsonians funds were being drained at an enormous rate. Spencer tried to...

Should You Participate in the National Student Leadership Conference

Should You Participate in the National Student Leadership Conference SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Have you heard of the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC)? Maybe you’ve heard that participating in NSLC is a great way to impress colleges, and you’re wondering if that’s true. Spoiler: If you're considering NSLC because you think it's prestigious, you'd be dead wrong. Keep reading to learn why. This guide will go over exactly what NSLC is, what its potential benefits and drawbacks are, and how you can decide if you should participate in one of its programs. What Is NSLC? The National Student Leadership Conference is a program that hosts career-focused leadership conferences for select high school students (as well as some programs for middle school students) over the summer. The NSLC markets itself as a highly selective program that only accepts students with exceptional leadership and academic skills. During the program, students live in college dorms and attend NSLC-hosted lectures and activities on campus. Program activities can include classes and lectures, guest speakers, leadership workshops, and off-campus field trips. NSLC markets their programs as a way to help participants gain leadership skills and learn about future careers while experiencing life on a college campus. Programs are offered in 21 different fields, such as international diplomacy, engineering, and theater. These programs are between 6 and 18 days in length, depending on the subject they focus on. NSLC offers programs on the campuses of 13 universities (although not all program fields are offered on each campus): Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA) Northwestern University (Chicago, IL) UCLA (Los Angeles, CA) University of California-Berkeley (San Francisco, CA) Fordham University (New York City, NY) Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA) University of Washington (Seattle, WA) American University (Washington DC) Georgetown University (Washington DC) Rice University (Houston, TX) Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) Yale University (New Haven, CT) Yale-NUS College (Singapore) How Do You Apply to NSLC? Anyone who is currently a high school student and has a â€Å"B† average or higher is eligible to apply for NSLC. The first step is being nominated or identified as a potential candidate for the program. You can be nominated by a teacher, counselor, or NSLC alum. You may also be identified through certain talent development programs, such as the College Board Student Search Service and the ACT EOS. Even if you aren’t nominated, you can still apply for admission on NSLC’s website as a merit applicant. Merit applicants must demonstrate strong academics and leadership potential and must also have a counselor or teacher submit a recommendation form. Those who were nominated and those who had their merit application accepted then complete the Enrollment Application. You are required to submit a $500 deposit with your application that will be applied to your tuition if you choose to take an NSLC program or will be refunded if you are not accepted or choose not to enroll. Students who are accepted into the program will then be e-mailed an Acceptance Packet that includes forms you are required to complete. After you have submitted those forms, you will be able to enroll in the NSLC program of your choice. How Competitive Is NSLC? The National Student Leadership Conference markets itself as a program exclusively for top students and future leaders. In their marketing materials, NSLC emphasizes the fact that students must be nominated as a way to show its "competitiveness." However, these nominations are sent to thousands of students each year, most of whom NSLC knows very little about. Additionally, being nominated is not required to attend NSLC. Any high school student can still apply without first being nominated. While NSLC claims to be an exclusive organization that only selects the best students, the reality is that the program accepts most applicants, as long as they have above-average grades (specifically a "B" average) and can get a nomination or letter of recommendation. NSLC programs can have benefits, which I discuss in more detail in the following sections, but it's important for students and their parents to know that neither being nominated for NSLC nor attending one of its programs shows any exceptional academic or leadership skills on the part of the student. What Are the Benefits of Participating in NSLC? So does that mean the NSLC is all bad? Not at all. Below are the main benefits you can get from attending an NSLC program. Benefit #1: Learn About Specific Careers One major benefit of NSLC is that you can choose a program in the field you want to work in, such as medicine, law, or business. The programs are designed to provide hands-on experience in that field. For example, participants in the engineering program build wind turbines and water purification systems and also learn about new technology being used in engineering. These experiences can help you gain skills you can use later on for college and future jobs. They can also give you a taste of what a future career might be like so that you have a better idea of what you want to study in college. You may find that you actually don’t like a certain career at all, and it’s better to learn this now than when you’re already in college and have spent a lot of time and money on a major you no longer want to pursue. Benefit #2: Gain Leadership Skills Every NSLC program includes workshops and lectures designed to help develop the leadership potential of participants. By learning how to be effective leaders and using those skills throughout the conference, students can return from the program more confident in their leadership abilities and more willing to take charge in future situations. Colleges and employers both like seeing leadership experience in applicants. Benefit #3: Form New Relationships Each NSLC program includes lectures by industry professionals. These guest lecturers, who are often leaders in their field, speak with students and answer their questions. The lectures that NSLC provides give students a chance to hear more about what a particular career is like and have their questions answered by someone who has a great deal of experience in that field. Students also often form personal relationships at NSLC programs. After spending several days with other high-achieving students, many participants return home with new friends who are often interested in the same careers that they are. After the program ends, these friends can provide advice when you are looking at different colleges, majors, and jobs. Like these sheep, you may make a new friend at an NSLC program. Benefit #4: Experience College Life Participating in an NSLC program can also introduce you to college and collegiate life. All NSLC conferences take place on college campuses, and students are housed in college dorms. Living on campus can be very helpful for students who may not know much about college and want to get a taste of it while still in high school. There is also the option of receiving up to three college credits for your work at NSLC. However, students interested in earning college credit should be aware that this comes with an extra fee ($790 per credit hour), and not all colleges will accept credits earned at an NSLC program. This is discussed in more detail in the next section. Want to boost your college admissions profile in just a few hours? Our new six-hour admissions course gives you the tools to improve your college acceptance chances. Great for students who don't have the time or budget for full-on admissions consulting, this course focuses on college admissions essentials. You'll learn both what the most important parts of your college admissions profile are and which of these are most responsive to intervention, depending on what stage of the college admissions process you're in. What Are the Drawbacks of Participating in NSLC? While NSLC can have benefits, there are also drawbacks to participating in one of its programs. I discuss some of the most important drawbacks to these programs below. Drawback #1: Programs Are Often Short Most NSLC programs last only a few days, with the longest lasting 18 days. While this may be enough time to introduce you to a subject and give you some hands-on experience, it would be very difficult to gain much in-depth knowledge in such a short time. Students looking for thorough and detailed knowledge of a particular job or career field will likely not be able to gain the amount of information they are looking for from an NSLC program. The short program length can also make it difficult to cultivate strong relationships with both program mentors and other participants. Drawback #2: Program Cost Even though they are short, NSLC programs often have a high price tag. Programs range in cost from $2495-$5295, which includes meals, housing, transportation, and materials. However, if a student wants to earn college credit, this requires an additional fee ($790 per credit hour). Spending several thousand dollars on a short program can be difficult for many high school students and their families. NSLC does offer some scholarships and offers tips for fundraising to help offset costs; however, students should expect to pay the entire cost. It's possible to have the same or similar experiences to those of an NSLC program for a fraction of the cost. This option is discussed in more detail in the following section. Drawback #3: Not as Exclusive as Marketed The NSLC markets itself as a highly competitive program that only invites and accepts top-notch students. However, like many similar organizations that claim to promote student leadership, NSLC send invitations to thousands of students each year in an attempt to maximize the number of students who enroll in their programs. While NSLC emphasizes the fact that students are â€Å"invited† to attend as an indicator of its prestige, any student can apply to the program without receiving an invitation. Most students with decent grades (at least a â€Å"B† average) and some extracurriculars will likely be accepted by NSLC, making it not all that competitive. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Should You Participate in NSLC? So, how useful is NSLC? It depends on why you’re interested in participating. Some people find NSLC programs fun and informative while others see them as overpriced resume padding. There are good reasons for attending an NSLC program and reasons that are not as strong. Think carefully about why you are interested in attending, and read on to help make your decision. Good Reasons to Attend NSLC You want to learn more about a specific career field. You want to meet students with similar interests. You want to experience collegiate life. An NSLC program can be a good way to get an introduction to a specific career and gain more hands-on experience than you would likely get in a classroom. Attending one of these conferences also gives you a chance to meet other students with strong academics and who are interested in the same career field. Sometimes these connections can become lasting friendships. Also, if you are curious or a bit nervous about college and want to know what it’s like to live in a dorm and find classes on campus, you can experience that at an NSLC program. If you can afford the cost of an NSLC program and one or more of the above reasons interest you, then you may want to look more seriously into applying. However, be aware that NSLC programs are not the only way to achieve any of these goals. If you are unable to attend an NSLC program, there are multiple other ways to have similar experiences. Students who want to learn more about a specific career can do an internship or job shadow, and those who want to meet students with similar interests can join a club, either in school or outside of school. Students who want to experience college can visit a school they are interested in; many colleges offer overnight stays in the dorms to students who are interested in attending that school. Some colleges also offer dual enrollment, which lets high school students take college classes while still in high school. An NSLC program can give you an introduction to college. Weak Reasons for Attending an NSLC Program While there are certainly good reasons for participating in an NSLC program, there are also reasons that you should not use to justify attending. Several of these reasons are given below, and, for each reason, an alternative solution is given that you may want to consider instead of an NSLC program. Weak Reason #1: You Think It Will Impress Colleges The truth is that having an NSLC program on your resume or college application is not any more prestigious or impressive than other extracurricular activities, such as being on the school soccer team or being a member of the baking club. Colleges don’t need to see that you participated in an NSLC program in order to determine that you're smart or a good leader; they can see those things simply by looking at your grades, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. Alternative Idea: Gain expertise and leadership experience through your extracurriculars. If you are looking to strengthen your college applications by having strong extracurriculars, choose activities that relate to your interests and allow you to obtain leadership positions. Sticking with an extracurricular, no matter what it is, and acquiring more responsibility is more impressive than a short-term NSLC program because it gives schools a better idea of your interests and abilities. If you need help deciding which activities to do, we have a list of hundreds of extracurriculars for you to browse! Weak Reason #2: You Want In-Depth Knowledge of a Certain Career While NSLC programs can teach you about a career and give you the chance to do related hands-on activities and hear from people in that profession, the programs are simply too short to provide a thorough knowledge of a particular career. Alternative Idea: If you are looking for a way get in-depth knowledge on a career, consider doing an internship. Internships generally last from several weeks to several months and will give you much more time to learn the details and responsibilities of a particular job. Check out our in-depth guide to internships for high school students. Weak Reason #3: You Want to Network With Professionals The NSLC has a history of having prestigious guest speakers give lectures to program participants. While these guest lecturers are often leaders in their field and are very knowledgeable, you shouldn’t sign up for the NSLC thinking it will give you the opportunity to network with them and potentially get an internship or job. Most of the guest lecturers simply give their presentation and answer questions afterward, with no opportunity for students to speak with them individually. Alternative Idea: Do an internship or a job shadow. If you are interested in getting to know professionals in a certain career field personally, both of these options give you more opportunities to talk one-on-one. By working directly with professionals or observing them, you will be more memorable than if you were simply sitting in the audience, and this will make it more likely for them to remember you and possibly recommend you for future jobs. NSLC programs may not get you all the networking opportunities you were hoping for. Weak Reason #4: You Want to Earn College Credit While it is possible to earn college credit during an NSLC program, this should not be the main reason for you to enroll in it. Through NSLC, students can earn up to three college credits, which is the equivalent of one regular college class. Three college credits will cost $2370, and this is on top of the standard program fee. Having one college class out of the way will not help you graduate college any sooner or give you much of a head start. Additionally, many colleges do not accept these credits because they didn’t take place in a classroom environment and were earned over a short period of time. This means that there is a good chance that the college credit earned in an NSLC program won’t be accepted by the college you choose to go to, and, even if it is, those credits will be expensive to get and will only count for one class, usually a general elective. Alternative Idea: Take classes at your local community college or university or concentrate on AP or IB classes. If you are interested in earning college credits, you can often earn more and for much less money by passing AP or IB exams (which many colleges accept as college credit) or by taking classes at a community college. Some high schools will also pay for you to take classes at a nearby college or university, which could save you thousands of dollars. Summary: Is NSLC Worth Your Time and Money? The National Student Leadership Conference is a program that it can offer beneficial and interesting opportunities for high school students, but not in a way that is better or more prestigious than other extracurriculars. While the NSLC can help participants learn more about certain career fields, meet new people, and experience college life, there are many other ways for students to have each of these experiences, such as by joining a club or completing a job shadow. The high price tag of NSLC programs deters many people, and the fact that most of these programs last only a few days makes it difficult for participants to get in-depth knowledge or develop close relationships. Despite its claims of being a prestigious and competitive program, the NSLC mails thousands of invitations to students each year, and colleges do not find participating in the program any more impressive than a normal summer camp or extracurricular like a sport or school club. If you can afford it and think that an NSLC program would be a good experience, then consider attending one; many past participants have had good experiences. However, if you cannot or would rather not participate, don’t worry about missing out on some prestigious opportunity that will help you get into college. Remember, there are many ways to get the same benefits that NSLC offers that are likely closer to home and less expensive. What's Next? Want to know what a great extracurricular looks like? Check out these 4 amazing examples of extracurriculars for college applications. Considering a job shadow? Check out our guide on everything you need to know about how to find and do a great job shadow! Aiming for an Ivy League School? Then read our famous guide on the secrets to getting into Harvard and the Ivy League, written by a Harvard grad. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Fuel prices remain high because of the United State's energy policy Research Paper

Fuel prices remain high because of the United State's energy policy - Research Paper Example In 1970s and 1980s renewable energy was called alternative energy because it was the best alternative for nuclear power and fossil fuel. There are different sources of energy. Firstly, I would like to discuss renewable energy that can be extracted from natural resources. Types of renewable energy are wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal and tidal energy. Then we also have fossil fuel sources extracted from coal or hydrocarbon, which are the remains of decomposition of animals and plants. There are three types of Fossil fuels: coal petroleum, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Third one is Nuclear power based on fission and fusion. The US is second largest energy consumer in world.  The US is seventh country in the world in terms of consumption of energy per capita. We know that in 20th century, after coming out of isolation US played a major role in the world socially, politically and economically. Every event or crisis in US has its own historical background; nothing happens within some days or months. Same is the case of fuel price, which is one of the biggest issues in the US now days. US was an agrarian state in 18th century but industrial revolution brought changes in the energy requirements and its production ways. At that time major source was coal to produce energy till 20th century then it took drastic change during WWII era. Petroleum and natural gas attracted the attention of US energy production sectors in 1950s. †Following  World War II, oil heating boilers took over from coal burners along the Eastern Seaboard;  diesel locomotives  took over from coal-fired  steam engines  under dieselization; oil-fired electricity plants were built; petroleum-burning buses replaced electric  streetcars  in a GM driven conspiracy, for which they were found guilty, and citizens bought gasoline powered cars.  Highways helped make cars the major means of

Technical Efficiency of China's Banking Industry Literature review

Technical Efficiency of China's Banking Industry - Literature review Example Nonetheless, most economies have been able to exhibit resilience and remained stronger. Economic turbulences and dynamisms have affected different industries within various global economies. China’s banking industry has not been spared from such turbulences and dynamisms hence the need to analyze its technical efficiency. The following chapter provides a chronological description and critique of relevant theories in respect to technical efficiency within China’s banking industry. The chronological description and critical review entails empirical papers linked to the concept of the study. Different theories of efficiency with respect to technical efficiency are discussed within this chapter. 2.2 Overview of China’s Banking Industry China has being operating economic and financial system on the basis of social principles until 1978. Amazingly, the People’s Bank of China (PBC) had for a long time been in-charge of issuing currencies as well as being the fina ncial hub of all the economic plans of China. After 1978, China realized the need for serious economic and financial reforms. The objective of such reforms was to increase economic and technical efficiency of financial and economic sectors within the country (Jiang, 2001). Jiang (2001) adds that China aimed at enhancing resource allocation through such reforms. Albeit gradual, serious reforms were carried out in major sectors of the economy, banking being the main recipient (Adams, Berger, & Sickles, 1999). China decided effect the reforms in two main stages; from 1979 to 1992 and from 1993 to the present time. The first stage was characterized by development of two tier banking systems; People’s Bank of China (Central Bank) and four state-owned banks that included Bank of China (BOC), China Construction Bank (CCB), Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), and Commercial Bank of China (CBC). Despite high degrees of functional segmentations, these banks were permitted to accept depos its and offer credit facilities to households and corporate organizations by 1985 (China Daily, 2006). The first stage formed the basis of further reforms, which was characterized with development of small and medium sized commercial banks. The main reason for allowing entrance of commercial banks within Chinese banking system was to enhance competition, which was aimed at providing high quality and differentiated services and products (Jiang, 2001). Examples of small and medium commercial banks created during this period included CITI Industrial Bank, Guangdong Development Banks (GDB), China Merchants Bank (CMB), Hua Xia Bank (HXB), and China Everbright Bank (CEB) (China Daily, 2006). Notably, most of these commercial banks were joint-stock owned unlike the previously mentioned state-owned. The second stage, which was flagged off by State Council in 1993 saw various decisions made within the financial system reforms (Leigh and Podpiera, 2006). In this stage, the main aim was to enh ance c

With the setting of the sun Essay -- English Literature

With the setting of the sun In F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, there is a constant feeling of movement and the desire to get away. Nick, Gatsby, Wilson, Tom and Daisy all move, or have the intention of moving. Not only does this movement seem to foreshadow events in the book, but it also seems to lead to the conclusion that society as a whole in the 1920's was rather unstable and was undergoing constant change. Not all the characters move in the same way, and this shows how different their backgrounds and lifestyles are. The main movement seems to be from west to east. Throughout the decades man is said to be progressing through the steps of evolution and toward the setting sun, or east to west. The characters move in opposite direction from which the sun sets, which seems significant to the physical and psychological patterns of the characters. The two main characters that movement affects are Nick and Gatsby. The movement of Nick and Gatsby in this direction shows us how their personalities and feelings change as the sun goes down. There are also the various meanings that the sun has, that seems to map out, or affect their near future. The sun foreshadows Nick and Gatsby's actions and emotions, which in turn are affected by the many representations the sun has. Jay Gatsby is a character that the sun affects in such a way that it becomes a symbol of his ability to direct his will and, when put together with his dream, this gives him a sense of purpose. Jimmie Gatz was born in a town in Minnesota. After changing his name to Jay Gatsby, he moved to West Egg, Long Island in order to start a new life revolved around impressing Daisy. Here the sun represents a psychological belief that surp... ...nd that they, "had never, all along, intended doing anything at all. But it was done now. It was too late."(139) Just as the colors begin to bloom in the dazzling night sky they fade and disappear out of sight, just as Nick moves away. The rising sun has been used to describe progress and evolution, but as the sun travels backwards, it shows people for who they really are. The light is shone hard on the characters, so much so that they have nothing to hide behind. This minor action seems to set and change the entire novel at the same time. It also fits in perfectly with the flow or plot of the book. It shows how the characters are slowly opening up to their surroundings, and how much the sun, metaphorically, affects them. Throughout the novel, the sun has shone light on certain characters to show the power and hidden creativity of the unconscious mind.

Effective Treatment for Drug Addiction Essay

â€Å"Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans undergo treatment for substance use disorder, also called addiction† (Hart & Ksir, 2013, p. 409). Drug addiction is a complex brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. It is a condition characterized by an overwhelming and uncontrollable desire or craving to continue taking a drug to which one has become habituated through repeated consumption. It also produces a particular effect, usually an alteration of mental status. Drug addiction is usually accompanied by a compulsion to obtain the drug, a tendency to increase the dose, a psychological or physical dependence, and detrimental consequences for the individual and society. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with possible relapses even after long periods of abstinence. Hart & Ksir (2013), for example, state: â€Å"Substance dependence is often a chronic illness that shares many characteristics with other chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma† (p. 22). The pathway to drug addiction initiates with the act of taking drugs, and over a period of time, an individual’s ability to choose not to do so becomes compromised, and as a result, seeking and consuming the drug becomes compulsive. This behavior results mainly from the effects of persistent drug exposure on brain functioning. â€Å"Addiction affects multiple brain circuits, including those involved in reward and motivation, learning and memory, and inhibitory control over behavior† (Huffman, 2010, p. 201). Some individuals are more vulnerable than others to becoming addicted, depending on genetic makeup, age of exposure to drugs, other environmental influences, and the interplay of all these factors. Huffman (2010) argues that â€Å"Psychoactive drugs influence the nervous system (and our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors) in a variety of ways† (p. 186). Treatment for drug abuse or addiction is not simple or easy because drug abuse or addiction has so many dimensions. Effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components. Green (2010) notes that: Each component must be directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. For example, addicted treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society (p. 148). Because addiction is a disease, addicted people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days, months, or even years to be cured. The most part of the patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives. Indeed, scientific research and clinical practice have demonstrated the value of continuing care in treating addiction, with a variety of approaches having been tested and integrated in residential and community settings such as inpatient and outpatient community programs. The use of 13-step principles is crucial for addiction treatment to be effective and/or fruitful. 13 Principles for Effective Treatment 1) Family and the drug addict must recognize and understand that drug addiction is a complex but treatable illness that affects brain functioning and behavior. They need to be aware that the abuse of any drug alters the brain’s structure and function. The alterations will result in changes which will continue for a long time even after the drug use is stopped. It also will make the family and the drug addict to understand why drug abusers could relapse at any time even if s/he still in treatment, has experienced potentially devastating consequences, and/or has had long periods of abstinence. Hart & Ksir (2013) note: Drugs work on the body to cause a mood-altering effect by the chemical impact they have on the brain. Through the blood supply, the drug is carried to the brain. Once the drug is released to the brain, the drug’s effect begins because the brain concentrates on the drug (p. 88). 2) Family and the drug addict must understand that no single treatment is sufficient, adequate, or appropriate for everyone. Each treatment differs depending on the characteristics of the patient. For example, the type of drug being used, the period of time that the drug has been used, the age and race of the individual, environmental conditions, genetic influences, behavior, the wiliness and ability to react to the treatment, life style, and the broader health of the individual, etc. The National Institute of Drug Abuse notes that: Drug addiction shares many features with other chronic illnesses, including a tendency to run in families (heritability), an onset and course that is influenced by environmental conditions and behavior, and the ability to respond to appropriate treatment, which may include long-term lifestyle modification. Human studies of addictive behaviors have clearly implicated both environmental and genetic influences, as well as interactions between the two. While genetics play a major role in defining who we are, the environment in which we are raised is just as influential (NIDA, n. d. ). The good match treatment setting, such as interventions, therapies, and others services designed only to the individual’s particular problems and needs, is crucial for that person to success to return to his or her normal and productive life. 3) Treatment must be easily available. Many drug-addicted individuals struggle even when they decide to entering treatment. This step is critical for them, so the program should be readily available for them in order to take full advantage of the available services. When the treatment program is not easily accessible, potential patients will be lost, and the likelihood of positive outcome for those patients will diminish because as with other chronic diseases, when the treatment is offered earlier in the disease process, the probability of positive outcomes will be greater. If the treatment is easily available, â€Å"Overall, it will be considered to be effective because it will help many people to abstain often for many years†¦ The benefits far exceed the cost of providing the programs† (Hart & Ksir, 2013, p. 423). 4) An effective treatment shouldn’t include only the issue of drug abuse, but the diverse needs of the individuals as well. Hart & Ksir (2013) assert that â€Å"Substance dependence is often a chronic illness that shares many characteristics with other chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma† (p. 422). A treatment to be considered effective, it must address the individual’s drug abuse issue and all the related issues surrounding the addiction, for example, medical, psychological, physical, environmental, biological, social, vocational, and legal problems, among others. Also, age, gender, ethnicity, social status, and culture should be taken into account. 5) Staying in treatment for a reasonable period of time is crucial. â€Å"Long-term treatment of more than three months tends to create more concrete habits, as well as allows the client more time to develop etter methods to prevent relapse† (Shewood, 2013). A long-term treatment is especially good for those individuals recovering from using drugs for a very long period of time. The appropriate length for a specific individual will depend on the type of drug used and the degree of his or her problems and necessities. Many studies have demonstrated that most addicted individuals will need at least three months in treat ment to greatly reduce or stop using drugs. In addition, the studies have showed that the best results take place with longer durations of treatments. Recovering from any type of drug addiction is not an easy task to do, but with a long-term process and sometimes the requirement of multiple episodes of treatment, the recovery is possible. Sometimes relapses could occur. To prevent this, individuals should not leave the treatment prematurely. A treatment program should include a set of strategies to engage, motivate, and keep its patients in treatment. 6) Behavior therapies should be included. Behavior therapies such as counseling (individual, peer, and/or group) are very effective forms of treatment for drug abusers. These therapies may include: motivating the patient to change, providing incentives for abstinence, building skills or abilities to resist drug use, substituting drug-using activities for positive, helpful, and rewarding activities, developing or improving problem-solving skills, and facilitating better social relationships. The participation in those therapy programs (individual, peer, or group) during the treatment will greatly help drug addicted individuals to maintain drug free. 7) Medication is a fundamental part for the treatment of numerous patients. To obtain better result, they may be combined with behavioral therapies. Hart & Ksir (2013) state the following: An intense amount of research efforts have focused on developing medications to treat substance abuse and dependence†¦ Some medications that have been used to help substance abusers deal with withdrawal symptoms and maintain abstinence from alcohol, nicotine, opioids, cocaine, and cannabis are: Benzodiazepines, Disulfiram, Naltrexone, Acamprosate, Bupropion, Varenicline, Methadone, Buprenorphine, Naltrexone, Modafinil, and Dronabinol† (pp. 414-415). As with all complex diseases, the environment plays a vital role in the life of the individual to determine the course and outcome of the disease. 8) The individual’s plan such as his or her treatment, resources, and services must be evaluated constantly. The constant evaluation of the treatment plan is a very important thing that should be done to ensure the program is meeting his or her present or changing needs, if not, it should be modified right away. The modification could include a combination of services and treatments during the process of treatment and recovery. Those changes can be counseling, medication, psychotherapy, medical services, social skills, parenting education, vocational training, and legal services, etc. The continue evaluation and changes during the treatment will provide very positive outcomes to the patient. 9) Drug-addicted individuals should be treated for other mental disorders too. Because many drug abusers beside their drug addiction suffer from other mental illness, they must be evaluated and treated for the specific mental illness as well. The treatment should focus on both the addiction and the mental disease with the inclusion of medications if they are needed. The National Institute of Drug Abuse note that: When two disorders or illnesses occur simultaneously in the same person, they are called comorbid. Surveys show that drug abuse and other mental illnesses are often comorbid. Six out of ten people with a substance use disorder also suffer from another form of mental illness. But the high prevalence of these comorbidities does not mean that one condition caused the other, even if one appeared first. Patients with mood or anxiety disorders are about twice as likely to also suffer from a drug disorder. In addition, patients with drug disorders are roughly twice as likely to be diagnosed with mood or anxiety disorders. The rates of specific comorbidities also vary by gender. Among men and women in drug treatment, antisocial personality disorder is more common in men, while women have higher rates of major depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and other anxiety disorders. 10) Detoxification medically assisted should be just the first phase of drug addiction treatment. Detoxification can be viewed as an initial and immediate goal during which medications are administered to alleviate unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that may appear following abrupt cessation of drug use† (Hart & Ksir, 2013, p. 415). Medically assisted detoxification can securely manage the acute physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal. 11) Any type of drug use during the whole treatment should be monitored constantly to prevent relapses. For many patients, the alertness that their drug use is monitored all the time is a powerful incentive, and many times it also helps them to stay away from drugs. Moreover, monitoring is helpful to prevent possible returning to drug use. If the continuously monitoring shows that the client is using drugs again, the treatment plan for that specific individual should be adjusted to better meet his or her needs. 12. Treatment programs must assess its patients for sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, AIDS, chlamydia, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases as well. Counseling to help drug-addicted patients to modify or change their behaviors which place them at risk of contracting or spreading any infectious disease is a very important piece of the treatment. If the counseling is focused specifically on how to reduce sexually transmitted diseases that put the patients at risk, it could help those patients to reduce or avoid substance-related and other high-risk behaviors. If a patient is already infected, s/he will manage with more responsibility his or her disease, and also it will facilitate adherence to other medical treatments. 13) The addiction treatment plan should be hundred percent ethical. Counselors, as mental authorities, have a lot of power, so they never should use this power for personal reasons or beliefs (such as bias) or to reject a patient. Counselors always must follow the NAADAC set of ethical codes when working with patients. According to the NAADAC, â€Å"counselors have the power to do great, good, or great harm. Counselors always must remember: Today, let me remember my power and take care to use it wisely. † In addition, the counselor should accept the fact that the patient has the right to accept or refuse any treatment plan when s/he is aware of the pros and cons of the treatment. The counselor is not supposed to go against the patient’s will. Conclusion Drugs have been a part of our society for many years now. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans receive treatment for substance abuse. Drug addiction is a complex illness that is considered a brain disease. Many drug-addicted individuals in order to become drug free, they must undergo an effective treatment program that typically incorporate many components. Each component must be directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. The use of 13-step principles is crucial for any addiction treatment to be effective and/or fruitful. They are: (1) Family and the drug addict must recognize and understand that drug addiction is a complex but treatable illness that affects brain functioning and behavior; (2) Family and the drug addict must understand that no single treatment is sufficient, adequate, or appropriate for everyone; (3) Treatment must be easily available; (4) An effective treatment should include the issue of drug abuse, and also the diverse needs of the individuals; (5) Staying in treatment for a reasonable period of time is crucial; (6) Behavior therapies should be included; (7) Medication is a fundamental part for the treatment of many patients. 8) The individual’s plan such as his or her treatment, resources, and services must be evaluated constantly; (9) Drug-addicted individuals should be treated for other mental disorders too; (10) Detoxification medically assisted should be just the first phase of drug addiction treatment; (11) Any type of drug use during the whole treatment should be moni tored constantly to prevent relapses; (12) Treatment programs must assess its patients for sexually transmitted diseases; and (13) The addiction treatment plan should be hundred percent ethical.

Question and Answer on Contemporary Social Issues Essay

1. One of the most significant changes taking place in the past few decades, the one that has had a pronounced effect on millions of families, causing considerable concern, has been the movement of women into the workplace. This change has had momentous effects on women, on children, on men, on marital relations- on families. Since 1970s, according to the demand for low-paying â€Å"pink-collar†, women moved into those pink-collar jobs and into other jobs as well. The number of hiring women has steadily increased, so in 1960, 32 percent of married women in the labor force. By 1985, this figure had climbed to 54 percent, and in 2005, it stood at 61 percent. Work allows women to become independent, to develop a career, and terminate†¦show more content†¦This belief presumes the preexistence of equal opportunity, which can be easily refuted. The vast majority of street crimes- both violent and nonviolent- are poor. The values of individualism, competition, and financial success provide powerful motivation to succeed by any mean necessary. The United Sates is far more willing to incarcerate nonviolent offenders than most other industrialized nations, and it dispenses longer sentences to offenders than do other industrialized nations. The correctional system is growing at such a rapid pace that only in recent years have criminologists and social commentators become concerned with the political power of the correctional industry. Today, there are a number of interests, other than the public interest, that are served by correctional expansion. Many rural areas with depressed economies and high employment rates have benefitted and stand to benefit from prison construction. Furthermore, both governmental institutions and private corporations reap enormous cost saving form prison labor. 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