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Examining The Tax Landscape Of Recreational Cannabis: Trends And Considerations From The Past 10 Years Of Policy, Thomas A. Norton, Amanda K. Thompson-Abbott, Raymond Keener Iii, Alberto Coustasse

Accounting Faculty Research

This article aims to provide an overview of the taxation of recreational cannabis in states where it has been legalized for recreational purposes. By delving into the various approaches taken by different jurisdictions, analyzing the economic impacts, and examining the challenges and opportunities inherent in cannabis taxation, we seek to shed light on a topic that is rapidly shaping the future of the cannabis industry and the broader economy. From excise taxes to sales taxes and licensing fees to revenue allocation, the taxation framework surrounding recreational cannabis is a dynamic and evolving landscape. Potential federal excise taxes could further complicate …

The Unequal Distribution Of Social Risk For Black Men Across The Life-Span. A Novel Framework., Waleed Y. Sami

Adultspan Journal

This conceptual overview offers a comprehensive overview of systemic pathways that negatively impact the mental health of Black Men throughout their lives. Our argument highlights the importance for counselors and mental health professionals to utilize a thorough social risk assessment that considers these pathways in order to effectively address the mental health needs of Black Men while fostering positive working relationships. This overview strongly advocates for the use of context and structural determinants when evaluating mental health symptoms. Without an appropriate understanding of social risk and determinants, counselors may inadvertently perpetuate disparities by decontextualizing symptomology, and reproducing racist discourse.

Harm Reduction In West Virginia: Do Needle Exchange Programs Reduce Disease And Decrease Costs?, Katie Duty, Amber Graves, Anthony Uriate, Stacie Deslich, Alberto Coustasse, Thomas Norton

Management Faculty Research

Needle Exchange Programs (NEP)s were created to help users exchange used needles for new sterile ones and become aware of treatment and rehabilitation options. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of NEPs and their impact on reducing HIV and Hepatitis C infections in West Virginia and decreasing health care costs for the community. Based on studies conducted on the past implementation of needle exchange programs, it is suggested that there has been evidence that closing these programs can have a broad societal impact on the spread of HIV and hepatitis C and the associated costs. In addition, the community …

Prenatal Buprenorphine Exposure Reduces Expression Of Myelin Proteins In Neonatal Longs-Evans Rat, Christopher James Grahe

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In the USA and especially in WV, there has been a surge in the rise of opioid use disorder (OUD), and with it a rise in neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). What makes this rise in NAS so unfortunate is that the Medications for OUD (MOUD) do not prevent the development of NAS. Although the relationship between MOUD and NAS is still unclear, it is thought that buprenorphine, one of the main substances used to treat OUD in pregnant women, may feed into the development of NAS, which may affect mental and physiological development and cause other health problems. Via understanding …

The Opioid Epidemic: Effects On Recidivism In West Virginia, Emilee Frye, Elizabeth Williams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The opioid epidemic began in the 1990s with an increased prescribing of opioids across the nation. Between the years 2013 and 2014, opioid overdose death rates began to increase in West Virginia. By the year 2015, West Virginia held the highest number of opioid overdose death rates in the country. In 2021, fatal overdoses claimed more than 1,417 lives in West Virginia and of those 1,417, an estimated 1,201 of them were due to opioid use.

West Virginia had the highest opioid drug overdose rate in the nation and one of the highest incarceration rates for opioid-dependent individuals. West Virginia …

The War On Drugs, Moral Panics, And The Groundhog Day Effect: Confronting The Stereotypes That Perpetuate The Cycle Of Disparity, Tasha Withrow

The Mid-Southern Journal of Criminal Justice

There has been a specter haunting America for over 400 years. That specter is an insidious and destructive beast that has found its way into every crevice and layer of all American institutions. Racism, racial stereotypes, racial stigma, biases, and White supremacy has infiltrated every power structure since the foundation of America and has created a system of social control that has perpetually oppressed, marginalized, and disenfranchised generations of people of color. One of the most catastrophic by-products generated from America’s historic racist ideology has been that of the over-criminalization of people of color for drug crimes justified by discriminatory …

Effects Of The Needle Exchange Program Implemented In West Virginia, Amber Graves, Anthony B. Uriarte, Katherine Duty

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: West Virginia has had a recent spike in infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis due to increased rates of injectable drug use. The rising costs associated with such diseases have been a cause for concern in the sector of healthcare and public health. In the state, the exchanging of dirty needles has resulted in the spread of bloodborne pathogens, however, the implementation of needle exchange programs has sought to decrease the rates of infection, improve health outcomes, and lower healthcare costs. However, there is a question as to the effectiveness of such programs.

Purpose of Study: …

Opioid Epidemic In West Virginia, Brianna Cole

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: One of West Virginia’s most prominent public health issues and concerns has been the opioid crisis. The opioid epidemic has taken the lives of so many of the West Virginia population. The purpose of this research study was to determine if the opioid epidemic had caused an increase of Hepatitis C among the West Virginia population and access treatment options.

Methodology: The methodology was a literature review. Twenty-five sources were referenced for this literature review from 2007-2020.

Results: This literature review has examined several sources of the Opioid Epidemic in West Virginia. The Opioid Epidemic in West Virginia have …

Prenatal Opioid Maintenance In The U.S. And Its Effect On Neo-Natal Abstinence Syndrome: The Case Of West Virginia's Opioid Epidemic, Morgan Ruley, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

In 2017, West Virginia’s opioid epidemic was the cause of about 1000 deaths. Opioid abuse has become an issue among pregnant mothers and has increased the effects of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in infants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the participation of prenatal opioid maintenance to determine if it has decreased the amount of treatment needed for NAS in infants in West Virginia. The methodology utilized a literature review complemented with a semi-structured interview. Thirty-six sources were referenced for this literature review. It was found that Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy had the most positive effect on NAS after …

From Darkness To Light: An Exploration Of Self-Discovery And Healing Through Collaborative Recovery Expressive Writing, Leighann Justice Davidson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This participatory action research project was developed to explore the participants’ experiences during a collaborative recovery expressive writing (CREW) workshop while in long-term treatment from substance use disorders (SUDs). This workshop featured the primary components of the James W. Pennebaker model, but adapted the technique to create a safe environment for the participants to share their writings. This qualitative study conducted at Recovery Point West Virginia began by exploring how ten women sharing their emotions within a supportive environment used collaborative writing to continue their recovery journey through self-discovery and healing. Following the CREW workshop, the project continued with focus …

The Opioid Epidemic In West Virginia, Nicholas Bowden, Rachel Merino, Sruthi Katamneni, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

The rate of overdose-related to the use of licit and illicit opioids has drastically increased over the last decade in the U.S. The epicenter being West Virginia the highest rates of overdoses accounting for 41.5 deaths for 100,000 people among the 33,091 deaths in 2015. The number of people injecting drugs has increased from 36% in 2005 to 54% in 2015. The total U.S cost of prescription opioid abuse in 2011 has been estimated at $25 billion, and criminal-justice-system costs to $5.1 billion. The reasons for this opioid epidemic incidence in WV have been a combination of sociocultural factors, a …

Prenatal Opioid Maintenance In The U.S. And Its Effect On Neonatal Abstinence Sysndrome: The Case Of West Virginia's Opioid Epidemic, Morgan Ruley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: West Virginia’s opioid epidemic has been the cause of about 1,000 deaths each year. Opioid abuse has become an issue among pregnant mothers and has increased the effects of NAS in infants. The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the participation of prenatal opioid maintenance to determine if it has decreased the amount of treatment needed for NAS in infants in WV.

Methodology: The methodology for this study utilized a literature review and a semi-structured interview. It consisted of academic sources, five electronic databases, academic journals, and government websites. Thirty-seven sources were referenced for this literature …

Telepsychiatry In Correctional Facilities: Using Technology To Improve Access And Decrease Costs Of Mental Health Care In Underserved Populations, Stacie Anne Deslich, Timothy Thistlethwaite, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Objective: It is unclear if telepsychiatry, a subset of telemedicine, increases access to mental health care for inmates in correctional facilities or decreases costs for clinicians or facility administrators. The purpose of this investigation was to determine how utilization of telepsychiatry affected access to care and costs of providing mental health care in correctional facilities.

Methods: A literature review complemented by a semistructured interview with a telepsychiatry practitioner. Five electronic databases, the National Bureau of Justice, and the American Psychiatric Association Web sites were searched for this research, and 49 sources were referenced. The literature review examined implementation of telepsychiatry …

The Medicalization Of Hyperactivity And Inattentiveness : A Social History And Theoretical Perspectives On Adhd, Justin Douglas Brock

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study investigates the rise of the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder diagnosis. It approaches the topic from a medicalization perspective and frames it under the therapeutic state as proposed by Nicholas Kittrie in 1971. It asks three questions: how has society, and particularly, the medical community changed to allow the medicalization of hyperactivity and social control of active children? How has the continuing diagnosis of hyperactivity in children expanded to include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in both children and adults? And what forces are behind the continuously inclusive diagnosis and why? In an attempt to answer these questions the history of the …

Cost Of Medical Detoxification Among Drug And Alcohol Users In A Private Texas Hospital, Alberto Coustasse

Management Faculty Research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to estimate the costs of medical detoxification among patients with alcohol and substance abuse disorders.

Design/methodology/approach – The study data was drawn from a medical detoxification program in a community hospital in Texas. Secondary data analysis of 1337 cases from three years was reviewed. Age, gender, race, alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, sedatives, opioids, financial classification, cost, length of stay (LOS) and cost by LOS were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U-test.

Findings – The sample comprised of 42.8 percent women and 57.2 percent males. The mean cost and cost by LOS …

Comparison Of Domestic Violence Outcomes Among Emergency Department Nurses, Pamela S. Neal

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between domestic violence education, organizational support, screening, danger assessment, safety planning, and referral practices among professional registered nurses in two ED settings.

Sample & Setting: A convenience sample of 63 professional registered nurses provided data from two EDs. An ED located in Kentucky where state mandated continuing education in domestic violence was required (n = 33) and an ED in West Virginia (n = 30) where mandated continuing education in domestic violence was not required was the setting for the study. The samples were separated based on nurses who …