Mental and Social Health Commons^™

Deconstructing Drugs: Addressing The Stigma, Harm Reduction, And Policy Solutions, Charlotte Theriault

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Black and homeless people who struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), especially opioid use disorder (OUD), have experienced unique obstacles due to inequalities relating to their social determinants of health (SDOH). Historical context and peer-reviewed research were used to evaluate racial bias and expand upon the factors that contributed to the opioid crisis, the effects of COVID-19 on drug overdoses, and the presence of fentanyl in illicit drug supplies. Various studies combat the stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) by acknowledging the disease as a chronic health condition. Research showed that the most effective way to combat these inequalities and …

Drug Ideologies Of The United States, Macy Montgomery

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

The United States has been increasingly creating lenient drug policies. Seventeen states and Washington, the District of Columbia, legalized marijuana, and Oregon decriminalized certain drugs, including methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. The medical community has proven that drugs, including marijuana, have myriad adverse health side effects. This leads to two questions: Why does the United States government continue to create lenient drug policies, and what reasons do citizens give for legalizing drugs when the medical community has proven them harmful? The paper hypothesizes that the disadvantages of drug legalization outweigh its benefits because of the numerous harms it causes, such as …

Extending Immunity For Drug Overdoses, Dixie R. Tabet, Maggie G. Spadaro, Kaylie E. Moss

Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The Tennessee Code 63-1-156 provides immunity to those who suffer from a drug overdose that seek medical assistance, only for the first overdose. After the first overdose, individuals who seek medical assistance do not receive immunity and are subject to criminal charges. Over the past 5 years, drug overdose deaths have increased significantly and in 2021 3,814 Tennesseans died from a drug overdose. In addition, individuals incarcerated for drug-related offenses make up about 20% of the state’s prison population. The state of Tennessee has had a significant increase in drug abuse rates, leading to a rise in overdose deaths and …

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 …

Wastewater Testing Shows That Pharmaceutical And Illicit Drug Use Are Higher In Places Where Covid-19 Is More Prevalent, Kerrie Marshall, Arik Palileo, Eric Schiff, Teng Zeng

Population Health Research Brief Series

Wastewater testing shows that pharmaceutical and illicit drug use are higher in places were COVID-19 is more prevalent.

The Life-Saving Drug That No One Knows About: Naloxone Education And The Health Belief Model, Sarah Tilford

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Naloxone hydrochloride, popularly known by the brand name Narcan, is an emergency treatment used to reverse an overdose on opioid drugs. The CDC reports upwards of 26,000 individuals saved by naloxone between 1996 and 2014 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Despite this success rate, those outside of the medical field largely remain unaware of what naloxone is or how they can use it in an emergency, leading to needless loss of life. Many studies focusing on naloxone access and education have been unable to offer findings meant to increase the use and ownership of the drug by lay …

Why Can't Homeless Addicts Get Help Too, Rachael D. Causland

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Homeless people today struggle more with addiction than people who have stability in their life. Whether it’s due to financial issues, or not having a support system, homeless people struggle to get the help they need for both their addiction and their homelessness. A high number of homeless people report to have started an addiction since being homeless, and they do so to stay alive, in turn people are continuing to stay homeless and many of these people are dying of overdoses or just staying stuck in the situation they are forced to deal with alone. There are some states …

Drug Users’ Experiences Of A Residential Rehabilitation Program In Western Australia: A Thematic Analysis Of Drug Users Lived Experiences, Michelle Fullam

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In the last decade, there has been a marked increase in the awareness of drug use and drug-related crime in Australia. As a result, the demand for drug treatment services has increased and 14 recognised government-funded services are now available in Western Australia (WA). The goal of these services is to reduce drug use through full-time intensive programs that are usually residential. This type of drug treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing drug use and promoting pro-social lives post-treatment. However, little is known of the experiences of participants in this type of treatment in WA. As such, …

A Brief Summary And Critique Of Criminal Liability Rules For Intoxicated Conduct, Paul H. Robinson

All Faculty Scholarship

This essay provides an overview of the legal issues relating to intoxication, including the effect of voluntary intoxication in imputing to an offender a required offense culpable state of mind that he may not actually have had at the time of the offense; the effect of involuntary intoxication in providing a defense by negating a required offense culpability element or by satisfying the conditions of a general excuse; the legal effect of alcoholism or addiction in rendering intoxication involuntary; and the limitation on using alcoholism or addiction in this way if the offender can be judged to be reasonably responsible …

Calling Attention To The Growing Heroin Epidemic And How To Fight It, Kendal Rozaieski

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of creating a grassroots heroin awareness organization on a university campus through qualitative research. Various meeting types were attended as the grassroots efforts began: a student organization dedicated to the cause, the campus Alcohol and Other Drug Board, a local community treatment center agency, multiple University of Akron faculty members, and other heroin awareness groups in the community. Through observation and journaling of these meetings, I am sharing my experience based off analyzed field notes. After analyzation of these notes, common themes related to the formation of this kind of …

Overmedicated: Foster Kids In Crisis, Mary E. Wilson

Capstones

Nearly one in four foster children across the county is taking at least one psychotropic medication-- more than four times the rate for all children.

Psychotropic drugs are chemical substances that act primarily upon the central nervous system where they alter brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and/or behavior.

Over the last decade the use of psychotropic medications amongst children has more than doubled. It has yet to be determined what permanent affects such drugs have on children as they age, due to a limited number of studies.

http://marywilson1.wixsite.com/overmedicated

Drink Like A Lawyer: The Neuroscience Of Substance Use And Its Impact On Cognitive Wellness, Debra S. Austin

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

Lawyers suffer from higher levels of anxiety and depression than the rest of the population, but most do not enter law school with these mental health issues. Disciplinary actions against attorneys involve substance abuse 50 to 75 percent of the time. However, neuroscience research has shown that both the brain and the genes enjoy the power of plasticity, which means that personal choices and environments shape the development of lawyers throughout their lives. Legal educators need a better understanding of what aspects or characteristics of legal education contribute to the decline in mental health of law students, lawyers, and judges, …

Strengthening Family Practices For Latino Families, Karen G. Chartier, Lirio K. Negroni, Michie N. Hesselbrock

Social Work Publications

The study examined the effectiveness of a culturally-adapted Strengthening Families Program (SFP) for Latinos to reduce risks for alcohol and drug use in children. Latino families, predominantly Puerto Rican, with a 9–12 year old child and a parent(s) with a substance abuse problem participated in the study. Pre- and post-tests were conducted with each family. Parental stress, parent-child dysfunctional relations, and child behavior problems were reduced in the families receiving the intervention; family hardiness and family attachment were improved. Findings contribute to the validation of the SFP with Latinos, and can be used to inform social work practice with Puerto …

Trends. Drug Addictions: National Policy On Illicit Drugs, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The article discusses the proposed integrating of drug testing and treatment into the various phases of the criminal justice process.

Ua12/1 Apple Tips, Vol. I, No. 1, Wku Apple

WKU Archives Records

Newsletter created by APPLE a planned program in life enrichment regarding drug and alcohol awareness programs.

Ua94/6/3 Expatriate, Vol. 1, No. 2, Bruce Tucker

Student/Alumni Personal Papers

Underground newspaper commenting on Western Kentucky University administration and current events. Articles include:

• Tucker, Bruce. Caution: The One on Your Right May be a Cop
• Neumayer, Rick. Campus Protest Escalating
• Tucker, Bruce. Washington: Exporting the 'Picnic'
• Wilkerson, Larry. The Writing on the Wall - Graffiti
• Potter, Jackson. Henry Jackson Heads for Last Hurrah
• Neumayer, Rick. Judgment Day - Instructor Evaluations
• Patterson, Tom. Those Magnificent Men . . . - Dee Gibson, John Oldham, Jimmy Feix, Jim Pickens & Ted Hornback
• Harris, Mike. Black Students Unite
• Neumayer, Rick. Student Rights: Void Where Prohibited
• Hundley, Smith. Wants More
• Briney, John. Former Journalist …