Mental and Social Health Commons^™

The Effects Of Covid-19 On Well-Being Of Healthcare Workers, Hannah Meissner

Honors Theses

The development of the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, led to the spread of turmoil across the United States and further around the globe. With the virus creating uncertainty among the population, the evidence began to demonstrate that individuals could have devastating health effects, including death. Healthcare workers are among those who were on the frontlines in order to care for the infected, ultimately increasing their own chances of acquiring the virus and putting their health at risk. These workers have experienced a direct impact due to this exposure in the form of isolation, anxiety, depression, suicide, and sleep disturbances. With …

Increased Incidence Of Substance Use And Substance Use Disorders Among Mexicans That Have Migrated To The United States, Emily Hock

Honors Theses

The United States is becoming increasingly older and more racially and ethnically diverse, with Mexican Americans adults aged 65 and over becoming the frontrunners in population growth. Substance use disorders are high among this particular population, with alcohol and tobacco being the most common culprits. Previous research suggests that the prevalence of drinking and smoking among Mexican Americans is increased compared to Mexicans living in Mexico, and substance use rates are highest in those most accustomed to United States culture. While acculturation may initially increase exposure to healthcare options, Mexican Americans are disproportionally uneducated and have lower socioeconomic status than …

The Effects Of Involvement In Religious Practices On Recovering Substance Users., Taylor Currier

Honors Theses

This paper reviews empirical studies focused on spirituality and its effects on those in the recovery process from substance abuse. This paper will look at qualitative studies as well as quantitative research to see which form has derived the best results on how spirituality has affected substance abuse recovery. Prolonged recovery is the goal for those that struggle with substance use. Behavior change is an important in sustaining sobriety with those dealing with addiction. It is predicted that those who engage in spiritual growth within their community have a higher likelihood of prolonged recovery than those that do not believe …

Facing Addiction In College: The Effects On Alcohol, Drugs, And Academics, Alexis Frazier

Honors Theses

The goal of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive overview of collegiate recovery communities (CRCs) and collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) across the U.S for high risk students that suffer from alcohol and drug abuse. After finding the effectiveness of these programs and assessing the students’ needs in college, this research makes a recommendation for Western Michigan University to create a collegiate recovery program. A collegiate recovery program (CRP) is a college or university that provides a supportive environment within the campus culture that reinforces the decision to engage in a lifestyle of recovery from substance use (ARHE, 2019). This …

Analysis Of Opioid Hospitalizations In Michigan Counties, Stephanie George

Honors Theses

The escalating opioid epidemic has affected the United States on both national and local levels. In the state of Michigan, the opioid overdose death rate increased by 13.3% between 2014 and 2015 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Due to a gap in the literature regarding opioid hospitalization rates, this study focused on the demographic correlates of unemployment, health insurance, and poverty level in relation to the Michigan counties that indicated the highest opioid hospitalization rates in the 2013-2015 time period. The five Michigan counties with the highest opioid hospitalization rates were Oscoda, Arenac, Roscommon, Clare, and Benzie County. …

Using Sbirt As An Intervention For Substance Use In Public Schools, Amanda Higgins

Honors Theses

In Kalamazoo County, youth substance use is on the rise. In recent years (2012-2014), alcohol use has nearly doubled in the adolescent population. With the easy accessibility of alcohol in Kalamazoo, alcohol use among adolescents will continue to rise if early intervention protocols are not implemented. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), could be the model of intervention within Kalamazoo public schools, if implemented correctly. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. Public …

Improving The State Of Health Literacy Among American Adults: Why Community Outreach Methods Are More Effective Than Literacy-Level Screenings, Lydia Simpson

Honors Theses

Health literacy refers to an individual’s ability to access and process health information to make important decisions about their health. Unfortunately, millions of American adults have inadequate health literacy skills and are not able to navigate their way through the world of health care. This may lead to disastrous consequences and poor health outcomes. To improve health literacy, nationwide health education programs are imperative. Despite this, low health literacy is often ignored, or only considered for individuals suspected of having low health literacy who might then be administered a screening instrument. A better model for the American health care system …

Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of 3.0 Mg/Kg Mephedrone In Rats, Nathyn Thompson

Honors Theses

Consumption of a prominent synthetic cathinone known as mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) has become a popular alternative to club drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, and methamphetamine within the past decade. The pharmacological mechanisms that contribute to its subjective effects have yet to be fully characterized and are thus warranted for investigation. The present study employed drug discrimination methods to train eight male Sprague-Dawley rats to discriminate injections of 3.0 mg/kg mephedrone from saline. Various doses of mephedrone, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), d-amphetamine (AMPH), cocaine, (+)-methamphetamine (METH), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) were investigated for their ability to substitute for the stimulus cues of the training …

An Examination Of The Mental Health Services Provided To Students At Western Michigan University, Melissa Rex

Honors Theses

Introduction: All college students will experience stress related to academic demands, changing social situations and new environments. For some students, these multiple stressors can create overwhelming challenges. Students who are not able to receive needed support may be unable to successfully navigate the world of higher education, and are at higher risk of developing mental illness. The purpose of this study is to assess mental health services available at Western Michigan University (WMU) in comparison to other similar size universities within the state.

Method: The information used in this study was collected via several methods. Information was gathered from …