TEXT: Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8th Ed (2013) by Levinthal, Charles E

Original Question:

For this week's Forum, respond to the following: Thinking about this week's readings in light of our discussion in Week 3 about the legalization of marijuana, what argument can you make for either the prohibition of or the continued legalization of caffeine and nicotine?

What are some of the implications of either move? Should a pregnant woman who uses them be guilty of "fetal abuse" as she might be in the case of alcohol or illicit drug use?

Reply to the following response with 200 words minimum. (please make response as if having a conversation, respond directly to some of the statements in below post. This is not providing an analysis of the original post. Respectfully address it and even ask clarifying or additional questions.)

1. I believe that all pre-teen, high school and college students, as well as other adults, should always know the dangers associated with taking these substances. Performance enhancing drugs in sports, depressants, and inhalants may serve a different purpose for each individual, but at the same time they can also put this individual at risk if the dangers of the drug are unknown.

Performance enhancing drugs in athletics have existed for many years. Greek athletes ate hallucinogenic mushrooms in 300 B.C. to improve their athletic performance. During the 19th century stimulants, depressants, caffeine, cocaine, alcohol, and other drugs were very popular among athlete around the world. The World Anti-Doping Code was created in 2004. This was a list of prohibited performance enhancing drugs and methods (Levinthal, 2013).

Athletes take anabolic-androgen or anabolic steroids to increase muscle and strength. The anabolic steroid produced naturally by the body is testosterone. Testosterone has two effects on an individual's body. The anabolic effect helps athletes to build muscle. The androgenic effects cause males to have a deeper voice, and develop facial hair (Mayo Clinic, 2015). Steroid abuse can cause acne on the back, shoulders, and arms. It can cause males to experience premature balding. Both sexes can suffer from puffiness of the face, increased moodiness, or unusual shifts in moods. The user could also experience reddening of the face, neck, and chest. It will appear as if the individual is always "flushed (Mayo Clinic, 2015)."

These are some main points I would address concerning performance enhancing drugs used by athletes. Males who participate in steroid abuse can develop breasts, and protruding nipples. This will be accompanied by an increased aggressiveness during sexual intercourse. Females who abuse the performance enhancing drug may experience a lower or deeper voice; smaller or flatter breasts (Levinthal, 2013). In 2011, 12 percent of 8th graders reported using inhalants to get high.

There are currently an estimated 1,000 household products that can be inhaled (Levinthal, 2013). Barbiturate is a part of the depressant family. It is used as a "sedative-hypnotic and antiepileptic medication (Levinthal, 2013, pg 317)." The text describes the effects on the mind and body is from mild relaxation to the effects of a coma. These effects depend on the amount of medication taken. When combined with alcohol the side effects of this medication is death.

Benzodiapines are anti-anxiety drugs. Valium is within this family of anti-anxiety drugs. Valium is within this family of anti-anxiety medications. Its quick response makes it more popular than other drugs in the anti-anxiety family. This medication, if used improperly, can cause insomnia, restlessness, agitation, and withdrawal symptoms (Levinthal, 2013).

I do NOT believe society does a good job promoting the dangers of drugs. Before taking this class I never heard of some of these drugs being used for athletic performance or cognitive enhancement. Society glamorizes drug and alcohol abuse.

References

Levinthal, C. (2013). Drugs, behavior, and modern society (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Mayo Clinic. (2015). Performance-enhancing drugs: Know the risks.

2.Greetings Class,

I think the conversation should start by explaining in great detail what the hazards and side effects would be if you choose to do them or if you are currently doing them how they are destroying not only your body put your mind. For women who use steroids the effects are horrific to include having masculinity characteristics to include having a deep voice, increase in facial hair, loosing the fullest of your breast, and in rare cases you may experience hair loss. You may also experience mood swings, become very aggressive and it may lead to liver tumors.

I would stress that if you are out at a bar never except a drink from a stranger and never leave your drink unattended.In men who use steroids you may experience a very low sperm count, you breast may become enlarged, your testicles may shrink greatly and in some cases, you may experience severe acne. You may also experience mood swings, become very aggressive and it may lead to liver tumors. When it comes to GHB I would inform the males it is a bad move and they could spend time in jail over a stupid decision. There are too many women out there that will willing have sex with you, why would you want to force yourself on anyone.

Inhalants are something that is readily available in most households so, that is what draws young kids and teenagers to do it. It is very inexpensive and you get a very quick high and hardly any withdrawal symptoms from it at all. With inhalants the long-term effects are not known but short term you may experience nauseas, vomiting or sensory confusion.

Individuals who are taking barbiturates to help sleep is only do more harm then good because your body will build up a tolerance and I will take a higher dosage for you to get the same effects. When you have decided to discontinue use of this substance the withdrawals can be very horrific and you will need to be overseen by a doctor for the symptoms which may include tremors, vomiting, convulsions and a fever.

I do not think as a society that we are doing all we can to educate individuals who are doing these substances. The information is out there for anyone to read but that is not enough, I think if there were more videos on social media about the true effects on your body and mind that is effected when you consume these drugs it might would make a difference.
Jennifer

3. Then it comes to sports that are all based on performance with no way for a person to fake it or cheat the system easily, the use of performance enhancing drugs may give the individual an edge. People are inherently lazy at time and are always looking for an easy way to perform better with the littlest amount of effort.

Practicing harder and working out more may become tedious and exhausting and if there is a way to get the same results without going the extra mile, then this may be appealing to some. Once a person crosses that line it is difficult to go back and it becomes easier to continue to cross that line.

People that watch sports want to see and admire what a human person is able to do under their own power without the assistance of drugs and those that are found to be using drugs are considered cheaters. Those that they compete against have worked harder under their own power and strength and it is not fair that they put in the time and effort without taking short cuts.

In addition to drugs that are used to enhance performance there are depressant drugs and inhalants that pose a danger to adolescent and college age young people. Seductive-hypnotics and antianxiety depressant drugs are desired for their relaxation, reduced stress, and ability to produce sleep. Furthermore, inhalants depressant drugs can found under the sink of most any home.

Inhalants like glues, solvents, cleaning solutions, and other products can cause intoxication through inhalation and sniffing. Young women can be especially vulnerable when at parties, bars, or clubs because drugs like gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) or date-rape drugs can be slipped into non anticipating persons alcoholic beverage causing extreme intoxication and leaving the victim vulnerable to sexual assault.

Conversations about these types of drugs and the possible outcomes should be honest and educational. Society does a decent job to educate and bring awareness about many of the potential hazards of using drugs to enhance performance, depressants, and hazards associated with these drugs.

However, people must make their own choices and at times the positive attributes of certain drugs cause the individual to decide to take the risk despite their educational awareness. In my opinion the amount of information available is adequate, but there is always room for improvement. We should all do our part to protect our children and college age people from these potential dangers.

Resources : Levinthal, C. F. (2013). Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, 8th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions.