Abstract
In recent years the high costs of prescription drugs have generated a great deal of controversy. From the individual who is hit hard by rising drug costs, to insurance companies, federal politicians and large drug companies, almost every player in the controversy has an opinion on why prescription drugs cost so much money. This essay summarizes the reasons prescription drugs have risen in cost from several different points of view. First, a thorough discussion of the state of prescription drug costs is presented. Second, the drug companies' position on why prescription drugs cost so much money is given. Third, criticisms of the drug companies, and advocacy for decreasing the cost of prescription drugs are presented. Finally, a thorough conclusion contrasts the drug companies' position with criticisms and advocacy plans for decreasing prescription drug costs.

From the Paper
"The cost of prescription drugs has been increasing steadily over the past decade, and now has reached staggering amounts. In fact, prescription drug costs are currently the fastest growing expense in healthcare. For managed care companies, prescription drug costs are rising from between 16 to 22 percent each year. Further, the total cost of prescription drugs topped over $83 billion in 1997, marking an astronomical increase over the 1992 figure of $49 billion (BlueShield of Oregon, 1999). The cost of brand name drugs has been the primary contributor to this increase (Turkel)."

Tags:federal, medicine, health, care, patient, generic, pharmaceutical, welfare

Abstract
This paper stresses that problems with substance abuse in nurses affect more than the individual; they affect the whole work team. The author defines an impaired nurse as a nurse who is unable to meet the requirements of a professional code of ethics and standards of practice because cognitive, interpersonal, or psychomotor skills are affected by excessive drug or alcohol use. The paper states that many impaired nurses are super-nurses; unfortunately, when they are finally recognized as having a chemical dependency, it is almost too late for an appropriate intervention that may save them from losing their jobs.

From the Paper
"The problem is that little research is actually available on substance abuse among nurses. In studying the history and present problems with substance abuse, it is important to define the meaning of substance abuse among nurses or others. "Substance misuse is defined as maladaptive patterns of psychoactive substance use indicated by continued use even when faced with recurrent occupational, social, psychological or physical problems as well as/or use in dangerous situations.""

Tags:impaired, ethics, super-nurse, team, maladaptation

Abstract
An overview of anabolic steroids is presented in this paper. Firstly a brief history, followed by statistics for the people using them. The writer then examines why people take steroids and what the effects are for men and women separately. It concludes with the treatment for steroids.

From the Paper
"Anabolic steroids is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to the male sex hormone. They promote the growth of skeletal muscle and the development of male characteristics. They have been around for decades, but in the last ten to fifteen years the research on the effects of this drug has increased. The side effects were not known when the drug first came out, but they are becoming more and more prevalent through recent research. Many new side effects are being discovered and it is likely many more side effects are yet to be discovered. Males and females have different side effects to deal with, but all of them are harmful. Anabolic steroids are a growing concern throughout the world (Yesalis, 68)."

Tags:research, science, steroids, athlete, body, stamina

Abstract
This paper explains that the connection between substance-abusing parents and child abuse has been studied at length; however, there is a lack of research into the correlation between social support services and the reduction of child abuse by these parents. The paper then proposes a research study that will evaluate if social support networks, such as 12-step programs, rehabilitation programs and related community-based social services, could lead to a reduction of child abuse and substance abuse. The paper explains that the population for this study is parents of African-American children between the ages of two and ten years old, who have a high incidents of child abuse and substance abuse.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Problem Statement
Research Question
Literature Review
Hypothesis
Sample
Human Subject Issues
Conceptualization and Operationalization
Research Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Discussion

From the Paper
"This is an area where family therapy can be especially facilitative. For families in which self-expression is considered a weakness, an empowerment approach can help define the family in terms of the unique forms, structures, and roles that clients are actually immersed in or are attempting to renegotiate, rather than in terms of an ideal unit. Clients should be supported in defining their families for themselves and then in using creative outreach strategies to actively involve the identified members in a variety of family sessions."

Tags:quantitative, african, american, rehabilitation, counseling, correlational

From the Paper
"THC has a range of physiological and psychological effects on the body. Typically, it produces a mild euphoric intoxication, a sense of well-being, alterations in sense of space and time. Quite likely, THC reduces anxiety and relaxes your tension while it intensifies your sense of sound, touch ,or taste, which often stimulates your appetite. It is suspected that THC has something to do with the Lateral Hypothalamus that control the appetite. For this reason, marijuana is employed as an appetite stimulant for patients with serious illnesses such as AIDS or terminal cancer who need to eat in order to survive. In addition, marijuana is also medically beneficial for pain relief, control of nausea and the treatment of asthma and glaucoma."

Tags:drugs, addictive, brain, cannabis, dopamine, fatty, hemp, metabolism, pot, receptor, reward, smoking, system, thc

Abstract
The paper examines a phenomena that it says is an epidemic amongst athletes - the use of performance enhancing drugs in order to improve their overall performance and results. The paper examines the issues surrounding drug usage and relates previous incidents to support the claim that this is an epidemic. The paper then looks at measures taken to combat this epidemic before concluding by presenting possible effects upon future athletes arising from attempts to eradicate the problem.

Table of Contents:
Professional Athletes Using Performance Enhancing Drugs
The Past Issues Surrounding Performance Enhancing Drugs
What Actions were Taken to Address the Issue
How this Could Have an Impact upon Athletes in the Future?
Conclusion.

From the Paper
"Over the last several years, the issue of performance enhancing drugs has been increasingly brought to the forefront. Part of the reason for this is because of revelations from a host of current former and professional athletes who admitted that they were using various performance enhancing drugs (during some of the most critical points of their career). A good example of this can be seen by looking no further, than Mark McGwire admitting that he used performance enhancing drugs during the 1998 season. This is when he would break Roger Maris's record of 61 single home runs in a regular season. Commenting about what took place McGwire would say, "I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era." ("McGwire Admits Steroid Use," 2010) This is significant, because it shows how throughout professional sport, a host of different athletes have begun using performance enhancing drugs on a regular basis. To fully understand the overall scope of the problem facing professional sports requires: examining the past issues surrounding performance enhancing drugs, what actions were taken to address the issue and how this could have an impact upon athletes in the future. Together, these different elements will provide the greatest insights as to the frequency of usage and how it impacting professional sports."

Tags:athletes, professional, research, testing, steroid, abuse, health, anabolic

Abstract
This paper sets out to identify the key misconceptions of opiate use, why they still exist and how they affect proper pain assessment by health professionals. It critically analyzes how such misconceptions can affect decisions regarding the use of opiate analgesics. Additionally, evidence is described to dispel each misconception. Furthermore, strategies are discussed that can break down the barriers related to opioid utilization.

Outline:
Common Opioid Misconceptions
Dispelling Misconceptions
Suggested Alternative Solutions and strategies
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Unrelieved pain is a serious and neglected public health problem, causing unjustified suffering for patients (Cleeland, 1997). For countless people, sufficient pain relief relies greatly on the use of opioids and yet they will refrain from using such forms of treatment because of false, mistaken ideas. This paper sets out to identify these key misconceptions of opiate use, why they still exist and how they affect proper pain assessment by health professionals. It will critically analyze how such misconceptions can affect decisions regarding the use of opiate analgesics. Additionally, evidence will be described to dispel each misconception. Furthermore, strategies will be discussed that can break down the barriers related to opioid utilization. Signs and symptoms of pain, methods of pain assessment, causes of pain and types of opioids will not be referred to in this paper"

Tags:pain, opiate, addiction, treatment

Abstract
This paper explains that the Smoke Free Ontario Act, requiring cigarettes to be covered at point of purchase, is an attempt to help smokers who want to quit to avoid impulse purchases and to curb the normalization of smoking in the minds of youths. The author presents arguments for and against this act and reviews other legislation to stop smoking. The paper includes color illustrations and graphs.

Table of Contents:
Executive Summary
Introduction
Arguments For The Smoke Free Ontario Act
The Power Wall
Power Of The Brand
Who Supports The Act
Arguments Against The Smoke Free Ontario Act
Conclusion
Advertising Ban
Warning Labels On Cigarette Packs
Raising Taxes
Www.Stupid.Ca
Banning Smoking In Public Places
Display Bans On Tobacco
Recommendation
Appendix 1: History Of Tobacco Legislation
Appendix 2: 2005 Smokers, By Province And Territory
Appendix 3: Stock Prices Of Tobacco Companies
Appendix 4: Reasons People Smoke

From the Paper
"Cigarettes are a commodity product, distinguishable only through the image of their brand. This has been proven through blind-fold tests on dedicated brand smokers who could not tell their brand from others when branding images were removed. It is also true that smokers choose their brand early, when they first begin smoking, based on the brands smoked by their peers. In the US, Newport cigarettes have a 75% market share among blacks and only 12% among whites. It can hardly be asserted that the reason for this is that different tastes appeal to different races."

Tags:commodity, taxes, out-of-mind, youths, branding

Abstract
An essay about antibiotic production. The author examines the historical view of how antibiotics were first discovered, how antibiotics are naturally produced in microorganisms and the biotech aspect of it with focus on how today's antibiotics are produced commercially.

From the Paper
"Today, some 5000 different antibiotics are known. Of these, around 100 are currently used to treat infections. Some are broad spectrum weapons, while others have more specialized applications. In the continuing battle against infectious disease, substances produced by living microbes continue to hold the center of the stage. Microorganisms are not only the workhorses that manufacture well established antibiotics, they also continue to be the source of new "magic bullets" to deal with hitherto untreatable infections, and to combat disease causing bacteria that have become resistant to the already existing armamentarium of drugs. The antimicrobial capacity of the microbial world seems inexhaustible. "

Tags:chrysogenum, flemming, notatum, penecillium, penicillium

Abstract
This paper looks at the effects of drugs on the brain. The author looks at the issue from the perspective of biology. Many diagrams, pictures and quotes are included.

From the Paper
"There are many reasons why people take drugs, the most basic being that they like the way drugs make them feel. Pleasure, which scientists call reward, is a very powerful biological force for our survival[i]. If we do something pleasurable, the brain is wired in such a way that we tend to do it again. Many everyday activities, such as eating, activate a circuit of specialized nerve cells devoted to producing and regulating pleasure[ii]. One important set of these nerve cells uses a chemical neurotransmitter called dopamine. As it does with other substances, the brain usually keeps tight control over supplies of dopamine. The right amount of dopamine, scientists think, is responsible for our subjective feelings of happiness[iii]. "

Tags:biology, science