drugs and communication psych.
The negative connotations that surround the issue of drug use have been perpetuated by the media and have created a very unhealthy societal fear of drugs. Improper drug use is dangerous, not the chemical compound itself. A major factor in one's drug experience is the users personality. A person with psychological problems who takes LSD will most likely have those problems magnified when under the influence of the drug. However, psychologically healthy people who are knowledgeable and prepared for the experience rarely report negative experiences when on the drug (Jenkins 168-170). The fact that each individual has a different personality makes it difficult to determine what constitutes safe drug usage. Some drugs that are currently illegal may offer benefits to many individuals, but their illegal classification makes it difficult for researchers to explore these possible benefits. The notion that all illegal drugs are unhealthy and offer no benefit to society is a very inaccurate impression. This sense of all-ness has prevented the healthy scientific experimentation and therapeutic use of one chemical that could help numerous people.The chemical methylene-dioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) was originally developed by the Unit
Jenkins, Philip. Synthetic Panics: The Symbolic Politics of Designer Drugs. New York: New York University Press, 1999. This brutal description of law enforcement has permeated into the mainstream consciousness and has created a cultural goal of eliminating drug use. This is evident in the phrasing that the mass media uses to describe drug abuse. One example appeared in the book Designer-Drug Abuse, by Michele McCormick. He titles one section of his book "The Chemical Bullet Strikes Again" (25). This example does not accurately portray the drugs that he is describing. By labeling designer drugs as a "chemical bullet," McCormick is using scare tactics to dissuade his readers and perpetuating the myth that any use of the drug will kill you. The military mind-set has become intertwined with a medical condition. This is a very dangerous attitude. Cloud, John, and Romesh Ratnesar. "The Lure of Ecstasy." TIME Europe Online. July 17, 2000. Ten years ago, the nation told its children to just say no to cocaine derivatives. It is ironic that the most commonly prescribed and ingested drug among school-age children is Ritilan, a drug that is very similar in chemical composition to cocaine. This drug is taken to combat the effects of Attention Deficit Disorder, also known as ADD. It distorts the reality that a child would experience and makes them more attentive. There are millions of children in the United States that have been diagnosed with this disorder in the past decade. Ritilan is supposed to allow a child to remain attentive and improve their learning abilities. This is an example of dating. What used to be called boredom or poor teaching is now labeled a psychological condition that can be remedied with drugs. Due to this reclassification of a common childhood personality trait, parents are now medicating their children instead of looking for ways to engage their interests.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Cloud Ratnesar, Disorder ADD, , Bullet Strikes, War Drugs, Drugs American, Saunders Ch, Enforcement Agency, Occam's Razor, Drugs Ten, war drugs, drug users, law enforcement, drug abuse, illegal drugs, openness trust, beneficial people, makes difficult, euphoric feeling, school-age children,
Approximate Word count = 1544
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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