Amphetamine Use and Abuse

/in /by

Assignment 2: LASA I—Amphetamine Use and Abuse

Aaliyah continues to struggle with balancing her work hours and her schoolwork. She has been drinking coffee to help her stay awake, but it is no longer working. She has an exam coming up and needs to stay up to study.

Aaliyah decides to take an amphetamine to stay awake to study for the exam. She promises herself that she will only take it this one time for the exam. The drug allows her to stay awake and alert while she is studying for the exam. She also feels that she is learning the material better as a result of the amphetamine. When the grades are in, Aaliyah receives an A on her work.

As the semester continues, Aaliyah turns to amphetamines more and more often to help her stay awake to complete her schoolwork. Soon, Aaliyah finds that one pill no longer keeps her awake as long as she needs.

She starts taking more than one pill at a time. She knows that taking amphetamines so often is not good for her health, and she finds she experiences an increase in headaches when she takes them, but she continues to take them because they are helping her be successful in school and at work.

Based on the case study, prepare a paper that addresses the following:

  • Examine the change in amphetamine use and abuse in the U.S. from the 1950s to the present.
  • Explain to which schedule amphetamines belong and why they are on the Schedule of Controlled Substances.
  • Explain the effects Aaliyah might be experiencing as a result of her regular amphetamine use. Be sure to include:
    • Acute effects, chronic effects, and withdrawal
    • Effects on physiology (brain and body), behavior, mood, and toxicity
  • Give at least three indications from the case study suggesting there may be a problem with Aaliyah’s substance use. That is, describe at least three likely behaviors that Aaliyah is likely to exhibit if she is misusing amphetamines.

One molecule some think is essential for life is water? NASA, for example, when exploring other planets for life, always looks first for water. Why is that? Describe two properties of water that make it so conducive to life.

/in /by

This week’s reading was about the chemistry of life.  One molecule some think is essential for life is water?  NASA, for example, when exploring other planets for life, always looks first for water.  Why is that?  Describe two properties of water that make it so conducive to life.

Humans lose water through perspiration, urinating, feces, and even breathing. In order for our organs to properly function that water needs to be replaced (Bryant, 2008). Water also regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, moistens tissues for our mouths, eyes, and noses, helps protect our bodies’ organs and tissues, helps prevent constipation, reduces the burden on kidneys and liver by flushing out waste, carrying nutrients and oxygens to cells, and helps dissolve minerals and other nutrients to make them accessible to the body (Bryant, 2008).
Could you and the class discuss examples of specific diseases where the accumulation of water specfic cells of major organs will lead to death.
Bryant, Charles W. (February 11, 2008). How Long Can You Go Without Food and Water. How Stuff Works. Retrieved from

Water is essential to life for many reasons. H20, that’s all life needs to survive. Through a complex process and yet so fine water is able to vaporize thru high heat temperatures, helps the metabolic process of all life form to be able to substain. For example, humans, when they are born they are composed with about 78% water that is escential for growth and high metabolic rates, once you start aging that percentage decreases to about 65% making our metabolic rate slower and the process of maintaining homeostasis a little bit more complicated. Human physiology has a mysterious way of working through the process of generating energy through its complexity… you may have all the nutrients but if you don’t have the water as a cushioning property it will not be able to provide that essential component in cells, organs, systems and be able to protect your body from serious  complications, one example mentioned in Marieb & Hoehn, 2013, Pg. 38)

Nice Post!   Could you and the class discuss if other water substitutes other might support life as we know it? Have other planets provided any information about this?
Can you and the class discuss the evidence the evidence from NASA studies support that planets with water may support life?

Discuss the physiological components involved in the weight loss program. Clearly express an understanding of the physiology of the process of hunger, satiation, eating, and drinking as relevant for the weight loss method being described

/in /by

Evaluation of a Weight Loss Program

Many Americans believe that they are overweight, by a few pounds to a few hundred pounds. Because of this, weight loss systems are big business. For this assignment, you are to select a weight loss system and evaluate it in terms of the information about the physiology of ingestive behavior covered this module.

  • Find a website, a brochure, a popular article, or an advertisement about weight control that proposes a mechanism for loss of excess weight.
  • Document the key proposals in terms of the main claims for success of the program (e.g., restriction of fat and small portions).
  • Describe the reasons provided for the effectiveness of the program (e.g., a full stomach reduces hunger).
  • Discuss the physiological components involved in the weight loss program. Clearly express an understanding of the physiology of the process of hunger, satiation, eating, and drinking as relevant for the weight loss method being described (e.g., long periods between meals would be likely to reduce blood sugar levels).
  • Present a critique of the materials based on the module information on eating and weight regulation.
  • Evaluate the proposal and suggest whether you would try this weight loss system or recommend it to someone else. Explain why or why not.
Assignment 2 Grading CriteriaMaximum Points
Documented the key proposals in terms of the main claims for success of the program.12
Discussed reasons provided for the effectiveness of the program.12
Discussed the physiological components involved in the weight loss program.20
Presented a critique of the materials based on information on eating and weight regulation.20
Evaluated the proposal and provided reasons as to whether you would try this weight loss system or recommend it to someone else.16
Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; and displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.20
Total:100

Identify the multisystem physiologic progression that occurs in anaphylactic shock. Think about how these multisystem events can occur in a very short period of time.

/in /by

The treatment of anaphylactic shock varies depending on a patient’s physiological response to the alteration. Immediate medical intervention and emergency room visits are vital for some patients, while others can be treated through basic outpatient care.

Consider the January 2012 report of a 6-year-old girl who went to her school nurse complaining of hives and shortness of breath. Since the school did not have any medication under her name to use for treatment and was not equipped to handle her condition, she was sent to an emergency room where she was pronounced dead. This situation has raised numerous questions about the progression of allergic reactions, how to treat students with severe allergies, how to treat students who develop allergic reactions for the first time, and the availability of epinephrine in schools. If you were the nurse at the girl’s school, how would you have handled the situation? How do you know when it is appropriate to treat patients yourself and when to refer them to emergency care?

To prepare:

  • Review “Anaphylactic Shock” in Chapter 23 of the Huether and McCance text, “Distributive Shock” in Chapter 10 of the McPhee and Hammer text, and the Jacobsen and Gratton article in the Learning Resources.
  • Identify the multisystem physiologic progression that occurs in anaphylactic shock. Think about how these multisystem events can occur in a very short period of time.
  • Consider when you should refer patients to emergency care versus treating as an outpatient.
  • Select two patient factors different from the one you selected in this week’s first Discussion: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on how the factors you .selected might impact the process of anaphylactic shock.Post 1 page paper on an explanation of the physiological progression that occurs in anaphylactic shock. Then, describe the circumstances under which you would refer patients for emergency care versus treating as an outpatient. Finally, explain how the patient factors you selected might impact the process of anaphylactic shock.