Painkillers use breeds new face of heroin addiction

The substance abuse and mental health services administration have stated that initiations to heroin use have “increased eighty percent among twelve to seventeen year olds since 2002.” In fact, the rate of young adult deaths caused by heroin has “more then doubled in one decade.” Although at one time marijuana was considered a gateway drug to the use of more serious drugs like heroin, it now appears that the more typical gateway to teen drug abuse is the overuse of prescription painkillers. In fact “one in eight high school seniors” have said that they use such painkillers, which were not prescribed for them. A major problem associated with these prescription drugs is that kids believe that anything that is a prescription is a okay and parents continue to leave the drugs available because they don’t know what usage will lead to. An additional problem is that while the prescription drugs are expensive, heroin is far cheaper, and for teens that live in urban or suburban settings heroin is much easier to buy then prescription drugs. Several interviews with families of young former users give a personal perspective to this alarming statistical information.

I chose this article because it is very clear that this is a growing problem among people my age and it also indicates that such drug abuse is happening in suburbs where people least expect it, rather than in the cliché idea that it happens only in inner cities. Even more important than the importance to me personally is the fact that a whole age group in our society nation wide apparently is vulnerable to the problem that the article discusses. Even further, since many parents seem to be overusing prescription painkillers this issue involves informing both parents and kids about the link between prescription painkillers and heroin usage. So although the heroin use by kids seems to be the center of the problem, it may be that parents are as much involved. Consequently all of society is involved.

Although the article presents a number of very confusing statistics and explains the connection between parental overuse of painkillers and teenage heroin addiction, it doesn’t really offer any specific guidelines about how to attack the problem. There are interesting references and quotations from families who have been involved in the problem, which makes it easier for the reader to relate, but the only real solution that’s offered is that parental support and love can help to get an addicted teenager through to a healthier life. It would have been very helpful if the article had concluded with some possible guidelines for parents to hopefully prevent the usage of either the painkillers or heroin before it even started. There is no reference at all in the article to the root causes of why either painkillers or heroin, which is used as a painkiller, is needed. So although the article is very clearly written and the personal reference are very convincing I think it would have been more effective if such advice or guideline had been given or at least hinted at.

Do Brain Workouts Really Work?

I read an article from The New York Times called "Do Brain Workouts Really Work? Science Isn't Sure" written by Tara Parker-Pope. The article talks about these websites such as Luminosity where for $14.95 a month, you can "'train' your brain to stave off mental decline". Most of the brain fitness businesses have been focused to help kids with attention-deficit issues and improving memory and academic performance in healthy children and adults. However, "the science of cognitive training has not kept up with the hype".

Dr. Murali Doraiswamy, director of the neurocognitive disorders program at the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences states in the article that the majority of the advertising for these "brain games" go beyond the data. More studies would need to be conducted to before concluding "it's prime time". The past several years, studies have shown that skills are improved however, these skills do not seem to be transferred to other tasks. Other studies have been more encouraging however.

Before reading this article, I was not aware of the controversy of whether these brain workout websites are really beneficial or not. I really enjoyed this article and found it very interesting. The article was very well written and the author got her point across to the reader. This article was easy for the reader to understand and the author did a great job overall.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/do-brain-workouts-work-science-isnt-sure/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=science&_r=0

Alchemist Activity - Students Transform Copper Coins into Silver Coins into Gold Coins

The alchemists' experiments that tried to change base metals into gold led to the discovery and description of the properties of various elements and substances. Their "trial and error" approach to studying the reactions of various substances formed the basis of the modern science of chemistry. In this exercise the students heat copper coins (pennies) in a solution of a strong base (NaOH) and zinc shavings, which puts a silver-like coating on the coin. They then rinse the coin and heat it in a flame where it develops a "golden" appearance. Students are asked to "research" what is actually happening in this reaction.

Brian and Ethan are heating the pennies in the NaOH and zinc solution, carefully turning the coins to trying to ensure that both sides of the coins can be exposed to the mixture

Catherine and Pablo are turning their coins in the solution.

Morgan is heating the "silvered" penny in the flame to try to turn it "golden".

A "golden" penny with two  "base" copper coins.

Michael tranfers his and Estelle's silvered coins to a beaker of water to rinse them before they heat them in the flame to turn them into gold coins.

Silvered coins removed from the crucible in which they were heated in the NaOH and zinc powder solution.

Current Event

I read the article Early Treatment is Found to Clear H.I.V. in a 2nd Baby, by Donald G. McNeil. This article is about how a baby was cured of the H.I.V. virus thanks to a series of shots and injections. This is not the first child that has been cured, as not long ago another infant was cured of H.I.V. but people were skeptical as to whether he had ever carried the virus. Now that a second baby has been cured, this confirms that it is possible to get rid of the H.I.V. virus.

            Previously, we did not know whether the H.I.V. virus could be cured, but now we know for sure. This development of injections will help cure H.I.V. babies across the world and potentially lead to a cure for people of all ages. This is a great creation, as it will save and better many lives all over the world.

            I thought that Donald McNeil wrote this article quite well. It contained a lot of information about the H.I.V. virus and previous attempts to cure it, rather than only talking about this one instance. It was very well written and informative. I learned a lot about H.I.V. and the process of curing thanks to this article.

LSD, Reconsidered for Therapy

            This article discusses a Swiss study in which patients facing end of life anxiety were given doses of LSD. Patients who were given full doses of LSD “improved by about 20 percent on standard measures of anxiety…” Patients who were given smaller doses, however, only had their anxiety become worse. Although the drug caused intense distress in some patients during their trip, there were no permanent side effects found. The study, however, was far too small to bring truly conclusive results.

            With this new method of treating end of life anxiety, people with terminal illnesses will be able to spend their final days at peace or even happy. Future clinical trials of the drug may lead to LSD becoming a regularly prescribed treatment for individuals with terminal illnesses.

            I thought that this article was very interesting in addition to being well written. There were many quotes from professionals placed in the article and it was very easy to understand. I feel like the article could have elaborated upon the patients who were given smaller doses and why they had their anxiety become worse.

U.S. Moves Toward Atlantic Oil Exploration, Stirring Debate Over Sea Life

Wines, Michael. "U.S. Moves Toward Atlantic Oil Exploration, Stirring Debate Over Sea Life." The New

York Times. The New York Times, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/us/us-moves-toward-atlantic-oil-exploration-stirring-debate-over-sea-life.html?ref=science>.

            The article “U.S. Moves Toward Atlantic Oil Exploration, Stirring Debate Over Sea Life,” by Michael Wines, focuses on the different effects, outcomes, and sharply divided views regarding the Interior Department’s recent recommendation to explore oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.  This possible drilling would be of great benefit to the United States, ultimately improving energy security, opening up 280,000 new jobs, and bringing in close to $200 billion in private funding.  However, despite these positive results, environmental activists are infuriated.  In order eventually to carry out the drilling, thunderous undersea seismic surveys must be completed.  The activists, along with the Interior Department itself, claim that the noise would injure and kill thousands of whales and dolphins.  Scientists think that this is an exaggeration, as similar seismic surveys have been carried out all around the world for years and have not caused even one confirmed whale death.  They believe that the issue of greatest concern is the possible change in behavior of marine life due to drilling-related stress, perhaps altering breeding or mating habits or interfering with communication patterns.

           

This article is important to us because it highlights an issue that could directly impact our lives.  We live somewhat close to the Atlantic Ocean, so the possible disruption of marine life could have an effect on our environment.  The possible injury to or death of sea life is a concern to anyone who cares about the environment.  On the other hand, the benefits of the drilling could also have a positive effect on our lives, creating jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.  I thought this article was significant because it is about a real-world problem that is occurring close to where I live and that could possibly affect my life.

           

This article was very well-written and easy to read.  I liked how it gave different points of view on the issue, supporting the statements with facts, evidence, and quotes.  Missing from the article were statements from scientists in support of the activists’ claims.  One thing that I found very confusing was the fact that research done by the Interior Department contradicted the predictions of scientists about the possible effects on sea life of noise created by the drilling process.  If the Interior Department wants to drill, then why would it provide negative information about drilling with which scientists do not necessarily agree?  Overall, I found this article very interesting and informative, and I am glad that I read it.

Lower Hudson Valley Engineering EXPO

On Sunday, March 30, 2014, the Foundation for Engineering Education will present the eleventh annual Engineering EXPO, to educate regional high school and middle school students about engineering as a career. It will be held at White Plains High School, White Plains, NY (Westchester County), from 11 :00 AM to 4:00 PM. Last year's EXPO saw attendance of over 3,000 students, 40 colleges, and 50 engineering or technology based businesses and societies.

The goals of the annual Lower Hudson Valley Engineering Expo are as follows:

 1. Recruit grade 8-12 students interested in math and science and teach them about careers in engineering. We need to convey all options: Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Materials, etc., and perhaps we can attract them with interesting careers in some of the new and exotic fields like nanotechnology, biomedical engineering and aerospace. It is imperative that we recruit the best and the brightest into our profession.

2. Inform juniors and seniors about requirements for engineering degrees. Several colleges in the region with engineering programs will set up booths or tables with information about admission and curriculum.

3. Enlighten the students about careers in engineering. Most do not realize that 8 of the 10 highest paying Bachelor degrees are in engineering fields. Various firms and industries have volunteered to set up displays and be available for discussions with interested students. Some very exciting work goes on in our industry. There is much to be proud of.