An Analysis of the chess board scene in the Harry Potter video Essays

An Analysis of the chess board scene in the Harry Potter video Essays An Analysis of the chess board scene in the Harry Potter video Paper An Analysis of the chess board scene in the Harry Potter video Paper For my essay I have decided to analyse the chess board scene in the Harry Potter video and compare it with the book, paying a special attention towards the social and media significance, the technical features and appeals to the audience, furthermore the pattern and details of language presentation. The social significance in the Harry Potter video is that its go a universal appeal, it appeals to everyone both children and adults. The reason for that being is that there are a whole variety of accents in the video, which is what brought a wider audience in being fans of Harry Potter. The language is much more simplified in the video, which would make it easier for younger viewers to understand. Ron has a cockney Londoners accents, Harry with a standard well-spoken English. Hermiones viewers however would be the posh snobby people as her accent and manner shows it. Hagrid the half-giant man that has delivered Harry to the Dursley family when he was a baby has an up-north accent. Dumbledore the head master has a Scottish accent. The other social significance is that the storyline contains a moral issue with a slight adversity between normality and magic, which would appeal to the older viewers as good overcomes evil. And also as the video is visual its more successful than the book as you can see everything more clearly with a lot of excitement being added to. The media significance of making Harry Potter into a movie was that it has achieved attracting more audience throughout, as it was a best seller. It has also taken more money than any other film in the first week. The way the media has achieved this is by putting a lot of extras in the film such as building up the storyline, making it more enjoyable. They did this is by using a lot of special effects to make it as believable as possible, which makes the movie more exciting. The start of this scene in the book it says that is very much dark they couldnt see at all. This has being exaggerated a little bit as in the video as dark as it might be, they in fact could tell what it was as they identified the chess board pretty much straight after Harry, Hermione and Ron entered the room. The video uses the music and the camera angles to show feeling, whereas the book just says it through writing; Ron, Hermione and Harry shivered slightly, This is how J. K Rowling describes feeling, which is not as exiting. And also in the book is so much shorter in the chess scene than in the video, and is not as violent. And yet the film is being given a PG it could get quite horrendous for little ones in this scene as it so violent. The video starts with a very mysterious music with a lot of banging effects. The language is very much simplified for example when Harry checkmates the king in the end, in the book he doesnt shout out checkmate he just moves a step forward. A lot of changes has being made in the video, because is visual and therefore the music, camera angles, costumes has all got to link in order to make the details and pattern presentation perfect. This would make it more dramatic to create the climax For example the costume is very casual in this scene Harry is wearing a red t-shirt and jeans Ron the same jeans and t-shirt, and Hermione with a little skirt with a simple top. The red t-shirt Harry is wearing for example symbolises war and blood. However when the chessboard is first seen the music gets louder in a sort of crescendo with a battle vibe background, the music increases its loudness to create a sense of excitement, and at the same time it gets brighter. The set of swords that stop them leaving the room as the walk on to get across the room symbolises war, but this little scene doesnt get mentioned in the book. For ones throughout the book and the film this scene is Rons moments of glory as he takes charge. And is the reason why the camera angles gets closer to Rons face each time hes giving out instructions to show facial expression, which makes it dramatic as you see how brave he is as scare as he might be. The scenery at the same time is very much bright as all the background in the chessboard is lit with fire. There is a great sense of enormous power as the chess moves; a sound effect of grated stones is being used to make it sound huge, as it looks it too. The drumbeats sound effects make it sound scary and yet again symbolises war. The pieces get animated it becomes alive with a similar human movements. As the game goes on the media cuts it down bit by bit to create suspense, and fasten up the scene. All these changes that has being made to the video made it more successful and more enjoyable at the same time created by lots of sound effects, and whole variety of special effects to create the movements of large creatures such as the trolls. And at the end when Ron realises what must be done, he sacrifices himself in order to help his friend. In the book is not as sad as in the film, because the music slows down as Ron says the queen will take me, and that leaves you to checkmate the king Harry. In this bit Hermione seems like shes crying and says No in a very dramatic way that it makes you feel sad. The reason for that is the music makes it sound more dramatic with its sound effects in way that would be impossible for a book to offer. The lighting at that point changes into a more subtle clear light, aiming specially towards Ron to show what hes expression are like. And as he orders the Night to make hes move in the book it says she struck Ron hard around the head her stone in the head and he crashed to the floor. However in the video the queen doesnt struck Ron on the head but he does crash on the floor. There is a slight similarity between the book and the video, but with a lot of changes made such as not saying the exact words in the book, but simplifying the language a whole lot more. Furthermore as there is so much in the book, the produces cuts down certain scenes, for it would go a whole lot longer. The troll and the potion scenes that was supposed to be straight after the chess scene is not in the video, as the video goes straight to where the mirror was. The reason for that is that the film would go a whole lot longer if it wasnt for the scenes to be shortened out.

International Management Organisation vs. National Culture

International Management Organisation vs. National Culture Executive Summary Corporate cultures are important since they aid in streamlining the operations of organizations in a given environment. Corporate cultures are established over a long period of time and are dependent on the environment in which an organization is operating.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Management: Organisation vs. National Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The introduction of this paper expounds on corporate culture and cross-cultural management. The second part brings out the aspects of management that characterize national cultures in London, Tokyo, and Singapore. The third part explores the issue of corporate culture and national cultures in international management. Introduction One of the most critical challenges in international management is the conflict between established corporate cultures of multinationals and the corporate cultures that prevail in different region s where firms establish their operations (Ogunmokun Ling, 1999). This paper explores variations in regional cultures and the corporate culture of an organization originated from the United States. The regions that are touched upon in the paper are Tokyo, London, and Singapore. This paper argues that organizations make adjustments to corporate cultures as a way of adapting to corporate practices in the global business environment. Overview of corporate culture in the context of managing in the four regions Most of the aspects of dynamism in international management come from the variation of corporate cultures in this environment (Schneider Barsoux 2003). Multinational companies often establish corporate cultures that help them thrive in different markets across the globe (Oberg 2004). They often adopt a hybrid system of management which aids multinational firms to bridge the cultural gap that prevails between their corporate culture and the established corporate culture in the giv en region (Pagell, Katz Sheu 2005). According to the Hofstede Centre (2013), there is a close cultural relation between the United States and the UK. Both countries adopt quick reporting of organizational activities. There is also an emphasis on creativity in the discharge of organizational functions in the two countries. However, there is a wide gap between the national culture of Japan and Singapore in relation to the culture of the United States. Individual relationships are given a lot of emphasis in Japanese transactions.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Nonetheless, the uniting factor in as far as integration of the national cultures of the four countries is concerned is the preference of economic or organizational growth through application of strategy. Contrary to the Schein model, most of the attributes of culture in the regions presented in this paper are more visible and easy for the organization to adjust to the culture in London, Tokyo and Singapore. Fard, Rostamy and Taghiloo (2009) ascertain the value of understanding the attributes of national cultures by eliciting the Hofstede model of cross cultural management. According to this model, the national culture of management is established through the prevailing systems and structures of management in a given country (Berg van den Wilderom 2004). This means that multinationals often replicate their corporate cultures from the attributes of management that are embraced in the parent country (Morschett, Schramm-Klein Zentes 2010). The rooting of organizational culture in the practices of management embraced in a country makes it quite daunting for a firm to effectively deal with the variation in culture when it enters foreign environments (Jones 2007). Corporate success depends on the ability of a firm to master its operational environment and stage its operations in a way that a ppeals the culture that is established in the given environment (Wursten Fadrhonc, 2012). It is worth noting that corporate cultures cannot be totally exported in foreign environments (Puffer 2004). Exploring organizational corporate culture in cross-culture management Lloyd and Hrtel (2004) observe that there is a universal embrace of human resource management across the globe. The US values a total quality culture in the management of both people and other organizational resources. This is also embraced by most of the leading economies in Europe, like the United Kingdom. The recent managerial era in Asia has also seen a shift towards the embrace of quality in human and strategic business management. This can be traced back in the early 1990s where Asian countries realized the need for promoting a quality culture as a way of increasing their competitive force as far as competing with the western quality culture is concerned (de Mooij Hofstede 2010). This factor has promoted a des irable business environment in most Asian countries like Japan and Singapore. Thus, it can be viewed that it is easy for an organization from the United States to adapt to the corporate culture that is embraced in most European countries, as well as the emergent economies in Asia.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Management: Organisation vs. National Culture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main areas that have to be given attention to is positioning of human resource as secondary or reactive, as far as the operation of a firm and the discharge of human resource practices by multinationals that operate in Asia are concerned. This contradicts the human resource culture in the United States and Europe, where human resource practices are strongly embedded in business practices (Wilcoxson Millett 2000). Firms in the United States are widely known for embracing high standards of employee management, esp ecially in the service sector. Therefore, it becomes easy for a service firm from the United States to adapt to the regions that are ranked lower than the United States in terms of service offering. This can also be attributed to total quality management, which is a critical factor in business positioning in the United States. Total quality culture is an aspect of management that is highly embraced in western firms (Cayla Arnould 2008). Emerging economies like Singapore have also focused on quality as they seek to exert competitive pressures on western firms that have dominated the international market scene for a long period of time (Hennig-Thurau et al. 2005). The antecedents of brand quality and preference are other critical aspects of culture, especially for the US firms that operate in the Asian region (Deleersnyder et al. 2009). Research has shown the tendency of customers in the Asian region to give preference to local brands. So, success of the firm in Singapore and Tokyo r equires the company to incorporate local business attributes in its services and products (Delong et al. 2004; Fletcher n.d). Singapore, Tokyo and London present ethnically diverse regions in the world. The ethnic diversity in these regions comes from the fact that they have active and well developed business environments. Tackling the problem of expatriate management is vital towards efficiency and effectiveness of subsidiary firms and effective positioning of the company in the foreign business environment (Pires, Stanton Ostenfeld 2006; Lizardo n.d.). Conclusion Managing a United States based multinational company in Tokyo, Singapore and London requires the organization to focus on cultural variations in the region. The financial services firm in the United States focuses on service quality and strategic human resources. Managing in Singapore and Tokyo requires the organization to adjust its activities due to the tendency of customers in the region to focus on local brands. The score matches presented by the Hofstede centre denote that there will be a greater need to embrace cross-cultural communication for firms that will be established in Tokyo and Singapore, due to the embrace of business models that vary from those embraced in New York and London.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reference List Berg van den, PT Wilderom, CPM 2004, Defining, measuring, and comparing organisational cultures, Applied Psychology, vol. 53, no. 4, pp. 570-582. Cayla, J Arnould, EJ 2008, A cultural approach to branding in the global marketplace, Journal of International Marketing, vol. 16 Issue 4, pp. 86-112. de Mooij M Hofstede G, 2010, The Hofstede model applications to global branding and advertising strategy and research, International Journal of Advertising, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 85–110. Deleersnyder, B, Dekimpe, MG, Steenkamp, JEM Leeflang, PSH 2009, The role of national culture in advertisings sensitivity to business cycles: An investigation across continents Journal of Marketing Research (JMR), vol. 46, no. 5, pp. 623-636. Delong, M, Bao, M, Wu, J, Chao, H Li, M 2004, Perception of US branded apparel in Shanghai, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, vol. 8 no. 2, pp. 141-153. Fard, HD, Rostamy, AAA, Taghiloo, H 2009, How Types of Organisational cultures c ontribute in shaping learning organisations, Singapore Management Review, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 49-61. Fletcher, R n.d., ‘Country of origin’ and ‘psychic distance’: Separate constructs or two sides of the one coin? Web. Hennig-Thurau, T, Gwinner, KP, Gremler, DD Paul, M 2005, ‘Managing service relationships in a global economy: exploring the impact of national culture on the relevance of customer relational benefits for gaining loyal customers’, in K. de Ruyter and P. Pauwels (ed.) Research on International Service Marketing: A state of the Art (Advances in International Marketing, volume 15), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 11-31. Hofstede Centre 2013, National cultural dimensions. Web. Jones, ML 2007, Hofstede- Culturally questionable?, Oxford Business Economics Conference, Oxford. Lizardo, O n.d., Globalization and culture: A sociological perspective. Web. Lloyd, SLL Hrtel, CEJ 2004, Predicting IHRM strategy and practice deci sions: development of the IHRM orientation typology, Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, vol. 11 no. 4, pp. 60-76. Morschett, D, Schramm-Klein, H, Zentes, J 2010, Strategic international management: Text and cases, Gabler, Wiesbaden. Oberg, K 2004, Culture shock and the problem of adjustment to new cultural environments, Worldwide Classroom. Web. Ogunmokun, GO, Ling, YL 1999, Globalization versus adaptation strategy in international marketing: A study of exporting companies in the Peoples Republic of China, AAM Journal, vol. 4, no 2, pp. 24-41. Pagell, M, Katz, J Sheu, C 2005, The importance of national culture in operations management research, International Journal of Operations Production Management, vol. 25 no.3/4, pp. 371-94. Pires, G, Stanton, J Ostenfeld, S 2006, Improving expatriate adjustment and effectiveness in ethnically diverse countries: marketing insights, Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, vol. 13 no. 2, pp. 156-170. Puffer, SM 2004, International management: Insights from fiction and practise, M.E. Sharpe, New York, NY. Schneider, S Barsoux, J 2003, Managing across cultures, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall, Harlow. Wilcoxson L Millett B 2000, The management of organisational culture’, Australian Journal of Management Organisational Behaviour, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 91-99. Wursten, H Fadrhonc, T 2012, International marketing and culture. Web.

Evaluating Online Sources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluating Online Sources - Essay Example Her credential speaks for itself and this makes her article useful and reliable. Furthermore, being a scholar, she must have written the article after conducting several studies and observations. Katrina article is published in the Dialogue Journal, an international journal of thought, faith and action. It is a non-profit organization aimed at nurturing intelligent, deepening reader’s commitment to Jesus Christ and the Bible, as well as articulating biblical responses to the contemporary issues in humanities, philosophy, arts, and sciences. In her article, Katrina strives to explain whether the benefit human beings obtain from animal usage in medical research justifies the act. Additionally, she aims at pointing at the biblical support for using animals in medical research. She asserts that Jewish teachings claim that animals were created to serve the interests of human beings; thus, their use as companions, food, and for labor (Katrina, n.d). Animals were to serve humans so long as they were treated in a manner that they were not subjected to pain and suffering. Therefore, Katrina supports the use of animals in medical research so long as they were handled with care and not subjected to pain. Katrina also claims that human beings are superior to animals; thus, their interests should be served first. This implies that animals should be used for goals that improve the conditions of human beings. Since medical research aims at improving the health standards of human beings, Katrina argues that animal research is justifie d. As much as she gives reasons that support animal usage in medical research, Katrina also points out that the animals should be handled in a manner that reduces unnecessary stress (Katrina, n.d). She reinforces that animals should be used in research that they are needed and that the research personnel conducting the test should be well trained on research principles and ethics that concern animal welfare (Katrina, n.d). In this way, using

Analyzing the conditions of oppressed women according to Simone de Essay

Analyzing the conditions of oppressed women according to Simone de Beauvoir's perception - Essay Example Based on the arguments of sexual politics, the economic realm of both sexes is considered to make up two social groups; for instance, men may hold better jobs, with increased wages and salaries, and more chances of success compared to women. De Beauvoir (1949) explains that men had acquired a higher position in industry and politics, thereby monopolizing principal positions. Besides, men had traditional prestige of education, which is aimed at supporting children, since the present is enshrined by their past, while the past resonated history that had been made by men. Nevertheless, women during that time were commencing to participate in affairs of world that was controlled by men. Nonetheless, women were bound to decline and refuse participation in dealing with issues that would derive advantage that are bestowed upon women. Therefore, sexual politics resonates on women’s dependency on men for material protection and this undertakes their moral justification based on their ex istence. Both sexes had ethical purpose of each individual affirming their subjective existence, though there were temptations relinquish liberty. However, this pursuit for women was not promising to those who took it passive; in fact, they became creatures of men’s will, thereby being denying women every value. Nonetheless, this has been a simple pursuit for people focusing on evading the strains involved in undertaking of genuine existence (de Beauvoir, 1949). For instance, men had been taking women as people without manifestation of inclinations focused on complexities, but this has gradually changed. Therefore, through sexual politics women are perceived to be laying claims to their condition of being subjected to deficiencies of definite resources, due to the feeling of being obliged to ties to men, despite reciprocity involve. 1. What is gender? De Beauvoir (1949) explain that men are present themselves as people of a particular sex that, which does not require declarat ion. In this case, definition of gender is based on the terms masculine and feminine, which apply symmetrical with differences based on their forms. Relationship between these sexes is not parallel given that men are considered to represent both positive and neural, as illustrated by application of the term man to stand for human being of both gender (de Beauvoir, 1949). On the other hand, the term woman is negative given that it represents negative; thus is defined with limits of criteria without reciprocity. Nevertheless, there are notions that have been developed by men through abstract discussion such as women have contrary thinking and perception to their own way of thinking because they are men due to understanding that man is no peculiarity. There are gender related notions, which such as a man being considered to be right due to the mere fact that he is a man and not a woman; in this case, a woman is considered to be wrong. Definition of gender has led to absolute vertical a ncients based on the reference to oblique and human type of masculinity (de Beauvoir, 1949). Furthermore, a woman has become subjects to imprisonment due to peculiarities associated by her biological nature such as having ovaries and uterus; in fact, this poses limits regarding her

The art of war and the illiad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The art of war and the illiad - Essay Example The art of war consists of misdirection and the fluidity of one’s tactics: the use of the mind as a tool of planning for success and the use of the mind as a tool of achieving it. In essence, the law of secrecy and subtly applies in all cases to the battlefield where the battle is not imminent or already in progress. To be invisible and inaudible, as it applies to the senses of sight and sound, are virtues when seeking to acquire a victory in battle. War is, despite common images of bloody and violent battles, a game of deception and misdirection. It is heavily contingent on the acquisition of intelligence, the soundness of one’s planning, and the excellence of one’s execution. The first process, that of the acquisition of intelligence, is perhaps most crucially important. If war is the design of a general, intelligence about his enemy is likely as important as a seeing man’s eyes. A general’s planning guides his men into battle and hopefully to a victory at the end of the day. In most cases, it is the secrecy and subtlety that the general uses to put himself and his army in position to strike that can make all the difference. Attacking places which are not defended, as Sun Tzu, says is the easiest way insuring one’s victory. Similarly, we see methods like these employed by the cunning tactician Odysseus during the course of the Trojan War. In Homer’s Iliad, we find Odysseus and Diomedes acquiring intelligence about a Thracian camp, filled with sleeping soldiers. They get this information from Dolon, who Odysseus promises not to kill. Dolon tells the men about Rhesus: his armor and his horses. Sneakily, the Greeks get into position, ready to attack them as they slumber. Diomedes kills Rhesus and his cohorts: In this passage, Odysseus and Diomedes apply Sun Tzu’s great insight, and attack at will on the sleeping enemy. Book Ten demonstrates the effectiveness of psychological warfare,

Substance Abuse And Addiction Psychology Essay

Substance Abuse And Addiction Psychology Essay To gather information on substance abuse and addiction, a literature review was conducted of online informational sources, including federal agencies, and numerous electronic databases for scholarly articles including (CINAHL, PubMed, Medscape, and Medline) published between 1999 and 2012. Categorical search terms employed included addiction, substance abuse, opioids, alcohol, prescription drugs, impaired nurse, cost of drug use, treatment of drugs use, and others. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has selected substance abuse as one of the countries ten leading health indicator (Hutchison and Blakely, 2010). Reducing substance abuse is one of the Healthy People 2010 goals (Healthy People 2010, n.d.). Alcoholics Anonymous defines the chronic, relapsing brain disorder known as addiction as powerful, cunning, and baffling (ASBN, 2012). Society lacks the understanding that this disease is not a lack of willpower or morals but is an obsessive, compulsive, and complex disease that destroys the lives of families, friends, and individual users (NIDA, 2011). People are most likely to use when drugs and alcohol are easily accessible, convenient, and inexpensive leading to an impact on society that cost millions (Birckmayer et.al, 200; Goulding and Hudson, 2010). Overview Terminology Definition The use of certain terms when discussing addiction and substance abuse provides a means for all that are involved to understand. The DSM-IV is the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders a set of standards for professional to make a formal diagnosis for dependence of substance abuse (DSM Library, n.d.). Substance abuse and addiction has been used interchangeable for persons addicted to drugs (Kranzler, H. Li, T., 2008; Maddux, J. Desmond, D., 2000; ASBN, 2012). Although addiction involves physical dependence and tolerance, the physical dependence and tolerance does not involve the drug seeing and compulsive behavior of addiction making it difficult for physicians to identify the real issue (Shurtleff, 201; Maddux, J. Desmond, D., 2000;). Substance abuse means using any type of illicit drug and intoxication, enhancement of the end result occurs with multiple drug use (Substance Abuse Prevention Curriculum Guide, n.d.). Substance The mind and mood altering drugs or chemicals of abuse are the substances that are referred to in a substance abuse or dependence (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.; Mosbys Medical Dictionary, 2009). Tolerance Tolerance is the bodys need for larger quantities of drug for the same effect (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.; Mosbys Medical Dictionary, 2009). Abuse vs. Dependence Substance abuse is when the improper use of substance is affecting a persons life in a negative manner, such as decrease job function, poor parenting skills, and problems with law enforcement (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.; The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2003). Substance dependence is the beyond abuse where a person relies or dependents on a drug including increased tolerance, withdrawal, in ability to stop, devotion to using, and neglecting responsibilities (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.; The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2003). Addiction Addiction is a compulsive and maladaptive dependence with resulting in psychological, physiological, sociological, and legal consequences (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.; American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2003; Goulding and Hudson, 2010). Risk factors There is no individual risk factor that can predict whether a person will become an addict. That is based on the vulnerability of each individual in the area of genetics, demographics, family, social, and psychological (ASBN, 2012). The early age of initial use along with the combination of risk factors leads to a greater chance of addiction (ASBN, 2012; NIDA, 2011) Drugs of Abuse Alcohol Alcohol is legal, socially acceptable, and has the least stigma of all drugs in the United States and worldwide (Alcohol Answers, 2009; Bennett and McNeese, n.d.). It is addictive and depresses the central nervous system (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.). Alcohol is a legal, addictive drug that depresses the central nervous system (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.). One drink causes impairment and driving while intoxicated is illegal in the United States (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.). The social impact of the intoxicated person affects the drinker and all involved (Kelly, 2011; Chan, 2011; Harrington, et.al, 2010). Drinking alcohol is associated with child abuse and neglect, absenteeism from work, and violence (Kelly, 2011; Chan, 2011; Harrington, et.al, 2010). More than 30 conditions with alcohol as an underlying factor are listed in the World Health Organizations 10th Edition of International Classification of diseases (Rehm, 2011). Chronic alcohol use is a poisoning that weakens the immune system and results damage to the neurological and physical systems that are irreversible (Bennett and McNeese, n.d.; Kelly, 2011; Chan, 2011; Harrington, et.al, 2010; Rehm, 201; Dawson, 2011). Scheduled Drugs Depressants are the illicit drugs that depresses the central nervous system(CNS)causing decrease pulse, respiration, and blood pressure (UNODC, 2012). The CNS system effect relaxes the person and decreases anxiety and tension (UNODC, 2011; NIDA, 2011). The drugs include alcohol and narcotics (UNODC, 2012). Narcotics or opiates are derived from the opium poppy or may be synthetically manufactured includes codeine, oxycodone, heroin, fentanyl, and methadone (Goulding and Hudson, 2010; UNODC, 2012; Hall, 2009). The drugs are pain killers, anesthetics, and cough suppressants, used medically except heroin (UNODC, 2012; Hall, 2009). The route used is oral, nasal, intravenous, and transdermal (UNODC, 2003). Users experience constipation, dilation of blood vessels, constricted pupils, and decreased respiration that may lead to an overdose with produces shallow breathing, coma, clammy skin, respiratory failure, and possible death (UNODC, 2012;UNODC, 2003; Hall, 2009). Sedative- hypnotics, referred to as sedatives, sleeping pills, or tranquilizers, are another type of CNS depressants (UNODC, 2003; Goulding and Hudson, 2010). The purpose is to decrease anxiety, relax, or promote sleep. These drugs categories include barbiturates (Seconal and Nembutal) and benzodiazepines (Valium and Librium) (UNODC, 2003; Goulding and Hudson, 2010). Symptoms associated with withdrawal from these drugs are seizures, convulsion, heart attack, or death (UNODC, 2003; Goulding and Hudson, 2010). Overdose is common when used with alcohol (Goulding and Hudson, 2010). Heroin Heroin is a very addictive drug processed from morphine, a substance extracted from the seedpod of the Asian poppy plant. Heroin produces a feeling of euphoria (a rush) and often a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and heavy feelings in the arms and legs. After the initial euphoria the user may go into an alternately wakeful and drowsy state. Heroin is the second most frequent cause of drug-related deaths. Prescription Drugs The abuse of prescription pain medications and sedative hypnotics, such as, Klonopin and Xanax, prevalence rate has increase in the United States for persons 12 and over higher than any other illicit drug, surpassing even marijuana (Holmes, 2011). The Centers for Disease Control and prevention has identified these drugs as an epidemic due to the rate of increase of use. United States is the epicenter for prescription drug use with 80% of Americans using drugs for the first time that were prescribed for someone else. The increase in these drugs has shown a decline in cocaine, cannabis, and heroin causing more persons to die from opioid overdose than motor vehicle accidents (UNODC, 2012; Holmes, 2012). Using a prescription drug in a manner other than the intended prescription constitutes drug abuse. Some of the more commonly abused prescription drugs are: Pain-relieving narcotics (Percodan, Codeine, Vicodin, Percocet) Tranquilizers and sedatives (Halcion, Xanax, Ativan, Valium, Phenobarbital) Muscle relaxants (Soma) Prescription amphetamines (Ritalin, Cylert, Adderall) OxyContin Cocaine Cocaine was considered a safe recreational drug in the 1980s and 1990s with declining use with the turn of the century (NIDA, 2006; SAMHSA, 2001; The Harvard Mental Health Letter, 1999). Cocaine is a powerful and addictive drug that approximately 21 percent of persons eventually become addicted after the first use (Prevention Handbook, n.d.; The Harvard Mental Health Letter, 1999; NHSDA, 2000. The route of use for cocaine is nasal, smoke, or intravenous. At small amount the drug can produce increased energy, alertness, and euphoria (Prevention Handbook, n.d.; The Harvard Mental Health Letter, 1999; NHSDA, 2000). The central nervous properties of dilates pupils, constricts blood vessels, increases blood pressure, body temperature, decrease appetite, loss of sleep, and increased pulse (Prevention Handbook, n.d.; The Harvard Mental Health Letter, 1999; NHSDA, 2000) . Although the use has declined, the drug is still the most frequently encountered illicit drug with the following medical complications: cardiac arrest, stroke, and respiratory failure (Prevention Handbook, n.d.; The Harvard Mental Health Letter, 1999; NHSDA, 2000). Cannabis Cannabis or marijuana is one of the most used drugs in the United States and considered a gateway drug (NIDA, 2012). Chronic use cause respiratory issues of cancer, asthma, or other lung diseases. The prevalence of marijuana use has increased among all populations from 13.7 percent in 2009 to 14.1 per cent in 2010 (36,37 ). Long term effects includes loss of ambition, apathy,, difficulty concentrating, and decrease in school and work performance. Marijuana (weed, or cannabis) is one of the most common drugs of abuse . Marijuana looks like a dry, shredded green/brown blend of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves of a particular hemp plant. It usually is smoked as a cigarette, pipe, or in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, and on to organs throughout the body, including the brain. Some of the short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; bizarre or distorted perceptions; difficulty in problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate. A study has suggested that a users risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana. Manufactured Drugs The amphetamine like drug, methamphetamine rate has doubled from 1990-2002; 71 percent of new users of inhalants in 2002 were under the age of 18; Club drugs MDMA and GHB have leveled off but are not just used in the club culture; Ecstasy use has risen and has been associated with brain damage , kidney failure, and elevated body temperature; Rohypnol association with sexual assault has led to legislature that has made it the least available club drug. From 1998 to 2000 the number of the easily overdosed drug GHB emergency room visits quadrupled to approximately 5000 (Brown University Health Education, n.d.). Methamphetamine Methamphetamine (meth)is made in illegal laboratories and has a high potential for abuse and dependence. It is often taken orally, snuffed, or injected. Methamphetamine hydrochloride, clear crystals resembling ice, can be inhaled by smoking, and is referred to as ice, crystal, and glass.Use of methamphetamine produces a fast euphoria, and often, fast addiction. Chronic, heavy use of methamphetamine can produce a psychotic disorder which is hard to tell apart from schizophrenia (methamphetamine induced psychosis). The drug also causes increased heart rate and irreversible damage to blood vessels. Ecstasy Ecstasy (MDMA)is the so-called party drug, It has both stimulant (like cocaine) and hallucinogenic (like LSD) effects. Ecstasy is neurotoxic (poisonous to brain cells), and in high doses it causes a steep increases in body temperature leading to muscle breakdown, and possible organ failure. Side effects may last for weeks after use, and including high blood pressure, faintness, confusion, depression, sleep problems, anxiety, Hallucinogens Hallucinogens have existed for years. the drugs includes LSD, PCP, ketamine, and amphetamine variants(MDA,MDMA, and ecstasy). The use of these drugs takes you on a trip leading to pleasurable or a terrifying experience. The drugs are not always distinguishable by their color, odor, or taste. The CNS effects increases heat rate, respiration, pulse, blood pressure , and temperature leading to possible stroke, convulsions, heart attack, respiratory failure, or coma. Ketamine has been used as a date rape drug due to the dissociative anesthetic properties. Hallucinogens may lead to insanity or mental health disorders. and paranoia. Acid Acid (LSD)LSD, also called acid, is sold in the street in tablets, capsules, or even liquid form. It is clear and odorless, and is usually takenby mouth. Often LSD is added to pieces of absorbent paper divided into small decorated squares, each containing one dose. LSD is a hallucinogen and a very powerful mood-altering chemical. Over the Counter Drugs Many different types of over-the-counter drugs and other substances can be abused. Just a few examples include: Inhalants (paint thinners, nitrous oxide, model glue, magic marker fluid, spray paints, propane, butane, etc.)Dramamine, Mouthwashes, Diet aids Cough and cold medications (especially those containing DXM, like Drixoral Cough Liquid Caps, Robitussin AC, Dectuss, Phenergan etc.) Inhalants Inhalants are common household products that are huffed or sniffed that give a high or head rush. Included in this category of drugs are insecticides, paints, and aerosols products that when consumed causes lightheadedness. The drunken high is usually not long but due to the nature of the vapors may cause headaches, unconsciousness, suffocation, violent behavior, and death. Replacing the oxygen with inhalants depresses the CNS and may lead to the user to stop breathing. Long term use of inhalants causes brain damage, weight loss, and fatigue. Adolescent believe inhalants are safer. Concepts of Substance Abuse Four Dimensions of Addiction Chronic A disorder that is chronic continues for a long time. The opposite of chronic is acute, which means relatively sudden and short. Lets look at other examples of chronic vs. acute disorders Chronic: diabetes, hypertension, epilepsy Acute: flu, food poisoning, concussion Notice that acute disorders are treated once and theyre gone. Chronic disorders are managed, not cured. Primary A disorder that is primary means that it is not the result of something else. It is a disorder in its own right, requiring specific treatment. For example, a man may start drinking to control the painful feelings of depression. However, when that man becomes an alcoholic (addicted to alcohol), he now has a separate and primary disorder that needs treatment. Treating the depression does not mean the alcoholism will also go away. Progressive A disorder that is progressive tends to get worse over time. With drug addiction, we see that the consequences of the addiction tend to worsen over time. One important mechanism of this progressive quality is tolerance, which weve discussed. The development of tolerance tends to ensure that a person has to get more, spend more, hide more, and use more over time. Later well look at some of the particular consequences of progression, including medical problems. Incurable We say that addiction is incurable because the biological changes involved in addiction tend to be permanent. As a result, an addict will never be able to safely use the drug of abuse (or any other drugs of abuse). An alcoholic will never be able to drink normally. Likewise, a cocaine addict will never be safe using stimulating drugs (for example, ephedra, which is an over-the-counter stimulant). A person addicted to one drug can easily switch over the another drug and still be an addict. This is called cross-addiction(more on this later). We said incurable not untreatable. Remember the comparison with diabetes? We dont cure diabetes, we manage it with proper diet, blood sugar monitoring, and other acts of discipline. Unfortunately, the addict rarely wants discipline. Thats what makes it so hard. By definition, an addict wants to keep using! Stages of Change In order to determine the proper intervention the stages of change model is a means of describing the process to overcome addiction (Hartney, 2013 ; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O., 2011), The stages suggest that a person will go through the changes in sequence, but realistically they jump between stages and the stages will be different for everyone (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O., 2011). Precontemplation This is the first phase of change where the persons has not had any negative consequences and does not see the addiction as problem (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O, 2011). The experience is still pleasurable and leaves the person close-minded to any conversation on any negative consequences (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O., 2011). During this stage the person needs encouragement to see the personal risk and self-awareness Contemplation Contemplation is the stage where the person thinks or contemplates changing the addictive behaviors by quitting, moderating use, or cutting down (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011),). A person in this stage requires being give encouragement on the analysis of the pros and cons of the addictive behavior to promote a new goal (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011),). Preparation After a person has contemplated a person makes preparation to follow through on the changes that were contemplated (Hartney, 2013Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011). At this phase a person is trying to make decisions on how to proceed forward (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011),). The stage is a time for encouraging the need for social support and taking small steps. Action The action stage is a time for following through on the preparations made by possible entering treatment for detox (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011),). Living without the drugs and the drama of addiction is a strange feeling with the change of lifestyle(Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011), ). This is a real change of addictive behaviors which needs reinforcement and support to handle feelings and self-efficacy. Maintenance The maintenance phase is the time to seeks changing addictive behaviors through abstinence and changing behaviors (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011), ). The person learns how to cope and not return to old behaviors when there is a resurfacing of addictive behavior (Hartney, 2013; Norcross, J. C., Krebs, P. M. and Prochaska, J. O. (2011),). Helping the person via support, encouragement, and internal reward reinforcement is required. Biological Bases of Addiction Addiction is associated with permanent changes in the brains neurochemistry. The addict is biologically programmed to need the drug in order to feel normal. This point that addicts just want to keep using brings us to an important point about addiction and its biological roots. Lets take a quick look at what happens in the brain of an addict (without getting too technical). Weve seen now how repeated drug use causes permanent biological changes in the brain. An important implication of these changes is this: An addict can never assume its safe to resume using addictive drugs. Using even once will get the addict back to Square One. 12-Step programs call this waking the tiger. In 12-step programs, a person commemorates the beginning of sobriety with a sobriety date. If a person relapses, he or she starts with a new sobriety date. This tradition emphasizes the fact that addiction never goes away. Reward Center First lets take a look at a part of the human brain which has been called the reward center deep in the brain. This area includes specialized neural pathways which process experience of pleasure. The reward center seems to process many experiences of pleasure, such as eating and sex. Experimental rats trained to stimulate their own reward centers with electric switches have been known to press on the switches thousands of times per hour! They neglect all other activities in order to keep stimulating themselves. (11) ). Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant that causes the distribution of the chemical dopamine that is affects the brains pleasure center by causing constant signals of pleasure creating the intense cocaine high(The Science of Mental Health, 2003) Now, you may not be surprised to learn that many drugs of abuse stimulate the reward centers. As a result, using mind-altering drugs is pleasurable. The addict is almost like one of those experimental rats, stimulating itself again and again, neglecting anything else. Repeated use of certain drugs of abuse can result in depletion of brain chemicals that allow the experience of pleasure. What happens next is this: more and more of the drug becomes necessary to generate pleasure, and other sources of pleasure lose their effects. Eventually, the addict cant even feel just normal without the drug. As a result, the addict needs the drug to feel normal, and without it, they feel bad! Its no longer a matter of pleasureà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦its a matter of avoiding pain. This is the mechanism for tolerance. Dopamine The brain chemicals that help generate pleasure are called dopamine, a brain chemical belonging to a group called neurotransmitters. For example, both alcohol and heroin result in a build-up of dopamine, resulting in (temporary) pleasure. ). Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant that causes the distribution of the chemical dopamine that is affects the brains pleasure center by causing constant signals of pleasure creating the intense cocaine high(The Science of Mental Health, 2003) As we discussed above, the brain adapts to this higher level of dopamine in the system. Its almost as if the body tries to normalize the new levels of pleasure by raising the bar to experience pleasure. These changes are referred to as neuroadaptation. In other words, neuroadaptation means that it gets harder and harder to experience pleasure as you use more drugs. Addicts get the point that only their drugà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.in ever-increasing amountsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦makes them feel good. Trap of addiction In a sense, addicts get trapped by their own drug. They started using it to feel good, but end up needing it just to avoid feeling bad. Addicts can learn to experience pleasure in ways other than using. Unfortunately, research and clinical experience shows that the biological changes are permanent. This is why addiction is considered incurable, as we discussed before. Cravings Giving up drugs isnt just a matter of giving up on the pleasure. It can be a very painful experience because of cravings. As weve discussed, the brain becomes used tothe drugs of abuse after repeated use. If an addict stops using, the brain (and the mind) will put pressure on the person to start againà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦to restore the balance. This pressure is experienced as cravings. Cravings can be very painful and difficult to resist. Managing and resisting cravings are an important aspect of treatment. Cravings are painful but manageable with training and discipline. A helpful thing to remember with cravings is that they come and go like a wave: they approach, get stronger, reach a crescendo, and then taper off. Knowing this, a person can ride outthe cravings by several means: Distract herself with something interesting (movie, game, etc) Contact someone else for support (sponsor, supportive friend) Go to a safe place where giving in is less likely Disease Model In many different treatment models, addiction is seen as a disease. It may be hard to appreciate why at first, because it seems different from other types of diseases like cancer or bronchitis. One of the reasons for defining addiction as a disease is in order to ensure that addiction is treated as a healthcare problem, thus allowing addicts access to the healthcare system. (13)Addiction is widely considered a disease, by such organizations as the World Health Organization (WHO), American Medical Association (AMA), and American Psychiatric Association (APA). Defining addiction as a disease carries several implications which tend to increase the healthcare available to addicts: it follows a predictable course of development, it causes disorder of bodily functions (affecting not only the brain but typically the liver, pancreas, and other organs), it causes significant mortality and morbidity (alcoholism is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.),it can be tracked and measured by epidemiological research, it has a significant genetic loading . We wont settle the question of the Disease Model here. However, now you are familiar with the idea and some of the arguments on both sides. At any rate, the Disease Model is so prevalent today that most treatment programs you are likely to encounter in the State of Nebraska use the model. Whats more, the Disease Model is supported by the worlds largest organization devoted to helping people with addictionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Alcoholics Anonymous (and other 12-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous). Psychology of Addiction Progression of addiction Weve already discussed how addiction is a progressive disorder (getting worse over time). As such, we can identify certain characteristics of early stageand late stageaddiction. However, its important to keep in mind that some people progress quickly to more serious problems, while others follow along progression. Early Stages A person uses drugs of abuse to achieve a feeling of euphoria or to relieve stress. Using is escapist, sociable, and fun. However, the person begins to need more and more. The fun begins to go out of the situation as the person realizes she cannot feel normal without her drug. The person begins to feel guilty and ashamed, and increasingly uses denial.There may be the first damaging consequences (problems at work, in the family, etc). (16) Late Stages Using drugs feels more like a necessity of survival than a form of recreation. The problems often begin tomount, and the person becomes increasingly unable to function. The addict loses interest in anything besides using. If the addict has been able to hide her using, this becomes more and more difficult as the addiction progresses.Typically, the later stages of addiction are characterized by increasing physical problems and illness. For example, an alcoholic may experience liver failure or hepatitis. Defense Mechanism Defense Mechanisms are psychological strategies for dealing with stress. These strategies are used by the mind (often unconsciously) to keep us from being overwhelmed with stress. Defense mechanisms are normal and necessary. We cant worry about everything at once, or we couldnt function! There has to be some filterfor keeping things from becoming too intense or too painful. However, sometimes defense mechanisms become so rigid that we lose our flexibility, and we find it hard to changeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦even when change would be good. (17) All defense mechanisms distort reality to some extent, because they tailorreality to feel a little more comfortable. The question becomes, just how much distortion is safe?In addiction, defense mechanisms often distort reality to a dangerous extent. It gets harder to cover up the truth when the consequences start to pile upà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦broken families, legal charges, ruined careers .Also, the defense mechanisms in addiction can harm the addicts loved onesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦some of them start to wonder if they are the crazy ones, because the addict is so adamant that they have no problems. Lets look at a list of some of the defense mechanisms that are commonly used to promote addictive behavior. Denial Denial is an example of a defense mechanism that is often seen with addiction. The defense of denial is to deny the truth. Denial is useful to an addict because it serves to cover up the extent of the problem, and allow the using to continue.Remember that in addiction, people become biologically programmedto need their drug at all costs. Denial is a powerful way of keeping the pressure offso the addict can continue to use. Rationalization is another example of a defense mechanism that is often seen with addiction. The purpose is to make the irrational sound rational through the uses of justification and excuses. Many addicts have a ready supply of rationalizations to use on themselves and others, such as:à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Im not hurting anybody.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢I can stop anytime I want (I just dont want to yet).à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢I had a hard day today. I deserve a drink.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢It relaxes me. Isolating is a behavior that also serves to protect the addiction. Although drug use may start out as a social behavior, addiction ends up driving a wedge between the addict and others. Efforts to hide and maintain the addiction distances them from loved ones, and the company of non-addicts becomes too intrusive and painful. As a result, some addicts end up shooting themselves up in dark rooms, or drinking alone, far from others. Others sink into a drug subculture,in which there are no true friendships, but only alliances of convenience in the continuing drive for self-gratification. Blaming It can be very convenient to point the finger at someone else, when we want to avoid notice! Blaming takes the heat off by putting it on someone else. Naturally, this is painful and frustrating for others, and self-defeating to the addict.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢If my husband had fixed that tail-light, I wouldnt have gotten this DUI.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢If you lived here, youd drink too.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢If my wife/husband treated me right, I wouldnt have to do this. Minimizing involves watering downthe problem by acting cavalier about the consequences, or dismissive of the wreckage caused by addiction.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢All my DUIsare five years apart.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢I never drink before noon, I cant be an alcoholic.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢At least I dont use as much as X.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢I may miss some work, but I still get more work done than all those other slobs. Relapse The disease model of addiction, discussed above, encourages us to think of relapsesin addictive behavior. A relapse is a return to a previously abusive level of using or drinking. The very idea of relapse suggests the idea of the disease model, because it describes addiction as a chronic condition that never goes away, but can only lay dormant. Relapse is a very important concept

Fading Away :: Short Stories Anorexia Eating Disorders Essays

Fading Away "Maddie, are you sure you don't want anything more? You didn't eat much," Mrs. Whitman turned from her dishes to ask her daughter. "I'm fine. I'll eat a big lunch," Stacie said, gulping down her last bit of water. "Maybe you do. But I never see you eat much. For breakfast it's a pancake with jam. Even if you did eat all your lunch like you say you do, when it comes to dinner time, you eat like a bird. Stacie, I think you need to eat more," Mrs. Whitman told her daughter, relieved that she had finally confronted her about her meals. "I eat enough. You don't see me all day long. I eat at other times during the day, too. Just because I don't eat chips when I come home from school or snack on cookies. Just because I'm trying to be healthy, you criticize me for making an effort," Stacie defended, raising her voice. "It's not about choosing healthy foods to eat. I admire your self control. I really do. You know I have difficulty saying no to deserts and different things. But Stacie, I can see you're not eating enough. Those jeans you're wearing, they fit you perfectly when you picked them out this summer but now you need a smaller size. I understood that you wanted to lose a few pounds; all of us can stand to shed a few pounds. But you've kept losing. You look good, I admit. You look very good but I'm worried. You need to eat more. You're so active, running every morning, school, volleyball. You need food to keep you going," Mrs. Whitman explained. Her heart was beating quickly now and her body became warm. Tears welled up in her eyes but she continued gazing at her daughter, hoping she had made a connection, a break through. "I said I eat enough!" Stacie shot back angrily. "I am fine. I've lost weight and thank you for noticing. Something you've never been able to do. You and your stupid Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers and diet pills and every other dumb T.V. trash diet you send away for. You're really going to lose weight when you eat out and catch fast food all the time! I heard Big Macs do wonders! 'Just eat these pills and they'll give you all the nutrients you need and reduce your appetite too, '" Stacie mocked.