Substance Abuse among the elderly populatin Article

Substance Abuse among the elderly populatin - Article Example Some participants were â€Å"early onset† drug users. These users started substance abuse at an early age especially during adolescences and early adulthood periods. The habit began as a result of experimentation, peer pressure and recreational use. Other respondents began use of substances later in life due to stressful life experiences like death of close relatives, divorces or pressure from drug user partners and friends. The research found there were negative effects on health status of drug abusers. In addition, the substance abusers lived poor quality of lives compared to other people. Most of the substance users lived alone with evidences of social isolation. Among the eleven interviewed, divorced respondents were five and the rest six had not married. Eight respondents lived alone. The research also found that the older people who were abusing drugs died earlier than other elder people who did not abuse substances. According to results of the study, ageing people used drug according to personal choice in accordance to effects and availability of drugs and substances. Drugs abused included cannabis, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), amphetamines, morphine, heroin, tobacco and alcohol. Participants had various adverse health conditions such as circulatory problems, diabetes, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis. In addition, there were evidences of weight loss, anxiety, impaired mobility, obesity, malnutrition, paranoia and memory loss. The study on substance abuse and elderly population should be expanded, and numerous study be done. It is important to know what influences the ageing population into substance abuse. I recommend for further research to determine why the ageing population engages in substance abuse. As a social worker, the study will help me in dealing with the ageing population and advise them on various activities they can engage in instead of substances abuse. Roe. B, Beynon. C, Pickering. L and Duffy. P (2010). Experiences

Symbolism in Days Of Heaven (1978) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Symbolism in Days Of Heaven (1978) - Essay Example The characters were enticed to do wrong in many symbolic acts that carried significant meaning. They were subsequently deprived of the Lord’s blessing and suffered tragedies. This movie was a love story, full of tragedies and disasters. The protagonist, Bill, and his two friends, Blackie and Steve were dragging away a safe they had stolen when a group of policemen stopped them. Steve was shot by a policeman and died in Bill’s arms. It was a parody of a story from Genesis 4:8; ‘Now Cain said to his brother Abel, â€Å"Lets go out to the field.† And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.’ (Zondervan 8). Only in Days Of Heaven, Bill didn’t directly kill Steve but maybe their crime of theft indirectly killed him. Bill broke a commandment and became a fugitive from the law. When Abby got married to Chuck Shepard, Chuck paid Bill more wages than he deserved although he suspected that Bill wasn’t Abby†™s brother but her boyfriend. Chuck gave extra money to Bill in a gesture that was symbolic of a peace offering to compensate Bill for giving up Abby and letting him (Chuck) have her as his wife. Bill recognized this as a symbolic act of reconciliation and he refused to accept it because of his pride. When Benson voiced his suspicions to Chuck about the validity of Bill and Abby’s sibling relationship, Chuck would rather not hear although he indicated he saw through the masquerade. Chuck’s refusal to hear or investigate the truth is symbolic. He was blinded by love for Abby.