I found this module very interesting, especially alot of the information in the chapter on drug law. I find it fascinating to watch how the perceptions of drugs have changed throughout history, and I think its something most people overlook. Most people consider that we've always had the drug-laws and perceptions we have now forever, but thats not at all true. Putting these things in perspective shows us that our current "drug problems" in this country is a relatively new phenomenon. Just a century ago the law began getting involved with drug regulation, before then nobody really seemed to think too much on the subject until the popularity of opium dens.
Overall, I think we're getting into a rather touchy subject that remains quite controversial. I know that I take a strong stance on this particular subject. I felt the more I learned about the various drug acts and regulation our government passed the more I liked some things and hated others. While I'm all for the regulation of drugs, especially prescription and OTC drugs in which the government I feel ought to be protective of the health of our citizens, I'm not a big fan on the regulation of what we know as 'recreational drugs'. I think being born in today's age everyone comes into contact with the severe implications of such regulation. When I say that I "lost some friends to drugs" very little of that statement would be literally true. Though I have seen a very small percentage of people lose their "well-being" to drug addictions (alcohol being the #1 problem here) for the most part the people I saw "lose their lives to drugs" was not because of the actual drugs themselves at all, but on the incredibly severe penalties such people faced when they were busted by the law. To be perfectly honest it is something that has affected me in multiple ways, not that I've ever been in legal trouble, but I've seen some very close friends of mine receive what I consider some incredibly unjust treatment for their drug possession. It's made me passionately angry at times, and when I pick up a newspaper and read about several young teens spending months in prison because of a pot bust, I'm practically seething. I do not advocate their actions, but I know that our governments 'correctional' treatments are terrifically flawed. I would love to be able to help change this.
I also thought it was interesting in chapter 5 how the different 'cross-tolerances' and various 'combinations' of drugs affect people, as well as the hereditary factors that become involved with drug usage, craving and other factors.
I think my participation in this module was above expectation. I posted more then three posts on three different days. Next module I'll be sure to post my question in advance.
Terms I learned in this module:
- teratogenic - Causing abnormal development
- plateau effect - Maximum possible effect of a drug
- pharmacokinetics - The body's various responses to a drug.
- synergism - How one drug has and affects another drug
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