Admission essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

Admission - Essay Example ge of health information technology (HIT) employees is evident in the health centres and facilities since the industry started the implementation of electronic records. The 2008 bureau of labour pointed out that the by 2018, health facilities will require an addition of 35,000 workers. In America, there is a shortage of 50,000 HIT workers requires in the next five years according to the American Medical Informatics Association (Health Informatics and Health Information Management, 2014). There is the need to train HIT workers to deal with the data entry standards and the new coding methods in addition to the online insurance requirements. In the rural areas, the case is worse as the adoption of the health information technology and staff training due to the high costs of implementation. A number of the medical staff lacks experiences in the project management skills and the health care processes. The frequent training changes since technology changes rapidly and also due to inadequat e sustainability plans. The cost of hiring IT workers is expensive making it challenging for all the health facilities to employ new staff especially replacement due to attrition. The other issue experienced by the Health Management System is competition for IT workers in the other industries. All sectors of the economy are recruiting Information Technologists as they try to digitalize their industries (Health Informatics and Health Information Management, 2014). The candidates graduating from colleges and technical institutions offering IT training are not enough for the entire market. As a result, some of the industries such as health are understaffed. Some government and public hospitals do not pay well as compared to the private sector, which makes most of the IT specialists prefer working in the private industry as opposed to the public health facilities. The terms and conditions of employment are also good in the private sector leading to the exodus of IT staff from the health

Leadership Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadership Discussion - Essay Example anization, a leader can challenge the process by first diagnosing all possible causes of a known process problem so that the same does not hinder success of new ones. Banks always use business analysts to help capture the current processes in the banks and what the external environment feels about them. With such audits, it is pretty easy to make actionable conclusions on whether to make modifications on the existing process of coming up with a new one. In challenging the process, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, a leader must understand the interrelations and integration that exist among all the data documents. This is critical in the challenging process because it provides tangible information on the patterns and the necessity for change. Success demands first hand involvement, and that is why most experts say, â€Å"If you want something done right, do it yourself.† Being involved is a sure roadmap to freedom because decisions are made depending on the situations, capabilities, expertise, and objectives. However, as a leader, it is admirable if you empower employees to handle tasks under little or no supervision. To make it a success, however, leaders must be willing to help the subordinates in cases where procedures are complex or decision making is critical. Being a leader requires a will more than being a manager. Challenging processes give room for creativity, detachment from the old fashion norms, and keeps the organization streamlined to the mission, vision, and goals. However, to make it a success, leaders must be involved in ensuring everything done is as per the requirements. Direct interaction with subordinates, getting involved in the processes, and making tangible decisions is a sure way to overcome

Implementation Of Harm Reduction Strategies Criminology Essay

Implementation Of Harm Reduction Strategies Criminology Essay The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) identifies five categories for illicit drugs: narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels (CIA World Fact Book, 2012). In the United Kingdom, the term illicit drugs is used to describe those drugs that are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Globally, the illicit drugs trade (also referred to as the illegal drugs trade or drug trafficking) is one of the largest businesses and some 210 million people use illicit drugs each year, and almost 200,000 deaths can be attributed as a direct result of these drugs (UNODC, 2011). Illicit drugs are a substantial threat to the public good, not only because they adversely affect public health, but also because they can generate crime, disorder, family breakdown, and community decay (Strang et al., 2012). } Proportion of 16 to 59 year olds reporting use of any drug by age group and sex in the last year, 2010/11 BCS CHAPTER 2 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND REIVEW OF THE LITERATURE 2.1 Epidemiology of illicit drug use Drug misuse is a global social problem and, along with poverty and infectious disease, is one of the most challenging issues for personal and community health in many parts of the world (Donmall, 2001).The task of drug abuse epidemiology is to better understand patterns and trends in drug use, such as the characteristics of persons abusing drugs and how this may change over time. Drug abuse epidemiology is one of the more challenging areas of epidemiology. One of the basic reasons for this is the nature of substance use and the circumstances around it- the illegal nature of most drug abuse means that it remains hidden from view to some extent, and thus difficult to quantify (Donmall, 2001, WHO, 2000). Since the 1980s there have been major changes in trends and patterns of drug use including: global increases in the production and use of drugs; new forms of old drugs (eg. smokeable crack cocaine); changes in way drugs are taken (eg. transitions from opium smoking to heroin injection); and the introduction and proliferation of new drugs (eg. MDMA ecstasy and other amphetamine-type stimulants)(WHO, 2000). Drug use behaviours range from occasional, sporadic or experimental use, through regular low risk recreational use, to high risk, daily dependence that is often associated with a variety of financial, health and social problems (Donmall, 2001). However not all drug use is equally harmful, just as not all drugs have the same negative effects. This creates another challenge for drug abuse epidemiology- not all behaviours or substances pose the same risk. However, it has been recognised that drug injection is of specific importance as it has become a major transmission route for HIV (WHO, 2000). 2.2 Illicit drugs In the United Kingdom, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with amendments, is the main law regulating drug control UK. It divides controlled substances into 3 Classes (A, B, C) based on harm, with Class A being the most harmful. An overview of the main drugs are found in table 1, along with their classification. Table 1: Drug classification Source: Home Office 2011 The detailed information on the different drugs found below is derived from the following sources: World Health Organisations Guide to Drug Abuse Epidemiology (2000), DrugScope (2012) and the Talk to Frank Home Office initiative (2012) to provide accurate and reliable information on drugs for young people (WHO, 2000, DrugScope, 2012, FRANK, 2012). Cocaine Cocaine and its derivative crack cocaine provide an example of both the globalization of substance use and the cyclical nature of drug epidemics. Traditionally coca leaves have been chewed by people in the Andean countries of South America for thousands of years. The main alkaloid of the coca leave, cocaine, was isolated relatively recently in about 1860. Cocaine was then used in patent medicines, beverages and tonics in developed countries in Europe, North America and in Australia until the early 1900s. Laws restricting the availability of cocaine saw a decrease in consumption in these countries until the 1960s. From that time cocaine use became popular among certain groups of young people in some developed countries and in the producer countries of South America. Cocaine became widely available in North America in the 1970s and Europe in the 1980s (WHO, 2000). Ecstasy Ecstasy is an illegally manufactured drug that usually comes in tablet or capsule form. The chemical name of pure ecstasy is 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) (DrugScope, 2012). Ecstasy is a stimulant drug which also has mild hallucinogenic effects. It has been described as being like a mix of amphetamine and a weak form of LSD. The effects of taking a moderate dose start after 20-60 minutes (longer if on a full stomach) and can last for up to several hours. Ecstasy was first made by two German chemists in 1912 and patented in 1914, in case it turned out to be a useful drug. It didnt. During the 1950s, the American military experimented with a whole range of drugs, including ecstasy, for use in chemical warfare, to extract information from prisoners and to immobilise armies. In the 1960s, the drug was rediscovered by an American research chemist Alexander Shulgin who experimented with it on himself (DrugScope, 2012). LSD Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is an hallucinogenic drug that is derived originally from ergot, a fungus found growing wild on rye and other grasses. It is a white powder, but as a street drug, it is a liquid either on its own or absorbed into paper sheets. The sheets are cut into tiny squares like postage stamps or transfers and often have pictures or designs on. LSD is also sometimes dropped on to sugar cubes or formed into tablets or small capsules (DrugScope, 2012). Magic Mushrooms Psilocin-based magic mushrooms (PBMMs) in prepared forms (e.g. dried or extracted) have been illegal in the UK since the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act. But fresh or unprepared PBMMs were legal to possess and traffic until the 2005 Drugs Act, UK (Riley, 2010). Meth Methamphetamine (crystal meth) is a central nervous system stimulant with a high potential for misuse and dependence. A synthetic drug, it is closely related chemically to amphetamine (speed) but produces greater effects on the central nervous system. Cannabis Cannabis is a Class B drug derived from the cannabis plant, a bushy plant found wild in most parts of the world and easily cultivated in Britain. There are three varieties of the plant, Cannabis sativa, indica and ruderalis. In Western countries it is generally used as a relaxant and mild intoxicant. In the UK, cannabis is generally smoked with tobacco in a joint or spliff, but can also be smoked in a pipe, brewed into a drink or cooked into food (DrugScope, 2012). Poppers Poppers are usually found in the form of a liquid chemical (a nitrite) sold in a small bottle. Commonly, the chemical is alkyl nitrite. Other nitrites like amyl nitrite (and butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite) have also used been used. Nitrites dilate the blood vessels and allow more blood to get to the heart ((FRANK, 2012). Heroin Heroin use has become increasingly common in North-America and Europe since the 1960s. Increases in heroin use are often cyclical in these countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, there was a well reported heroin epidemic in the mid-1980s, following a period in the 1970s when the heroin using population was generally stable and ageing (Power, 1994). The UK epidemic in the 1980s was in part the result of the availability of cheap, high purity heroin from South-west Asia notably Pakistan. This form of heroin could be smoked and became attractive to young non-injecting users (Pearson, 1987).(WHO, 2000) Since heroin is commonly used by injecting, the health risks including that of HIV and hepatitis transmission are substantial. A number of drugs used commonly for their therapeutic efficacy in health care are also being abused all over the world. These include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, other sedatives and some stimulant drugs .The epidemiology of this use is difficult to study, because of difficulties in distinguishing medical and non-medical use (WHO, 2000). 2.3 Data on Drug users United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, primary sources of information about prevalence of illegal drugs among the adult population are derived from representative household surveys. In England and Wales, the British Crime Survey (BCS) has been a continuous survey since 2002 (EMCDDA, 2012). The BCS collects a rich set of information on the personal, household, area characteristics and lifestyle factors of respondents that can be used to explore differences in drug use. This information, together with other information from representative surveys feeds into the latest report on the statistics of drug misuse in England and Wales (NHS Information Centre, 2011). The following data is extracted from the 2011 report Statistics on Drug Misuse: England published by the NHS Information Centre and the 2011 Home Office report on Drug misuse in England and Wales (Home Office, 2011, NHS Information Centre, 2011). According to this report, the prevalence of ever having taken illicit drugs in England and Wales has increased from 30.5% in 1996 to 36.3% in 2010/11. As can be seen in figure 1 in 2010/2011, 12 per cent of men, versus 5.7 per cent of women reported using any type of drug in the last year. There is a clear downward trend in any drug use in the past year as age increases for all adults. Specifically for Class A drugs, there is a slight increase in use for the 20-24 age group, after which use decreases with age as well. Figure 1: Proportion of adults reporting use of the most prevalent drugs in the last year, by age, 2010/11 BCSBCR home office drugs.PNG Source: Home Office 2011 A total of 8.8 per cent of adults had used one or more illicit drug within the last year (figure 1), compared with 8.6 per cent in 2009/10, which indicates a slight increase in any drug use for adults in the past year. However, as can be seen in figure 2, there has been a general downward trend in the use of any drug in the past decade, whereas there has been little change in the percentage of any Class A drugs used by adults in this same time period. Figure 2: Proportion of 16 to 59 year olds reporting use of any illicit drug or any Class A drug in the last year, 1996 to 2010/11 BCS Source: Home Office 2011 drugs 2.PNG The prevalence of young adults (16-24 years) ever having taken drugs has decreased from 48.6 per cent in 1996 to 40.1 per cent in 2010/11. Findings from the 2009/10 BCS suggest that falls in illicit drug use have occurred in the youngest age groups (16-29 year olds), where use is highest. For example, around one in three (31.6%) of 16-19 year olds used an illicit drug in the last year in 1996 compared with around one in five (22.3%) in 2009/10. Figure 3: Proportion of adults reporting use of the most prevalent drugs in the last year, by age, 2010/11 BCS As can be seen in figure 3, in 2010/11 cannabis is the type of drug most likely to be used by adults (6.8%) followed by powder cocaine (2.1%), which is consistent with findings from previous years. Similarly, for young adults (16-24 years) cannabis is the most prevalent drug followed by powder cocaine and ecstasy. The 2010/11 BCS reported that single adults had higher levels of any (18.1%) or Class A (6.5%) drug use in comparison with all other marital groups (for example, 2.7% and 0.6% were the equivalent figures for married adults). In addition, adults from a White ethnic group had higher levels of any (9.4%) or Class A (3.2%) drug use than those from a non-White background (that is, ethnic groups other than White; 5.1%, any drug use; 1.0% Class A). Adults living in a household in the lowest income group ( £10,000 or less) had the highest levels of any drug use (12.9%) compared with all other income groups (e.g. 7.7% of adults living in a household with an income of  £50,000). In addition, a clear urban-rural disparity exists, with 9.3 per cent of adults in urban areas had taken any illicit drug in the last year compared with 7.0 per cent of those in rural areas. This was the case for both Class A drug use as well as any other drug use among adults (Home Office, 2011). Similar to the data collected by the British Crime Survey , the NHS also collects data on smoking, drinking and drug use among secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15(NHS, 2011). Overall, this report shows that drug use has declined since 2001. In 2010, 18 per cent of pupils said they had ever dused drugs, 12 per cent had taken any drugs in the last year and 7 per cent had taken drugs in the last month (compared to 29 %, 20 % and 12% respectively in 2001). This decreasing trend can be seen in figure 4. Girls were less likely than boys to have taken drugs in the last year (odds ratio= 0.74), the odds of having taken drugs in the last year also increased with age (odds ratio=1.13 for each additional year) (NHS, 2011). In terms of ethnicity, pupils of Asian ethnicity were more likely to have taken drugs in the last year than white pupils (odds ratio= 1.13). As is not unexpected, both smoking and drinking alcohol were associated with drug use in the last year. When looking at the type of drugs used, cannabis is the most prevalent- 8.2 per cent of pupils reported taking it in the last year. This compares with 8.9 per cent in 2009 and continues the decline seen since 2001. As can be seen in figure 5, 3.8 per cent of pupils reported sniffing collative substances such as glue, gas, aerosols etc, which shows a decrease from 5.5 per cent in 2009. Sniffing poppers has fallen from a high in 2007 to 1.5 per cent in 2010 (NHS, 2011). Figure 4 Source: NHS 2011 Figure 5 Source: NHS 2011 A team of researchers recently found higher than expected rates of HIV and hepatitis C infection in a study in London. They suggested that this was due to high risk injecting practices, associated with newer injectors and the injection of crack (Judd et al. 2005).4 They found higher rates of hepatitis C in their sample than in many other cities internationally (Hope et al. 2001). 2.4 Country comparison Compared to Scotland, data from 2010/11 show that illicit drug use ever among 16-59 year olds was lower in Scotland (33.5%) than in England and Wales (36.4%). Whereas the percentage taking any illicit drug in Scotland in the last year (9.8%) or last month (5.8%) was higher than across England and Wales (8.6% in the last year and 5.0% in the last month.) Another barrier to the accuracy of survey estimates is that household and school surveys are likely to miss those people who are amongst the heaviest users of illicit drugs: the homeless, prisoners and school truants. Dependent users of cocaine and heroin may also be of unstable residence, and less likely to be found in their residence at a given time (reuter). 2.3 What is harm reduction Three separate facets of physical harm can be identifi ed. First, acute physical harm-ie, the immediate eff ects (eg, respiratory depression with opioids, acute cardiac crises with cocaine, and fatal poisonings). Second, chronic physical harm-ie, the health consequences of repeated use (eg, psychosis with stimulants, possible lung disease with cannabis). Finally, there are specifi c problems associated with intravenous drug use.(Nutt et al., 2007) Harm reduction refers to policies and programmes that aim to reduce the harms associated with the use of drugs (Power, 1994). One widely-cited conception of harm reduction distinguishes harm at different levels individual, community and societal and of different types health, social and economic (Donmall, 2001). These distinctions give a good indication of the breadth of focus and concern within harm reduction. As such, harm reduction should not be considered as a service type, or something delivered within a single tier, but should be subject to a whole system approach to reduce or eliminate the harms associated with drug use (NHS, 2009/10). Health related harm resulting from the use and abuse of drugs vary. This is dependent on the type of substance being used, its frequency, its dosage and circumstances of use (Department of Health and National Treatment Agency, 2011b, Department of Health and National Treatment Agency, 2011a). There is a wide-ranging group of health related harms associated with high levels of illicit drug use and misuse. These include, but are not limited to drug dependence (psychological and physical); withdrawal syndromes; tolerance; substance related deaths which can result from poisoning/overdose, violent attacks, and suicides; as well as the development of other medical illnesses such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis (AGENCY, 2007, Equal Partners: Health and Human Rights, 2007). At the community level, drug use can cause nuisance as a result of people discarding drug related litter such as used needles and syringes (Power, 1994). High levels of drug use and drug dealing can contribute more generally to problems in neighbourhoods and communities with little cultural capital and high levels of poverty, and considerable affects crime levels (Power, 1994).The economic burden of health harms related to drug use and misuse is alarming with the National Health Service (NHS) spending close to  £500 million annually on drug misuse associated harms and drug related crime costing the country an estimated  £13.32 billion (Department of Health and National Treatment Agency, 2007). Recent trends among drug users, particularly injecting drug users (IDU), suggest that drug-related harms have increased in recent years. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) report, Shooting Up: Infections among injecting drug users in the United Kingdom 2006, an update: October 2007 (Pearson, 1987) describes the high levels (48%) of sharing injecting equipment amongst current injecting drug users, with mixing containers such as spoons being the most commonly shared items (NHS, 2011). 2.4 What is health related harm Some of the main concerns about health related harm and drug use related to blood borne viruses, such as hepatitis and HIV. Hepatitis C is the most significant infection affecting injecting drug users (IDUs) with 41% of IDUs having been infected. There is marked regional variation with a prevalence of 22% in the North East to a prevalence of 57% and 60% in London and the North West regions respectively. Alcohol use and misuse is the single biggest contributory factor to those with hepatitis C infection developing fatal liver disease (NHS, 2011, Pearson, 1987). In the UK, hepatitis B is usually acquired in adulthood, with sexual activity or injecting drug use being the most commonly reported routes of infection. Infection with the hepatitis B virus typically causes an acute infection, with a small number of those infected going on to develop chronic disease. Infection with hepatitis B is preventable using a safe and effective vaccine, but continues to cause serious ill health in IDUs and their communities. In 2005, the percentage of IDUs with evidence of past or current hepatitis B infection was 19% (613 of 3,175), which is similar to rates since 1995. There is substantial variation between regions, with North West having the highest rates of 31% (221 of 777), and the lowest in the Yorkshire and the Humber region at 5.5% (14 of 253) (NHS, 2011, Pearson, 1987). HIV infection among drug users remains relatively uncommon in the United Kingdom but there is some evidence of both increasing prevalence and transmission. The prevalence of HIV infection in current IDUs in England and Wales in 2005 was 2.1%, the highest prevalence ever seen. In London the prevalence in current IDUs was 4.3%, which is similar to recent years, but elsewhere in England and Wales the prevalence in current injectors was 1.6% which is more than double the prevalence in 2004 (Pearson, 1987, NHS, 2011). In addition to the infectious diseases mentioned above, site infections are also considered health related harm. There are continuing problems with infections associated with injecting including tetanus and wound botulism. These can result from poor skin hygiene, environmental conditions, and/or poor injecting practice (NHS, 2011, Pearson, 1987). 2.5 Role of community pharmacy and needle exchange Open access drug services, such as needle exchange, can provide a crucial interface with drug users who are not currently engaged in structured drug treatment and who are often, by definition, at greater risk of drug-related harm (NHS, 2009/10). For this reason, this aspect of drug-related harm reduction is highlighted here. In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the rising levels of hepatitis (B and C), thus increasing the recognition of the need for better distribution of clean injecting equipment (Matheson et al., 2007). The model of delivery for needle exchange (specialist centre based, detached, outreach or pharmacy-based) will vary according to locally defined need (NHS, 2009/10). Community pharmacists play an important role in the UK in the provision of harm reduction services and in the treatment of drug misusers. They distribute clean needles through exchange or sale and dispense substitute drugs (primarily methadone) for maintenance and detoxification, often supervising the self-administration in the pharmacy to ensure it is taken by the intended person (Matheson et al., 2007). Participation in needle exchange at pharmacy level in Scotland has increased overall but more so in some NHS areas than others. It is still relatively low having only increased from 9.7 to 12.5% compared with England where 19% of pharmacies provide this service (Matheson et al., 2007, Sheridan J, 1996) As discussed above, needle exchange and open access services offer an opportunity not only to provide access to safer injecting materials but also to engage with service users who are not in contact with more structured services. They provide health promotion advice, information and materials, brief interventions, healthcare checks, and referral on to other specialist services (NHS, 2009/10). Increasing the number of pharmacy schemes is likely to offer the best opportunity for the rapid expansion of distribution sites, especially for out of hours cover, supported by robust local co-ordination and monitoring of needle and syringe exchange programmes (NHS, 2009/10). Closely connected to such needle exchange programmes are community-based outreach programmes, with which they are sometimes linked. Without necessarily distributing needles and syringes, these aim to obtain face-to-face contact with IDUs, provide literature about HIV risk reduction, distribute condoms and bleach for disinfection of needles and syringes (especially where needle exchange programmes are not operating), promote teaching and modelling of HIV risk reduction by network leaders, referral to services, improve access to risk assessment and HIV testing, provide counselling and support community organising (Hunt, 2010). It has been shown that such community-based responses can be an effective component of the overall drug response (Hunt, 2010). 2.6 Methadone and other replacement therapies Methadone maintenance treatment is the most researched treatment currently available for people who are dependent on opioids. Its use is supported by an evidence-base developed over almost 40 years and from across many different countries. It retains patients in treatment for longer than any alternative, non-replacement therapy, and has a superior effect on the reduction of heroin use and crime associated with opioid dependence (Power, 1994). 2.7 Historical perspective and the policy development The first controls of drug possession were introduced in the First World War, and in the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1920 (Stimson, 2010). At this time, prescribing heroin and morphine was considered legitimate medical treatment for people who would otherwise be unable to withdraw- a very similar concept to the harm reduction strategy known today- and thus helping the patient lead a useful and fairly normal life. The harm reduction approach to drug use first developed among Dutch heroin users in the 1970s. The original Junkiebond (users union) of Rotterdam spread fast into a national federation which successfully negotiated substantial decriminalization, the prescription of methadone, and the provision of clean needles and syringes. The new approach rapidly spread through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK, France, and other northern European countries (Des Jarlais, 1993, Van Solinge, 1999, Gowan et al., 2012). CHAPTER 4 POLICY ANALYSIS 4.1 Drug Policy Despite the long-standing political prominence of the problem, relatively coherent strategies and substantial investments, the United Kingdom has the highest level of dependent drug use and among the highest levels of recreational drug use in Europe (Reuter, 2007). There are vast arrays of different policies and programmes working towards solving problems related to drug use and drug related harm at all levels, and they vary considerably in their effectiveness. In this chapter, policies in the United Kingdom in general and England in particular will be considered. The United Kingdom consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, within which England accounts for 85% of the UK population (Office for National Statistics, 2012). A number of powers have been devolved from the UK Parliament to Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but each has different levels of devolved responsibilities. The United Kingdom Government is responsible for setting the overall strategy and for its delivery in the devolved administrations only in matters where it has reserved power (Department of Health, 2011). In the United Kingdom, illicit drug policy and attitude towards harm reduction strategies has shifted with government changes. Between 1987 and 1997, there was a public health approach. The aim was to help problem drug users to lead healthier lives, and to limit the damage they might cause to themselves or others (Stimson, 2000). Harm reduction developed in a context of a healthy policy although there were hitches in getting it accepted, for the most part it was well integrated into an amenable existing framework (Stimson, 2000). In 2002 the Liberal Democrats launched new drug policy in which it was proposed that imprisonment should no longer be a punishment option and cannabis should be legalised. The Lib Dem policies were evidence-based, rejecting artificial distinctions between the harm caused by legal and illegal drugs, and rejecting enforcement and prison as primary policy tools based on evidence of ineffectiveness. Unsuccessful in promoting their policies in 2002, in 2011, experts backed calls to be made at the Liberal Democrats conference for the decriminalisation of all drugs, saying it would not lead to a surge in drug use (Travis, 2011). This call came not long after the launch of a new drug strategy, launched in December 2010, replacing that of the previous Government. The 2010 strategy sets out a fundamentally different approach to preventing drug use in communities, and in supporting recovery from drug and alcohol dependence. Some of the main aspects include the responsibility it puts on the indi vidual to seek help and overcome dependency as well as providing a more holistic approach, by addressing other issues in addition to treatment to support people dependent on drugs or alcohol, such as offending, employment and housing. The 2010 strategy aims to reduce demand and takes an uncompromising approach to crack down on those involved in the drug supply both at home and abroad. With the devolution of power, it puts accountability in the hands of local communities to tackle drugs and the harms they cause. The coverage of the new strategy is as follows: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ health, education, housing and social care confined to England à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ policing and the criminal justice system England and Wales à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ the work of the Department for Work and Pensions England, Wales and Scotland (Home Office, 2012) The Scottish Government and Welsh Governments national drug strategies were published in 2008 and all three strategies aim to make further progress on reducing harm and each focuses on recovery (Department of Health, 2011). The changes in the Governments drug policies have not gone without remark. In response to the change in Government strategy, the recently published document Charting New Waters from the UK Drug Policy Commission examined potential threats to drug services. The radical shift from centralised oversight toward local control of commissioning services, raised concerns and questions about whether the changes will deliver the outcomes that people need or help control public expenditure. The report concludes that the new policy is a major social experiment, the outcomes of which are uncertain (OHara, 2012). Research by the UK Drug Policy commission has shown that in addition to the reforms to police, justice, health and local council services in England, these systemic changes together with the budget cuts risk reducing the ability of local areas to respond effectively to problems caused by illicit drug use (Beck 2012). 4.2 UK policy approach As is the case in most European countries, drug-related deaths, infectious diseases, co-morbidity and other health consequences are key policy issues within the United Kingdoms drug strategies (EMCDDA, 2012). Interventions include information campaigns on the risks associated with drug use for different target groups, as well as information on safer injecting and safer sex practices, needle exchange schemes, infection counselling, support and testing, and vaccinations against hepatitis B. In most parts of the United Kingdom, particularly in England, there is a four-tier system of treatment for drug abuse. Tier 1 refers to generic interventions such as information and advice, screening and referral to more specialist services. Tier 2 refers to open-access interventions, such as drop-in services providing advice, information and some harm reduction services such as syringe exchange. Tier 3 services are specialist community services and include prescribing services, structured day programmes and structured psychosocial interventions, such as counselling and therapy and community-based detoxification. Tier 4 services are inpatient services, including detoxification and residential rehabilitation. The majority of structured treatment is delivered at Tier 3, predominantly through community-based specialist drug treatment services (EMCDDA, 2012). 4.3 Drugs and the law The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, with amendments, is the main law regulating drug control in the UK. Drug use per se is not an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: it is the possession of the drug which constitutes an offence (EMCDDA, 2012). The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 divides controlled substances into 3 Classes (A, B, C) based on harm, with Class A being the most harmful. The classification of a drug has several consequences, specifically in determining the legal penalties for importation, supply, and possession, as well as the degree of police effort targeted at restricting its use (Nutt et al., 2007). The actual classifi

The Entertainment Fields Essay -- Technology Video Games Papers

The Entertainment Fields In this literature review, I wil attempt to explain the wealth of opportunities available to technical communicators in the electronics entertainment industry due to the changing nature of video game the technical communication and electronics entertainment fields. I believe an abundance of opportunities exist for technical communicators in the video game industry because the industry itself is stil rather young and poselopingnorms. Documentation and information organization are an integral part of video ga me construction. Currently, there exists no uniform, standardized way to write, document, or organize information in the gaming industry. A gap in the overall standards of content generation has presented itself in the electronics entertainment industry revealing promising opportunities for technical communicators and the skils they point a spThecioriedgin apoiesents an opportunity for technical communicators, as their research puritilizas minformation organization skills will become useful. Litle research has been conducted concerning video game documentation standardization; it is difficult to Literature Review (Video Game Documentation) ortunities for Technical Communicators and Determining th ecessity for Documentation Standards in the Electronics Entertainment Indust mportance of uocume In his book Documentation and the Organization of Knowledge, J.H. Shera, the Dean of the School of Library Science at Western Reser ve University, says concerning documentation that it â€Å"is to be regarded as an essential part of our modern system of graphic communication within the world of scholarship, an instrumental device to expedite the flow of recorded information within a group o f specialists or bet... ..., from Technical Communication Online dat abase. Falstein, N. (2003, July 1). 2 for the Design Process. Game Developer Magazine, pp. 23. Rouse, R., III. (2001). Game Design: Theory & Practice. Plano, Texas: Wordware Publishing, Inc. Freeman, T. (1997, September 12). Creating a Great Design Document. Retrieved September 26, 2003, from htp://www.gamasutra.com/features/19970912/design_doc.htm. Ryan, T. (1999, December 17). The Anatomy of a Design Document, Part 2: Documentation Guidelin for the Functional and Technical Specifications. Retrieved September 27, 2003, from htp://www.gamasutra.com/features/19991217/ryan_01.htm Mead, J. (August 1998). Measuring the Value Added by Technical Documentation: A Review of Research and Practice. Journal of Technical Communication, 45(3). Retrieved September 27, 2003, from Technical Communication Online database.

Historical Figure in Nurse Anesthesia Essay

From time immemorial there have been operations or surgeries of very kind practiced by both medical doctors and traditional healers. Both major and minor surgeries were very painful because nothing had been discovered to relief the pain or cause numbness for these surgeries or operations to be less painful. (Karlet 2004) notes, â€Å"With time some pioneers on medicine tried everything and every way to find something or some drug that may relieve the pain. However, the most looked after drug was the one that will induce sleep or unconsciousness at the same time creates lack of sensation†. History has it that many early doctors tried many ways until one William Morgan discovered and introduced surgical anesthesia of its kind and it proved working even better than any other anesthesia of that time. This paper will focus on William Thomas Green Morgan, his achievements, challenges, controversies and successes. It will analyze the impact of his discoveries from his times to the modern times in nursing anesthesia. However, (D’Antonio 1999) notes that, â€Å"the discovery of anesthesia was dogged with controversy for the reason that many people at that time wanted to go to the books of history and to be known as the first to discover the most sorts after remedy in the world of medicine†. Impact Analysis. William Thomas Green Morgan was born in the year 1819 in Charlton Massachusetts. He attended Northfield and Leicester academies for his education. After school William T. G. Morgan was an enterprising young man of many interests as he tried his luck in everything that came on his way. He became a painter for a while, then worked as a clerk in Worcester County and later tried his hand in business as a salesman in Boston. William Morgan never showed interest in medicine or anything related to medicine. Nevertheless, when he tried all these ventures, he never found them satisfying and thus he was not settled. After all these adventures Morgan joined Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in eighteen forty (1840). This was the world’s first college of dentistry even though William Morgan was not the first student to go through this college. During his studies Morgan partnered in business with Horace Wells who was a dental doctor by profession in Hartford. Morgan found that the partnership was not promising and working the way he wanted and thought thereby dissolving their partnership after a few months. After this partnership dissolution, Morgan the dental student left the college midway and hence did not graduate (Wolfe 2001). In the year 1844 William Morgan joined college again and this time round it was the prestigious Harvard Medical School. His intention was to increase or advance his dental knowledge even though it was shadowed by trying to impress his girlfriend Rebecca by name who he married later. Unfortunately this time again he never completed his degree from Harvard medical school. However, he developed curiosity in the field of medicine and because he never completed his degree, he started attending chemistry lectures by Professor Charles Jackson. From this time on William Morgan developed great interest and liking in chemistry and medicine in general despite the fact that he was more business oriented than a medical practitioner. During his attendance in chemistry lectures that touched on ether and its properties Morgan felt to capitalize that opportunity of using ether to lessen pain or create lack of sensation during surgery. It was a horrendous experience especially when patients were recommended for amputations. William Morgan himself during his youth had undergone a very painful surgery but fortunately he survived. At last there was some promising remedy as the inhalation of ether caused or induced unconsciousness. William Morgan tried these ether properties while extracting a tooth of a patient and it was very successful and painless. He went as far as testing this ether on himself and animals which worked right. This showed how eager and curious he was to invent the proper anesthetic to help patients recommended to undergo surgery. The history of anesthesia was awakened. Before William Morgan many other remedies of painless surgery had been tried but they were not a success and some became poisonous. Some reduced the pain and some did not. Alcohol was used and it was not a success story. William Morgan used ether after keenly learning its properties and Professor Charles Jackson. This was the anesthetic that had been discovered because William proved it right after extracting a patient’s tooth painlessly in Boston. At last William Morgan was relieved but controversy started after claiming to have discovered an anesthesia which indeed worked. However, he continued practicing as a dentist and the money from this proceedings or practice supported his education (Wolfe 2001). Morgan was more a businessman than a dentist as controversies surrounding his discovery raged on as (Wolfe 2001) claims that â€Å"William Morgan was an unsuccessful businessman, an embezzler and a poorly trained dentist who saw in an anesthetic properties of ether an opportunity to become rich†. The controversy was among his competitors, among them Horace Wells the dentist and Professor Charles Jackson the chemist who was his lectures. But it was William Morgan who in 1846 became the first man to use ether to extract a tooth of his patient painlessly in Boston General Hospital. Early William Morgan had tried opium which only but relieved pain (Wolfe 2001). This and many other attempts aroused the eagerness to find anesthesia nevertheless ether became very popular not only in Boston and the United States of America but the discovery news spread around the whole world like wild fire. Communication during those years was extremely underdeveloped and poor but transport by water was in use and the sailors carried the good news of the discovery to Asia, Europe and Australia far down the Pacific. Many doctors and surgeons wanted to prove the good news as others criticized it. The discovery and the experimentation of ether by William Morgan was very controversial because even his teacher wanted to be recognized as the one who discovered the anesthetic properties of ether, but it was clear that all these people who claimed to be the first to make the discovery did not attempt to test and put it into practical use, only William T. G. Morgan dared and indeed he succeeded. In the United States the controversy raged on as who was who that was behind etherization as William Morgan continued to use it on his patients and it really worked. (Royal College of Anesthetists 2008), â€Å"Morton conducted various experiments on him and animals and afterwards he successfully performed a dental extraction in his office in Boston. † As time went by Morton’s experience with ether was a success, the horrible and noisy surgeries were past tense. William Morton went a step further to invent an ether delivery instrument which he called Letheon Inhaler which was used by patients to inhale ether. (The Royal College of Anesthetists. Internet source 2008). William Thomas Green Morton was a man to reckon with during the mid 19th century because his inner drive desire was to alleviate the pain and the suffering of patients recommended for surgery even though in the back of his mind he wanted to make profit out of it. This had caused controversy among historians. After all William Morton was open-hearted because he gave his discovery to the world without any restrictions. However, he was unsuccessful to patent his Letheon Inhaler. (Royal College of Anesthetists 2008) notes that, â€Å"Morton offered free rights to his innovation to all charitable institutions the country and undoubtedly he was ardently in favor of the abolition of surgical pain although with profit to himself†. Morton’s discovery was handy during the American bloody civil war as many injured soldiers were relieved of pain and operated on painlessly by the use of ether. Morton himself administered ether to thousands of the combatants in the civil war. (The Royal College of Anesthetists. Internet source 2008). These controversies dogged him for a long time until one time he met the then 14th president of the United States Franklin Pierce to highlight to him the controversies he was facing so that he can give a verdict on his case but all was in vain. Historians have generally agreed that Morton set the pace for ether and other subsequent anesthetics to be used (Wolfe 2001). He (Wolfe 2001) further says, â€Å"In history, controlling the pain caused by surgery had been a problem for a long for a long time, many chemical agents with pain relieving properties were recognized before they were used practically even though some like chloroform were harmful and dangerous. Morton started systematic studies on the anesthetic effects of ether convinced the medical world the importance of pain free operations through his demonstration of ether inhalation. The news of ether inhalation and anesthesia spread around the world very quickly and the first to be administered outside the USA was in Norway in the year 1847†. The good news spread to other parts of the world was published in magazines and newspapers as dental doctors and surgeons tried the new discovery which for them was a great and or tremendous success in history of painless surgery. (The Royal College of Anesthetists. Internet source 2008). Unfortunately, William T. G. Morgan died from cerebral hemorrhage due to the heat wave that New York in the year eighteen sixty seven (1867) after being dogged by controversies over his great discovery of ether and its administration during surgery. During the 19th century and there before surgery on the stomach and inside the skull was a no- go zone, some cases surgery speed was the only determinant of a successful surgery but many were unsuccessful. (Wolfe 2001). From that time of William Morgan, anesthesia has been revolutionalized and today it is very safe. There are no death cases from anesthesia with specially trained anesthetists who are only specializing in this field. There are no toxic and dangerous agents in the present anesthetics which have proven the advancement that has been marked in this field. In today’s surgery, for instance, a patient operated in the lower abdomen, nerves can be blocked near the lower part of the spinal cord and there is no need of inducing sleep as the operation goes on well while talking with the patient. (Taffe and Samuels 2003). Conclusion. The evolution of anesthesia has been very controversial from the side of William Morton but he achieved what his rivals were not near to achieve but only popped up when he (William Morgan) had made many sacrifices to achieve what was so important in the nursing world. Anesthesia has been one of the most advanced discoveries which was dangerous and today it is very safe.

Operation Management Case Studies Essay

Operation Management Case Studies Intoduction Case study on Salmon processing facility Question 1 E= $ 6,333.33 Therefore, the additional expenditure for the productivity of the two systems to equal will be $ 6, 333.33 Question 4                   If the cost of energy increases in future, the productivity of facility will be affected negatively and it will decrease. If the cost of the energy increases beyond the estimated additional expenditure of $ 6,333.33, the productivity of the new facility will be much lower than that of the old system and therefore, it will not be advantage to the firm. This will also affect reduce the profitability of the company. Case 2 on Hard Rock Cafe Question 1                   The Hard Rock strategic changes that it has experienced include globalization and changes in its brand through unique services that include rock music. The music has led to the growth of this company. It has managed to open 157 cafe facilities in more than 57 countries. The cafe has also diversified brands to fish and lobsters in Britain. Moreover, it has started shifting its target market from tourists to non tourists’ cities in United Kingdom in addition to leasing cafes in tourism cites such as Nottingham (Heizer, & Render, 2013). Question 2                   Hard Rock has various PRODUCTS that vary from Hamburger, beef, and other tourism attracting meal. The cafe is has also diversified its products to fish and lobsters thus widening its market and meeting the needs of the customer.                   Hard rock cafe moved its LOCATION from domestic market to global market. In addition, it has started opening in new non tourisms LOCATIONS such as Manchester united to prevent risks associated with economic fluctuations that arise from tourism business poor performance.                   Hard rock HUMAN RESOURCE has participated in developing new strategies that has helped to improve the performance the business. For example, the introduction of sound and visuals in dinner events that attract more customers and recruitment of highly trained employees that provides quality services.                   The Hard Rock has improved its  SERVICE by adding unique services that cannot be found in any other place in the world such as music on both quality visual and sounds. They serve food with enthusiasm on their customers (Heizer, & Render, 2013). Question 3 -123825158750Introduction Growth Maturity Decline Standardization Less rapid product changes – more minor changes Optimum capacity Increasing stability of process Long production runs Product improvement and cost cutting Little product differentiation Cost minimization Overcapacity in the industry Prune line to eliminate items not returning good margin Reduce capacity Forecasting critical Product and process reliability Competitive product improvements and options Increase capacity Shift toward product focused Enhance distribution Product design and development critical Frequent product and process design changes Short production runs High production costs Limited models Attention to quality Best period to increase market share R&D product engineering critical Practical to change price or quality image Strengthen niche Cost control critical Poor time to change image, price, or quality Competitive costs become critical Defend market position OM Strategy/Issues Company Strategy/Issues HDTV CD-ROM Color copiers Drive-thru restaurants Fax machines Station wagons Sales 3 1/2† Floppy disks Internet 00Introduction Growth Maturity Decline Standardization Less rapid product changes – more minor changes Optimum capacity Increasing stability of process Long production runs Product improvement and cost cutting Little product differentiation Cost minimization Overcapacity in the industry Prune line to eliminate items not returning good margin Reduce capacity Forecasting critical Product and process reliability Competitive product improvements and options Increase capacity Shift toward product focused Enhance distribution Product design and development critical Frequent product and process design changes Short production runs High production costs Limited models Attention to quality Best period to increase market share R&D product engineering critical Practical to change price or quality image Strengthen niche Cost control critical Poor time to change image, price, or quality Competitive costs become critical Defend market position OM Strategy/Issues Company Strategy/Issues HDTV CD-ROM Color copiers Drive-thru restaurants Fax machines Station wagons Sales 3 1/2† Floppy disks Internet                   The company is still in the growth stage but approaching maturity. This is from the fact that Hard Rock is trying to change its products from beef and Hamburger to lobster and fish, it can be noted that it is trying to improve its products in order to increase its competitiveness. The company is still forecasting on its future market where it want to change from tourists-dependent market to non-tourism dependent market (Heizer, & Render, 2013). The cafe has products that are reliable with little improvement. Reference Heizer, J., & Render, B. (2013). Principles of operation ,management: Sustainability and supply chain management. Pearson Source document