Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essay Example Essay Example

Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essay Example Paper ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The successful completion of this study is as a result of the helping hands of numerous individuals. I thank the people of Community X for their massive cooperation in answering the questionnaires given. Also , to my friends, who helped with the distribution of the questionnaires and my family for the giving me the hope and strength to persevere. Lastly, much gratitude is extended to my teacher for guiding me in every step of the way throughout my investigations. Social studies SCHOOL BASED ASSESSEMENT (S. B. A. ) Statement of the Problem What are the causes, effects and solutions of the usage of alcohol amongst individuals of Community X? Method of Investigation I have chosen the questionnaire as a means of collecting data to carry out the survey. The questionnaire has numerous advantages which include the following: Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essay Body Paragraphs Instrument used to collect Data Copy Of Questionnaire Survey of alcohol usage among individuals in Community X. Dear Villager, This is a survey being carried out in Community X to determine the level of alcohol usage among individuals in the community. This study I am currently pursuing, is conducted as an assignment for a Social Studies course. I advise you to answer the questions given, truthfully and honestly since you are not required to write names. There are no wrong or right answers as this is not a test. Most answers require a tick in the small boxes provided ; read the questions carefully. Villager’s Questionnaire We will write a custom essay sample on Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Social Studies Sba on Alcohol Abuse Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer 1. Sex Male Female 2. What is your occupation? __ 3. To what Ethnic group do you belong? African Descent Chinese Descent Indian Descent Mixed Descent 4. How long have you been a member of Community X? ___ 5. To what age group do you belong? Under 12 12-14 15-16 17-19 6. As a youth, which of the following influences you to consume alcohol? Peer pressure For the fun of it Out of curiosity Depression 7. When do you often consume alcohol? Special Occasions Partying To gain popularity I do not drink alcohol 8. Do problems in the home contribute to students drinking alcohol? Yes No 9. What normally happens when you consume alcoholic beverages? I feel tipsy I feel normal I have headaches I do not drink alcohol 10. How do you think the students of Community X get alcoholic beverages? It is made available at community shops An older sibling/friend is asked to purchase it for them They steal it away They are given the consent 11. What is the most common effect caused by drinking? STD’s Being an alcoholic Having Heart disease Death 12. What effect does known cases of alcohol drinking in Community X, have on the rest of its population? _ . 13. How does alcohol consumption affect a student’s academic performance? They work less Nothing is done They work harder They give up on school 14. Do students who drink alcohol show signs of aggressive behaviour? Yes No 15. What do you suggest to your fellow community members who have already started to drink? Tone down their intake Drink responsibly Stop drinking Seek professional help 16. Should the age of consent for drinking be increased? Yes No 17. Do you think Rehabilitation Centers should be considered for alcoholics? Yes, but it will not be fully effective No, It will not help Let them suffer the consequences Have counsel sessions instead Presentation and Interpretation of Data [pic]Fig 1. The causes of alcohol consumption is simply represented in Fig 1; this figure briefly explains that 45% of the people in Commu nity X consume alcoholic beverages for minor influences as the simple fun and njoyment that comes with the pleasures of drinking. One the other hand, 20% indicate that the partake of the activity as a result of Peer Pressure where individuals, mostly teenagers, drink because they either think it is â€Å"cool† or o prove a point. However, 30% population specified that they â€Å"drink† for the little curiosity of finding out what other individuals get, feel or benefit from it, this being. Mainly just experimenting the activity. A smaller 5% say they drink alcohol because of Depression because alcohol is known to somewhat relieve the stress that causes Depression. pic]Fig2 Whereby the effects of consuming Alcohol are concerned, almost half of the population indicate that no harm is done, as 55% of them feel normal after their intake of the substance. And so, this could be one of the reasons, the level of consumption in the community should be monitored. 5 % of them say they feel tipsy, an eerie felling, that may cause them to intake alcohol regularly. However, a few of them seem to be affected as 10% of the population state that they have headaches which may discourage them to do so. Another 10% indicate that they simply do not drink alcohol, mainly because of religion and other personal reasons. pic]Fig3 In order to manage the level of alcohol usage in Community X. Fig 3 shows that 70% of Its members indicate that the individuals who already drinking, should drink responsibly Suggesting that they should look at the consequences of whether it be becoming an alcoholic or getting drunk. Another 15% say they these individuals should simply tone down their intake of by drinking less of the substance. On the other hand, the remainder of the population , 15%, indicated more drastic measures to the solution. Fig 3 shows that 10% of them say people should just stop drinking while the other 5% believe they should seek professional help. These responses the refore can be interpreted as the respondents knowing someone who drink too much. Procedures Used to Collect Data Community X has an estimated number of 130 individuals; due to calculations, it was discovered that 15% of the population was needed in order to gather possible causes, effects, and solutions to the level of alcohol usage in the community. That is, ( 15% of 130 =20 ) Therefore, a total of 35 questionnaires were distributed with the expectation that at least 20 would be returned. Later, it was decided that the questionnaires be given to random personnel. This resulted in the recording of information on each individual on small pieces of paper, placed in a box, shaken and a total of 35 slips were selected. Therefore, 35 individuals received a copy of the questionnaire, were successfully completed and left in my mailbox 4 Hart Rd. Cheleston Gardens. Findings The survey carried out resulted in numerous interesting discoveries due to the level of alcohol usage in Community X. These state: Alcohol is consumed mainly through social activities where 70% of the individuals indicate that they partake of alcoholic beverages when â€Å"partying†. †¢ The most common effect known caused by drinking is neutral between 1. Becoming an alcoholic 2. Being sexually active at an early age. Which was I therefore observed that the questionnaires have revealed a 50-50% ratio. †¢ The individuals of Community X believe that in order for the level of alcohol be decreased, Rehabilitation Centers should be established. However, all 100% of the people who agree, stated that it will not be fully effective for the common reason that the alcoholics will not endure the necessary procedures that will be required. Recommendations The level of alcohol usage should not be taken lightly, as many young people in Community X are partaking of the activity when are far too young to be drinking. That said, I would recommend to this community that the decreasing level of alcohol us be accomplished through two simple objectives. These objectives include:? Allowing adults of the community to take on leadership qualities whereby they look out for children who they see with alcoholic beverages and hinder them from consuming it. More specifically to shopkeepers, since in recent survey it is proven that most individuals especially children receive alcohol by the availability of such beverages in the community shops. Talk to individuals about drinking as little talks can do great things. There are people who are willing to listen. Parents will see to it that their children go to these sessions and ensure that they understand the dangers of drinking. Pie Chart Showing Causes Of Alcohol Consumption 20% 30% 5% 45% Peer Pressure Out of Curiosity Depression For the fun of it Chart Showing Effects of Alcohol Consumption In Community X. I feel tipsy 25% I have headaches 10% I feel normal 55% I do not drink alcohol 10% I feel tipsy I have headaches I feel normal I do not drink alcohol

EKEN Power Bands

EKEN Power Bands Executive Summary Considering the international relations from the trading position, we have chosen the idea of confronting of the Australian market and the American market with the purpose to help Australian EKEN Power Bands brand expend at the international arena.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on EKEN Power Bands specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More We are going to consider the product and its significance at the Australian and US markets, identify competitors, check the options for entering international markets and expand there, underline the country of product origin and the consumers behaviour there, consider American consumer ethnocentrism and animosity, point to the market segmentation, target audience and positioning and on the basis of this information highlight international marketing mix and other related factors with the recommendations EKEN Power Bands should follow if it wants to enter international market and expand there. Having chosen a good advertising strategy, offering unique bands, an office in Los Angeles, creating positive public image in the country of origin and correspondence to the newest technological developments may result in high consumer activities and raise of selling rates in the USA. Country-of-Origin, Consumer Ethnocentrism and Consumer Animosity Country-of-origin Australia is the country which produces EKEN Power Bands and is considered to be its place or origin. The country is developed in the relation to sport, but it seems to be seasonal and the company wants to provide year cycle business. Australian customers are rather prejudiced to the innovation. Much influence is provided by mass media, but the credibility of their impact is rather doubtful. The Australian market is full of sceptical views, the media is a powerful weapon in persuading the minds of people. The negative effect from such news is obvious. Once the news reported that â€Å"A Wristband clai ming to boost strength, balance and flexibility has been exposed as a fake† (Mawby, N 2010), people have taken the same side. However, mass media offers minimum reasons and it is impossible to draw conclusions about the reasonableness of such statement (Dowling Weeks 2011). This is the main characteristic of the Australian market as the country of origin for EKEN Power Bands. Consumer Ethnocentrism It should be stated that much attention is paid to the consumer ethnocentrism, as this issue influences customers’ choice, and as a result, defines market segmentation.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Considering consumer ethnocentrism, it should be mentioned that a lot of different factors may be considered as both advantageous and disadvantageous for the country of origin (Parts 2007). Trying to struggle over the American consumer ethnocentrism, EKEN Pow er Bands has taken a good strategy. The brand uses famous sport stars to impact Americans. According to the customers’ priorities, Americans’ choice can be in favour of the products used by the celebrities. When famous sportsmen wear the products by EKEN, people are tend to notice it and buy the advertised items, to make sure that they have reached their idol at least in cloths elements. Such strategy is going to help EKEN Power Bands avoid consumer ethnocentric relation from the American consumers. Consumer Animosity Consumer animosity in the relation to a specific country is defined as â€Å"the remnants of antipathy related to previous or ongoing military, political or economic events† (Lwin, Stanaland Williams 2010, p. 249) and â€Å"affects the intension of buy products imported from that country† (Hoffmann, Mai Smirnova 2011, p. 236). There are three main reasons which may cause animosity, that is perceived threat, antithetical political attitudes , and negative personal experiences (Hoffmann, Mai Smirnova 2011). There is no consumer animosity of Americans in the relation to Australia what is good news for EKEN which should not worry about this problem. The main difference between consumer ethnocentrism and consumer animosity is that the first notion shows antipathy to all foreign products and their consideration of bad quality, and in case of the second notion, the antipathy is based on the negative attitude to the specific country and may not be connected with goods quality. Conclusion Recommendations In conclusion, it should be stated that Australian company EKEN Power Bands has chosen a good international strategy. Focusing on people who are either fond of sport or going in for sports on the professional basis, the company has chosen the USA as the target market with the advertising campaign directed at the encouraging people to but bands by means of using celebrities and sport stars, EKEN Power Bands is going to achiev e good success, if other international market factors are followed. It has been stated that EKEN Power Bands should work more to establish successful public relation in Australia and not to make company’s public image in Australia (influenced negative by a number of unsupported publications which pointed to the usefulness of bands) spoil its sales in the USA.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on EKEN Power Bands specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Furthermore, it can be stated that the choice of the target market and target audience helps the company implement successful market segmentation and occupy a niche at the American market as EKEN Power Bands position itself as the one which produces unique products. Reference List Dowling, G Weeks, W 2011, ‘Media analysis: what is it worth?’, Journal of Business Strategy, vol. 32, iss. 1, pp. 26-33. Hoffmann, S, Mai, R Smirnova, M 2011, Development and Valid ation of a Cross-Nationally Stable Scale of Consumer Animosity, Journal of Marketing Theory Practice, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 235-252. Lwin, M, Stanaland, A Williams, J 2010, Exporting America, International Journal of Advertising, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 245-278. Mawby, N 2010, ‘Power Balance wristbands exposed as a sham’, Herald Sun, 23 December, https://www.news.com.au/technology/power-wristbands-banned-and-refunds-ordered-by-accc/news-story/a084dc95add900567d5ee9918203577e Parts, O 2007, The Measurement of Consumer Ethnocentrism and COO Effect in Consumer Research, Transformations in Business and Economics, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 139-154.

Strategic Fit Analysis of Starbucks The United States Segment Assignment

Strategic Fit Analysis of Starbucks The United States Segment - Assignment Example Our global business delivered the highest levels of service to our customers, a truly rewarding experience to our partners (employees), and a record-level performance to shareholders.† (Schultz, 2011). The Starbucks business strategy seeks to address sustainability, maintainability, and growth issues through effective management of available resources while assessing risks, opportunities and threats to ensure a sustainable growth while keeping the company’s value plan intact. The ultimate objective of business strategy is not only to earn good profits but also to win the customer satisfaction and confidence of shareholders and workforce. The Company’s Proxy statement for the year 2012 outlines some of these strategic guidelines in these words, â€Å"The involvement of the board of directors in reviewing Starbucks business strategy is an integral aspect of the board’s assessment of management’s tolerance for risk and also its determination of what co nstitutes an appropriate level of risk for the Company.† (Proxy, 2012). The purpose of the report is to establish a best strategic fit of Starbucks to further strengthen its position and share in the US coffee market. Before finding a best strategic fit for a growing company like Starbucks, it is imperative to explore various internal strengths and weaknesses of company as well as external opportunities and threats that it may face in the regional competitive market. Starbucks has a strategic insight into the growing market of coffee in United States. Ganes-Chase (2012) has explained the reasons towards changing coffee consumption trends for US in a more meaningful manner â€Å"Cof ­fee has had con ­sid ­er ­able pos ­i ­tive media cov ­er ­age about stud ­ies find ­ing drink ­ing cof ­fee to be good for your... The purpose of the report is to establish a best strategic fit of Starbucks to further strengthen its position and share in the US coffee market. Before finding a best strategic fit for a growing company like Starbucks, it is imperative to explore various internal strengths and weaknesses of company as well as external opportunities and threats that it may face in the regional competitive market. Starbucks has a strategic insight into the growing market of coffee in United States. This discussion declares that businesses are not operated in isolation they effects and got effected by Macro and Micro economic factors and forces. A successful business needs to identify the best strategic fit for its products while handling these factors and forces for the sustainability and growth of the business. Starbucks requires a carefully designed strategy to overcome various forces that may have an adverse impact on the business while cashing on the opportunities. The forth coming sections will outline various threats and opportunities posed by the multifaceted macro and micro forces. PESTEL Analysis is an effective macro-environment analytical tool. It may include the investigation of several factors that may effect the business operation of Starbucks in US to help in the decision making process of the business. This analysis will focus economic, political, legal and technological factors.

History of East Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

History of East Africa - Essay Example Slavery is defined as a condition whereby a person, known as a slave is under the control of another. Slavery almost always occurs for the purpose of securing labor. History dictates that those who become slaves had different ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex or race than the dominant group, typically taken prisoner as a result of war. Capture meant death or slavery if one paid no ransom. Social entities characterized with poverty, overpopulation, and cultural and technological lag are frequently exported as slaves to more developed nations.The nature of the slavery differed greatly across the continent. There were large plantations toiled by slaves in Egypt, Sudan and Zanzibar, but this was not a typical use of slaves in Africa as a whole. Slaves were protected and incorporated into the slave-owning family while in others, slaves were brutally abused, and even used for human sacrifices.The practice of slavery and slave trade existed in Africa long before the Europeans arrived (B eck. 2004). Slaves were regarded as investment of local chiefs, kings, merchants and dependent royal subjects for personal gains and revenue as well as performing administrative or military duties. Prior to the European conquest, slavery was a tool in building and strengthening states. In the period of the European colonization, slave trade changed dramatically causing internal divisions among African societies (Amber. 2004). The Oyo-Dahomey Wars, local/regional conflicts among the Asante, and internal division within the Congo kingdoms helped the Europeans acquire slaves in exchange for textiles, guns and ammunitions to expand their territories. The Europeans benefited from this by shipping off the slaves to the plantations of the Americas. As a result the African societies experienced a drastic change depopulating skilled craftsmen and increased wars among tribes (Cooper. 1980). Families were torn apart and children that were left behind became vulnerable to being captured by riva l tribesman (Amber. 2004). The slave trade as a result expanded because of the participation of African rulers and merchants (Beachey. 1976) in the international exchange economy, involving the exports of humans. Africans were manipulated and used by Europeans through the domination of Africa's natural resources (Cooper. 1980). In the beginning of European involvement in Africa, they were initially interested in trading with Africans for their gold, slaves, ivory, and other resources. Europeans began trading in Africa in the 15th century, mainly getting gold and slaves. When they reached the eastern coast of Africa, their prime interest shifted to controlling and securing trade routes to India. For a few centuries, European involvement in Africa was mostly contained to the coastal regions. In the East, the Omanis gained nominal control of the islands, but until the reign of Sayyid (1804-56) they took little interest in them (Nwulia. p13-14. 1975). Sayyid recognized the commercial value of East Africa and increasingly turned his attention to Zanzibar and Pemba, where he permanently relocated his court into (Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 2006). He brought many Arabs with him, and they gained control of Zanzibar's fertile soil, forcing most of the Hadimu to migrate to the eastern part of the island. The Hadimu were obliged to work on the clove plantations. Sayyid controlled much of the East where Zanzibar became the main center of ivory and slave trade (Cooper.1980). Some of them were used on the clove plantations while others were exported to other parts overseas. With Zanzibar's trade being administered by Omanis' who organized caravans into the interior of

Why the Legal Drinking Age Shouldnt be lowered Essay Example for Free

Why the Legal Drinking Age Shouldnt be lowered Essay In the United States, the legal drinking age for all fifty states and the District of Columbia is twenty-one. The drinking age is twenty-one because the government decided this is when a person becomes legally responsible to handle the repercussions of consuming alcohol. The U.S. has the highest legal drinking age in the world. Only four countries in the world have a legal drinking age over eighteen, making the US an exception rather than the rule. Some people may argue that the government should lower the drinking age since you legally become an adult at age eighteen, but I completely understand this law and am totally for it. Underage drinking has become an epidemic that has spread all over the world, but more so in the United States than any other country. This is disturbing because the brain is not fully developed until a person is around twenty-two years of age. Therefore, it should be harder for minors to obtain alcohol, and the legal drinking age should not be lowered. What is alcohol, and where did it come from? Alcohol is a natural substance formed by the reaction of fermenting sugar with yeast. The production of alcohol started about 10,000 years ago. It all started around the Black and Caspian Seas with wine, and slowly made its way around the surrounding areas. Mesopotamia and Egypt were thriving with wine productions by 3,000 B.C. (Narconon). A thousand years later, a Roman God, Dionysus, started appearing in the literature, and was the god of the grape harvest. Then, about 700 years after that, in addition to wine, India started manufacturing beer. This new production spread rapidly, and the Hebrews adopted the new beverage for many different new medicines. After that, the Jews began to use wine and beer in sacred rituals and ceremonies. Although some cultures accepted alcohol, others rejected it completely. Because these alcoholic beverages were spreading so quickly, they raised curiosity. A medical school in Italy began doing experiments, and finally developed something called distillation- a purer, stronger alcohol (Narconon). From Italy, these new drinks spread to England and Scotland, and eventually found their way over to America. Drunkenness became a huge problem in America, so the government passed the Prohibition Act of 1920. Originally, the eighteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited the manufacture, sale, transport, import, or export of all alcoholic beverages. Upon its ratification by the states, Congress voted its approval in 1919. Thus the law was passed, and became known as the National Prohibition Act of 1920 (American Medical Association). The eighteenth amendment was repealed in 1933, which made the Prohibition Act null and unenforceable. After prohibition, most states restricted the minimum legal drinking age to twenty-one. Between 1970 and 1975, twenty-nine states lowered the minimum legal drinking age to eighteen, nineteen, or twenty. These changes were made when other activities, such as voting, were lowered. In between September 1976 and January 1983, the minimum legal drinking age for every state was set at the age of twenty-one. Although this is the law in our country, it is also incredibly easy for minors to obtain alcohol. As always, there are different ways to work around the law. These are issues that must be addressed. Some of these ways include a fake I.D., a minor giving someone money to go buy it for them, going somewhere that will sell to minors, or even stealing it from their parents liquor cabinet. A fake I.D is fairly cheap and also easy to get if you know the right people. For the most part, if you were a minor trying to get alcohol you could go up to any random person, and eight times out of ten that person would go buy it for you. There are also places minors could go to buy it themselves like little gas stations around the lower socioeconomic societies. The reason that these gas stations will sell to minors is because it increases their sales, and because they will get little penalty for selling to minors. If they do get fined for it, the fine isn’t enough to make them stop. Alcohol generally is not secured in most homes so there is easy access for minors who have no fears about taking it from their parents. There has also been the increasing trend of parents not only providing alcohol, but encouraging its use in the home, under the assumption that minors will do it anyway and it’s better to do so in a supervised, safe environment. Underage drinking is one of the biggest problems that the U.S. faces, and is now considered a public health problem. Young adults have the highest prevalence of alcohol consumption than any other age group (Century Council). They also drink more heavily, experience more negative consequences, and engage in more harmful activities. Drinking at any age can have some of the worst effects on you and the people around you. Many young teens that experiment with alcohol believe there are no consequences to their actions. It is actually quite the opposite. Alcohol is associated with driving under the influence, violence  and aggressiveness, sexual activity, smoking, and poor school performance. There are all of these problems, and then some that all started with alcohol. Driving under the influence or a DUI is classified under two categories, and can be given out if the person is under the influence of an intoxicating drink or a combination of an alcoholic beverage and drugs. There are felonies and misdemeanors. The difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is misdemeanor DUI charges means that the charge involved no injury or property damage, and the penalty can be up to 6 months in jail. A felony has injury and/or property damage, and the penalty could be up to three years in a state prison. This number fluctuates depending on the number of misdemeanors or felonies a person has had in the past. These laws are in place to not only protect the youth in America, but to also ensure that other innocent people on the roads do not get hurt. There are plenty of accidents that come from texting and driving already (which is the equivalent to drinking and driving) that to lower the drinking age, I think, would cause more alcohol-induced accidents. Underage drinking already contributes to more than 4,700 automobile wrecks a year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and studies have shown that every twenty-two minutes someone will die of an alcohol related traffic accident (First Eagle Insurance Services). Although you probably think that it could never happen to you, other studies have shown that everyone has a forty percent chance of being in an accident involving alcohol use at some point in their life (Drug Free World). â€Å"Vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for minors age 15-20 years old† (Century Council). Aside from drinking and driving, there is also a two-way association between alcohol consumption and violence or aggressiveness. While individual behavior is shaped in large part by the environment, it is also manipulated by biological factors, and ultimately directed by the brain, but the brain is affected if large amounts of alcohol are consumed. The consumption of alcohol may promote aggressiveness and lead to victimization, which in turn leads to excessive consumption of alcohol. Violence and aggressive behaviors are those that are threatening, hostile, or damaging in a physical or nonphysical way. There have been multiple studies conducted that show there is a link between violent crimes and alcohol consumption. In 2012, the percentages of violent offenders who were drinking at the time of the offense were: â€Å"eighty-six percent of homicide  offenders, thirty-seven percent of assault offenders, sixty percent of sexual offenders, up to fifty-seven percent of men, and twenty-seven percent of women involved in marital violence, and thirteen percent of child abusers† (NIAAA). A lot of times alcohol is accompanied by cigarettes, marijuana, or other hardcore drugs. Many researchers hypothesize that the ethanol in alcohol triggers a feeling of pleasure, and those feelings are reinforced when nicotine is added to the mix. Others think that those who abuse one substance will be more inclined to abuse other substances. Nicotine lowers blood alcohol concentration, so therefore a person who is smoking and drinking simultaneously would have to consume more alcohol in order to reach intoxication. Most people react differently to alcohol than others do. A lot of this has to do with the person’s age, gender, race/ethnicity, physical condition (weight, fitness level etc.), amount of food consumed before drinking, use of drugs/prescription medications, and family history of alcohol problems. Usually when there is a family history of alcohol problems you will often see a history of some other type of disease linked to it. Some of these include: breast cancer, oral cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and cirrhosis of the liver. Twenty percent of alcohol is absorbed directly through the stomach walls into the bloodstream, and reaches all organs and tissues of the body within moments. The other eighty percent is processed through the gastrointestinal system. It is considered a drug, and is a sedative depressant of the central nervous system (Reeves). Alcohol can damage the dendrites at the end of a nerve cell causing disorder to brain functions. It is also capable of rupturing blood capillaries and veins. Aside from damaging nerves and veins, it can also damage the liver. It stops the liver’s ability to process fats, and can cause disease. The high sugar content in some alcoholic or mixed beverages can lead to hypoglycemia and predispose one to diabetes. Alcohol can also alter sleep patterns, basic motor functions, thoughts, and emotions. The consumption of alcohol on or at an above average rate can lead to alcoholism. Women metabolize alcohol more slowly than men. Because it stays in a womans bloodstream longer, it can cause more cellular damage of the kind that can trigger cancer. Alcohol also influences blood levels of estrogen and other hormones in ways that may make cancer more likely. For example, â€Å"compared to women who dont drink at all, women who have three  alcoholic drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer. Experts estimate that the risk of breast cancer goes up another 10% for each additional drink women regularly have each day. Girls ages 9-15 who have 3-5 drinks a week have 3 times the risk of developing benign breast lumps†(Breastcancer.org). These benign breast lumps can be a precursor to breast cancer. From this it is easy to see that the younger that someone starts consuming alcohol, the increased risk of cancer and loss of life is more likely. It might be easy to dismiss this issue as one of personal choice or preference. This discounts the social impact of drinking on society. â€Å"Alcohol costs American employers an estimated $134 billion in productivity losses, mostly due to missed work† (Ensuring solutions.org). The impact is not only economical though. Missed work impacts every worker at a job who must work that much harder to accomplish their work tasks. It also can decrease teamwork and morale due to resentment from the missed time at work, therefore decreasing productivity as well. Additionally, alcohol impacts every workers paycheck in other ways. As a rule, workers in America pay taxes on their pay as part of the social contract. These taxes are used for a variety of federal projects, such as ensuring a strong infrastructure, including maintenance of our highway system. â€Å"Alcohol related crashes costs the public $114.3 billion annually† (MAAD). This is money that could be spent improving our roadways, bridges, and mass transit systems. This would also address shortfalls in other areas of the government budget, such as possibly addressing the furlough of air traffic controllers due to the current sequester. Not only is alcohol affecting society in terms of road safety, it is impacting air safety too. These quotes and statistics are not specifically for underage drinkers but as a sampling of society as a whole we can see that if adults are unable to drink heavily and prolonged without negative effects the same should be true of minors who have not yet developed full brain capacity and critical thinking skills. It is not just physical and social effects that are felt by people who overuse or abuse alcohol. â€Å"Among high school students, those who use alcohol are five times more likely to drop out than those who dont use alcohol. Alcohol is implicated in more than 40 percent of all college academic problems and in 28 percent of all college dropouts† (Alcoholcostcalculator.org). This has a ripple effect. High school and college dropouts on average earn less than  those with secondary and post secondary degrees. This not only impacts the immediate quality of life it has long term effects reaching into retirement. Social Security is based on lifetime earned income. With the reduced earning potential of not having a diploma or degree underage drinkers set themselves up for living on a fixed income once they become old or infirm. This is not the only economic impact. A quick look at Rehabilitation Centers shows price ranges from $2,000-$30,000 for a 28 day stay. This does not include continuing aftercare. There are also legal fees for DUIs or Public Intoxication citations, plus bar tabs prior to the cessation of drinking. â€Å"Out of every $100 American consumers spend, about $1 goes to alcohol† (Vo). The average household income is around $50,000 per year, meaning that on average $500 a year is spent on alcohol, for an approximate lifetime average of $35,000. â€Å"In 2007 the death toll from teen drunk driving accidents was 1,393† (Drug Free World). The economic impact of funeral expenses, which on average total around $6,000, is nothing in terms of emotional cost. Many parents who lose a child end up divorcing, tearing apart families in the process. This may also lead to alcohol or other drug abuse in the parents or siblings, resulting in further economic, social, and societal impacts. It’s a vicious cycle and one that could be avoided by continuing to keep the drinking age at the current level. There are numerous warning signs that a minor may have an issue with underage drinking and it is important for those involved in the minor’s life to recognize these to curb an issue before it begins. These include physical, emotional, family, school, and social problems. Parents, teachers, and friends should look for physical signs such as fatigue, red and glazed eyes, or a lasting cough. Emotional indicators include personality changes, sudden mood changes, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self esteem, poor judgment, and depression. The minor may start more arguments, break more rules and withdraw from their family. There will be a decreased interest in school, drop in grades, increased absences, truancy, and a rise in discipline issues. The minor may show a big social change, with new friends, a change in style of dress, and possible problems with the law. This list is not exhaustive, but from the examples given it shows that underage drinkers have a wealth of issues that will affect them negatively for quite some time. With all of this in mind, I do not feel that lowering the legal drinking age would be in our county’s best interest. The government has these laws in place to keep our country and the people in it safe, and if these laws were to change it would send our country into a downward spiral. I feel that the rates of alcohol induced traffic accidents, rates of violent crimes related to alcohol, rates of certain types of diseases, and much more would upsurge drastically. I also feel that if our government doesn’t address these issues with more force and power, minors will keep doing what they have been doing and nothing will change. Works Cited â€Å"Alcohol Alert.† www.pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa38.htm. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). N.d. Web. 25 April 2013. â€Å"Drinking Alcohol.† www.breatscancer.org. 18 January 2013. Web. 4 May 2013. â€Å"Drunk Driving in America.† www.maad.org/media-center. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD). N.d. Web. 25 March 2013. â€Å"Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems.† www.ensuringsolutions.org. N.d. Web. 4 May 2013. â€Å"Minimum Legal Drinking Age.† www.cdc.gov/alcohol/facts-sheets/mlda.htm. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 7 November 2012. Web. 19 March 2013. Minimum Legal Drinking Age: Brief History.† www.ama-assn.org. American Medical Association (AMA). N.d. Web. 19 March 2013. Narconon Drug Information Department, ed. â€Å"Alcohol History.† www.narconon.org/drug-information/alcohol-history. Narcanon International. N.d. Web. 25 March 2013. â€Å"Problems at School.† www.alcoholcostcalculator.org. Ensuring Solutions to Alcohol Problems. N.d. Web. 4 May 2013. Reeves, Pat. â€Å"What Alcohol Does to Your Body.† www.foodalive.org/articles/alcohol.htm. Complementary Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). N.d. Web. 23 March 2013. â€Å"Teenage Drunk Driving.† www.firsteagle.com/tdd.htm. The First Eagle Insurance Services. N.d. Web. 22 April 2013. Vo, L.T. â€Å"What American Spends on Booze.† www.npr.org. National Public Radio. 2013. Web. 4 May 2013.

Conversational Narcissism In The Classroom :: essays research papers

In the Introduction to Linguistics class last week, Professor Ivanoff asked if the students had any questions about the material he had just discussed in his lecture. The preceding lecture covered marked words (words that clearly define or describe only one object). A student who seemed confused asked Professor Ivanoff how the use of marked words was connected to our study of Linguistics.A student said, "Everyone knows that when you say table, a table is something with four legs and a flat surface. So table is a marked word. In a sense we already knew that because we don't go around calling everything a table." The student asked, "Is this just a definition or will it be explained further at a later time?""I do not understand why you are asking such a question," Professor Ivanoff said. "I just explained to you what marked and unmarked words are. Why do you ask such a question?""I am just wondering why you told us about marked words. How is it important in our study?" the student asked."I explained it to you. There are marked words and there are unmarked words. Marked words describe definite things. Unmarked words are words that can be used to define more than one thing," Professor Ivanoff shouted. "You ask such strange questions. I hold a Ph.D. in linguistics. Why do you question my authority on such subject?"The student tried to explain one more time, "I am not questioning your authority at all. I am just wandering what the connection is between marked words and Ling-."Professor Ivanoff interrupted, "If you want to question my authority you do so in my office. Please do not waste class time."Unknowingly Professor Ivanoff and the student provided a perfect example of "Conversational Narcissism" and how continued habits can hinder the process of "true" dialogue. Conversational Narcissism uses "structural" devices to dominate the conversation and shift the attention from one partner to another. The shift response is the structural device that Professor Ivanoff used to change the focus of attention from the student's question, to himself. This conversation shows that even in a simple conversation, one person will shift the attention away from the other person to themselves, allowing them to dominate the conversation.The conversation portrayed the shift response when Professor Ivanoff failed to answer the student's question and put forth effort to understand what the student was asking. Instead of attempting to answer the question Professor Ivanoff felt personally attacked and attacked the student in return.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder Guadalupe Guizar Reyes HACC South West February 1, 2012 Antisocial Personality Disorder Often most people don’t understand the real issue behind Antisocial Personality Disorder and has been made clear that previous studies show that most personality disorders if not all begin by displaying symptoms during early childhood. Although very little is done about ASPD, whether it being due to lack of knowledge or not wanting to admit failure of flaw in your family, this article while far from perfect does a well job in declaring all the important aspects in the disorder.The website itself is very organized and highly informative, presenting most frequently asked questions and answering them in terms that any person with any type of educated level can comprehend. What causes antisocial personality disorder? How is it treated? What happens if it gets untreated? Questions that any person who is looking into this particular disorder whether it be for resea rch of relevant to you or someone you know in which you want to seek help for will find most constructive.The website is not only informative but also beneficial to someone who is looking for treatment, possessing a section in which you can seek for help near you. It contains many tools that are easily accessible, useful to those in search for a specific disorder. They include a section called â€Å"Patient Discussions† where previous patients may comment on a question for instants, what treatment has been effective for your antisocial personality disorder? While not a personal question it can be quite discouraging for those who have yet to find an effective way to deal or cope with their disorder may lose interest or hope in receiving treatment. To date†¦ nothing has even remotely changed about my antisocial personality disorder and have been in and out of mental institutions most of my life. † (author last name, date, page number) The content on the page is easy on the eyes, black text on a black background, making it readable to keep visitors from leaving the site while making the website look polished and professional. The negative input to the content is that although readable, every section is in the same style format, color making it difficult to istinguish one section from another. The website contains many links to other information on different types of disorders containing their symptoms, treatment, causes and other informative data all at the reach of one website making it counterproductive. The website contains features on how to distinguish one disorder from another and how from afar you can characterize the disorder, which is quite useful to those who may think a loved one maybe in need of treatment but are unsure of how to go about it.Despite the lack of space on the website it makes up with different alternatives on how the disorder can be treated, therapy for instants â€Å"For example, teenagers who receive therapy, helps them change the thinking that leads to their maladaptive behavior (cognitive behavioral therapy) has been found to significantly decrease the incidence of repeat antisocial behaviors. † The website contains good factors, it’s easy to navigate and locate particular sections you’re most interested in and everything located under one website.If by chance that there is something distinct you are searching for and cant seem to find located at the top left hand corner is a search section where it’ll lead you different website with similar traits. The website is good for all who are interested in ASPD or any specific medical condition whether it is for personal knowledge or seeking guidance and help. It will give you a clear understanding of these medical conditions and awareness. http://www. medicinenet. com/antisocial_personality_disorder/article. htm