Moral values, ethics and philosophy Essay

The dream of a child starts with a stereo type suggestion from parents that the baby will be a doctor – engineer. The baby has no other option to dream of being doctor or engineer. Our education system was framed by the British rulers to create civil servants to serve their purpose. They had created dreams of civil service. As a legacy of the British and the Pakistani system we inherited Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS). However, the glory of civil service has been fading gradually. Education system at home and abroad now aims at creating good executives. The present dream of the youngsters is to find jobs in mobile phone company. Considering the good market, the private entrepreneurs established a number of private universities where degrees are offered on Computer science, Engineering, Medical Science and Business Administration. These universities have less interest in social science. Philosophy is a less prioritised subject in the university and hardly any student is found having interest to study Philosophy. The people living in the 21st century have no time to waste in a very ancient field of study like philosophy. People now send their children to universities to groom them up as future executives in Multinational companies. Students are more interested to obtain professional degrees rather than education in social science. The new generation has different attitude towards life style, human relation, demand and satisfaction We can not live alone. The world is one family and living in this planet demands co-operation with others. Philosophy teaches the discipline of humanity. It defines how to think, how to reason, how to put together good arguments, how to analyse alternatives and action and evaluate its consequences. Human society creates ideas and thoughts; philosophy guides principle of human life. Without it, there can be no real government, no institution. It is philosophy that has created human ideologies, interpretations, and viewpoints. Philosophy is at the heart of every issue, at the center of every change within society, and within every radical movement human beings have created. Any tradition, any ideology, any religion has behind them a philosophy. The problem perhaps is that common people in today’s society do not like complicated thoughts, the moment they see an obstacle, they scream in rage, they want the simplistic philosophy of a society that consumes and moves and moves and never stops. The consumption loving practical people believe that there is no particular use for philosophy, because it deals with intangible ideas, which cannot be proved scientifically or verified objectively, and which have nothing to do with providing greater creature comforts or material progress. The teaching starts with parents telling what it is wrong to lie, cheat, and steal. These children grow up and enter into the real world with some knowledge of right and wrong. But ethics are learnt throughout our lives as we associate with others. In the work place, people learn responsibility, teamwork, punctuality, and communication skills. Doctors obtain a guarantee from patient indemnifying him of any accident during operation, lawyers appear for client but do not guarantee of winning. Auditors inspect books of accounts and certify correctness of transactions but there is no control over his sincerity to verify transaction. The society relies on their ethical standard and practice. Baby sitter even the mother look after baby and the quality and standard of care and service depend upon their own sincerity. Government can enforce setting up waste water treatment machine in industries to save the environment from pollution and there is hardly a method to ensure proper use of waste water treatment but the ethics can regulate the management to protect the universe from adverse effect of economic activities. In today’s society, laws and contracts are enforced to make sure that the business deals are fair. We live in a society wherein no device, rule or law can control certain things, actions and behaviours. The self-teaching and self regulation can address the situation.. Human being needs only knowledge, self training and self regulation to apply the test through any ethical standard. All will eventually confront moral problems with social, political, or legal dimensions in their roles as citizens, scholars, professionals, parents, members of their communities, and as human beings. The society has become open and requires a self administration and control. This self control is through values, morals and ethics. Society must develop values, morals and ethics. They all provide behavioral rules. Values are the rules by which we make decisions about right and wrong, should and shouldn’t, good and bad. Morals have a greater social element to values and tend to have a very broad acceptance. Morals are far more about good and bad than other values. Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality-that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice, etc. Ethics develop feelings of right or wrong. Ethics consists of the standards of behavior our society accepts. In any society, most people accept standards that are, in fact, ethical. But standards of behavior in society can deviate from what is ethical. An entire society can become ethically corrupt. Nazi Germany is a good example of a morally corrupt society. Ethics has standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do, usually in terms of rights, obligations, benefits to society, fairness, or specific virtues. Ethics, for example, refers to those standards that impose the reasonable obligations to refrain from rape, stealing, murder, assault, slander, and fraud. Ethical standards include honesty, compassion, and loyalty. Democracy is a free will under certain guidance, norm and practice. Democracy can not function without ethics. Bangladesh is lacking democracy due to lack of ethical and moral practice of democracy. Members of different organisations take oath of allegiance and Invocation. They use to declare some ethical standard of business and profession. The declaration of quality of production of manufacturers is in the same line of self regulation and promise to practice. A good and successful professional should have the ethics, values and standards of profession and make their application a consistent feature in all aspects of work. This will include taking personal responsibility for actions and regularly reflecting on experiences to inform future actions and decision making. Human must both act and be seen to act ethically and with the utmost integrity. The professionals should uphold professional ethics, values and standards, behave with integrity and objectivity, and maintain professional competence, confidentiality, keeping up to date with all codes of conduct and professional standards, informing clients about the ethical standards that apply to professional activities, monitoring compliance with relevant legislation, standards and regulations and the law of the country. The workplace compliance of quality policy, citizen charter etc are part of ethics of profession which come from philosophy as the law can not reach workplace and inside mind and heart to control our thinking and action with others in the society. The codes of educational institutes, parents, colleagues at workplace and society at large even the service club and professional bodies teach us ethics and human dignity. It upholds the ethics of business and profession. The teaching of formal education and non formal education of philosophy is back bone of society and foundation of all knowledge. That is why the business and profession should be regulated by philosophy and not only law and regulation. The writer is pursuing PhD in Open University, Malaysia, and can be reached at email: shah@banglachemical.com

Imaginary Lines Essay

1. Longitude (Longhitud) Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth’s surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees and denoted by the Greek letter lambda (ÃŽ »). Points with the same longitude lie in lines running from the North Pole to the South Pole. By convention, one of these, the Prime Meridian, which passes through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, England, was intended to establish the position of zero degrees longitude. The longitude of other places was to be measured as the angle east or west from the Prime Meridian, ranging from 0 ° at the Prime Meridian to +180 ° eastward and −180 ° westward. Specifically, it is the angle between a plane containing the Prime Meridian and a plane containing the North Pole, South Pole and the location in question. (This forms a right-handed coordinate system with the z axis (right hand thumb) pointing from the Earth’s center toward the North Pole and the x axis ( right hand index finger) extending from Earth’s center through the equator at the Prime Meridian.) A location’s north-south position along a meridian is given by its latitude, which is (not quite exactly) the angle between the local vertical and the plane of the Equator. Ito ay guhit na patayo na nagmumula sa Polong Hilaga hanggang sa Polong Timog. Ang Longhitud at ang Meridian ay hindi magkapareho dahil ang longhitud ay isang guhit samantalang ang Meridian ay tumutukoy sa distansya ng mga guhit longhitud mula sa Prime  Meridian. Ang Prime Meridian ay nasa 0 °. PRIME MERIDIAN – Ang pinakagitnang guhit na humahati sag lobo sa silangan at kanluran. INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE- Ito ay tumutukoy sa araw o oras. 2. Latitude Latitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth’s surface. Latitude is an angle (defined below) which ranges from 0 ° at the Equator to 90 ° (North or South) at the poles. Lines of constant latitude, or parallels, run east–west as circles parallel to the equator. Latitude is used together withlongitude to specify the precise location of features on the surface of the Earth. Two levels of abstraction are employed in the definition of these coordinates. In the first step the physical surface is modelled by the geoid, a surface which approximates the mean sea level over the oceans and its continuation under the land masses. The second step is to approximate the geoid by a mathematically simpler reference surface. The simplest choice for the reference surface is a sphere, but the geoid is more accurately modelled by anellipsoid. The definitions of latitude and longitude on such reference surfaces are detailed in the following sections. Lines of constant latitude and longitude together constitute agraticule on the reference surface. The latitude of a point on the actual surface is that of the corresponding point on the reference surface, the correspondence being along thenormal to the reference surface which passes through the point on the physical surface. Latitude and longitude together with some specification of height constitute a geographic coordinate system as defined in the specification of the ISO 19111 standard. Ito ay guhit na pahalang na parallel na umiikot mula sa silangan patungong kanluran mula sa digring 0 hanggang 90 pataas o pababa sa ekwador. MGA ESPESYAL NA GUHIT LATITUDE Tropiko Ng Cancer (Tropic of Cancer)- Nasa 23.27 degree hilagang latitude. Tropiko ng Capricorn (Tropic of Capricorn)- Ito ay guhit parallel na guhit na  nasa 23.27 degree timog latitude. Kabilugang Arctic (Arctic Circle) – Ito ay guhit parallel na guhit na nasa 66.27 degree Hilagang latitude. Kabilugang Antarctic (Antarctic Circle) – Ito ay nasa 66.27 timog latitude. 3. Ekwador An equator is the intersection of a sphere’s surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere’s axis of rotation and midway between the poles. The Equatorusually refers to the Earth’s equator: an imaginary line on the Earth’s surface equidistant from the North Pole and South Pole, dividing the Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere Ito ay guhit pahalang na humahati sa gitna ng globo. Ito ay 0 degree. 4. Grid Ito ay pinagsama-samang guhit. Ang Sukat ng Earth 1 M⊕ = 5.97219 Ãâ€" 1024 kg. LIMANG TEMA NG HEOGRAPIYA LOKASYON Ang lokasyon ay isang posisyon o punto sa pisikal na espasyo na sumasakop sa ibabaw ng Daigdig. Maaaring kadalasang tinalaga ang tiyak na lokasyon sa paggamit ng partikular na latitud atlonghitud, isang parilya ng koordinadang Kartesyano (Cartesian coordinate grid), pabilog na sistemang koordinada, o isang sistemang nakabatay sa tambilugan (halimbawa, World Geodetic System o Pandaigdigang Sistemang Heodetiko). Maaaring ilarawan ang isang lokasyon bilang tiyak na lokasyon na siyang tumpak na kinaroroonan ng isang bagay, o ang lokasyong bisinal na ang lokasyon ng isang bagay na kaugnay sa isa pang lugar o sa isang pangkalahatang bagay. LUGAR Ito ay tumutukoy sa mga katangiang pisikal ng mga lugar katulad ng mga anyong lupa at bahaging tubig,klima,lupa pananim at hayop. INTERAKSYON NG TAO AT KAPALIGIRAN Ito ay tumutukoy sa mga pagbabagong ginawa ng tao sa kanyang kapaligiran at mga pagbabago na patuloy pang isinasagawa. REHIYON Pinag-aaralan ng heograper ang hitsura at mga pagkakaiba sa katangiang pisikal ng lugar. GALAW NG TAO / PAGKILOS Ipinapaliwanag kung bakit mahalaga ang mga galaw na ito at pinag-aaralan ang epekto sa mga lugar na tinitirhan at nililipatan. Ano ang Lokasyon ng Mundo sa Solar System? Ang Earth ay pangatlong planeta sa solar system. Ito ay kulay asul para sa Katubigan, Tsokolate at berde sa kalupaan, at puti para sa langit. Ang Earth ay kailangan ng 365.25 araw para makumpleto ang pag-ikot nito sa araw at 23.5 sa kanyang orbit o axis. Ang planetang Earth ay daan ang layo sa Venus. Ang planetang Earth ay 149 600 000 km. ang layo sa araw. http://tl.wikipedia.org/ http://tl.answers.com/Q/Tema_ng_heograpiya

Economic Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Economic Theories - Essay Example His theories helped to establish the foundation to capitalism. Adam Smith postulated that markets were capable of regulating themselves without any external intervention. He introduced a new approach of measuring national wealth using income as opposed to the king’s treasury (Derek, & Steven, 2003). According to him, income was a product of land, labor and capital, and that the income is divided among capitalists, laborers and landlords, in form of interest, rent and wages. Smith’s theory had some limitations, despite helping to revolutionize the economic thought at the time. David Ricardo identified the weaknesses of Smith’s theory and opted to rectify them and incorporate them in his own theory. Among the things he agreed with Smith’s theory include the use of income to measure a country’s wealth. He also agreed with Smith’s view of free markets. He however built his economic thoughts on the three main factors of production; land, capital a nd labor, that had been identified by Smith (Derek, & Steven, 2003). Ricardo introduced other new ideas in his theory to build on Smith’s ideas. He for instance introduced the idea of international trade as the best way to help the local markets. He introduced the concept of comparative advantage in international trade. Comparative advantage suggests that countries only produce those products that they have a higher comparative advantage and import those which they cannot produce efficiently. b). Marx’s opposition to Capitalism Karl Marx was one of the most vocal thinkers to be opposed to Capitalism. He saw capitalism as just any other historical stage that would eventually end and be replaced by Socialism. According to Karl Marx, capitalism introduced classism in the society. The society was made up of the capitalists who were the land owners and owners of factories and the working class, whom provided labor in the lands and factories owned by the capitalists. He iden tified that these two main classes had differing interests that were the source of conflicts in the society. The capitalists’ main objective is to get profit and increase their wealth through minimizing their costs, including offering low wages to their workers (Derek, & Steven, 2003). The working class on the other hand strives to maximize their wages. These two compete g interests will lead to conflicts in the society that would eventually lead to a decline in the capitalist system and create ground for socialism. Marx was opposed to the capitalist system because of the instability it would create in the society where the working class would be left dependant on the capitalists who owned massive resources. According to Marx, leaving wealth to a few private individuals would create imbalance in the society and preferred socialism which would take the wealth from individuals and eradicate classes and ensure equality of all people in the community. The labor theory of valu

Standardization And Adaptation Strategies of Macdonalds, Pepsi, Toyota Essay - 8

Standardization And Adaptation Strategies of Macdonalds, Pepsi, Toyota Motors in International Market - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the globalization of the world has totally changed the way to carry out business as companies forced to be precocious concerning the choice of their internationalization strategy. The last few decades have transformed the business world into a marketing mix where companies strive in making globalized decisions to fit the competition spectrum. With globalization, a set of universal needs has developed among people all over the globe, therefore setting a pace for companies to no longer target markets by country. Instead, they target by the segment that congregates groups of citizens from diverse countries with universal needs. This trend is so robustly present in the current world that it creates a completely different class of companies that benefit from international markets. Fascinatingly, the concepts of standardization and adaptation strategies are not new terms in the global marketing perspective. Product strategies of standardizat ion and adaptation experimental investigation have been in existence since the 1970s. Nonetheless, the entry of companies in the international arena does not come effortlessly, for many of these companies are encountered with the challenges of whether to standardize or adapt the essentials of their marketing blend. As stated earlier, the entry of Multinationals in the international market is characterized by some challenges, the researcher will analyze some of the challenges these companies are facing. A final segment of this report will be a recommendation or likely solution to the challenges these companies are facing.

An investigation into managing human resources and employment Essay

An investigation into managing human resources and employment practices in Iran study - Essay Example By addressing the above objectives, the dissertation hopes to bring available theories and practices together, providing valuable literature on Iran Human resources management and global human resources management. There are very few academic papers that have been published in the field of Human Resources management in Iran in English, while there are number of post graduated dissertations and undergraduate projects that are published by Iranian University students in Farsi. In recent years, PhD graduate, Mrs. Pari Namazi (2006) has selected her PhD dissertation on this topic, which is a great starting point that is published and can be found in Online Library of University of Liverpool. Furthermore, in the past few years Iran Human Resources Society, in cooperation with the IDRO has organized annual Human resources Development conferences in Tehran and has called for papers from scholars and experts in this field, within Iran and outside. I have presented two papers in past two annual conferences in 2003 and 2004. Finally, in 2006, the book written by Pari Namazie and Monir Tayeb and published by Routledge on Managing human resources in the Middle East contains a chapter (ch.2) addressing human resources management in Iran. The fundamental approach of this study will be based on desk research that will focus on examining the literatures, laws and regulations, and global and local statistical information. In addition, academic human resources management literature and theory research will be conducted for comparative analyzes. Finally, to make the dissertation academically and practically worthy for HR professionals, I will use structure interviews with Iranian business leaders and HR professionals in private sector and multinational companies operating in Iran. These interviews will be selective and limited to the field of resourcing, people management, compensation and benefit, labor relation and labor law. Project Plan Milestone Description Due date Remarks 1 Stage 1: Area of interest identified Wk2 2 Stage 2: Specific topic selected Wk4 3 Stage 3: Topic refined to develop dissertation proposal WK 17 4 Stage 4: Proposal written and submitted Wk18 5 Stage 5: Collection of data and information Wk 19 6 Stage 6: Analysis and interpretation of collected data/information Wk20 7 Stage 7: Writing

Company Strategic Analysis - General Mills Research Paper

Company Strategic Analysis - General Mills - Research Paper Example The company has strong brand equity in the market place. The company’s financial position is strengthening even at the time of recession. The company has a diversified product portfolio. The company’s brands have strong brand identity. The company’s internal processes for acquiring raw materials for its products are very strong. Weaknesses: The scale of companies operations are hiding inefficiencies in its operations. General Mills is not taking enough measures to raise its productivity. Opportunities: Recent social trends have created a market for convenience food items. General Mills can export its product to the Asian Markets. Threats: The environment of recession is creating unprecedented operating challenges for the company. Kraft and Kellogg are formidable competitors of the company, having strong brands of their own. Suppressed consumer demand is threatening company’s revenues. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis: Threat of Substitutes: This dimens ion falls on the higher end of the spectrum because consumers have the option to buy convenience food items from food stalls and cheap hotels. Moreover, consumers can even decide to cook themselves fresh meals. So it can be concluded that there are alternatives available to consumers. Rivalry amongst competitors: This dimension is also ending up on the higher end of the spectrum because as mentioned earlier Kraft Food and Kellogg, both are formidable competitors having strong management and brand portfolio. In addition to this these companies also have strong capital base to support their operations. Suppliers Bargaining Power: This dimension also falls on the higher end of the spectrum because there are few quality suppliers of raw material in the marketplace. Companies who want to gain quality raw materials have to adhere to suppliers’ terms and conditions. Moreover, the price of the raw material is also very elastic, which leads companies to the future markets; in order to protect themselves from price risk and inflationary pressure. Customers Bargaining Power: This dimension again lies on the higher end of the spectrum because recessionary pressure has made consumers to curtail their expenditure. Consumers are demanding higher value at lower price from companies, in order to draw them to spend. Companies therefore have to adhere to the demands of consumers in order to utilize their huge asset base. Threat of New Entrant: This dimension falls on the lower end of the spectrum because the market conditions are not that encouraging for any new entrant to enter this market. Since the industry is engulfed by recession and has strong competitors in it, therefore no new entrant will be able to operate effectively in this marketplace. Firm’s overall Performance: Even at the time of recession the company has managed to perform exceptionally well. Almost all of its financial indicators are on the positive side of the spectrum, reflecting the fact that t he company has been successful in implementing its year start strategy. The company’s 2010 sales figure is up by 1 percent as compared to its 2009 sales figure (General Mills e, 2011). Operating profits have increased substantially, that is by 8 percent. Net income of the come has also increased drastically (17 percent) (General Mills e, 2011). The company’s asset utilization has also increased as reflected by the head of â€Å"Return on Average Total Capital†. This figure is up by 150 basis points, which is very encouraging. For the share

Newspapers and Television Media Forum Types Essay

Newspapers and Television Media Forum Types - Essay Example The researcher states that there are immensely significant problems that both newspapers and television point out, and under the domains of the political regimes, the same become even more important. These touch upon the negativities that have marred the politics of the time, the constant developments happening for the sake of the masses, the inter-linkages and relationships that have cropped up every now and then amongst the political forces, and so on and so forth. The need is to understand how the newspapers and television have been able to cover just about everything that is of interest to the general audiences, who are the masses indeed. The element of exposing the political process is something that comes out in the open with the incorporation of the newspapers and television in the long run. What is even more necessary is an understanding that newspapers and television have been associated with finding out the details that no other avenue of life has been able to muster up. Th e element of persuasion attached to both newspapers and television is there because people depend on them for their credibility that they bring to the fore. Merely the fact that the news is present on the airwaves or in the print suggests that it has credibility which could be trusted upon and sought verification from the people who are in charge of the same. However, there are trust issues amongst the people from different cross-sections of life but more or less, the people do believe the written word and the news that are run on the television. Within a political campaign, the persuasion is a core basis of the work that the newspapers and television do. Both these media forums basically educate and inform the voters about the role of the political parties and the campaigns that are being done. What is even more significant is the fact that the element of persuasion gets an indelible impression on the minds and hearts of the people if they have read it in the newspapers or seen it for their own selves on the television. An element of belongingness seems to come along with what is there on the newspapers and on television. This is the reason why many political campaigns center on the usage of both newspapers and television for their political mileage as well as to reach select target audiences. This is one of the core reasons why immense success has been achieved within the related ranks under the discussion of persuasion leading up to the political campaigns and processes.

Midterm exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Midterm exam - Essay Example These are examples of cultural relativism and these examples also would say that one culture cannot be better than another culture because of what they practice and believe. Ethical relativism on the other hand would say that due to the fact that there are several varying ethical norms one’s belief cannot be more good than another. Ethical norms are normally based on one’s culture such that one cannot separate ethics and culture. Two versions of utilitarianism – act and rule – would both consider the consequences of one’s action to determine which is the right action to do based on which will generate the most pleasure. Unfortunately, we can never foretell or conclude with utmost certainty that the end of the action we decide to do will in reality produce the greatest good or the greatest happiness. Good and happiness, after all are constructs of society and thus changes from one period to another or one person to another. At the same time, the view of what we think may produce the greater happiness may be viewed differently. For example, in the industrial age, it was made to believe that burning coal produces the necessary energy to fuel machineries that aid production of textile and the like. It was believed to be producing the greatest happiness for the greater number because it gave jobs to people and it gave them better level of existence with electricity and other implements in the household. However, at this time, the consequences of coal burning is being felt worldwide due to the greenhouse gases emitted by the coal burning. This is not making the people happy rather they are suffering and feeling the negative consequences. This is a true proof that even when we believe that the consequence of the action would result to our own happiness as well as the rest of the population, we are still not guaranteed about it. It would be best if we were to know everything and foresee every thing that our

The Best Fish and Chips Shop in 2003 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Best Fish and Chips Shop in 2003 - Article Example Mr. Jones drew on his past experience as a customer and asked himself what he actually wants from a fish and chips product. All of the little things and ideas he and the staff have was put together to come up with better ways of improving both services and product. Some of their core products are the batter less Cod and Chicken Goujons which stands out among competitors. The staff has a way of reinventing some processes such as a certain way of washing the fryer so old starch would not stick to the new batter. Such things may seem little but they do go a long way in satisfying customer’s tastes. In fact, customers pass 8 more fish and chips shop before reaching Finnegan’s which shows how strong Finnegan’s brand loyalty is. Additionally, customers do not mind waiting for half an hour just to grab the favorite takeaway – fish and chips. There are several factors that can contribute to the future success of the organization, namely: focus on main products, creative marketing, and innovation. The owner himself doesn’t want to diversify too much when it comes to product development. He believes that diluting the focus of the business by offering too many products would not be advantageous in terms of profitability. Instead, current products are marketed in a different way so customers have better choices. For example, they created a kiddies’ serving for children which is not common among fish and chips shops. Also, they often ask the opinion of customers which is a good way of getting feedback. Even the packaging of the product is taken into account which just shows how keen the owner is in satisfying his customers. Simple things such as food warming process are also considered so eventually, everything ends up as the added value to the brand Finnegan. An obstacle that could limit their growth in terms of core competencies would be cutting costs. Although Mr. Jones saves as much as 10,000 pounds a year due to his good bidding skills.

Is Globalization Boon or Bane Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Is Globalization Boon or Bane - Research Paper Example You have already accepted the fact that rescuers may take days or even months before discovering you, so with all that was left the group struggled to start to live on a remote island. That would be for a while for sure. Here you are starting a community - away from technology, but with knowledge about it-you wonder if ever you will get by. If you survive, how long will it take you to build a replica of the city that you hope will be "lost" only for a moment? Tragic, it might seem, like a plot in movies shown in big screens, is the picture that such a scenario will project. Even more tragic are the emotions accompanying the players involved. This is far easier than what our ancestors have experienced though. Then, they only relied on crude forms for a weapon to shield them from their enemy. They had more ferocious animals as neighbors, no concepts of what makes society and culture flourish. To them "survival of the fittest" might best describe their manner of gathering their goods. No political system is yet conceived; the stronger group tends to manipulate the weaker ones. Even more astonishing is how they communicate with each other and how they were able to preserve their culture that became the foundation of a more developed, more complicated yet structured society that we now have. From their time to ours, inevitable movements and changes filled the vacuum (time and space connecting our past and future). We all became an agent of change-affecting and being affected in the process. In man's search for a better life, needs became more diverse, solutions more complicated. This required the creation of systems aimed at structuring every process and making any inconsistencies more evident and, in effect easier to manage.

Anne Sexton Literary Essay Example for Free

Anne Sexton Literary Essay Anne Sexton transforms the well-known fairytale Snow White into a sardonic piece of writing that reflects societal perceptions of the woman. In her poem she explores the idea that a woman is nothing more than a doll, something that sits pretty on a shelf for all to admire. She also describes the reliance on men, and how women are becoming dependent and incompetent. She counteracts this with a women’s intelligence compared to her beauty and vanity, and what a woman should be. She explores the idea of beauty and vanity going hand in hand, meaning that even princesses can be vain. Fairytales aren’t real, and they are overrated- happily ever after does not exist, especially for those who aren’t beautiful. All fairytales have a female antagonist, and one that is usually a princess. Snow White is sexualized as the virgin. Good Day Mama,  and shut for the thrust  of the unicorn. She is unsoiled. She is as white as a bonefish. (9-13) This text explains that she innocent and untouched. All that matters to a prince is that she is beautiful and a virgin. A brand new doll with porcelain skin and glassy eyes. cheeks as fragile as cigarette paper, arms and legs made of Limoges, lips like Vin Du Rhà ´ne, rolling her china-blue doll eyes open and shut. (3-7) Sexton compares Snow White to a doll because she is merely an object for ones admiration and love. She is to be pampered and taken care of in return of sitting pretty on the shelf, to be admired. Beauty and vanity play the two-sided coin in this poem, you can’t have one without the other. The queen epitomizes vanity, when she asks the mirror who is the fairest of the land. When the reply is Snow White, she is outraged. Being the most beautiful person in the land is what the queen desires. She craves the attention because beauty is so valued, and Sexton makes that clear. If Snow White or the Queen weren’t beautiful, would anyone ever notice them? Sexton says,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Beauty is a simple passion.† Meaning everyone desires beauty, so those who have it are more noticed. Because Snow White is beautiful, both the prince and the dwarves value her. But with beauty comes vanity, and that is something that Sexton believes in. She believes women should be active and intelligent; beauty is just a faà §ade that relieves women of reaching their full potential. If a woman is beautiful, she can be just as successful as a smart woman without doing all the work because she can rely on men. Any man will want a beautiful wife that does not interfere with his matters. This is what the prince seeks, and finds when he falls in love with Snow White only for her beauty. He stayed so long his hair turned green and still he would not leave. The dwarfs took pity upon him and gave him the glass Snow White its dolls eyes shut forever to keep in his far-off castle. Sexton believes all women should work to be smart, and beauty is no reason not to achieve that. Snow White is unintelligent because she keeps opening the door to the queen even when the dwarfs urge her not too. Her unintelligence is linked to her reliance on a man because she ends up in the happily-ever-after position as the wife of a prince even though she did nothing to deserve it. But what Sexton is trying to show us at the end of the poem that Snow White is now obsessed with herself and her status, and that she will one day be the queen that tries to kill the next young beauty. Meanwhile Snow White held court, rolling her china-blue doll eyes open and shut and sometimes referring to her mirror as women do. The fairytale ending is fictional. The world isn’t Prince Charmings, beautiful princesses, and evil queens that always lose. ‘The End’ isn’t ever the end because it’s a cycle of innocence, beauty, vanity, and then ultimately envy. Beautiful women are nothing more than an item; they rely on men and are not intelligent. They are envious, and full of vanity. The  perfect women doesn’t exist, and there will never be a happily ever after.

Investigatory Project Essay Example for Free

Investigatory Project Essay We would like to dedicate this experiment we did to every mother, nannies, maids, and the likes who work hard each and every day or our lives. They, who sweat a lot just to give us fresh, newly-washed and sweet smelling clothes. They, who doesn’t only clean our clothes yet helped us to clean our minds and souls and has been in our journey ever since. This is for them to help in their daily work so that they won’t be that exhausted and can still have a great skin because we all know how doing the laundry by hand can make our skins dry. We have experienced a lot in this experiment. Like, first time doing laundry, working our minds out and lot of things about laundry. This is probably one of the greatest experiments we had. I, Shei Solis would like to thank my mother for the support she gave me while I was doing my best in laundry and the help she gave when I don’t know what to do at all. I’m not usually doing the laundry that’s why I had a rough time. I, Ma Get Tan would like to thank my mother who has taught everything there is to know about laundry and my sister, Ma Gell Tan who helped us to do the experiment. To every maid, mothers, nannies, and everyone who does the laundry, thank you very much because you have kept our life clean with you washing our clothes. Right now, we have known what it is like to be washing clothes. It hurts your hands because of the friction and then your hands will get dry. We’ve finally known all the hardships you’ve done for us. And because of that, here is our little study that might help you to save not only your money but also your time, efforts, and your precious skin. Enjoy! Introduction We conducted the study because we wanted to learn more about laundries, about the different kind of fabrics, the stains and others that might help us in our future paths that we might take like Fashion, Fine Arts, or the likes. Also, we found out how very hard it is to do the laundry that’s why sometimes when the person doing the laundry got carried away their skins get dry or becomes rough. That’s why we conducted this study. We also found out that water can be one factor why doing the laundry can make our skin rough or dry. In doing this, we will be able to answer the questions every mother on what is the right detergent soap to use. We will be able to know what is more effective between the two soaps, namely: Champion and Pride. What cleans faster and what whitens better. And from this research, mothers, nannies, maids, and all the ladies who do the laundry will be benefited. Because their work will be much easier if they would know the right detergent to use right from the start. They would save time, money, and energy from thinking and laundering. Just for example, they would use detergent that is very ineffective because they thought that that soap would be the best and when they used it, they already did all things to remove stains but *poof* nothing happened. So just imagine using the products that are very ineffective, you will just waste time, energy, and money. Our study is not just about clothes. It’s also about the different kinds of stains, the different fabrics, the different detergents, how to properly do the laundry and the effect of detergents on people who do the laundry by hand. It’s for them to learn more about what they are doing to find the helpful brand of detergent powder. We conducted this study for two weeks. Three days for soaking the stained shirt, one day for washing it with detergent, and three days for making it dry. To find out more about our study, you can search the main two brands, the different kinds of stains, the different fabrics, home economics or you can just check our index where we got the information.

Observational and Motor Learning Development

Observational and Motor Learning Development Human development is astonishing from embryo, to infant, to kid, and so on till the fullu grown-up person. There are a number of things that kids require to learn and developmental objectives that require to be achieved. The rationale of this paper is to examine learning of motor-skill in a three to four year old child, its connection with observational learning, and strategy to assist a three to four year old child with delayed fine motor skills. Consecutively to completely recognize the issue an examination of milestones of fine motor skills is needed. Milestones of Fine Motor Skills Infants and kids as they develop build up 2 kinds of motor skills: fine and gross. The fine motor skills are individual’s skills that entail movements of small scale e.g. holding a toy(David Grissmer). Gross motor skills are perceived as individual’s skills that engage movements of large scale e.g. the moving of the limbs up and down (David Grissmer). The described ages in this case are three and four years. Three year old Kids must have the capability to: wear their own shoes, solve easy riddles, play with another kid in an activity group (David Grissmer). Four year old Kids must have the capability to: dress by themselves, exhibit a hand preference, emulate a square, open and close buttons of dresses, and consoles buddies in misery (David Grissmer). Kids are supposed to incident milestones of developmental in addition. Milestones of Child Development Children Developmental milestones attain more than merely the range at which they control objects (fine /gross motor skills). Kids attain milestones during learning, playing, speaking, behaving, and moving â€Å"(CHATS , R. (N.D.) ). Once more the spotlight for milestones of developmental will be three and four year’s old kids. A three year old in expressions of milestones of emotional and social must obtain rolls in games, recognize the notion of theirs, and might get disturb with foremost regular changes (CHATS , R. (N.D.). ). Communication and Language engages recognizing and naming the majority of things, being able to recognize and names of friends, and being able to converse with them (CHATS , R. (N.D.). ). In expressions of cognitive movement: can runs easily, playing with toys that have buttons, levers etc, being able to turn pages of book, , and walking up and down on stairs (CHATS , R. (N.D.). ). A four year old in expressions of emotional and social milestones must collaborate with other kids, and recognize the distinction amid imagination and reality (CHATS , R. (N.D.). ). Communication and Language engages speaking their first and last name, telling stories, and (CHATS , R. (N.D.). ). In expressions of cognitive and movement: names some colors together with a few numbers, uses scissors, initiates to recognize time, and being able to catch a thrown ball the majority the time (CHATS , R. (N.D.). ). Piaget and Fine Motor Skills The brain is a vital component of the fine motor skills process of learning. There are 4 segments of the brain that add to this process of learning: premotor cortex, supplementary motor cortex, dorsolateral frontal cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. The premotor cortex is connected with perceptual motor integration by recognizing spatial target discovering a new relationship amid environmental and selfish space (DP,Butters,N.(1995)). The dorsolateral frontal cortex is connected with the strategic course by choosing the objective for the movement and the majority suitable surroundings for that movement (DP,Butters,N.(1995)). The supplementary motor cortex is connected with succession: arranges spatial targets in the accurate sequence and replicates the succession with the similar movement (DP,Butters,N.(1995)). Finally, is the spinal interneuron connected with active which interprets targets og egocentric spatial into patterns of muscle and creates novel relationships amid the target and the patterns of muscle (DP,Butters,N.(1995)). An additional means that fine motor skills can be learned is through the theory of social learning or art of imitating. Theory of Social learning is deemed learning by observation since the viewer habitually a kid is observing a further child, an adolescent, or also an adult. The actions that are exhibited by the observed person have the prospective to be imitated by the observer if and merely if definite criterion is in place. The criterion is concentration, maintenance, imitation, and motivation (Patricia H. Miller). Consequences as well bear burden in this area of learning by observation. The observer will simply replicate the behavior studied if the advantages of that actions overshadow a likely outcomes or reprimands that are connected with that actions (Patricia H. Miller). In expressions of studying fine motor skills a kid who can recognize the series of theory of social learning can automatically start to imitate those about them. The period of the copying behavior is difficult to determine. A kid that observes their parent using a mobile phone will imitate that behavior. The similar goes for eating and dressing. As magnificent as developing of fine motor skills are, there are a few kids who are delayed in incidence this particular time. Strategies for Delay in fine Motor Skill Kids whose development of Motor Skill is delayed there are more than a few diverse strategies that can be utilized consecutively to fix this predicament. Primarily generate daily activities that need the kid to use handheld toys and things (CDC,). Next, make use of songs with finger play to build up fine motor skills (). Thirdly, let the kid to seize and sense objects (CDC). Squeezing objects would be in actuality be helpful. Fourth, provide the kid manipulatives to play for instance blocks or clay (CDC). Conclusion Milestones are extremely significant to welfare and efficient growth on the course to adulthood. Fine motor skills are incorporated in that listing of milestones development. For instance when kid is able to pick up a ball and throw it to others. There are as well additional milestones to be taken into deliberation for instance developmental for kids. Social learning prepared its access with the association of fine motor skills learning with observational learning. The kid merely requires being continued drawn by the actions of the person by observation and then impersonating the behavior observed. There are instances when the milestones are not being able to attain and as a result a delay of motor skills is created. The key spotlight for the person is to use fine motor skills to complete definite actions for instance using manipulative. References Chats , R. (n.d.). Developmental milestones. Retrieved from http://www.childhealth- explanation.com/milestones.html http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/actearly/milestones/index.html CDC: Developmental Screening, â€Å"Facts About Developmental Disabilities,† Important Milestones. David Grissmer, et al. Fine Motor Skills And Early Comprehension Of The World: Two New School Readiness Indicators. Developmental Psychology 46.5 (2010): 1008-1017. PsycARTICLES. Miller, Patricia H. (2011). Theories of developmental psychology. New York: Worth Publishers. Salmon DP, Butters, N. (1995). Neurobiology of skill and habit learning Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 5, 18

Woman in the Nineteenth Century, by Margaret Fuller Essay -- Woman in

Woman in the Nineteenth Century, by Margaret Fuller In her essay, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, Margaret Fuller discusses the state of marriage in America during the 1800‘s. She is a victim of her own knowledge, and is literally considered ugly because of her wisdom. She feels that if certain stereotypes can be broken down, women can have the respect of men intellectually, physically, and emotionally. She explains why some of the inequalities exist in marriages around her. Fuller feels that once women are accepted as equals, men and women will be able achieve a true love not yet known to the people of the world. Fuller personifies what is wrong with the thoughts of people in nineteenth century society. She is a well-educated, attractive woman and yet, in America she is considered unmarriageable because of the unintended intimidation her knowledge brings forth. She can’t understand why men would not want to find a woman with whom they can carry on an intelligent, meaningful conversation and still be physically attracted to. She knows that once this inferiority complex is gotten past, women will start to excel in all different fields. My interpretation is that Fuller feels if women are educated and skilled then they will be able to take care of themselves until the right man comes along. Their discretion will be tenfold, and they will be able to wait for the proverbial "Mr. Right". Fuller gives three wonderful examples of how equality gets broken down in a marriage. The first is the "household partnership"(42), where the man goes off to work and makes a living to support the family, and the woman stays home barefoot and pregnant, takes care of the children and tends to the house. There is a mutual admiration between the husband and wife because they both keep up their end of the bargain. But there is no love built into this relationship. Couples like this are merely supplementing each other’s existence, he by working to support her, and her by cooking and cleaning for him. When she states "this relation is good, as far as it goes"(42), Fuller implies that women are settling for the sake of settling. In the nineteenth century there was a stigma attached to any woman in her twenties who was not yet married. Fuller questions why two people would settle for each other when there are so many people with different things to offer each other. I thi... ...rriage should be based on? Where is the love that they share for each other? Why can’t women have it both ways? Why can’t they find a man who they love and who will love and respect them back? It is questions such as these that light the fire inside Margaret Fuller. Fuller is not attacking men in this essay; it is directed at women as well. She is simply asking that everyone try to look at things differently. She wants people to understand that if women get more education and skills, men will benefit as well. Fuller’s passion and desire for equality is most clearly evidenced when she states, "What deep communion, what real intercourse is implied by the sharing the joys and cares of parentage, when any degree of equality is admitted between the parties" (42). Fuller’s point is that if all responsibilities are shared, men and women will get to have a deeper love and respect for one another. They will finally be able to find their true soul mates. They will be marrying each other for who they truly are, not because of convenience, looks, or for good conversation and friendship. They will be marrying a person they truly know, love and respect, and who loves and respects them back.

Isolation in a Rose for Emily :: A Rose For Emily, William Faulkner

Isolation dominated the seventy four-year life of Emily Grierson in 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner. Never in this story did she live in harmony with anyone one short time. Even when she died of age at seventy four, people in Jefferson town rushed into her house not because they wanted to say goodbye forever to her but because they wanted to discover her mystic house. Many people agreed that it was the aristocratic status that made Emily?s life isolated. And if Emily weren?t born in the aristocratic Grierson, her life couldn't be alienated far away from the others around her. Having been the only daughter of a noble family, Emily was overprotected by her father who 'had driven away' all the young men wanting to be close to her. As a result of that, when she got to be thirty, she was still alone. It was Mr. Grierson who alienated his daughter from the normal life of a young woman. If she weren't born in the Grierson, if she didn?t have an upper-class father, she could get many relationships with many young men in order to find herself an ideal lover. Then she might have a happy marriage life with nice husband and children In addition, as a lady descended from aristocracy, Emily was educated in how to behave as a noble, which became her huge barrier to people around her. Throughout the story, Emily always 'carried her head high enough', even when she went out with Homer Barron, bought rat poison, or talked to the Board of Alderman. A head carried high showed that Emily was absolutely aware of her status, which kept her from having a person to confide with. Even she never talked to the Negro servant who lived under the same roof with her for years. That was the reason why people only saw him go in and out of the house silently from the beginning to the end of the story. If Emily carried her head a little bit lower and spent time looking at people around her, she could find a reliable listener to help her escape from the isolation. According to people in Jefferson town, the Grierson was really a monument, although this monument was fallen, they considered Emily, the last Grierson, an example to the young people. As a result of that, townspeople, especially 'some of the ladies began to say that it was disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people?

The Literary Use of Religion by John Smith and William Bradford Essay e

The Literary Use of Religion by John Smith and William Bradford Religion plays a major role in the day to day lives of the early settlers in America. So much so, that early colonial writers use it as a form of literary persuasion. John Smith and William Bradford were two such writers. Smith and Bradford use religion as a literary tool to persuade the reader towards their own interests. There are similarities and differences in the motivation to use religion by these two authors, yet the use is still prevalent in their writings. The reasons for these similarities and differences are found in the greater interest of each individual author. John Smith and William Bradford use divine guidance as an explanation for the reasons of their journeys. Smith uses the providence of God to justify his placement at Jamestown. Smith writes in â€Å"The General History of Virginia†: â€Å"But God the guider of all good actions, forcing them by extreme storm to hull all night, did drive them by his providence to their desired port, beyond all their expectations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (27). Smith also alludes to the journey to America being a good action in the eyes of God. So much so, that God calls upon his powers and produces a huge storm to place them where God wishes. Bradford uses the necessity of spreading the word of God (Christianity) to explain one of the reasons for his voyage to America. He writes â€Å"Lastly (and which was not least), a great hope and inward zeal they had to laying some good foundation†¦for ...

Retail Management in Big Bazaar

A PROJECT REPORT ON Youth alcohol usage PREPARED BY:- Albina saifee, roll no 37 TY. BA ACADEMIC YEAR 2011-12 UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART’S, SCIENCE, COMMERCE MIRA ROAD(EAST) Youth alcohol usage preface Alcohol consumption by young people has a profound effect on our nation, our communities, our families, and our children. Alcohol use by teens is related to traffic crashes, crime, teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, suicides, drownings, and poor performance in school.Teenage drinking also has a direct economic effect on our communities; the costs of law enforcement, health care, education, treatment, and other services increase as resources are diverted to attend to the painful and often tragic consequences of teenage drinking. What can be done? In recent years many organizations have attempted to identify innovative and effective methods to reduce underage drinking. Some approaches have focused on educating young people about the dangers of drinki ng and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to make responsible choices.Other approaches have tried to strengthen the relationships young people have with family, peers, teachers and others. Still others have focused on the array of adult institutions that manufacture, distribute, sell, provide, market, promote, and regulate alcohol. No single approach will entirely solve the problem. But each approach, wisely implemented and used in combination with other promising strategies, may reduce the scope of the problem and limit the damage to America’s next generation.Current research shows that effective and regular compliance checks helps decrease alcohol sales to minors; helps reduce underage drinking; helps reduce traffic crashes, violence, and other health problems associated with alcohol; and helps build healthier and safer communities. This manual is designed for public officials, law enforcement officers, and alcohol-regulation agents as a practical guide for develo ping and implementing a compliance check system for establishments that sell or serve alcohol.Extensive research in recent years indicates that while many alcohol establishments act responsibly in refusing sales to underage buyers, a significant number of establishments continue to sell to people under the legal drinking age of 21. index 1. Introduction 2. Alcoholism Its Usage And Definition 3. What Is Alcoholism 4. Characteristics 5. Effects 6. Problems 7. Treatment 8. Measures 9. Conclusion Introduction Alcohol has been used for centuries in social, medical, cultural, and religious settings. Most Americans believe alcohol can be used responsibly by adults for social and religious purposes.However, alcohol can also be used to excess resulting in health, social, legal, and other problems. Students may receive conflicting messages about alcohol from the news media, school, their friends, and their parents. On the one hand, they hear that moderate alcohol use is acceptable, and in som e instances may actually be good for your health; on the other hand, they are told that alcohol is a drug that requires abstinence until age 21. In addition, advertisements and media images often present alcohol as a means to success and an enjoyable life.These conflicting messages, combined with misunderstandings and misinformation, do not help students make responsible decisions about alcohol use. Statistics indicate that many adolescents begin consuming alcohol at an early age. In 1997, 26 percent of eighth graders, 40 percent of 10th graders, and 51 percent of 12th graders reported consuming alcohol within the month prior to the survey. 43 In addition, 16 percent of eighth graders reported binge drinking within the two weeks leading up to the survey. The effects of adolescent drinking involve both health- and safety-related problems, including auto crashes, domestic violence, and suicide.Alcohol abuse among teenagers may also be related to behavioral problems linked to impulsive ness and sensation seeking. 55 Youth alcohol-use data indicate that the earlier an individual begins drinking, the greater his or her risk of developing alcohol-use problems in the future. Individuals who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence during their lifetimes than are those who begin drinking at age â€Å"The earlier an individual begins drinking, the greater his or her risk of developing alcohol-related problems in the future. Dr. Enoch Gordis, former Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), has written, â€Å"Although alcohol is sometimes referred to as a ‘gateway drug’ for youth because its use often precedes the use of other illicit substances, this terminology is counterproductive; youth drinking requires significant attention, not because of what it leads to, but because of the extensive human and economic impact of alcohol use by this vulnerable population. 43 The purpose o f this supplement is to present students with the opportunity to learn about the science underlying the effects of alcohol on human biology and behavior through a series of f alcohol on human biology and behavior through a series of inquiry-based classroom lessons. Young people are natural scientists. They have a curiosity about the world around them and about themselves as individuals. Since they have little in the way of life experiences, many young people tend to view themselves as nearly invincible.Consequently, when adults caution them against engaging in risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol, some don’t listen. They feel that such warnings aren’t for them and apply only to those less grown up than themselves. The aim of this supplement is to give students the opportunity to construct their own understanding about alcohol and its attendant risks. In addition, the inquiry-based lessons are designed to help students hone their critical-thinking skills. With enhan ced understanding and skills, they will be better prepared to make informed decisions about real-life situations involving alcohol use.Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Alcoholism: Definitions †Any alcohol use by underage youth is considered to be alcohol abuse. † In any discussion of alcohol use, it is crucial to begin with a clear understanding of terms. For the purposes of this module, we define alcohol use by adults as the consumption of alcohol for social or religious purposes without demonstrating the characteristics of alcohol abuse or alcoholism Alcohol abuse is defined as the continued use of alcohol despite the development of social, legal, or health problems.It is important to note that any alcohol use by underage youth is considered to be alcohol abuse. What is alcoholism? As defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, alcoholism (alcohol dependence) is a negative pattern of alcohol use leading to a number of problems, which may include needin g more alcohol to get intoxicated (tolerance), difficulties that occur when the effects of alcohol wear off (withdrawal), using more alcohol or for longer time than intended, and other life problems because of the use of alcohol. Five stages of alcohol and drug use have been identified.The first stage is described as access to alcohol rather than use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, or other drugs. In that stage, minimizing the risk factors that make a teenager more vulnerable to using alcohol are an issue. The second stage of alcohol and other drug use ranges from experimentation or occasional use to regular weekly use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, or other drugs. The third stage is characterized by youths further increasing the frequency of alcohol use and/or using alcohol and other drugs on a regular basis. This stage may also include the teenager either buying drugs or stealing to get drugs.In the fourth stage of alcohol and drug use, adolescents have established regular usage, have become preoccupied with getting intoxicated (â€Å"high†) and have developed problems in their social, educational, vocational, or family life as a result of using the substance. The final and most serious fifth stage of alcohol or other drug use is defined by the youth only feeling normal when they are using. During this stage, risk-taking behaviors like stealing, engaging in physical fights, or driving while intoxicated increase, and they become most vulnerable to having suicidal thoughtsCharacteristics of Alcohol| * failing to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities | * drinking in situations that are potentially dangerous, such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery * psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression | * family environments with favorable attitudes about drinking and lack of support | * acceptance of drinking by peers | * child abuse and trauma | How much alcohol do teens use? Alcohol is the mo st frequently used drug by teenagers in the United States.About half of junior high and senior high school students drink alcohol on a monthly basis, and 14% of teens have been intoxicated at least once in the past year. Nearly 8% of teens who drink say they drink at least five or more alcoholic drinks in a row (binge drink). dangerous effects of alcohol use on teens. Just a few of the many dangerous effects of alcohol use in teens include the following: * Alcohol decreases teens' ability to pay attention. * Teens who have experienced alcohol withdrawal tend to have difficulties with memory. * In contrast to adults, teens tend to abuse alcohol with other substances, usually marijuana. Male teens who drink heavily tend to complete fewer years of education compared to male teens who do not. * The younger a person is when they begin drinking, the more likely they are to develop a problem with alcohol. * Each year, almost 2,000 people under the age of 21 years die in car crashes in whic h underage drinking is involved. Alcohol is involved in nearly half of all violent deaths involving teens. * More than three times the number of eighth-grade girls who drink heavily said they have attempted suicide compared to girls in that grade who do not drink. Intoxication is associated with suicide attempts using more lethal methods, and positive blood alcohol levels are often found in people who complete suicide. * Teens who drink are more likely to engage in sexual activity, have unprotected sex, have sex with a stranger, or be the victim or perpetrator of a sexual assault. * Excess alcohol use can cause or mask other emotional problems, like anxiety or depression. * Drinking in excess can lead to the use of other drugs, like marijuana, cocaine, or heroin. causes and risk factors of teen alcoholism?Family risk factors for teenagers developing drinking problems include low levels of parent supervision or communication, family conflicts, inconsistent or severe parental discipli ne, and a family history of alcohol or drug abuse. Individual risk factors include problems managing impulses, emotional instability, thrill-seeking behaviors, and perceiving the risk of using alcohol to be low. Girls who drink, as well as teens who begin drinking prior to 14 years of age and those whose mothers have drinking problems, are more likely to develop alcoholism.Teen risk factors for alcoholism differ a bit between the 14- to 16-year-old and 16- to 18-year-old age groups, in that 16- to 18-year-olds tend to be less likely to drink in excess when they have a close relationship with their mothers. Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol UseDrinking and Driving. Of the nearly 8,000 drivers ages 15-20 involved in fatal crashes in 1995, 20 percent had blood alcohol concentrations above zero (58). For more information about young drivers' increased crash risk and the factors that contribute to this risk, see Alcohol Alert No. 1: Drinking and Driving (59). Sexual Behavior. Surveys of adolescents suggest that alcohol use is associated with risky sexual behavior and increased vulnerability to coercive sexual activity. Among adolescents surveyed in New Zealand, alcohol misuse was significantly associated with unprotected intercourse and sexual activity before age 16 (60). Forty-four percent of sexually active Massachusetts teenagers said they were more likely to have sexual intercourse if they had been drinking, and 17 percent said they were less likely to use condoms after drinking (61).Risky Behavior and Victimization. Survey results from a nationally representative sample of 8th and 10th graders indicated that alcohol use was significantly associated with both risky behavior and victimization and that this relationship was strongest among the 8th-grade males, compared with other students (62). Puberty and Bone Growth. High doses of alcohol have been found to delay puberty in female (63) and male rats (64), and large quantities of alcohol consumed by young rats can slow bone growth and result in weaker bones (65).However, the implications of these findings for young people are not clear. Prevention of Adolescent Alcohol Use Measures to prevent adolescent alcohol use include policy interventions and community and educational programs. Alcohol Alert No. 34: Preventing Alcohol Abuse and Related Problems (66) covers these topics in detail. See the NationalfInjury and Social Consequences Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined (5,6). Some of the most serious and widespread alcohol–related problems among adolescents are discussed below.Drinking and Driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 20 (8). Adolescents already are at increased risk through their relative lack of driving experience (9), and drivers younger than 21 are more susceptible than older drivers to the alcohol–induced impairment of driving skills (4,9). The rate of fatal crashe s among alcohol–involved drivers between 16 and 20 years old is more than twice the rate for alcohol–involved drivers 21 and older (10).Suicide. Alcohol use interacts with conditions such as depression and stress to contribute to suicide, the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 14 and 25 (11,12). In one study, 37 percent of eighth grade females who drank heavily reported  attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink (13). Sexual Assault. Sexual assault, including rape, occurs most commonly among women in late adolescence and early adulthood, usually within the context of a date (14).In one survey, approximately 10 percent of female high school students reported having been raped (5). Research suggests that alcohol use by the offender, the victim, or both, increases the likelihood  of sexual assault by a male acquaintance (15). High–Risk Sex. Research has associated adolescent alcohol use with high–risk sex ( for example, having multiple sexual partners and failing to use condoms). The consequences of high–risk sex also are common in this age group, particularly unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS (5).According to a recent study, the link between high–risk sex and drinking is affected by the quantity of alcohol consumed. The probability of sexual intercourse is increased by drinking amounts of alcohol sufficient to impair judgment, but decreased by drinking heavier amounts that result in feelings of nausea, passing out, or mental confusion (16). Alcohol’s Effects on the Brain Adolescence is the transition between childhood and adulthood. During this time, significant changes occur in the body, including rapid hormonal alterations and the formation of new networks in the brain .Adolescence is also a time of trying new experiences and activities that emphasize socializing with peers, and conforming to peer–group standards . T hese new activities may place young people at particular risk for initiating and continuing alcohol consumption. Exposing the brain to alcohol during this period may interrupt key processes of brain development, possibly leading to mild cognitive impairment as well as to further escalation of drinking. Subtle alcohol–induced adolescent learning impairments could affect academic and occupational achievement .In one study, Brown and colleagues evaluated short–term memory skills in alcohol–dependent and nondependent adolescents ages 15 to 16. The alcohol–dependent youth had greater difficulty remembering words and simple geometric designs after a 10–minute interval. In this and similar studies memory problems were most common among adolescents in treatment who had experienced alcohol withdrawal symptoms . The emergence of withdrawal symptoms generally indicates an established pattern of heavy drinking.Their appearance at a young age underscores the ne ed for early intervention to prevent and treat underage drinking. Although the prevalence of high–risk drinking declines after early adulthood , alcohol–induced brain damage may persist. Memory impairment has been found in adult rats exposed to alcohol during adolescence . In addition, sophisticated imaging techniques revealed structural differences in the brains of 17–year–old adolescents who displayed alcohol–induced intellectual and behavioral impairment.Specifically, the hippocampus—a part of the brain important for learning and memory—was smaller in alcohol–dependent study participants  than it was in nondependent participants . Adolescents who began drinking at an earlier age had proportionately smaller hippocampal volumes compared with those who began later , suggesting that the differences in size were alcohol induced. Alcohol Alert From NIAAA Despite a minimum legal drinking age of 21, many young people in the United States consume alcohol. Some abuse alcohol by drinking frequently or by binge drinking–often defined as having five or more drinks* in a row.A minority of youth may meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol dependence (1,2). The progression of drinking from use to abuse to dependence is associated with biological and psychosocial factors. This Alcohol Alert examines some of these factors that put youth at risk for drinking and for alcohol-related problems and considers some of the consequences of their drinking. Prevalence of Youth Drinking Thirteen- to fifteen-year-olds are at high risk to begin drinking (3).According to results of an annual survey of students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades, 26 percent of 8th graders, 40 percent of 10th graders, and 51 percent of 12th graders reported drinking alcohol within the past month (4). Binge drinking at least once during the 2 weeks before the survey was reported by 16 percent of 8th graders, 25 percent of 10th graders, and 30 percent of 12th graders. Males report higher rates of daily drinking and binge drinking than females, but these differences are diminishing (3).White students report the highest levels of drinking, blacks report the lowest, and Hispanics fall between the two (3). A survey focusing on the alcohol-related problems experienced by 4,390 high school seniors and dropouts found that within the preceding year, approximately 80 percent reported either getting â€Å"drunk,† binge drinking, or drinking and driving. More than half said that drinking had caused them to feel sick, miss school or work, get arrested, or have a car crash (5). Some adolescents who drink later abuse alcohol and may develop alcoholism.Although these conditions are defined for adults in the DSM, research suggests that separate diagnostic criteria may be needed for youth (6). Drinking and Adolescent Development While drinking may be a singular problem b ehavior for some, research suggests that for others it may be an expression of general adolescent turmoil that includes other problem behaviors and that these behaviors are linked to unconventionality, impulsiveness, and sensation seeking (7-11). Binge drinking, often beginning around age 13, tends to increase during adolescence, peak in young adulthood (ages 18-22), then gradually decrease.In a 1994 national survey, binge drinking was reported by 28 percent of high school seniors, 41 percent of 21- to 22-year-olds, but only 25 percent of 31- to 32-year-olds (3,12). Individuals who increase their binge drinking from age 18 to 24 and those who consistently binge drink at least once a week during this period may have problems attaining the goals typical of the transition from adolescence to young adulthood (e. g. , marriage, educational attainment, employment, and financial independence) (13). Risk Factors for Adolescent Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Dependence Genetic Risk Factors.Animal s tudies (14) and studies of twins and adoptees demonstrate that genetic factors influence an individual's vulnerability to alcoholism (15,16). Children of alcoholics are significantly more likely than children of nonalcoholics to initiate drinking during adolescence (17) and to develop alcoholism (18), but the relative influences of environment and genetics have not been determined and vary among people. Biological Markers. Brain waves elicited in response to specific stimuli (e. g. , a light or sound) provide measures of brain activity that predict risk for alcoholism.P300, a wave that occurs about 300 milliseconds after a stimulus, is most frequently used in this research. A low P300 amplitude has been demonstrated in individuals with increased risk for alcoholism, especially sons of alcoholic fathers (19,20). P300 measures among 36 preadolescent boys were able to predict alcohol and other drug (AOD) use 4 years later, at an average age of 16 (21). Childhood Behavior. Children clas sified as â€Å"undercontrolled† (i. e. , impulsive, restless, and distractible) at age 3 were twice as likely as those who were â€Å"inhibited† or â€Å"well-adjusted† to be diagnosed with alcohol dependence at age 21 (22).Aggressiveness in children as young as ages 5-10 has been found to predict AOD use in adolescence (23,24). Childhood antisocial behavior is associated with alcohol-related problems in adolescence (24-27) and alcohol abuse or dependence in adulthood (28,29). Psychiatric Disorders. Among 12- to 16-year-olds, regular alcohol use has been significantly associated with conduct disorder; in one study, adolescents who reported higher levels of drinking were more likely to have conduct disorder (30,31).Six-year-old to seventeen-year-old boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who were also found to have weak social relationships had significantly higher rates of alcohol abuse and dependence 4 years later, compared with ADHD boys wi thout social deficiencies and boys without ADHD (32). Whether anxiety and depression lead to or are consequences of alcohol abuse is unresolved. In a study of college freshmen, a DSM-III diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence was twice as likely among those with anxiety disorder as those without this disorder .In another study, college students diagnosed with alcohol abuse were almost four times as likely as students without alcohol abuse to have a major depressive disorder . In most of these cases, depression preceded alcohol abuse. In a study of adolescents in residential treatment for AOD dependence, 25 percent met the DSM-III-R criteria for depression, three times the rate reported for controls. In 43 percent of these cases, the onset of AOD dependence preceded the depression; in 35 percent, the depression occurred first; and in 22 percent, the disorders occurred simultaneously . Suicidal Behavior.Alcohol use among adolescents has been associated with considering, planning, at tempting, and completing suicide . In one study, 37 percent of eighth-grade females who drank heavily reported attempting suicide, compared with 11 percent who did not drink . Research does not indicate whether drinking causes suicidal behavior, only that the two behaviors are correlated. Psychosocial Risk Factors Parenting, Family Environment, and Peers. Parents' drinking behavior and favorable attitudes about drinking have been positively associated with adolescents' initiating and continuing drinking.Early initiation of drinking has been identified as an important risk factor for later alcohol-related problems . Children who were warned about alcohol by their parents and children who reported being closer to their parents were less likely to start drinking . Lack of parental support, monitoring, and communication have been significantly related to frequency of drinking , heavy drinking, and drunkenness among adolescents . Harsh, inconsistent discipline and hostility or rejection toward children have also been found to significantly predict adolescent drinking and alcohol-related problems .Peer drinking and peer acceptance of drinking have been associated with adolescent drinking . While both peer influences and parental influences are important, their relative impact on adolescent drinking is unclear. Expectancies. Positive alcohol-related expectancies have been identified as risk factors for adolescent drinking. Positive expectancies about alcohol have been found to increase with age (50) and to predict the onset of drinking and problem drinking among adolescents (51-53). Trauma. Child abuse and other traumas have been proposed as risk factors for subsequent alcohol problems.Adolescents in treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence reported higher rates of physical abuse, sexual abuse, violent victimization, witnessing violence, and other traumas compared with controls (54). The adolescents in treatment were at least 6 times more likely than controls to hav e ever been abused physically and at least 18 times more likely to have ever been abused sexually. In most cases, the physical or sexual abuse preceded the alcohol use. Thirteen percent of the alcohol dependent adolescents had experienced posttraumatic stress disorder, compared with 10 percent of those who abused alcohol and 1 percent of controls.Advertising. Research on the effects of alcohol advertising on adolescent alcohol-related beliefs and behaviors has been limited . While earlier studies measured the effects of exposure to advertising , more recent research has assessed the effects of alcohol advertising awareness on intentions to drink. In a study of fifth- and sixth-grade students' awareness, measured by the ability to identify products in commercials with the product name blocked out, awareness had a small but statistically significant relationship to positive expectancies about alcohol and to intention to drink as adults .This suggests that alcohol advertising may influ ence adolescents to be more favorably predisposed to drinking . symptoms and signs of alcohol intoxicationSigns that indicate a person is intoxicated include the smell of alcohol on their breath or skin, glazed or bloodshot eyes, the person being unusually passive or argumentative, and/or deterioration in the person's appearance or hygiene.Other symptoms of intoxication include flushed skin and memory lossSome of the most common symptoms of alcoho l abuse in teenagers include lying, making excuses, breaking curfew, staying in their room, becoming verbally or physically abusive toward others, having items in their possession that are connected to alcohol use (paraphernalia), the smell of alcohol on their breath or body, mood swings, stealing, and changes in friends. The Link Between Early Alcohol Use and Alcohol Dependence Early alcohol use may have long–lasting consequences.People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence at som e time in their lives compared with those who have their first drink at age 20 or older . It is not clear whether starting to drink at an early age actually causes alcoholism or whether it simply indicates an existing vulnerability to alcohol use disorders . For example, both early drinking and alcoholism have been linked to personality characteristics such as strong tendencies to act impulsively and to seek out new experiences and sensations .Some evidence indicates that genetic factors may contribute to the relationship between early drinking and subsequent alcoholism . Environmental factors may also be involved, especially in alcoholic families, where children may start drinking earlier because of easier access to alcohol in the home, family acceptance of drinking, and lack of parental monitoring . Prevention and Treatment The immediate and long–term risks associated with adolescent alcohol use underscore the need for effective prevention and treatment programs.Research on the personal, social, and environmental factors that contribute to the initiation and escalation of drinking is essential for the development of such programs. It should be noted that preventing  and identifying alcohol use disorders in youth require different screening, assessment, and treatment approaches than those used for adults. For example, although relapse rates following alcoholism treatment are similar for both adults and adolescents, social factors such as peer pressure play a much larger role in relapse among adolescents .Personal factors such as childhood behavior problems or a family history of alcohol use disorders can help to identify high–risk youth and may suggest direction for interventions. Evidence suggests that the most reliable predictor of a youth’s drinking behavior is the drinking  behavior of his or her friends . Many research–based interventions target the child’s relevant behavioral skills, such as his or her ability to r eact appropriately to peer pressure to drink, as well as his or her knowledge, attitudes, and intentions regarding alcohol use .Positive beliefs about alcohol’s effects and the social acceptability of drinking encourage the adolescent to begin and continue drinking. However, youth often overestimate how much their peers drink and how positive their peers’ attitudes are toward drinking. Consequently, most prevention programs include social norms education, which uses survey data to counter students’ misperceptions of their peers’ drinking practices and attitudes about alcohol .Family factors, such as parent–child relationships, discipline methods, communication, monitoring and supervision, and parental involvement, also exert a significant influence on youthful alcohol use . Accordingly, family–based prevention programs for youth have been developed—for example, Iowa’s Strengthening Families Program, which significantly delayed initiation of alcohol use by improving parenting skills and family bonding . The beneficial effects of this program on student alcohol involvement were still evident 4 years after the intervention . Some school–based programs are aimed at adolescents who have already begun drinking.Preliminary research also has found promise in high school–based motivational programs that encourage self–change in problem drinkers (30). Policy and Community StrategiesAnother important factor in underage drinking is availability, that is, the degree of effort required to obtain alcohol, as determined by geographic, economic, and social factors (40,35). Consequently, interventions aimed at the individual must be supplemented by policy changes to help reduce youth access to alcohol and decrease the harmful consequences of established drinking (35).For example, raising the minimum legal drinking age in all States to 21 saved an estimated 20,000 lives between 1975 and 2000 (8). In add ition, all States now have zero–tolerance laws, which set the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers younger than age 21 at 0. 00 or 0. 02 percent (41). This policy has been associated with a 20–percent decline in the proportion of single–vehicle, nighttime fatal crashes among drivers younger than age 21 (42,43). The drinking and driving laws described above were implemented in the absence of an accompanying increase in existing law enforcement levels.The effectiveness of such measures is enhanced by integrating them into community–based strategies that involve the cooperation of local government agencies, the law enforcement community, business leaders,  and grassroots organizations (35). Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) is an example of a community–wide program that focused on policy changes to reduce youth access to commercial and social sources of alcohol (44,35). Communities that adopted the program experienced significantl y fewer arrests for drinking and driving among youth ages 18 to 20 than did neighboring communities (45).Comprehensive Interventions. Project Northland is an example of a successful comprehensive intervention that incorporated family, school, and community components to prevent or reduce alcohol use among adolescents. To determine the program’s effectiveness, researchers began testing the students in grade six; and, after 3 years, the prevalence of alcohol use by eighth graders was lower in intervention communities than in comparison sites, and especially among students who had not yet started drinking when the program began (46).During the next 2 years, interventions were only minimal, and the differences in the measures of alcohol use between the two groups of students disappeared. However, resumption of Project Northland activities in grades 11 and 12 had a significant positive effect on the students’ tendency to avoid alcohol use and binge drinking. Taken together, these results show the effectiveness of continued, age–appropriate prevention activities for delaying or reducing underage drinking (47).Underage Drinking—A Commentary by NIAAA Director Ting–Kai Li, M. D. The immediate and long–term risks associated with adolescent alcohol use underscore the need for effective prevention and treatment programs. Research toward those ends is a top priority at NIAAA. Studies have revealed genetic, biologic, developmental, and environmental influences on underage drinking. Scientists have found that variability is a crucial aspect of alcohol problems across all age groups and thus is a key consideration in alcohol research.For example, there is a three– to fourfold between–individual variation in the rate of absorption, distribution, and elimination of alcohol (pharmacokinetics) and a two– to threefold between–individual variation in the sensitivity of the brain to the effects of a given concentr ation of alcohol (pharmacodynamics). Understanding the underlying causes of this variability, both genetic and nongenetic, should provide insights into underage drinking and binge–drinking patterns.Through prevention and intervention strategies directed at the individual, family, school, and community, we aim to provide knowledge and change belief systems and social norms to reinforce the message that underage alcohol use is unacceptable. We also aim to enhance young peoples’ self–esteem, self–motivation, and identity formation to enable them to take responsibility for their own health by making informed, deliberate, and healthy choices regarding alcohol use.Various intervention tools have brought about positive behavioral change with regard to underage drinking. Further studies will follow cohorts of young people from childhood through the college years, at different locations and in different settings, to determine  whether these interventions are end uring and broadly applicable. Finding lasting solutions to such an entrenched problem will not be easy, but we are confident that diligent research efforts will meet this urgent challenge. Alcohol and the Family * Alcoholism is a disease of the family.Not only is there a significant genetic component that is passed from generation to generation, but the drinking problems of a single family member affect all other family members. The family environment and genetics can perpetuate a vicious and destructive cycle. * Many marriages break up over a husband’s or wife’s drinking. Domestic violence typically erupts when one or both spouses have been drinking, and drinking makes domestic violence more dangerous. * Families play a critical role in recovery from alcoholism. They can be instrumental in encouraging a family member with alcoholism to seek treatment.Strong family support also increases the chances for successful recovery. Alcoholism and Problem Drinking Pervasive in Family Life * More than half of adults have a close family member who has had alcoholism or is still dealing with alcoholism. * Approximately one in four children younger than 18 is exposed to alcoholism or problem drinking in the family. A Factor in Many Serious Family Problems * Separated and divorced men and women are three times as likely to say their spouse was alcoholic or had a drinking problem than men and women who are still married. Some 75 percent of husbands or wives who abuse their spouses have been drinking prior to or at the time of the abuse. * Women who have heavy drinking husbands or partners are at higher risk for developing their own drinking problems. * Each year between 1,200 and 8,800 babies are born with the physical signs and intellectual disabilities associated with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), and thousands more experience the somewhat lesser disabilities of fetal alcohol effects. FAS is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation in the United St ates. Children of alcoholics are at high risk for developing problems with alcohol and other drugs; they often do poorly at school, live with pervasive tension and stress, have high levels of anxiety and depression and experience coping problems. Underage Drinking Challenges American Youth * First use of alcohol typically begins around age 13. By their senior year, 64 percent of high school students say they have been drunk at least once; 33 percent say they have been drunk in the past month. Among teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 who say they drink heavily (five or more drinks on five or more occasions in the past month); 77 percent had at least one serious problem related to drinking in the past year; 63 percent had built up tolerance to the effects of alcohol; 20 percent reported psychological problems related to their drinking; 12 percent reported health problems related to their drinking. * Teenagers who drink heavily are more likely to cut class or skip school, perform poorly in school, take sexual risks, and commit suicide.Heavy drinking increases the likelihood of delinquent and violent behavior including running away from home, fighting, vandalizing property, stealing and getting arrested. * Visit the Alcohol Cost Calculator for Kids1 to find out more about serious alcohol problems among youth. Attitudes in the Home Influence Youth Drinking * Even in families where alcoholism isn’t present, permissive attitudes about alcohol can have a profound impact on youth. Though far more kids drink than use illicit rugs, parents are more likely to excuse getting drunk as a â€Å"rite of passage. † Unless a car is involved, some just don’t take it seriously. * Parents who drink and who have favorable attitudes about alcohol encourage children to start drinking and to keep drinking. * Drinking by older siblings can influence the alcohol use of younger siblings, particularly for same-sex siblings. Teens' Serious Alcohol Problems Recent s tudies agree: most young people experiment with alcohol.By the time they are seniors in high school, 58 percent report they have been drunk 1 even though they can't drink legally until they are 21. Their drinking typically accelerates when they go away to college where 40 percent of students say that they binge on alcohol (for young men this means drinking five or more drinks in a row; for young women, four or more drinks in a row). 2Most of the young people who get drunk or binge gradually outgrow this dangerous behavior as they become adults with jobs and family responsibilities.If they're lucky, they may simply miss a class or two because of a hangover. Others experience more serious problems that alter their lives in significant ways: premature death, injury, smoking and using illicit drugs, academic failure, arrest, unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease all are associated with drinking among young people. Some 3 million young Americans will develop an serious alc ohol problem that will significantly increase their risk for experiencing one of these life altering problems.According to the federal government, compared to their peers without an alcohol drug use disorder, young people with drinking problems: * require emergency room medical care 47 percent more often * miss two more weeks of school * are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed with another drug use disorder * are 10 times more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs * are four times more likely to be arrested or booked for breaking the law * are two and a half times as likely to run away or sleep on the streets Alcohol Interferes With Maturation As serious as these problems are — for the individuals who experience them and for their families and communities — they fail to convey how alcohol problems interfere with young people's bodies and minds, which haven't yet had a chance to fully mature. erious alcohol problems stunt emotional developme nt by masking the stress and anxiety that can be a normal part of adolescence, robbing young people of the opportunity to develop the coping skills they will need to succeed later in life. In short, even if they escape serious physical harm, alcohol problems prevent young people from achieving their full potential as adults in ways that aren't easily quantified. Young people with serious alcohol problems — many of whom also have mental health disorders that make their drinking and other drug use much more problematic — are among the most vulnerable in our society. They need treatment. But the vast majority — 83 percent, on average — isn't getting it, and among those who do, only 25 percent get enough. The benefits of treatment for young people, as well as society, are enormous. Recent clinical research proves that effective treatment developed specifically for adolescents can help them get their lives back on track through: * considerable reductions in th eir use of alcohol and marijuana one year after treatment * significantly fewer problems associated with their drinking and other drug use * less criminal activity * improved school performance, including better grades and attendance * healthier psychological outcomes, including higher self-esteem, decreased hostility and fewer suicidal thoughts What Are Serious Alcohol Problems? lcohol poisoningAlcohol poisoning is the potentially fatal result of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. It is caused by alcohol slowing down the body's functions (for example, breathing, heart rate, and gag reflex), thereby potentially leading to choking, coma, stopped breathing, stopped heart, and death. Treatment involves getting the person to the hospital immediately so he or she can be closely watched by medical professionals, given oxygen and fluids, and so that other measures can be taken in order to prevent choking, as well as stopped breathing or heartbeatSerious alcoho l problems fall into two categories: alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse. Together, these behaviors are known among experts as alcohol use disorders.The American Psychiatric Association (APA) publishes standardized criteria for diagnosing each of these conditions according to the presence of certain symptoms. This calculator uses these criteria2 to estimate how many young people in the U. S. need treatment. However, the APA developed these criteria for adults, not adolescents, which means they may miss many young people who would benefit from an intervention of some kind. Though serious alcohol problems can develop within a year or two after a young person has begun drinking,4 alcohol-related medical problems and withdrawal syndrome, which take years to develop, are symptoms that are much more likely to be found among adults.Nor do these criteria address factors unique to young people, whose bodies and minds continue to undergo profound changes throughout adolescence. As a result, some researchers have suggested that serious alcohol problems should be assessed more broadly among young people to permit earlier and more targeted interventions along a continuum3 facilitated by more widespread use of screening. These assessments would be multidimensional and take a number of other factors into consideration, including: Age Example: A 13-year-old who is binge drinking and smoking marijuana probably signals a more immediate need for intervention than an 18-year-old whose similar behavior, while dangerous and illegal, may be more typical of his age group.The amount, frequency and context of alcohol and other drug use Example: Any young person who drinks every day before going to school or during the school day. The seriousness and nature of the problems being experienced by a young person Example: A young person who fails a grade, runs away from home or comes into contact with the juvenile justice system. The presence of a mental health problem(see following section )A family history of addiction Example: Having a parent with an alcohol use disorder greatly increases the chances that an individual will develop one at some point in their life. Researchers have established that the risk for developing an alcohol use disorder is approximately 50 to 60 percent genetic. Who Is at Risk?Researchers estimate that people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop an serious alcohol problem later in life than those who wait until they are 21. 5 Less well understood, however, is the issue of who will develop an alcohol problem while they are still in adolescence, although scientists have identified several risk factors. Many young people with alcohol problems also have a mental health, or co-occurring, disorder. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, estimates range from 41 to 65 percent. 6 As a result, these young people are at especially high risk for two of the most serious problems associated with drinking during adolescence: violence and suicide. Children with conduct disorders — also known as antisocial disorders and characterized by rule-breaking behavior and a disregard for the rights of others — are at extremely high risk for developing an serious alcohol problem during adolescence. Thrill-seeking is common among children with conduct disorder and may explain why they begin drinking at an early age. Researchers also believe that alcohol's role in loosening inhibitions may encourage such adolescents to â€Å"act out† and get them in more serious trouble because of their drinking. Other researchers suggest serious alcohol problems and conduct disorders co-occur because of shared risk factors, not because one influences the other. 8Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder — also known as negative-affect disorders — are also common among adolescents with serious alcohol problems, especially young women.Researchers believe that both of these con ditions often occur as a result of physical or sexual abuse during childhood and that young people who have been (or are being) victimized drink to self-medicate. 9 As with conduct disorders, however, exactly how one influences the other isn't known. Because alcohol is a depressant, its use can contribute to depression. Studies also have shown drinking can increase the likelihood of sexual victimization that, in turn, can lead to a negative-affect disorder. TreatmentYoung people usually don't get treatment for alcohol and other drug use disorders until their drinking has gotten them in trouble with the law.In fact, 44 percent of young people in treatment have been referred by the criminal justice system. Other sources of referral include: * School/Community Agency (22%) * Self/Family (17%) * Other Substance Abuse Treatment Agency (5%) * Other Health Care Provider (5%) * Other (16%) The nation's health care system doesn't identify or treat young people with alcohol and other drug use problems any better than it does adults. Because of longstanding relationships with their young patients, pediatricians and family practice physicians are ideally positioned to observe the changes in behavior and health that occur as a result of drinking and drug use.But while the American Medical Association recommends that health professionals ask their young patients about their alcohol and drug use on an annual basis, fewer than 50 percent of physicians screen these patients for this purpose. 13Unique Treatment Needs Treatment for alcohol and other drug use disorders among young people has advanced considerably in the past several years. Within the next year or two, clinicians will be able to choose among a dozen therapies whose effectiveness and cost benefits have been established by research. 14 This progress has been stimulated in part by necessity: during the 1990s, the number of young people seeking drug treatment rose by 50 percent. 15Researchers learned that treating you ng people in programs for adults didn't work. In some cases, it may even have caused their drug use to escalate once they were discharged. 6Acknowledging the considerable differences between adolescent and adult drug use disorders was the first step in developing age appropriate treatment: * The patterns of drug use among young people differ: they drink more alcohol and smoke more marijuana than adults. They also are more likely to binge drink or get high whenever an opportunity arises. * Young people have higher rates of mental health disorders and get into trouble more often than adults. They require more careful assessment for mental health disorders which, if present, must be treated appropriately. * Young people are increasingly influenced by their peers and shaped by the pressures encountered in social institutions such as school and the criminal justice and welfare systems. These influences and pressures contribute not only to the development of serious alcohol problems, but also have a profound impact on treatment. The gains young people make during treatment may be undercut when they are return to an unhealthy atmosphere at home, in their neighborhoods or at school. They do not always have access to age-appropriate support groups. This explains why they have higher relapse rates than adults and typically require three or four treatment episodes before achieving recovery. Problem Drinking Affects School Performance How does problem drinking affect young people's schooling? In some cases the linkage between problem drinking and academic performance is profound. Drinking can affect the biological development of young people as well as their school-related achievement and behavior. Serious alcohol use among youth has significant neurological consequences.Alcohol damages areas of the brain responsible for learning and memory, verbal skills and visual-spatial cognition. 1, 2 Diagnosticians often find that these skills in adolescents who drink are deficient in comparison to those who aren't drinking. How can parents prevent alcohol use? Clear communication by parents about the negative effects of alcohol, as well as about their expectations regarding drug use, have been found to significantly decrease alcohol use in teens. Adequate parental supervision has also been found to be a deterrent to alcohol use in youth. Alcohol, and other drug use, has been found to occur most often between the hours of 3 p. m. and 6 p. m. immediately after school and prior to parents' arrival at home from work. Teen participation in extracurricular activities has therefore been revealed to be an important measure in preventing use of alcohol in this age group. Parents can also help educate teens about appropriate coping and stress-management strategies. For example, 15- to 16-year-olds who use religion to cope with stress tend to use drugs significantly less often and have less problems as a result of drinking than their peers who do not use religion to cop e. What is the treatment for alcohol intoxicationReplacing fluids that are lost as a result of the increased urination associated with drinking is often used to treat alcohol intoxication.Doctors frequently use fluids that contain sugars for that purpose. There are few medications that are considered effective in treating alcoholism. Zofran (ondansetron) has been found to be effective in treating alcoholism in people whose problem drinking began before they were 25 years old. Naltrexone (Trexan, ReVia, or Vivitrol) has also been found effective in managing alcoholism. Naltrexone is the most frequently used medication in treating alcoholism. It decreases the alcoholic's cravings for alcohol by blocking the body's euphoric (â€Å"high†) response to it. Naltrexone is either taken by mouth on a daily basis or through monthly injections.Disulfiram (Antabuse) is prescribed for about 9% of alcoholics. It decreases the alcoholic's craving for the substance by producing a negative rea ction to drinking. Acamprosate (Campral) works by decreasing cravings for alcohol in those who have stopped drinking. However, none of these medications have been specifically approved to treat alcoholism in people less than 18 years of age. Some research indicates that psychiatric medications like lithium and sertraline (Zoloft) may be useful in decreasing alcohol use in teens who have another mental-health disorder in addition to alcohol abuse. There are numerous individual treatments for alcoholism in teens.Relapse prevention uses methods for recognizing and amending problem behaviors. Individualized drug counseling specifically emphasizes short-term behavioral goals in an attempt to help the individual reduce or stop the use of alcohol altogether. Cognitive therapy techniques, like helping the teen recognize what tends to precede and follow their episodes of alcohol use, are often used to address alcohol abuse in teens. Some treatment programs include drug testing. Twelve-step p rograms like Alcoholics Anonymous are individualized drug-counseling methods. Motivational enhancement therapy encourages the teen to increase their desire to participate in therapy.Stimulus control refers to a treatment method that teaches the person to stay away from situations that are associated with alcohol use and to replace those situations with activities that are contrary to using drugs. Urge control is an approach to changing patterns that lead to drug use. Social control involves family members and other significant others of the alcoholic in treatmeWhile group therapy can be helpful in decreasing alcohol use in teens, groups that include a number of teens who also engage in disordered behaviors can actually tend to increase alcohol use in this age group. Family interventions for alcoholism that tend to be effective for teens include multidimensional family therapy (MDFT), group therapy, and multifamily educational intervention (MFE). MDFT has been found to be quite effec tive.Longer-term residential treatment of three to five months that addresses peer relationships, educational problems, and family issues is often used in treating alcoholism in teens. For youth in the first stage of alcohol use (having access, but not having yet used alcohol), preventive measures are used. Therefore, limiting access to alcohol or other drugs, addressing any risk factors of the youth or family, as well as optimal parental supervision and expression regarding expectations are often recommended. The approach to those who have experimented with alcohol should not be minimized by mental-health professionals, since infrequent use can progress to the more serious stages of alcohol use if not addressed.Therefore, professionals recommend that the youth be thoroughly educated about the effects and risks of alcohol, that fair but firm limits be set on the use of alcohol, and that the user be referred for brief counseling, a self-help group, and/or family support group. Teens who have progressed to the more advanced stages of alcoholism are typically treated intensively, using a combination of the medical, individual, and familial interventions already describedGreenblatt, JC. , â€Å"Patterns of Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Associations with Emotional and Behavioral Problems,† U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, March 2000.Greenfeld L, â€Å"Alcohol and Crime: An Analysis of National Data on the Prevalence of Alcohol Involvement in Crime,† Bureau of Justice Statistics, Report # NCJ-168632, 1998. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, â€Å"10th Special Report to the U. S. Congress on Alcohol and Health:Highlights fromCurrent Research,† June 2000. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, â€Å"Drinking in the United States: Main Findings from the 1992 National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey,† 1998. National Institute on Drug Abuse, â€Å"Monitoring the Future: National Results on Adolescent Drug Use, Overview of Key Findings,† 2001. U. S.Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, â€Å"Youth and Underage Drinking: An Overview,† â€Å"The Role of Parents in Preventing and Addressing Underage Drinking,† SAMHSA Fact Sheets, 2000. National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. , â€Å"Youth, Alcohol and Other. In any given age group, heavy and binge drinkers are 4-6 times more likely than nondrinkers to say they cut classes or skipped school. They are twice as likely as nondrinkers to say that their school work is poor, and they report more frequently that they are disobedient at school. 5 Among high school students, those who use alcohol are five times more likely to drop out than those who don't use alcohol. These prob lems are not limited to| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Measures to Reduce or Prevent Teenage AlcoholismEnvironmental: These youth alcoholism prevention initiatives are designed to reduce opportunities for youth to engage in underage drinking and include heightening awareness of the problem, increasing legal penalties for underage drinking and engaging community support to stop alcohol use by youth. Environmental-focused interventions include: * Increasing the cost of alcohol. Studies have shown that teens are less likely to purchase alcohol when it’s expensive. Obviously, teens have limited funds for such things. * Raising the minimum legal drinking age.Studies show that the earlier one begins drinking, the greater the likelihood of alcoholism. Also, binge drinking is most prevalent among teens and those in their early twenties. Binge drinking is very dangerous, carrying with it the risk of alcohol poisoning, coma, and even death. * Raising public awarenes s through public service campaigns and other initiatives. There are already some public services campaigns, but more are needed. In addition, the â€Å"just say no† and similar initiatives are not really effective. Campaigns based on research would be better. * Restaurant and bar server training and compliance checks. This should also include the training of all store clerks where alcohol is sold.In one study, more than 90% of high school seniors said it was easy for them to obtain alcohol when they wanted it. When alcohol is so easy to get, teens will continue to use it. * Deterring adults from purchasing alcohol for minors or providing alcohol to minors. It is illegal to provide minors with alcohol, but laws need to be consistently enforced. Giving alcohol to teens not only encourages them to drink, it sends the message that underage drinking is OK. * Enforcing penalties for the DWI (driving while intoxicated, use of false IDs, and violating zero-tolerance laws. One law tha t has proven useful is suspending or revoking the driver’s license of anyone underage caught drinking. It’s powerful deterrent for teens.Individual Measures to Reduce or Prevent Teenage AlcoholismThese youth alcoholism prevention initiatives help educate and prepare youth to resist the urge to experiment with alcohol and drink in spite of influences and opportunities to which they are exposed. Education that focuses on addressing attitudes and motivational factors, as well as providing youth with skills that enable them to â€Å"say no† and wait until they are of legal drinking age, has been proven most helpful. Individual-focused teenage alcoholism interventions include: * School-based prevention programs that include addressing peer pressure to drink and teaching teens how to resist those pressures in addition to providing information about the dangers of drinking.These programs also offer interactive and developmentally appropriate information, include peer-l ed components, and provide teacher training. * Family-oriented prevention initiatives where parents’ ability to influence their children’s behavior and attitudes play a critical role. Setting and enforcing rules against underage drinking and monitoring the child’s behavior have proven to help reduce the propensity of underage drinking and onset of youth alcoholism. For family-based teenage alcoholism interventions to be effective, parents need to be informed about the risks of teenage alcoholism and know how to talk to their child about alcohol use.Public campaigns can address these issues and so can school-based programs. | | | ConclusionAlcohol  is not an ordinary commodity. While it carries connotations of pleasure and sociability in the minds of many, harmful consequences of its use are diverse and widespreadFrom a global perspective, in order to reduce the harm caused by  alcohol, policies need