Narrow Results

Substance abuse remains a global menace in spite of recurrent warnings, seizures, social and pharmacological effects associated with addiction to drugs. In this paper, we use a mathematical model which is a combination of the classical SIS and SIR models to investigate the dynamics of substance abuse. Initiation into drug use is based on contact of those at risk (the susceptible population) with drug users at different levels of drug use. We evaluate the threshold number and use it to analyze the model. We show that when this threshold number is less than unity, the drug-free steady state is globally asymptotically stable and when this threshold number is greater than unity the drug-persistent steady state is also globally stable. The impact of amelioration, rehabilitation and re-initiation on drug epidemics is investigated. Amelioration in presence of quitting for light users is observed to reduce the prevalence of substance abuse and this is supported by numerical simulations. The results show that both prevention and treatment/rehabilitation are necessary strategies for reduction of drug epidemics. Our recommendation is that preventive strategies should be directed toward reducing the contact rate and treatment should be combined with psychotherapy to accelerate quitting and reduce re-initiation.

Is Aging a Risk Factor for Cancer?

Adverse Effects of Substance Abuse on Aging: Implication of Brain Cell Injury

Diabetes and the Elderly

The Necessity for Early Therapeutic Interventions in Dementia: The Role of Neurosteroids

This study aimed to contribute to an exploratory categorization of different adolescent drug rehabilitation service models in Hong Kong. In-depth interviews were conducted with local social workers working in the medical model setting, integrated model setting, and social model setting. There was a trend that hybrid models were used by the drug rehabilitation service providers and a shift to postmodernism was found in the current service settings.

Social pressures, disruptive or upsetting life experiences, and the inability of parents to pursue protective strategies are the triggers of substance dependence by young people. Adolescence is the transitional stage of puberty to adulthood; a critical period of growth, where issues of this sort frequently occur. This is the period at which mental, physical, cognitive, and social change happens concurrently, along with interrelated factors. Analysis of the subject of substance misuse among youths starts with an overview of the problem of opioid addiction among adolescents in the sense of applicable criminology hypotheses. Discussions will be conducted on the strategies the US is pursuing to address the issue. Finally, awareness of the preventive measures that may be implemented rather than intervening only once the misuse has started.