Introduction
After the FDA approved the use of opioid drugs in 1995, many companies have multiplied their revenues through sales. It led to citizens becoming more and more dependent on painkillers. The narcotic properties of opioid drugs have led to the onset of an opioid epidemic since 2000, including increased overdose deaths. The thesis reviewed aimed to analyze regulatory and socioeconomic factors of the Opioid Crisis.
A costly struggle
It was declared a “public health emergency by President Trump, although it was costly from an economic standpoint. The struggle against the opioid epidemic was estimated at nearly 500 billion dollars a year (Wang, 2018). In an economic context, opioid drugs can be compared with conventional other products, then the law on supply and demand applies to it as well. In other words, there is a direct connection between the state of the opioid market and the rate of overdose deaths.
Incarceration level and GDP level’s relation to overdose ranks
The author also identified the connection between incarcerated persons’ level and overdoses number. Every 100,000 incarcerated persons result in 100 fewer overdoses (Wand, 2018). In addition, an increase in GDP and prescription rate increase lead to the overdose number growth. In other words, an increase in citizens’ income affects the overall ranking of overdose deaths (Wand, 2018). This is because the population has the opportunity to purchase and use substances. Although, according to some reports, highly addictive substances, such as opioids and others, have a stable level of demand, thus, they do not depend on income indicators.
Conclusions
As a result, one may conclude that the opioid crisis is of epidemic proportions. Unfortunately, there is no quick solution because, despite their destructive qualities, opioid-containing drugs can be found on the market. Some national initiatives could improve the situation, such as bans and control measures. In addition, the main conclusion was that the level of GDP affects the rate of deaths from overdose. Accordingly, the lower the incomes of citizens, the less there would be use and overdoses.
Reference
Wang, H. (2018). Epidemic: An analysis of the regulatory and socioeconomic factors of the opioid crisis. New York University.
“Emperor Of China” By Jonathan D.
Introduction
The trumped-up story, Emperor of China: Self-Portrait Of Kang-Hsi, was authored by Jonathan D. Spence In 1974. The narrative is a biography of Kang-Hsi that Spence composed through essays, poems, proclamations, and letters written by the emperor. The book vividly describes what a Manchu emperor was from the inside, except for a leader. Moreover, the book is an aid for the west in understanding the history of china and its culture. The prospective audience for the fiction is politicians, as Kang–Hsi is advising on fair governance and has plans for his successors and healthy living. The book provides a platform for the reader to explore the talents, personal points of view, and heart of the Qing emperor, who ruled China for 61 years.
Main body
The book is not a straightforward chronological biography as it is intertwined around themes. The melodic subject in the narrative includes: “In motion,” which illustrate in the first chapter, where Kang–Hsi demonstrates expertise in hunting and comprehension of how to pull through during the war. The second segment, “Ruling,” conveys Kang-Hsi’s opinion on governing a country. Western culture and ideologies have been compared in the third phase, “thinking,” between China and Western countries. The fourth chapter has extensively covered “growing old,” which illustrates applying medical knowledge to real life. Lastly, the last chapter cover “son,” reflecting on the father’s love for his sons. Thus, fiction can be endorsed as the mirror of various events that take place.
Kang- Hsi was a remarkable emperor in China in the aspect of how he used to solve issues. The Han and munch had cultural differences, and Kang-Hsi is trying his best to balance their differences. It was considered a sense of pride to anyone who took governorship. For instance, the westernized missionaries were expected to bow before Kang Hsi as a sign of respect. On the contrary, if the minister failed to do so, he would be in trouble or be out to face death. Kang-Hsi had conversations with the missionaries as he was interested in the western ideologies; however, he would establish guidelines to govern their measures and advance Christianity. The author’s exhibition of Kang’s ways of solving cultural conflicts, internal issues linking Manchu and Han Chinese, and aesthetics between Chinese and western cultures is remarkable.
In the fiction, Kang Hsi demonstrates to be an impressive learner. He takes time to read The Book Of Change and The Analects, ideal readings for the Confucian scholar he references. His intellectual conservative in books has helped him learn managing skills, expenses, and advice from his government. However, such skills as hunting and martial arts are inborn from his Manchu blood. Moreover, he records his conversations with people for future records and reminders. The talents and virtues of Kang-Hsi are presented through the use of these primary sources.
Kang Hsi never liked scholars who nearly depended on books for their basic knowledge. On the contrary, a person to be an emperor was expected to have a lot of expertise to make fair judgments. In addition, would criticize the governors that were biased in Manchu and Han. He believed intellectual ability was not just found in books but also in practical methodology. “There are too many men, who claim to be scholars, and yet they are stupid and arrogant; we better off with moral principle and more practice of it” (Kangxi and Spence 40). Through Kang Hsi’s basic knowledge of medicine, he would take care of his army in the field as he was an active emperor who would not sit back and rule the country. His practices outdid that not just education from books can bring a difference in a person’s life.
The primary purpose of the bibliography was to explore Kang Hsi’s inner world. Being an emperor is not an easy task as one must not show and express personal emotions in front of people. In addition, to be an emperor, one has to have basic knowledge of managing and governing people to their expectations. Kang-Hsi is always on the move on, wanting to know everything that affects his country. While at the same time, he was a father to his children, and he effectively balanced both being an emperor to a whole mass. He loved his sons as an ordinary men as he would teach them basic skills such as hunting and punish them when they did wrong. On the outlook of Kang-Hsi, personal life reflects a responsible person who can handle different roles effectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article has summarized the heart, personal point of view, and talents of the emperor. Throughout the fiction, Kang-Hsi has evolved as a man with endorsed character as he was principled despite his many years in government. The author has used him as a reflection of people in governance. He advocates for responsibility, lack of bias, character traits that a leader should have, and intellectual knowledge based on our daily practices. He also appreciates culture as he is trying to show how life back then was.
Work cited
Kangxi and Jonathan D. Spence. Emperor of China: Self Portrait of Kʻang Hsi. Vintage, 1975.
Discussion: Treating Smoking Dependence
A controlled study was performed to determine the efficacy of Mindfulness Therapy (MT) in treating smoking dependence among 40 adults. Half of the participants received the standard therapy for smoking dependence, while the rest received the MT. After 16 weeks, the participants were asked to fill out the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS) to indicate their level of dependence on the substance. The null hypothesis assumed that there was no difference between the NDSS scores for the two groups. The study used an independent samples t-test, as the two groups were independent of each other, no outliers were expected, and the NDSS scores were normally distributed (Jackson, 2016). Subjects that received MT had a lower NDSS score (M = 8.1, SD = 3.04) compared to the participants that received standard treatment (M = 13.25, SD = 3.51). The difference in average score for standard and MT interventions was significant, with t (38) = 4.9607, p =.000. Since p <0.05, the study rejected the null hypothesis, as nicotine dependence was significantly lower among subjects that received MT compared to the standard therapy. The findings indicate that MT is more effective in reducing nicotine dependence among youths compared to standard therapy. These findings support the need for practitioners to adopt MT as the preferred intervention against smoking. In addition, the findings corroborate those of existing studies that indicate that combining non-judgmental attitudes in substance-dependence counseling produces better individual awareness and builds the capacity to overcome existing weaknesses. Such interventions are needed to stem the rising tide of nicotine dependence among the youth. Consequently, practitioners and policymakers should include mindfulness sessions in their standard therapy interventions to achieve better results that last longer than ordinary treatments.
Reference
Jackson, S. L. (2016). Research methods and statistics: A critical thinking approach. Cengage Learning.