I believe that the piece “‘The Pills are everywhere’:How the Opioid Crisis Claims Its Youngest Victims” is credible, after examining the article. The piece opens up the argument on the issue now surrounding parents struggling with addiction; their children. Their safety is in question, and this article, written by Julie Turkewitz, brings this issue to light. Turkewitz uses facts such as the total deaths of minors by opioid poisoning since 2015, but she also tells the story of Penny Mae Cormani, 1, and her family's response to the death of their daughter. She hears Penny’s grandmother, who gives her direct quotes for the article. The author also received quotes from another victim’s great-grandmother, and a doctor who treated opioid-sick toddlers. …show more content…
It focuses on natural and local disasters, with some insight into more social issues, such as drug use and mass shootings. She began writing in 2012 for the New York Times, which is also a very reputable source for print and online news worldwide. The fact that Turkewitz was chosen to be a part of the writers for this newspaper should indicate that her credibility checks out. She seems to be fairly accurate in her writing of the piece, and makes sure that she has more than one source for her information. She also gets direct quotes, and uses stories and interviews more than factual evidence to enhance her point. This is very credible, in my opinion, especially given that the theme of the article is a social issue and is meant to inform others of the unexpected tragedies that have come from the Opioid Epidemic. Turkewitz puts together a very compelling and heart-wrenching piece, that given all of the guidelines around credibility, does very well for itself. It is accurate to the best of its ability, fair, as transparent as possible about sources and photographs, independent, powerful, and open-minded in nature. There are not many photographs used, but given the nature of the piece this can be overlooked, because of the plethora of interviews and data that makes the piece truly
“Deterioration” is a creative writing piece told from the viewpoint of a small child dealing with a family full of addicts. The author, Deserai Lucas, describes the long term tragedy that drugs and alcohol pose upon children when both parents are abusing the substances at hand. Lucas’ purpose in this writing is to establish the harmful effects, and the level of awareness a child has in this particular situation. These circumstances are relatable and will attract an audience that has experienced deep pain from watching one suffer through addiction.
In America and The Pill: A History of Promise, Peril, and Liberation, Elaine May Tyler examined the history of birth control in the United States. May traced the pill's conception and evolution the United States through to the twenty-first century. The book consisted of an introduction, seven chapters, and a conclusion. May approached the topic in the context of influence of suffragist and reformer Margaret Sanger's advocacy originating in the late Progressive Era and Cold War American ideology, through to the emerging movements of the sexual revolution and the feminist movement, including acknowledging political, religious, racial, socio-economic, and gender bias factors.
Elaine Tyler May delivers a concise historical retrospective and critical analysis of the development, evolution, and impact of the birth control pill from the 1950s to present day. In her book, America and the Pill, examines the relationship of the pill to the feminist movement, scientific advances, cultural implications, domestic and international politics, and the sexual revolution. May argues cogently that the mythical assumptions and expectations of the birth control pill were too high, in which the pill would be a solution to global poverty, serve as a magical elixir for marriages to the extent it would decline the divorce rate, end out-of-wedlock pregnancies, control population growth, or the pill would generate sexual pandemonium and ruin families. May claims the real impact of the pill—it’s as a tool of empowerment for women, in which it allows them to control their own fertility and lives. May effectively transitioned between subjects, the chapters of America and the Pill are organized thematically, in
These drugs, especially if they were “crazily accessible”(51) should have been taken away by the government. It is indeed impossible to take away all the drugs in a community, but it was impossible for the government to have no knowledge of the issue, thus they should have worked harder to prohibit or lessen drug usage. Plus, it was so addictive that “A pregnant mother sold her body to get another hit”(51). This drives home the point that drugs are detrimental to one’s mentality and health. A mother, responsible for another life on top of hers, is willing to sell her body for drugs.
There was improvement in many areas of the country following the crackdown on prescription drug abuse and pill mills. However, another result of the crackdownwas a diminution in the availability of prescription painkillers and the price for the painkillers on the street became more expensive. The ones who became addicted to painkillers during the pill mill epidemic then turned to heroin. The crackdown of pill mills inadvertently fueled the epidemic of heroin. “Between 2007 and 2012, heroin use rose 79 percent nationwide, according to federal data.
I. Importance: As American deaths from drug overdoses continue to rise in the United States, the nation is faced with a public health crisis so profound that in October 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic to be a national public health emergency (Merica). President Trump’s declaration came after numerous studies indicating the danger opioid addiction posed; for example, a 2016 study entitled “Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths—United States, 2010-2015” claimed that drug overdose deaths “nearly tripled during 1999-2014,” reaching a startling high 52,404 deaths in 2015 (Rudd, et al). These statistics are more than just disturbing revelations regarding the opioid crisis; they are evidence of a serious problem that is rapidly affecting the lives of more and more Americans every year. Death by overdose is not the only public policy concern, however, as millions of Americans are also addicted to prescription opioids.
Dependence on prescription opioids can stem from treatment of chronic pain and in recent years is the cause of the increased number of opioid overdoses. Opioids are very addictive substances, having serious life threatening consequences in case of intentional or accidental overdose. The euphoria attracts recreational use, and frequent,
Opioid Epidemic in the United States The opioid crisis has risen over the years here in America. The addiction to painkillers has caused many drug overdoses across America. According to the Vox," In 2015, more than 52,000 people have died from drug overdoses from linked to opioids such as Percocet, heroin, Oxycontin or even fentanyl. This problem did not become an overnight health crisis, but it has become quickly known in America. Expanding our drug treatment centers across America would provide the support to those who are addicted to drugs.
This question is addressed in the third section of the article. For that reason, the author writes with a rhetoric of pathos to encourage the reader to persevere and also purchase Naloxone, a drug which can alter the effects of opioids in case of emergency. Since addiction is an emotional subject, this section of the article contains much pathos rhetoric
A couple fellow classmates in high school and college were always taking some kind of pills. Myself not knowing much about drugs, I thought they were prescribed. Later, I found out that they weren’t prescribed. My classmates were using them for themselves and also distributing to other students. I never spoke up about it, since I never witnessed the distribution but rumors go around.
According to Michael Klein, “The most prescription drugs that are commonly misused are opioids, tranquillizers, sedatives, and hypnotics.” Unintentional overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers have quadrupled since 1999 and have outnumbered those involving heroin and cocaine since 2002. (Klein). The reason some people abuse opioids is just to “get high”.
I pick up my pills and I take my pills out and I. Take a bottle of water out to take my pills with and all you can hear is gulp and I take my outhere. Pills and take them and I drink the water gulp and I grab more water
These pills, such as xanax and oxycodone allow people for short periods of time to withdraw from the harsh reality faced today. “Between 1997 and 2002, sales of oxycodone and methadone nearly quadrupled” (Okie). Around 15 years later and the prescription pill problem is continuing to skyrocket. Since prescription pills are dispersed out to anyone by doctors, many people do not realize that it is as much of an illicit drug as cocaine and heroin is. “Misinformation about the addictive properties of prescription opioids and the perception that prescription drugs are less harmful than illicit drugs are other possible contributors to the problem” (NIDA).
A brutal murder of a former-soldier causes the pseudo-reconciliation of his divorced parents, only for them to be torn apart by the implications of his death and the secrets he died with. Although this family’s horror appears to be a simple, singular case, the lives of seemingly unconnected people are sucked into a larger story. With the country now facing the worst opioid crisis in American history, it is necessary to question how today’s epidemic compares with past drug crises, and how drug addicts have historically been treated by the judicial system. In the aftermath of the white veteran Matt Skokie’s death, a Hispanic person of interest (Hector Tontz) is the first to reveal Skokie’s involvement in both illicit drug use and trade. Immediately, Skokie’s mother Barb denies any possibility that her supposedly well-adjusted, happily married son could be involved in such delinquency.
Pros and Cons of Workplace Drug Testing The drug problem in any country continues to proliferate despite efforts of the government in preventing these drugs from further destructing the lives of the people. Clandestine laboratories sprout on different parts of the world and find ways on how it can reach vulnerable individuals. What makes it more alarming is how drug addiction has affected children as young as 12 years old. The popularity of drug use is caused by the following factors: • The availability of both prescription and street drugs.