The Causes & Growing Problem of Traffic in LA

The Causes & Growing Problem of Traffic in LA

If you've visited, driven out of and lived in the city of Los Angeles, then you've most likely encountered and seen LA traffic. According to a graph posted by INRIX in 2019, Los Angeles ranks 6th for the worst congested neighborhoods and holds the top two worst corridors in the U.S. With an average of 76-80 hours in traffic, at peak hours, per year it makes you wonder, why is traffic so bad in LA and what is causing it?

In this chart, we can see the data, and other information, on Los Angeles' congestion level

What is causing Traffic to worsen in LA?

One of the reasons why traffic continues to worsen is due to LA's sidewalks and intersections being in such poor conditions. Not just LA's sidewalks and whats on those sidewalks, but also opting to drive rather than commute as its more accessible and safer. However, there are downsides to both situations. Driving will leave you feeling exhausted due to the long hours in traffic, the dangerous drivers, and the pollution emitted from vehicles. As for walking on sidewalks, LA isn't particularly the safest in some areas and public transportation isn't accessible whenever you want it to be.

Sidewalks in LA

The majority of the time, when walking in LA, you will stumble upon a sidewalk that has minor or major cracks in it. One may think that this sidewalk is just one of few that needs fixing, but the moment you turn the corner onto the next sidewalk, there's another broken sidewalk in your path. Broken sidewalks may not seem like a hazard, but if you were an elderly person or someone carelessly walking, it could cause serious injuries if you were to encounter it while being unbeknownst about it. In addition, people who have a physical disability have difficulty overcoming these issues because of surfaces not being smooth whatsoever. As written by Dick Platkin in his article "Traffic Congestion in Los Angeles will get Worse," "LA's sidewalks and intersections are in terrible shape, with a woefully underfunded repair program. They are totally uninviting to most potential pedestrians and have so far failed to get Angelinos out of their cars and on their feet" (Platkin, 2019).

In the left photo, you're able to see an example of what you can expect to encounter in some areas while walking in LA. The right photo portrays a physically disabled citizen stumbling due to faulty sidewalks.

Broken sidewalks are not the only cause for concern when walking on the sidewalks. Homelessness, another issue, is what dissuades many, including me, from walking on sidewalks. There are lots of sidewalks in LA that are covered with tents and makes it unable to walk. Not just being unable to walk, but many choose not to walk and would rather drive as you won't have to be in close quarters with the homeless population. While I don't see most as a threat as many are there due to unfortunate circumstances, there are the many that have mental issues through the usage of drugs. Therefore, it causes myself and others to use our vehicles as a way of transportation as it feels safer than being on the sidewalks. 

This is a photo of a street in Los Angeles where locals decide to walk on the street rather than the sidewalk

What happens when more people opt to drive?

With the increase in drivers on the roads and freeways come an increase in traffic and accidents. LA, from what I've noticed, is prone to accidents as a lot of people are in a rush and make dangerous turns in tight scenarios. Especially when rush hour occurs, everyone wants to head home or to work and because the freeways are jam-packed, everyone is trying to merge and therefore causes dangerous situations. 

This is a photo of one of LA's most iconic traffic jams on the 405 freeway before Thanksgiving

In addition to hazardous situations, the pollution and global warming that driving causes is overlooked. Driving a car, SUVs, trucks or any vehicle in general emits carbon dioxide and pollutants. These pollutants are a form of toxic compound that's built of hydrogen and oxygen. However, when these two elements react to each other, it forms an oxide. It may not sound bad, but nitrogen oxide, one of the oxides that can be emitted, can cause respiratory issues, lung diseases, contribute to birth defects, etc. The list goes on as to what can occur to you, but the bottom line is that these pollutants that are emitted from vehicles can cause long-term effects to someones respiratory system. As mentioned earlier, vehicles also emit carbon dioxide. For those that don't know, carbon dioxide is the most dominant greenhouse gas that causes global warming. What it does is that it absorbs heat that would usually be emitted into space, and radiates it back into the Earth; thus causing our Earth to heat up. An observation made by hybridCARS portrays that a 2005 Toyota Camry emits 11,100 pounds of Carbon dioxide per 14,000 miles per year ("Health and Environment Effects of Driving, 2008). This is just a single Camry so just think about the number of cars driven in LA alone and how much that's contributing to global warming and our environment.

How the Growing Problem of Traffic in LA Affects Me

To begin, this topic pertained to me mostly in my Fall 19 and Spring 20 semester because of the traffic I experienced while driving to my internship as well as how this affected my time in school. For starters, my workplace was 20 miles away from my house and it would always take me 50 minutes to 1 hr and 30 minutes to arrive. Simply because of traffic, the time it takes to drive 20 miles was doubled if not tripled. I always felt fatigued on weekdays because I had to wake up early and was unable to get as much sleep. You may think to yourself, why don't you sleep earlier? The problem with that is that during those two semesters, the only times my group members could meet for our projects was at night so I'd had to wait until that happened. After that's finished, I'd had to drive home, eat, shower, and work on any assignments that are due in the near future. If I was lucky, I'd be able to sleep at 12:00am. Otherwise, I'd sleep even as late as 1:30am and have to wake up at 5:30am to repeat the cycle of sitting in traffic to drive to work. 

   

How the freeway typically looks going to work and back home

 

Through all of this, I won't say that I'm part of the solution for global warming or causing less traffic in LA because I also drive a vehicle. However, public transportation isn't really an option to me, at least not in America. Because I don't particularly like the people that I may encounter, I choose to avoid public transportation as I feel safer doing so. While I still walk on streets in LA, of course before the pandemic, it's not as often as it could be because many streets are broken and overtaken by the homeless population. I feel safer driving past these areas in my vehicle rather than having to walk through areas that make me feel unsafe. I'm definitely not part of the solution, but I understand what's happening through all of this, as I've experienced it, and decided to write about this topic so that I could bring some awareness to it.

 

References:

Burfeind, M. (2019). INRIX: Congestion Costs Each American Nearly 100 hours, $1,400 A Year. inrix.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://inrix.com/press-releases/2019-traffic-scorecard-us/

Platkin, D. (2019, April 25). Traffic Congestion in Los Angeles will get Worse. City Watch LA. Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/17537-traffic-congestion-in-los-angeles-will-getworse#:~:text=The%20reason%20is%20that%20by,traffic%20congestion%20in%20Los%20Angeles%3F

Carino, M. M. (2018, July 12). Nothing Can Fix LA Traffic, So Deal With It. LAist. Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://laist.com/2018/07/12/nothing_can_fix_la_traffic_so_deal_with_it.php#:~:text=IT'S%20NOT%20JUST%20ABOUT%20SPACE&text=Space%20is%20only%20one%20of,increase%20capacity%3B%20it's%20very%20dynamic

hybridCars. (2008). Health and Environmental Effects of Driving. Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://www.gasp-pgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/factsheet-enveffects.pdf

From a Gen Z Perspective: Depression and the Future

From a Gen Z Perspective: Depression and the Future  

Anthony Tran, 27 October 2020

In the United States, Generation Z aka. “The Zoomers” is the generation of technology, and compared to every other generation, “has an easier and better life” than everyone else which is why we see a rise in depression and suicide becoming the second leading cause of death for the privileged generation. The reality of it all is you may not know that your child, or your peers (If you’re generation Z also) are suffering silently or maybe under immense stress that although you overlook, can be the last time you may see that individual. Generation Z although having knowledge and technology at their fingertips, does not mean that they are having it easier than every other generation. 

Generation Z Origin Story:

Generation Z knows as the Zoomers were born from 1996-2015 and there is big talk about how this generation is more connected to the internet which has opened Pandora's box ranging from cyberbullying to memes that hide the painful cries of a generation, but in reality, we don’t acknowledge that this generation has gone through the most life events than any other generation in the span of 27 years. The Zoomers were blessed with the first smartphone but were stricken with 9/11 leading to a war in the Middle East instilling fear in the generation. Although there was war foreignly, the generation had its first taste of war via the rise of school shootings leading to the constant fear of not making home to their family. It’s an issue where you as a child expect to go to school every day and learn with a constant fear of a trigger being pulled. Another milestone was the election of the first Black President who was elected twice which instilled change but also left a civil division from then on which is still prevalent today with our current president Donald Trump. The Zoomers had its big technological boom but was hit with a recession, and watched millennials not being able to afford a place to live, not being able to get a job due to the choice of degree, seeing that college is becoming more expensive from the effects of the recession; the Generation learned to be wiser with money. Climate change has made it harder for Generation Z to enjoy the weather and has polluted the earth due to the decisions of previous generations which instilled the duty of trying to fix and undo what has been done, but there is hope with the rise of electric cars thanks to Tesla. In the current year of 2020, Generation Z has experienced a fear of going to war(US-Iran Conflict), a major wildfire(Australian WildFire), Racial Injustice(George Floyd), a major pandemic (COVID-19), and a loved social media platform almost being banned for connection with China(TikTok) amidst a presidential election on the horizon. When looking at the factors that may have influenced the Zoomers we might as well name them the Gloomers because of how much they have gone through in such a short amount of time, and not add on the events that might be affecting the Zoomers personally such as family or other stressors. These events shape the world that we live in, and our Zoomers are taking the brute force of it all because they don’t have a say in these events and have to live through them which shapes their mentality and can lead to depression and suicide rates we’re seeing. 

Generation Zoomers Gloomers or actually Realistic

With Zoomers being hit with multiple stressors, researchers have tried to pinpoint what is the biggest stressor on Generation Z which came with multiple answers, but all related to the prospect of life stability. Research on Millennials and Generation Z around the world, by the Deloitte research group in 2020, showed the world the outlooks on the future and key ideals of both generations; one of the sections studied was stress which is shown in Table 1. There were a total of 8,300 Zoomers surveyed from around the world on their thoughts which shows that the main stressor may originate from school and social media. From the table, we can see that school is a big stressor for many Zoomers, and this might be the expectations put upon them to succeed or gain financial stability, and the recession that had happened in 2008. (Deloitte p.2)

Table 1: Stressors of Gen Z and Millennials (Deloitte 2020)

In another study by the Pew Research Centre in 2018 showed that Generation Z teens weren’t pressured to do drugs, drink, or sex, but in reality was pressured to be a well-rounded individual and get good grades in school being the main pressure among teens.(Table 2.) The constant fear of failing, or not fitting in may stem from previous topics such as the rise of the internet which has led to social media, and with an awareness of the surroundings, getting good grades might be a way to achieve financial stability. 

Table 2: What is pressuring teens?

Social Media

I want you to check your phone, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter; I can assure you that you or your child might have one of these apps. Social Media has connected our society and has become a way to portray our perfect life, and a way to keep tabs on other people creating a perpetuating cycle of expectations. The American Psychological Association had conducted a survey in 2018 on Generation Z, and one of the highlights was the impact of social media and the thoughts of social media from the generation. The researchers noted that “Despite high percentages of Gen Zs feeling stress from different causes, only half (50 percent) feel they do enough to manage their stress; one in four Gen Zs (25 percent) say they do not feel they do enough.”(APA 2018) which can show us that there are two sides of a coin when it comes to the impact of social media. Social media could be used as a way to vent, and stay connected with friends, but also can be a medium for cyberbullying and high expectations; however, it depends on how the individual uses the platform. 

What’s the point of this?

As a Zoomer myself, I think that the biggest issue my generation including myself pertains to mental illness, and the amount of pressure we have to go through only to suffer silently without anyone knowing. I believe that even if your friend or a stranger is the nicest person and happiest person in the world, it may be just a front which is a method to protect themselves, or not burden you. How I know this is that I’ve done this many times, and I can assume that you’ve heard or said the lines, “I’m fine.” when you really aren’t. The point of this article is to bring awareness to the issues that my generation has to go through and give verification to my generation that it’s understandable the amount of stress, and expectations put on you, but there are ways to cope such as with self-care and opening up. In the survey by The Economist,” 70% of respondents thought anxiety and depression were a major issue among their peers” which shows that we are aware of the need to address mental illness in our generation.(Economist,2019)

Table 3: Suicide and homicide death rates among persons aged 10–24: United States, 2000–2017

What can we do?

Suicide is prevalent in our generation, and a study from the CDC from 2010-2017 showed that suicide rates have surpassed homicides and is the second killer of the generation.(Table 3) As a nursing student, we learned to not beat around the bush on the topic, and be direct about suicide because it may be possible you are wasting precious time or not getting anywhere by doing this, so even if it sounds harsh or confrontation asking, “Do you want to kill yourself?”, or anything between those lines gets the point across. This also allows an avenue to discuss with the person about what’s on their mind, and possibly save their life. (MayoClinic) I had a friend that tried to kill herself recently due to feeling lost in the world, and not knowing what to do with her life after college; had I was not direct about the question and checked up with my friend who knows what could have happened. 

I think that checking up on your friends and getting “deep” with them helps relieve pressure and expectations from the world because it allows both of you to vent your frustrations or worries about life. For males, it’s okay to let down your bravado and discuss with your “bros” about what’s on your mind because we’re human not superheroes who can keep everything to ourselves. Speaking up about your problems to someone, venting it out through art, writing in a journal, or any other possible way to let out your emotions is good self-care. 

Social media as mentioned, is a double-edged sword, and how we approach it will dictate how we’ll feel. Sometimes personally, when social media is too much, I just deactivate or take a social media to cleanse for a few weeks, so I can recoup my mental health, and get away from expectations to work on myself, but some may need to use social media as their work to which I respond, use it in moderation.

Finally, knowing and sharing the available resources in our communities can aid our generation to be better off, and ease the pressure put onto us. An important resource that anyone with a phone has access to is the Suicide Hotline which provides a judgment-free zone, and professional help for friends and individuals who have suicidal ideation. If you are feeling lost about your situation and need help, you can also call the National HelpLine which will refer you to the proper help pertaining to mental and substance abuse disorders. Both of these lines are also toll-free. If you go to Cal State LA, there is professional help such as a therapist that is free because it is included in your tuition.

Resources

SAMHSA(National Help Line):1-800-662-HELP (4357)

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 (Online Web Chat Available)

Cal State LA CAPS: 323-343-3300

Common Ground: 1-800-231-1127 (Also has Web Chat/Text)

References:

American Psychological Association (2018). Stress in America: Generation Z. Stress in America™ Survey

Curtin SC, Heron M. Death rates due to suicide and homicide among persons aged 10–24: United States, 2000–2017. NCHS Data Brief, no 352. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2019

Suicide: What to do when someone is suicidal. (2018, January 31). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/suicide/in-depth/suicide/art-20044707

WELCOME TO GENERATION Z(2019) Retrieved fromhttps://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/consumer-business/welcome-to-gen-z.pdf

Generation Z is stressed, depressed and exam-obsessed. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/02/27/generation-z-is-stressed-depressed-and-exam-obsessed

Mental Health: A College Student's Battle

Mental Health: 

A College Student's Battle 

        In this day and age, people are more willing and accepting to conversate about the things that trouble them and mental health is one of the things on that agenda. Mental health can affect all sorts of people, young and old, but young adults are the demographic that are the most affected -- specifically college students. This group of people experience the rigorous nature of college courses and are expected to adapt to adulthood simultaneously, which can cause, perhaps, the most psychological obstacles in their lives that they've ever had. This issue is one that may be attainable over time but can also be preventable or controllable through various means. But before we get into that, we must define mental health and all of its characteristics.

What is Mental Health?

 

   According to mentalhealth.gov, mental health deals with our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. These three attributes affect how we think, feel, and act and can determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Many people believe they aren't affected but in reality 1-in-5 American adults experience a mental health issue which can evolve into a consistently pessimistic lifestyle.

Signs that you may be Affected:

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school 

        (mentalhealth.gov)

    

   

    According to activeminds.org, a website which informs us about mental health and the different demographics it affects, states that suicide is the second most leading cause of death among young adults, partially because mental issues. The image below provides more statistics from the website which tells us more about how mental health issues affect students.

    I believe that on top of all the coursework that college students endure, their private lives can affect their mental state both positively and negatively. College work is not easy. It demands more time and attention than any other work one may have previously done, and its intensity varies depending on one's major. This deep attention that college work requires may already be hard to maintain especially if one hasn't dealt with that kind of intensity before. Moreover, some students take on part-time jobs while they go to school, some partake in sports, some have children to take care of, and some just have a hard time with school in general. All of these things coincide with each other and overwhelm college students and gives them a hard time to say the least. They have to make the right decisions and manage their time and rationalize their thoughts which can be too much for them to handle on their own. This makes mental health a serious conversation topic amongst college students.

    As a college student myself, I can't say that I've never felt overwhelmed and utterly lost at times. I'm a third-year Animation major student and my courses get more and more demanding as the semesters come. On top of that, I work a part-time job at Panda Express, which contributes to my bills each month. Each assignment requires more and more time and my motivation to finish those assignments is slowly diminishing as the semester progresses.

    I believe that thinking about everything that I have to do and not taking things incrementally is when I start to feel troubled and oppressed. Taking things slow is what's been helping me accomplish the things that need to be done and preparing for the next ones. Finding and managing my time has also helped me immensely. Overall, my mental isn't as healthy as I'd like it to be, but I'm slowly managing as time rolls over.

    I chose this assignment because I've talked to a plethora of students at CSULA, most of which have told me about their well-being not "being" where they want it to be. We can all relate to each other on how difficult our coursework can be and how we're feeling, which is why I believe we can all get help. Mental health issues impedes on the things we want to accomplish but we can help get us through it together.

Works Cited

• What Is Mental Health? (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

• Statistics. (2020, October 08). Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://www.activeminds.org/about-mental-health/statistics/

Sydney Stanton- The Stigma Around Mental Health

 

The Stigma Around Mental Health

Sydney Stanton
ART 3170
Monday October 26th, 2020

    When going to an appointment with your physician, they measure your weight, height, blood pressure, temperature, and the list goes on and on of physical tests. Then, if your physician checks on your mental well-being, the atmosphere in the room feels more intimate, awkward, and uncomfortable; these feelings are all due to the social stigma surrounding mental health. For some individuals, this may be the only time they discuss their mental and emotional health, which is concerning as your mental health affects your physical health. In the United States, 38% of individuals with mental health issues are not receiving or have access to the treatment they need ("The State of Mental Health in America," 2020). In the twenty-first century, mental health is widely disregarded, and the stigma surrounding mental health only makes others' lives worse. 

What is a Social Stigma?

    Patrick Corrigan and Amy Watson created a research article for others to understand the impact of stigma on individuals with mental illnesses. They discuss a social stigma as a negative stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination that includes having a negative belief about a group, agreeing with a negative belief and having an adverse emotional reaction, and behaving on that negative prejudice toward a group (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). Essentially it is a negative stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination wrapped up into one term. For example, a common mental health stigma is that if an individual puts in the effort to resolve their emotions or 'tries harder,' that individual can overcome a mental illness, which in fact is not true. Now imagine the effects of this mental health social stigma on those diagnosed with a mental illness.

Statistics and Facts on Mental Health

• 19.1% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2018 (47.6 million people). This represents 1 in 5 U.S. adults ("Mental Health By the Numbers," 2019). 

• The demographic of 'non-Hispanic mixed/ multiracial' has the highest prevalence (26.8%) of mental illness among United States adults ("Mental Health By the Numbers," 2019). 

• There is a high prevalence of mental illness (34.7%) in individuals of the LBGTQIA+ community ("Mental Health By the Numbers," 2019).

• Mental illnesses vary on a spectrum and range from mild to moderate to severe ("Mental Health Information: Statistics," 2019).

• The chart shown above is from Aware, and it discusses the level of comfort individuals have about talking about mental health ("The Stigma of Mental Illness," 2020).

 

The Stigma of Mental Health: How it Effects Others and My Community 

    The social issue of the stigma around mental health in the United States has always been negative and harmful for all individuals dealing with mental illness. Discussing mental health with others, besides physicians, has always been a tense topic. Explaining emotions and your mental state to others, at least in my opinion, is challenging, uncomfortable, and awkward, and I am sure numerous others feel the same way. This is because not many individuals discuss their emotional well-being with others, so it is seen as shocking when someone does. It has been a long-standing social idea to avoid talking about mental well-being for many reasons, but some include: it shows weakness, ruins the idea that an individual is perfect or is fine, and an individual dealing with mental illness does not want to be judged by their peers; this shows why the stigma of mental illness makes individuals bottle up their thoughts. I know that these reasons may seem like highly conservative ideals, but I feel that the way we go about talking about mental health has not changed much until this generation. 

   The stigma of mental health has affected my community, and I know that these same instances in my community have happened in others'. While I was in high school, there were three suicides; two of them were from drug overdoses, which happen in many suicide cases as substance abuse is often linked to mental illness ("Mental Health By the Numbers," 2019). These individuals rarely spoke to anyone about their emotional state; it was only until after they passed, the community learned they all had an underlying mental illness. The stigma surrounding mental health most likely caused them not to speak up about what was going on in their head. These three individuals were also men, and combining toxic masculinity created by society with the stigma surrounding mental health, speaking up about their mental illness would make them seem weak, which is the last thing a boy wants to be thought of as. In World Psychiatry, Patrick Corrigan and Amy Watson say, "One might think that people with psychiatric disability, living in a society that widely endorses stigmatizing ideas, will internalize these ideas and believe that they are less valued because of their psychiatric disorder" (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). This statement made me think about how many other individuals with mental illnesses are affected by this awful stigma and feel this way, and if the three individuals stated previously thought this way.

   The ways that media portray mental health and illness greatly affect the public's view and understanding of mental illness and worsen the stigma. For example, in a study by Corrigan and Watson, they stated, "Media analyses of film and print have identified three [themes]: people with mental illness are homicidal maniacs who need to be feared; they have childlike perceptions of the world that should be marveled; or they are responsible for their illness because they have weak character" (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). I believe that misinformed individuals think this way about people with mental illness because I have witnessed one of these themes first hand. At the end of my street lives a man with what I believe has schizophrenia. He walks daily past my house, and when I happen to see him, I usually wave because he is super sweet and harmless. One day I was driving with my sister and her friends when one of them stated that he looks like a psychopath, thank goodness my sister isn't friends with that girl anymore. However, this shows how the media affects others and their understanding of mental illnesses. The media portrays mental illness as something you need to stay away from because they show individuals with mental illness as unpredictable and threatening when, in reality, there is a minimal chance someone with mental illness would harm anyone. In fact, individuals with mental illness are more likely to be victimized by violent crime than be the perpetrator of violent crime ("Risk Factors for Violence in Serious Mental Illness," 2016). This goes to show that not everyone with a mental illness is secretly Hannibal Lector.

   Due to the stigma around mental illness, not many individuals talk about it with others. This then leads to a lack of education and knowledge about mental illness. Being uneducated about mental illness can significantly affect society because these uneducated individuals won't know how to address the serious topic when the conversation comes up or know the signs of mental illness in another person, family member, or close friend. A study from Corrigan and Watson states, "Unlike physical disabilities, persons with mental illness are perceived by the public to be in control of their disabilities and responsible for causing them. Furthermore, research respondents are less likely to pity persons with mental illness, instead reacting to psychiatric disability with anger and believing that help is not deserved" (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). Combining the lack of education on mental illness with the ways others in society react to individuals with mental illness can cause someone's mental illness to worsen.

How the Stigma of Mental Health is Effects Me

      This social issue of the negative stigma surrounding mental health immensely affects me and is a crucial issue to resolve. I am an individual who, in fact, has been diagnosed with a mental illness, and this stigma that revolves around mental health significantly impacts me. For two years, I bottled my mental state because of this stigma. I was terrified and felt like a burden. I was scared about how my family would take it and what they would say if I needed help. My friends treated me like a glass figurine and were scared that I would lash out at them if they said something wrong. When I first told my friends and family about my diagnosis, it was very uncomfortable. I was tense and was even debating changing the topic to avoid the conversation. Then I reminded myself of how many other individuals in the United States deal with the same mental diagnosis and that I needed to rip off the bandage. Once I shared with family and close friends, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulder. One friend said, 'I would've never known if you didn't tell me.' This reminded me of how little mental health is discussed because this awkward feeling I had when revealing my illness to my friends would not have been so severe if we all talked about mental illness more to spread the idea that mental illness is not rare. As previously stated, 1 in 5 people deal with mental illness in the United States; we look no different from other members of society.

What we can do to eliminate the stigma

    As a society, eliminating the negative stigma surrounding mental health is relatively easy, in my opinion, but it will take time for the stigma to be eliminated. A critical step to eliminate the stigma is to start more conversations with other people about mental illness to normalize it and make discussions about mental illness more comfortable. Also, discussing mental illness can allow individuals with mental illness to feel safer and supported when talking about what is on their mind and how they are feeling. Think about how many individuals will benefit from not being stigmatized every day and the things they can achieve without that stigmatization weighing them down.

     Another step necessary to eliminate the stigma around mental illness is to educate others about it. By educating others, they may then know how to react if they see someone having an episode in public and learn how to identify it appropriately. For example, many individuals in society don't understand that illnesses such as depression don't mean that a person is bedridden and cries all the time. So by educating others, they can understand what the symptoms of an illness are and may be able to help out friends and family members if they recognize signs of that illness. Corrigan and Watson back up this idea of education eliminating the stigma of mental illness when they state, "[e]ducation provides information so that the public can make more informed decisions about mental illness. This approach to changing stigma has been most thoroughly examined by investigators. Research, for example, has suggested that persons who evince a better understanding of mental illness are less likely to endorse stigma and discrimination" (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). By teaching more individuals, they can also learn how to engage in appropriate discourse without crossing boundaries and making anyone uncomfortable. The world would be a much simpler and kind place if we could break the stigma of mental illness.

Conclusion

    At the end of the day, starting more conversations with others about mental illness will eliminate this stigma and normalize society's mental health outlook. We cannot physically tell who has mental illnesses and who doesn't, so it's always essential to check in on others. The smallest gestures can change an individual's whole day or even life. It's vital not to overlook anyone's situation and assume they are okay because mental illness is a daily struggle. By normalizing mental health discourse, we may soon make mental health just as important as physical health. You are not alone and do not need to suffer in silence any longer.

Mental Health Resources

• SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline : 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

• Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Or text 'MHA' to 741741

References

Corrigan, Patrick W, and Amy C Watson. “Understanding the Impact of Stigma on People with Mental Illness.” World Psychiatry : Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), Masson Italy, Feb. 2002, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1489832/.

N/A. “Mental Health By the Numbers.” NAMI, NAMI, Sept. 2019, www.nami.org/mhstats.

N/A. “Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Feb. 2019, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml.

N/A. “Risk Factors for Violence in Serious Mental Illness.” Treatment Advocacy Center, Treatment Advocacy Center, June 2016, www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/3633-risk-factors-for-violence-in-serious-mental-illness.

N/A. “The State of Mental Health in America.” Mental Health America, Mental Health America, 2020, www.mhanational.org/issues/state-mental-health-america.

N/A. “The Stigma of Mental Illness.” Aware, Mentalhealth.net, 2020, www.mentalhelp.net/aware/the-stigma-of-mental-illness/.

Alma Pineda- Drug Abuse

Drug Abuse in the Community

Quote: "Drugs are the enemies of ambition and hope - and when we fight against drugs we are fighting for the future."
- Bob Riley 

Drug abuse is a significant and serious social issue topic that needs to be acknowledged. Not only does it harm the people in society but also the people we know and care about. It is no laughing matter, many have struggled and have had great difficulty dealing with it. Drug abuse has serious consequences that one should be aware of. Over time we have witnessed the negative impacts and effects that drug abuse leaves. It was said that in 2018 more than 67,300 Americans died from drug involved overdose. It is a health, mental, physical, and social problem. 

We may ask what causes drug abuse or why does it occur? It could occur due to the lack of attachment and attention by the caregivers and parents, the cause of ineffective parenting. It can be the influence that is brought by other people, economic and academic failure, the loss of a loved one, etc. There are many reasons why people turn to drugs and that lead to drug abuse. For example, curiosity, stress, anger, rejection, etc. In my community, one can see the misuse and mishandle of drugs and other substances. So it is important to bring the issue up so something can be done. 

• What is Drug Abuse?

    - According to The science of Drug Use and Addiction it is defined as chronic, relapse disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. 

- The habitual taking of addictive or illegal drugs.

• What are the symptoms of Drug Abuse?

 - Felling that you have to use drug regularly-daily or even several times a day

 - Having intense urges for the drug that block out any negative thoughts

 - Over time needing more of the drug to get the same effect

 - Spending money on the drug, even though you can not afford it

 - Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence of the drug

 - Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug  

- Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing

-Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use 

• Cognitive Symptoms:

- Confusion and disorientation

-Trouble staying focused on task at hand

-Obsession with unpleasant thought, including suicide

-Difficulty solving problems or making decisions

-Difficulty following conversations

                                                                          

• Classification and Type of drugs: 

Drug classification based on Chemical Makeup: 

1. Alcohol 

 -beer, wine, liquor                                

2. Opioids 

-heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone              

3. Cannabinoids 

-marijuana, hashish                     

4. Benodiazepines 

-ativan, valium, Xanax             

5. Barbiturates -

amytal, luminal, pentobarbita       

Drug classification based on Effect:

1. Depressants 

-alcohol, opiates, barbiturates

2. Stimulants 

-adderall, cocaine, meth

3. Hallucinogens

 -LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, PCP

4. Inhalants 

-paint thinner, nail polish remover, gasoline

Most commonly abused over the counter drugs:

- Dextromethorphan (DXM)

--Delsym, Robitussin cough, vicks 44

- Loperamide

--Imodium

- Pseudoephedrine/phenylephrine

--Sudafed

- Acetaminophen

--Tylenol

Addiction vs Abuse:

"Addiction is characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences."

"Abuse is characterized by the use of illegal and legal substances in ways you shouldn't."

The Effects of Drug Addiction:

-Damaged immune system, which increase susceptibility to infection

-Seizures and strokes

-Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain

-Cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks and collapsed veins

- Widespread brain damage that can interfere with memory, attention, and decision-making, brain damage 

-Suicidal ideation

-Financial problems

-Depression

Effects in the Community Recent/Prior:

There has been a rise in drug use among High School students and adults. It is seen how more and more teens have been introduced to drugs. There have also been drug-related arrests as well as an increase in homelessness. People have lost their employment/jobs, which leads to their economic status going down. Not only does their economic status go down but also their relationship. As seen time and time again accidents have also occurred. The worst effect would be the behavior of the person who becomes more aggressive, distant, or controlling. Drug abuse has also caused people to be incarcerated either for selling the product or being caught using the substance. It has been affecting LA and also the US in today's time and years prior.  

The Fentanyl Crisis in LA County (2019): The I-team found that it's not only dangerous but contributes to a frightening spike in deaths in LA County. DEA says that fentanyl is being combined with other drugs and abused because of how potent it is. In February several police officers from the bay area after exposure of fentanyl and the Drug Enforcement Administration made video for police to play at role call. It was stated that from 2015-2018 fentanyl deaths cause went from 13 to 225, a 1,631% jump.

Personal Story of 30 year old Nicole:

Local rehabilitation counselor went searching for Nicole and found her in bad a bad condition. She had been mixing fentanyl with other stuff. She had said that her downward spiral was due to her addiction to drugs. Nicole shared that she started taking prescribed pain pills after high school when she developed a bad case meningitis. When the pills had stopped the heroin started and then fentanyl. She had several needles in her car and purse. Her counselor then saw her struggles and decided to help her. Nicole stated that see has seen fentanyl more and more in California in the past year. Now she is fighting to stay clean so she can take care of her son. 

Charts Recent/Prior yrs:

Personal: 

This social issue directly affects me because I have family members who have struggled and are struggling with this. I remember asking my cousin the reason for using and him saying that at first, he did it to relieve stress. It made him feel relaxed and free but later on, he developed a habit of using every day. He became an addict, he wasted a lot of money, and had behavior issues. At one point he realized the damage it was doing to his relationship and himself and decided to quit and turn his life around.  Its something that I see impacts my family so it really does become something that I would want to research. 

The reason for picking this issue is because I wanted to further my knowledge on this topic. I wanted to know the signs and effects it could bring. The behavior changes it brought. Knowing this could help people deal with drug abuse.We need to be aware that this problems exist and that it is rapidly increasing not only in the U.S but in other places to. Something needs to be done to help those struggling with drug abuse. 

References:

The Causes and Effects of Drug Addiction. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2020, from https://www.altamirarecovery.com/drug-addiction/causes-effects-drug-addiction/

Drug addiction (substance use disorder). (2017, October 26). Retrieved October 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112

Drug Addiction Causes & Effects. (2017, September 28). Retrieved October 2020, from https://www.life-healing.com/addiction/causes-effects/

Drug Classifications. (2020, September 17). Retrieved October 2020, from https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/drug-classifications/

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020, June 25). The Science of Drug Use and Addiction: The Basics. Retrieved October 2020, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/science-drug-use-addiction-basics

“The Fentanyl Crisis in LA County | NBCLA.” Youtube, uploaded by NBCLA, 16 May 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XcJjWeXHZs&t=6s.