Reviewing Somerset Maugham The Short Story English Literature Essay

Reviewing Somerset Maugham The Short Story English Literature Essay W. Somerset Maughams The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham are two self-compiled volumes filled with literary sketches from his travels around the world. Through careful observation, Maughams keen insight into human nature proves a most interesting topic choice. Written in a meticulous structure, he writes the same old story in a raw and riveting way. While working as a doctor in the slums of London, he came into contact with less than reputable characters, some of which intrigued him. These initial experiences with colorful individuals seemed to be the origination for his interest in human nature. Maugham was interested in controversial topics like adultery and prostitution, but I believe any culture that was different than his own simply evoked strong feelings of curiosity. When possible, he leapt to explore those circumstances, hence his famed short stories compiled from his travels around the world. Maugham writes of his travels more than any other topic throughout his oeuvre. Because his writing gave him freedom to travel, Maugham was able to witness notoriously historical settings in his lifetime. Most transcribed in his short stories are these accounts of colonized areas in the Far East. India and Asia, colonized by Britain during the time of his travels, were lands filled with interesting people waiting for their story to be told. Through others stories, he wrote first-person narratives unique to this time. And while each sole story was distinctive, two common threads united them all together: its capturer, Maugham, and foreign lands. Maugham was able to illustrate the setting of the early twentieth century in a way unlike any other author. Not until after delving into the collection did I read the preface which explains exactly how and why the collection was constructed. Maugham states that his short stories are actually notes taken while traveling on particular instances and accounts of people that interested him. His intention was to revise his notes upon returning home, and to transform them into classical short stories with better narrative than originally found in his notes. When observing the notes, Maugham found they had a vividness which I might easily lose if I tried to elaborate them. His notes stayed as they were and he took on the famed reputation for having a plain prose. Maughams notable style was formed when he wrote for Cosmopolitan Magazine. He was required to integrate his stories into allotted space; therefore he had to write an interesting story with succinct language. This can prove to be difficult and is similar to poetry in the sense that certain adverbs and adjectives are stripped away to achieve the most profound story possible. Because of Maughams circumstances, he employed discretion when choosing his verbiage. Combing his work forced him to consciously mold his writing style, and to make his stories concise without making the monthly story tedious. This makes any writer more familiar with and ultimately superior in their craft. What the public got was a refined and pithy account of Maughams scrupulous narratives. His plain prose style, being bare in language, dated in setting, and having the common theme of human nature became a sure-tale sign of his work. Maughams decision to keep his notes raw makes them a refreshing alternative to the embellished stories of his peers. While some authors write more colorfully and in detail than Maugham, they elaborate and strip the stories of je ne sais quoi that can be found in raw, frank art. While some may view this is bland reporting, it captures an element which refined stories lack. His notes, or stories, resemble photographs in that they are snapshots of the setting. The works of his peers are like paintings, which are manipulated by the artists to appear in a perfect manner born from the authors view. Underneath the initial image of his work, like photographs, there is an ethereal quality. The connotation of foreign land accompanied by the time of the colonized Far East makes this possible. His style creates an unadulterated rapport with his readers. True entertainment lies within a story, and the means of telling it is merely taste. I admire Maugham for being undaunted by his competitors styles. His lack of elaboration to engage a reader is bold. The purpose for some artists, as Maugham does, is to find the extraordinary in the everyday. Maugham goes on to explain that stories generally are seen as dull, to a writer, can be seen as intriguing. This is what makes a talented artist perfect for their work. They are able to observe minute details and make them apparent for those who cannot do this. His stories are entertaining and well written, despite what critics or Maugham himself may say. In a self-deprecating quote, Maugham states that his limited vocabulary and lack of creative metaphors within his stories is the cause for harsh literary criticism. Maugham describes his opinion of a true story to include a beginning, middle and end. He states that popular writings of his day are to begin a story at any point and to end inconclusively. He believed this willy-nilly approach is not truly a story and that there must be structure. He believed a reader is only satisfied when there is a conclusion and sense of closure. Maugham also believed that his peers were inclined to write of perilous stories to intrigue their readers, but he could make everyday just as intriguing. He was behind his times and was enthralled by the past ways of writing. His work was said to have a plain prose style which was contradictory to his peers experimental literary styles. Interestingly I made the observation when reading his short stories of how matter-of-factly they had been written. This is what happened here, is often his message. This style of Maughams is what I like, but can also tire of. It is interesting and crisp, and all the adjectives and metaphors are stripped away. I am prone to concise information, and Maughams work is the base for plain prose indeed. Of course, one will tire of such bare language and crave something more colorful and exciting, which is why his style can eventually make the reader restless. Like bread, it is enough for sustenance, but with the lure of near-by fruit, who could stay on bread forever? Maugham is a unique unabashed writer whose style and diction I enjoy because it is not often heard today. It is rare and delicate and is novelty for modern readers. It is not necessary for a story to contain the dramatic plot of all fictions, as Maugham has proven over the years. Because he was true to his form, he should be respected by all. Work Cited Maugham, W. Somerset. The Complete Short Stories of W. Somerset Maugham. Doubleday: New York, 1952. Hastings, Selina. The Secret Lives of Somerset Maugham. John Murray. London, 2009. Rowland Egger, Roland. The Administrative Novel. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 53, No. 2 (Jun., 1959), pp. 448-455

Battle Of The Somme

The Battle of the Somme started in July 1, 1916 and lasted until November 1916 between France and Germany. History considers this battle as the bloodiest of all battles in World War I. In the article â€Å"The Battle of the Somme†, the historical perspective of the Battle is outlined. This battle traces its origins from the many severe losses that the French had been experiencing at Verdun – to the east of Paris.The British Allied High Command, taking sympathy with the French losses, decided to attack the Germans to the north of Verdun thereby driving the Germans away from the Verdun battlefield.The battle at the Somme started with a weeklong artillery bombardment of the German lines where an estimated 1. 7 million shells were fired. By November 1916, when the battle ended, the British had lost 420,000, the French lost nearly 200,000 men and the Germans 500,000. (â€Å"The Battle of Somme†) Many historians agree that the neither the French and British nor the Ger mans won in this costliest battle to date. For many years, those who led the British campaign have received a lot of criticism for the way the Battle of Somme was fought – especially Douglas Haig.(â€Å"The Battle of the Somme†). This criticism was based on the many lives that were lost in the battle and the insignificant gains that either parties got in exchange for those massive losses. The British and French captured only a little more than five miles (8 km) at the deepest point of penetration—well short of their original objectives. The British themselves had gained approximately only two miles and lost about 420,000 soldiers in the process, meaning that a centimeter cost about two men.(â€Å"Battle of Somme†) What does this tell us? There are no victors in wars, only losers. This fact bears tremendous implications not only on Western civilization but on all civilizations that wage wars against one another. BIBLIOGRAPHY Battle of the Somme. Wikipedia. 2000. (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme) Sheffield, Gary. The Somme, Cassell, 2003. The Battle of the Somme. 2000. (http://www. historylearningsite. co. uk/somme. htm)

Unanswered Questions on Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics

Unanswered Questions on Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics The Lost Secret of Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics There's a start and an end. The feud between the families appears to be an ever-present concern for those characters. The farewell party is become a burial ceremony. Finally the Nurse tells her the excellent news that wedding will occur in the evening. Facts, Fiction and Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics Emotionally-loaded vocabulary ought to be avoided. There's also a sentence in the paragraph that has an extremely informal tone and doesn't properly fit within a part of academic writing. You might accomplish it by starting each paragraph with a concise sentence that connects it with this issue of the previous one. Introductory paragraph The introductory paragraph should also incorporate the thesis statement, a type of mini-outline for the essay This is the point where the writer grabs the. How to Find Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics on th e Web Plagiarism is a sin and it's a huge no-no in anything. Worst case scenario, you'll be sued for plagiarism and will most likely be requested to pay some kind of fine. From an overall topic, make it even more specific in order for your task will be easier. Perhaps what it is that you are explaining is especially challenging to comprehend, and your work is intended to help it become accessible. Today, jobs have become scarce. Gossip, Lies and Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics Instead, you're going to be in a position to demonstrate the ability to perform investigative research. These steps are essential for generating new ideas, which may be beneficial for the study of the subject issue. As soon as you become popular with a specific source, you can heavy a superior supply of revenue. The primary purpose of a scholarly journal is to report on original research or experimentation in order to be such information readily available to the remainder of the scholarly world. The Downside Risk of Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics The Writing Center has resources to help you in numerous facets of scholarly writing. Warrant is another reg ion of the framework. Children usually think of things in considerably more black and white terms. Should you need more writing help, look at these articles about prewriting, writing in third individual, and the way to compose a wonderful opening to your paper. At the same time that you may discover dozens of newspaper reports and a very good handful of magazine articles, you might not be in a position to discover a peer-reviewed academic article devoted to your topic. In truth, it has been the topic of more than a few books over the previous several decades. Writing an academic paper permits the student to create analytical abilities, together with the ability to recognize the principal ideas and to show the hypothesis or supposition with suitable arguments. Students may also hunt for college scholarships from organizations in which they're involved. As a student, you will most likely be asked to do a little bit of write-up and some class simple reports also. Without regard to the content, however, students are expected to compose their academic papers in a scholarly way. By making a strict schedule for the whole period of your assignment can greatly decrease the stresses many students face on a daily basis. Therefore, many students and employees decide to purchase affordable essay rather than writing it themselves. You have to use three quotes to back up your answer. You can also see what are the pieces of an essay. When you are requested to compose an essay, attempt to locate some samples (models) of similar writing and learn how to observe the craft of the writer. In some sorts of writing, the thesis alwayscomes at the start of the essay. A Romeo and Juliet essay can change this type of thinking in a person. This essay examines the explanations for why assignment essays are beneficial for student learning and considers a number of the difficulties with this technique of assessment. For this, you need to know how to compose a scholarly essay. The full essay needs to be relevant to it. Scholarly writing calls for a different set of standards than other sorts of writing. The characters are also appealing since they are simple to relate to. There are various types of writing examples which you could be requested to write. Select an impersonal fashion of writing. Who Else Wants to Learn About Romeo and Juliet Scholarly Essay Topics? Your personal, professional, and academic background might be a rich supply of material for your own personal essay. As you might never find an entire article devoted to the particular issue you want to cover, it's possible to still find peer-reviewed academic sources that will provi de you with a solid historical, cultural, scientific, or worldwide background. You should probably seek the advice of your instructor regarding how you should go about adding primary sources. Kinds of papers vary in line with the class content.

Theories And Techniques Of Family Counseling - 1307 Words

Malky Fried September 20,2015 Professor Kivelevitz Theories and Techniques of Family Counseling Reflections on your Family of Origin It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. -Johann Schiller Probably the strongest influence in our lives is the family we grew up in. Our birth order, the personalities of our parent(s), the way we were treated by our siblings, the socioeconomic status of the family, their education, the place we lived — all of these shaped us at the time when we were most vulnerable to being shaped. The big picture of the patterns and significant themes in my family of origin is that there are issues of relative closeness of relationships within the various generations of the several nuclear families and to some extent across the boundaries of the nuclear families. For the most part, these relationships are not problematic or pathological, but the graphic representation reflects personal observations and assessments of the emotional ties that exist in the family unit. This relationship pattern can be linked, to my role as, parent, spouse and potential mental health counselor. There were many patterns that I noticed while generating this assignment. One of the most prominent patterns I became aware of is that the mothers of the last three generations married at a young age. I noticed that this pattern caused different attachment styles between the mother and the child of the family.Show MoreRelatedCounseling Assessment, Interventions And Results And Follow Up882 Words   |  4 PagesCounselors keep notes to document their counseling assessment, interventions and results and follow-up. Case notes are a memory aid used during a counseling session to record the conversation for consultation or to help facilitate referrals (Jacobs Schimmel, 2013). It’s effective documentation used by the counselors to counsel, protect confidentiality, implement standard of treatment, utilizing appropriate interventions, describing the results of these interventions and documenting the dispositionRead MoreThe Theory Of Human Nature1723 Words   |   7 Pagescouple, and family counselor it is important for me to have an awareness and understanding of the various theories that are available to use in counselling sessions. As my career evolves, so will my therapeutic orientation. I expect that my theoretical lens will shift slightly. In addition, developing my therapeutic orientation will help enhance my abilities as a therapist. My theoretical lens as it applies to human nature is discussed in this paper as it relates to the Marriage, Family, and CoupleRead MorePersonal Reflection Paper On Counseling979 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Reflection Paper There are a number of historical theories in counseling, which have been used to assist clients during the counseling process. This week’s readings provided quite a few concepts from counseling theories which emerged around the mid-to-late twentieth century. These concepts come from the Adlerian therapy, reality therapy, and person-centered therapy. Within these therapies there were a few concepts that were valuable and interesting to me. Many coincided with my views onRead MoreCouple/Family Theoretical Orientation. As A Future Marriage,1701 Words   |  7 PagesCouple/Family Theoretical Orientation As a future marriage, couple, and family counselor it is important for me to have an awareness and understanding of the various theories that are available to use in counselling sessions. As my career evolves, so will my therapeutic orientation. I expect that my theoretical lens will shift slightly. In addition, developing my therapeutic orientation will help enhance my abilities as a therapist. My theoretical lens as it applies to human nature is discussedRead MoreTheories And Theories Of Psychoanalytic Theories1720 Words   |  7 Pagesappendix, being able to learn about several theories and having Worthington discuss the conflicts with these theories, What I found is that I agreed with most of the theories and when I read the critique I was able to understand the flaws and how they may not be entirely accurate. This has opened my mind to wanting to explore more about these theories so that I am able to be aware of several theories to possible use as I practice. Worthington discu ssed theories of psychoanalytic, systems, behavioral,Read MoreSolution Focused Brief Therapy ( Sfbt ) For The Treatment Of Ana Essay970 Words   |  4 Pageshomeless. She currently is a single parent due to her husband being deployed in a combat zone overseas for the next eight months. Ana is a first generation immigrant from Guatemala; she comes from a large family. She claims to have a close relationship with her family but has not seen her family for about a year. Her father is a banker and her mother an educator, her three siblings all has graduated college and have professional careers. Ana has completed one year of college, but needed to leave schoolRead MoreIntegrated Approach For Counseling And Counseling1653 Words   |  7 PagesIntegrated approach to counseling is when you combined theories to cover the clients’ feelings, cognitive patterns, and behavior (Corey, Theory and Practice of Counseling and Pschotherapy 8e, 2009). Each theory focuses one of these key com ponents of a client but in counseling you need to focus on each of these to fully help a client. The key to integrative counseling is to have multiple theories function in harmony (Corey, Theory and Practice of Counseling and Pschotherapy 8e, 2009). PsychotherapyRead MoreMarriage and Family Counseling823 Words   |  4 PagesMarriage and family counselors are counselors distinctively trained to work with family systems and provide therapy for people who wish to solve emotional conflicts. Their goal, with therapy, is to revise peoples perceptions and behavior, expand communication, and prevent individual and family crises. Although marriage and family counseling has a broad history, formal recognition of the professional counseling specialization can be traced to the establishment in 1989 of the International AssociationRead MorePsychodynamic Theories And Theories Of The Psychodynamic Theory Essay1702 Words   |  7 Pagespsychodynamic theory in depth as well as its presentation in real life as presented by Sigmund Freud. It presents an analysis of the theory in terms of its historical developments and perspectives as well as the ideas of its main supporters. Further, the paper also attempts to bring to light the hidden and unambiguous assumptions made by the theory concerning individuals, groups, families, systems and communities. Additionally, It will attempt to highlight the relationship that exists between the theory andRead MorePaper1009 Words   |  5 PagesFamily Systems Therapy Alexis M. Foote Texas A M University-Corpus Christi Family Systems Therapy There are a number of theories under the Family Systems Therapy group that focus on communication patterns within the family unit. Systems theory is based on the family’s response to feedback from one another and the desire of the group to make changes to maintain the status quo. In the family system we discover who we are, we grow and change, and we give and receive support that is necessary

Essay Thirteen Days by Robert Kennedy - 978 Words

Thirteen Days by Robert Kennedy Thirteen Days, by Robert Kennedy, is a portrayal of the drama surrounding the Cuban missile crisis, and an analysis of the ordeal. There are two sides to this conflict which was played out in the post-World War II era. On one hand you have the Communists of the Soviet Union, whose desire to bring all of Europe under their heel would nearly spark a war that would annihilate the human race. On the other stands the Americans who wished the vindication of right and to prevent the further spread of Communism. The tensions begin to mount after Germany and Berlin were divided among the victorious countries of the Allies and three major power blocs formed. The countries that had been newly formed in the†¦show more content†¦When Joseph Stalin died, power went to an obscure Communist official named Nikita Khrushchev. His goal was to have the Soviet Union be an equal to the United States militarily and economically. Although he tried to soften Stalins brutal tactics, Soviet foreign policy remained the same. This ruthless treatment of satellite nations that tried to break free fostered further distrust between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. At the inauguration of our new president, John F. Kennedy, Khrushchev decided to test Kennedys resolve with renewed pressure on Berlin via the construction of the Berlin Wall. However, none of these events were to equal the effect that came from one small island ninety miles off of the coast of Florida, the small island of Cuba. When Fidel Castro took over Cuba by means of a revolution, he quickly established his government as the first openly Communist government in the western hemisphere. He petitioned the Soviet Union for aid, which was cheerfully given him. These events went against our current policies, as well as the Monroe Doctrine, which established us as the police force of the western hemisphere. Ninety miles away from the greatest bastion of Capitalism was now residing its greatest foe. This tense situation was brought to a boiling point by the arrival ofShow MoreRelatedThirteen Days786 Words   |  4 PagesThirteen days is a historical account of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is told from the perspective of Robert F. Kennedy, senator and brother to President John F. Kennedy. It is an account of the thirteen days in October of 1962. It lasted from the 16th to the 28th. During this time many crucial events in United States. These thirteen days were the time period in which the fate of the world was decided. The focus of the book was on the decision of both the United States and Russia. The UnitedRead MoreEssay on Rfks 13 Days619 Words   |  3 PagesThirteen Days is an autobiography written by Robert F. Kennedy. It is based upon the memories of RFK during the Cuban missile crisis. He vividly recalls the thirteen days between October 16 and October 28, 1962. Within these thirteen days, havoc and stress faced the White House, especially to Senator RFK and his brother, President John F. Kennedy. The story is about the handling of the crisis by one brother and the personal account of the other. The two worked together to keep America and theRead MoreNineteen Days : A Memoir Of The Cuban Missile Crisis968 Words   |  4 PagesThirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis by Robert Kennedy is a book that details those almost fateful 13 days in October of 1962 that could have resulted in the dest ruction of mankind. Robert Kennedy was the brother of President John F. Kennedy; he served as the United States Attorney General and â€Å"closest cabinet advisor and confidant† during JFK’s presidential administration. The book sets out to provide you detail of just how difficult of a decision the president was tasked with regardRead MoreThe Cuban Missile Crisis And Its Effect On The Moral Position Of The United States987 Words   |  4 Pages In Thirteen Days, Robert Kennedy recollects his time with President John F. Kennedy in handling the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Cuban Missile Crisis, as described in Thirteen Days, started on October 16, 1962. President John F. Kennedy was provided with a photograph that gave little evidence of a missile base. The whole area was about the size of a football field and, to many of the cabinet, seemed like nothing. Kruschev, the chairman of the USSR said that there was nothing to worry about. WhenRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy s Pres ident Of The Cuban Missile Crisis902 Words   |  4 PagesThirteen Days In October of 1962 a pressing matter arose during John F. Kennedy’s presidential term. It was made apparent that the Soviet Union was holding and building missiles in Cuba, it was named the Cuban missile crisis. Being a dangerously close country to the United States, JFK knew he needed to make a smart and safe decision, and fast. Kennedy had suspicions that this option would cause a third World War and end in a nuclear fallout. Kennedy’s determination to be a participative leader wasRead MorePresident John F. Kennedy: Hero or Villain Essay1295 Words   |  6 PagesPresident John F. Kennedy: Hero or Villain? For thirteen days, the United States’ government and citizens waited with abated breath, fearing the nuclear annihilation of their great nation. These thirteen days between October 16 and 28, 1962 are now known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. Briefly this crisis can be explained as a confrontation between two of the world’s greatest superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, which nearly instigated a nuclear calamity that could have destroyed bothRead MoreThe Door to Annihilation: Who Dares to Open it? Essay1346 Words   |  6 Pages In October of 1962, the world came close to annihilation for thirteen days. It is caused by the Soviet Union’s clandestine action of putting nuclear missiles in Cuba, which the United States perceived as an offensive and dangerous move. The two countries know that they are capable of destroying the entire world with the nuclear weapons, so they plan each step slowly and carefully. If there is any mistakes in the process, the price is destruction of every human civilization. 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Prescription Drug Abuse a Growing Epidemic in the United States Free Essays

Prescription Drug Abuse: A Growing Epidemic in the United States Prescription drug abuse and related overdoses are a major public health issue that continues to grow each year. The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains prescription drug abuse as â€Å"the intentional use of a medication without a prescription. † (U. We will write a custom essay sample on Prescription Drug Abuse: a Growing Epidemic in the United States or any similar topic only for you Order Now S. Health and Human Services, 2011) Since prescription drugs are legal and readily prescribed to alleviate pain and suffering, it poses a big challenge to control them. Many people, especially younger adults, feel that they are safer than illicit drugs because they can be found in their family medicine cabinet. Over the years, the number of people abusing these drugs has increased significantly. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), in 2007 there were â€Å"approximately 27,000 unintentional drug overdose deaths† in the United States. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012) The use of prescription drugs continues to be the number one cause of these overdoses, more than heroin and cocaine combined. As part of the CDC’s study, they reported that over a ten-year period, between 1997 and 2007, the number of milligrams of prescription opioids prescribed per a person increased from 74 milligrams to 369 milligrams. In 2000, pharmacies dispensed 174-million opioid prescriptions and in 2009, it increased to 257 million prescriptions. These are both major contributors to prescription drug abuse and overdoses due to the fact that prescription drugs are so easily available. As a result of this study, the CDC has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. (Executive Office of the President of the United States, 2011) Prescription drug abuse spans across a wide range of populations. The prevalence of prescription drug abuse is higher among men, individuals between the ages of 18-64, non-Hispanic whites, service members, and poor, rural populations. The highest rate of prescription drug abuse is by young adults between the ages of 18-25. (U. S. Health and Human Services, 2011)) Of the individuals who reported non-medical prescription drug abuse, 70 percent reported getting the prescription drugs from a friend or relative, 18 percent reported getting it from one doctor, and less than 5 percent reported buying it from a drug dealer or stranger. (Executive Office of the President of the United States, 2011) Younger adults are at higher risk for overdose because they have a higher tendency to mix prescription drugs with alcohol or other illicit drugs. Multiple studies have revealed associations between prescription drug abuse and higher rates of cigarette smoking, heavy episodic drinking, and marijuana, cocaine, and other illicit drug use among adolescents, young adults, and college students in the United States. † (U. S. Health and Human Services, 2011) This results in numerous emergency room visits for this particular popula tion. Between 2004 and 2009, the number of emergency room visits related to non-medical use of prescription drugs nearly doubled. Executive Office of the President of the United States, 2011) Young adults are not the only population of prescription drug abusers that has continued to increase over the years. In 2008, the Department of Defense reported that one in nine active-duty service members reported prescription drug abuse. (Executive Office of the President of the United States, 2011) A study done by the Office of National Drug Control Policy found that â€Å"approximately two million adults age 50 and older used prescription-type drugs non-medically in the past year. (Executive Office of the President of the United States, 2011) As you can see, the prescription drug abuse problem is not limited to a specific population. It effects people throughout their lifetime. Newspaper Article A recent article in the Boston Globe called â€Å"Antidote offers addicts’ families sli ver of comfort: Nasal spray credited with reversing more than 1,800 drug overdoses†, talked about the distribution of Naloxone in the community as a way to prevent an overdose. Naloxone is an opiate antidote that can be given to someone who you suspect has overdosed. It can be administered intranasally or by injection. Massachusetts is one of the few states that have implemented a Naloxone distribution program. Beginning in 2006, Massachusetts’s health officials have been distributing Naloxone to individuals who are most likely to witness an overdose such as outreach workers, homeless shelter employees, active drug users and family members. (Canaboy, 2013) The article goes on to talk about the effect the Naloxone programs have had in Massachusetts. In 2010, overdoses were responsible for 738 deaths in Massachusetts, which was twice the number of motor-vehicle deaths. Canaboy, 2013) Studies have showed that the Naloxone programs have had a positive effect in the communities where it is distributed. There were also positive results found in a study done in California by two agencies that implemented Overdose Prevention Programs using Naloxone. The rate of overdose deaths was reduced between 27 percent and 46 percent in the communities where Naloxone was distributed in 2009. (Canaboy, 2013) As shown by this article, drug overdoses continue to be a major public health issue in communities throughout Massachusetts. With the help of programs like the Naloxone discussed in this article, there is hope that health officials and communities can work together to fight against it using harm reduction programs in conjunction with other treatment programs. Healthy People 2020 One of the topics for Healthy People 2020 is substance abuse. The goal of this topic is to â€Å"reduce substance abuse to protect the health, safety, and quality of life for all, especially children. † (Healthy People 2020, 2012) Healthy People 2020 reported that 22 million Americans had drug or alcohol problems in 2005 and 95 percent of them were not even aware of their problem. Healthy People 2020, 2012) They also reported that 273,000 people who recognized they had a problem with drugs or alcohol were unsuccessful in obtaining treatment. It’s reasons like this that Healthy People 2020 felt that substance abuse was an important topic to focus on for the future. Under the substance abuse topic in Healthy People 2020 there are two specific objectives directly related to prescription drug use. They state the following: â€Å"objective SA-12 reduce drug-induced deaths† and â€Å"SA-19 reduce the past-year nonmedical use of prescription drugs. (Healthy People 2020, 2012) Both these objectives are directly related to the issues discussed in the Boston Globe article and other initiatives that the Federal Government has outlined as part of their plan. Nursing Diagnosis One of the NANDA diagnoses that relates to prescription drug abuse and overdoses is Ineffective Community Self-Health Management. Carpenito-Moyet describes this diagnosis as â€Å"a pattern in which the community experiences or is at high risk to experience difficulty integrating a program for prevention/treatment of illness and the sequelae of illness and reduction of risk situations. † (p. 28) This can be related to the Naloxone program discussed in the Boston Globe article and other treatment services in general. The article talks about how there are only a few states that have been willing to implement the Naloxone program. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a report on â€Å"Prescription Drug Overdoses – a U. S. Epidemic† which talked about the National agenda to combat prescription drug abuse. In the report, it talked about how the public health approach needs to include both secondary and tertiary prevention programs such as the Naloxone program discussed in the Boston Globe article. Executive Office of the President of the United States, 2011) There are current programs out there but individuals are not successful in accessing them for one reason or another. The CDC’s report discussed the need to remove barriers to make treatment programs more accessible in the communities. The report stated, â€Å"Office-based care can be less stigmatizing and more accessible to all patients, especially those residing in rural areas. † (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012) Another NANDA diagnosis that is related to prescription drug abuse and overdose is deficient knowledge. This is defined by Carpenito-Moyet as, â€Å"the state in which an individual or group experiences a deficiency in cognitive knowledge or psychomotor skills concerning the condition or treatment plan. † (p. 269) This is directly related to the prescription drug abuse and overdose problem in a number of ways. It applies to the individuals who are actively using drugs, the prescribers who are prescribing the drugs to individuals, and the community in general. The Office of National Drug Control Policy developed a plan to combat the prescription drug problem. In their report, Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis, they developed four major areas of focus, the first being education. The report stated that â€Å"A crucial first step in tackling the problem of prescription drug abuse is to education parents, youth, and patients about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs while requiring prescribers to receive training in the safe and appropriate use of these drugs. † (Executive Office of the President of the United States, 2011) Educating individuals about the dangers of prescription drugs is just as important or even more important than illicit drugs. People feel that prescription drugs aren’t as bad because a doctor prescribes them. Education is also required for family members and community members to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug abuse or an overdose. The Boston Globe article talks about how part of the Naloxone program is to educate whomever it is getting the Naloxone how to recognize an overdose. It’s important for them to know what signs to look for. Conclusion As evidence by the Boston Globe article and multiple reports put out by the federal government and different state agencies, prescription drug abuse is a major public health issue that needs to be addressed. It needs to be addressed at all levels, starting with the federal government’s drug policies and working down to the individuals who are abusing drugs. The population of individuals abusing prescription drugs varies for different reasons. There needs to be more treatment and prevention programs available to the different populations that address the specific needs of each. There are current programs established, like the Naloxone, that are shown to work. We need to keep moving in the right direction to implement and grow these types of programs in order to succeed in reducing the prescription drug abuse problem in the United States. Works Cited Canaboy, C. (2013, March 2). Antidote offers addicts’ families sliver of comfort: Nasal spray credited with reversing more than 1,800 drug overdoses. Boston Globe , p. A. 1. Carpenito-Moyet, L. (2008). Handbook of Nursing Diagnosis (12th ed. ). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012, January 13). CDC Grand Rounds: Prescription Drug Overdoses — a U. S. Epidemic:. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www. cdc. gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6101a3. htm Executive Office of the President of the United States. (2011, April). Prescription Drug Abuse | The White House:. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from The White House: http://www. whitehouse. gov/ondcp/prescription-drug-abuse Healthy People 2020. 2012, September 6). Substance Abuse – Healthy People:. (U. S. Health and Human Services) Retrieved March 3, 2013, from Healthy People 2020: http://www. healthypeople. gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview. aspx? topicid=40 Lankenau, S. E. , Wagner, K. D. , Silva, K. , Kecojevic, A. , Iverson, E. , McNeely, M. , et al. (2012). Injection Drug Users Trained by Overdose Prevention Programs: Responses to Witnessed Overdoses. Journal of Community Health , 38, 133-141. Stanhope, RN, DSN, FAAN, M. , Lancaster, RN, Ph. D, FAAN, J. (2012). Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community (8th ed. ). Maryland Heights, MS: Elsevier, Inc. U. S. Health and Human Services. (2011, December). Prescription Drug Abuse. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www. drugabuse. gov/publications/topics-in-brief/prescription-drug-abuse U. S. Health and Human Services. (2011, October). Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from National Institute of Health: http://www. drugabuse. gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs How to cite Prescription Drug Abuse: a Growing Epidemic in the United States, Papers

Industrial Action free essay sample

This assignment will be based on Industrial Action within SA over the past few years. It will begin by a brief explanation of what Industrial Action is from a legal point of view, the context of industrial action over the past five years or so, the contribution factors to industrial action and the increase in violence during the industrial action.With reference from a UNISA handle, industrial action is accepted worldwide as an integral part of collective bargaining. It can take different forms; these include a strike, a lock-out, picketing, a product boycott and protest action. Barker amp; Holtzhausen: define the term industrial action as meaning â€Å"action by unions, employees or employers, to pressurize the other party in the furtherance of an industrial dispute†. They go on to state it usually refers to strikes and lock-outs but could also include picketing, product boycotts, sit-ins, go-slow strikes and other actions which disrupt the productive process. 2. In some nations like Korea, South Africa, France and Spain where strike action helped democratize society; general strikes are still being used for mass mobilization and political protest. * Labour’s strike effectiveness and organizational strength have long been connected. Throughout history, work stoppages have been used for economic and political purposes, to alter the balance of power between labour and capital within single workplaces, entire industries, or nationwide. Strikes have won shorter hours and safer conditions, through legislation or contract negotiation. Theyve fostered new forms of worker organization such as industrial unions, that were badly needed because of corporate restructuring and the reorganization of production. Strikes have acted as incubators for class consciousness, rank-and-file leadership development, and political activism. In other countries, strikers have challenged and changed governments that were dictatorial and oppressive. South Africa has just been degraded on its security rating from a BBB+ to a triple BBB and the impact this will have on the economy is not a positive one. The rating loss can cost our economy about R8 billion in interests a year – twice the amount of the cost of the toll roads. Someone will have to pay, and it’s us, the ordinary people, who will have to foot the bill – further eroding our ability to save money. It’s the union’s undisciplined labour actions that largely cause the degrading of the security rating of our economy. Unions and strikers don’t realise their actions also have a macro-economic impact that affects everyone around us. At a micro level we should realise that all our actions will also have an impact on our personal financial position. This increased cost of finance will prevent us from being able to save sufficiently for other needs. The increased cost of country debt will increase taxes and other duties, and prevent us from saving. * Strikes in SA over the years have grown and also gotten out of hand and causing our country to lose foreign investors. There has been an increase in violence causing facility damages (e. g: roads, shops etc), in some instances it would affect us importing foreign goods or even exporting our goods to foreign countries. Lives of people has been lost, families have been affected by this. We have had the public sector getting involved in industrial action even though prohibited from this. It’s like sectors in SA believe that in order to get what you demand we need industrial actions. The trigger for most strikes has been wages and wage differentials, where employers seek a wage increase. Unions communicate this to employers then this leads to disputes which further on can be driven/lead to strikes. * Unions and employers relying on 3rd parties to negotiate on their behalf, sometimes these negotiators / facilitators don’t even have the right skills at hand or might not have any personal understanding or knowledge of the interest of the parties in dispute. Bargaining in bad faith not taking economic circumstances into mind. Personal political issues, some unions/ workers use strikes as a mean to direct political action in the absence of any other means of legitimate expression. * Bad working conditions. * Partied being dishonest about what they really want and having the perception that they can just receive what they demand without taking other factors into consideration.   There’s a song â€Å"Money makes the world go round† indeed it does, money and other factors has lead to high industrial actions which further lead to increased violence. Looking at the Marikana Massacres: Article by James North The Marikana strike in South Africa is finally over, but the legacy of the massacre that took place there two months ago may prove to be as enduring as that of the Sharpeville massacre more than four decades earlier. On March 21, 1960, the South African police fired into a crowd of demonstrators protesting the apartheid pas s laws at Sharpeville, killing sixty-nine. On August 16, 2012, the South African police fired at a crowd of striking wildcat miners at Marikana, killing thirty-four. Not surprisingly by, many in South Africa have labelled Marikana the Sharpeville of our times, all the more devastating because the fingers pulling those triggers were controlled by a government voted into power to realize the aspirations of the majority rather than to shoot them down. * Looking at the truck driver strike: Article from News 24 Johannesburg Officials said on Wednesday that striking truck drivers set alight vehicles and intimidated a driver in separate incidents in Cape Town and Durban on Wednesday. Three people were hospitalised, said eThekwini metro police spokesperson Eugene Msomi. A driver and his two assistants were injured when they tried to get away from striking drivers on Wednesday afternoon, said Msomi. * Farm Worker strike: the farm workers also demanded a wage increase of about a R150 a day, this lead to violence of street being vandalised and some of them even looted stores for food.   Industrial actions over the past years have grown out of control. Not only ffecting employers and employees negatively but affecting the entire countries economy in terms of our macro and micro economy. This resulted in increasing violence (deaths, vandalising, looting, job loss etc). In most cases it appeared to be for wage increase but if we took a greater look into industrial action we can pick up that there’s whole lot of other factors contributing to industrial action. What’s amazing is that industrial action doesn’t always provide us with what we expected instead we stand to lose more. What are we as an economy doing to rectify this is like a rhetorical question amongst ourselves? It seems to be that the only action at hand is to bury the dead and move on, quickly to the next fiasco.