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Belluck, Pam. "People With Mental Illness More Likely to Be Smokers, Study Finds." The New York Times. The New York Times, 06 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/health/more-smoking-found-by-mentally-ill-people.html?ref=mentalhealthanddisorders&_r=0 Found from the Center for Disease Control and prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, people with mental illnesses are 70% more likely to smoke cigarettes than people without mental illnesses. As there are nearly 46 million adults with mental issues in the United States, most of them smoke more cigarrets per month and are less likely to quit than people without mental issues. For patients with mental issues, the marketing by the tobacco industries and the historical use of cigarettes as an incentive to improve behavior in psychiatric hospitals cause them to have substance abuses. At the same time, the nicotine in the cigarettes mask some of the negative effects of mental illnesses. The continuous substance abuse of cigarettes result in making medications less effective. As the patients experience the "positive" affects of cigarettes on their mental issue, they realize that smoking helps them cope with the stressful symptoms of their illness.  

I believe that this issue can lead to large negative consequences for the patients and the health industries that take care of these patients. Even though the tobacco industries benefit from this current issue, as it is receiving a lot of profit, the patients' health is deteriorating. Even though their mental illness is already causing pain and trouble in their lives, if they start abusing cigarette substances, their mental and physical health will cause large consequences. If both their mental and physical health is damaged, their lives will be in great danger. The nicotine in the cigarettes may make the pain deteriorate for a little while, however, the long term effects of nicotine will not only damage their physical health, but will also slow down the process of recovering their mental illness. For the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration and the doctors that deal with these types of patients, they should further research about the substance abuse occurred with the patients with mental illnesses, and should securitize the patients by making them not have access to any drugs that could slow down their recovery process.

Citation Belluck, Pam. "Promising Depression Therapy." Well Promising Depression Therapy Comments. New York Times, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Summary There is a new form of treatment for depression - it's still experimental, thus far, but it involves electric shocks to the brain. It's similar to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but unlike ECT, which is only administered for a couple of seconds while the patients are anesthetized, the new form of treatment, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is given consecutively for 20 to 30 minutes to a fully conscious patient. It doesn't have nearly as high risks as ECT (which can cause memory loss), or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), another form of treatment, which has risks of seizures. With tDCS, there are few side effects. Not only that, but it's fairly inexpensive. Eventually, if the tDCS leaves the trial stages, it is simple enough that it may even be used at home. Michael Donnelly, one of the trial patients, vouches for its positive effects, as it worked where his medications did not.

I found this article very interesting in a hopeful sort of way. Depression is part of the foundation of many other mental issues or disorders and can even lead to suicide; if we find a way to combat depression effectively and with few side effects, then we may be able to help more people. For an example, we've learned in class that traumatic experiences can cause people to have eating disorders, from depression or from a feeling of lacking control in their life. But if this kind of therapy leaves the testing stages, because of it's low-risk and fairly low price, as well as easily administered, we can help more of those people. In particular, I think it would be a great thing because many people, especially parents of depressed kids or teens, worry about letting them take medication with high-risk side effects. From what the trials have shown so far, it also seems to be pretty effective. So I think that this therapy shows a great hope for people who are depressed and need help. Personally, I can't imagine being sad all of the time, so I think that being able to help these people, who are trapped in a perpetual state of despair or lethargy is something very hopeful and wonderful.

Citation: Louis, Catherine Saint. "Effects of Bullying Last into Adulthood, Study Finds." The New York Times. New York Times, 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. . Summary: Both bullies and victim of bullies at a young age experience psychiatric problem when they're adults. Researchers followed 1420 subjects who were assessed 4-6 times between the age of 9 and 16. They categorized them as bullies, victims, bullies who were also victims, and children who weren't bullied at all based on the children themselves and the caregivers. Later, at the age of 19, 21 and between 24-26, they tested them again. Researchers then found that victims of bullying were 4.3 times more likely to have anxiety disorder at adulthood, and bullies who were also victims were 14.5 times more likely to develop panic disorders and 4.8 times more likely to experience depression as adults. Men who were both bullied and victims also were 18.5 times to have suicidal thoughts in adulthood. Bullies who were not victims were 4.1 times more likely to have an antisocial personality disorder as adults. Female bullies were 26.7 times more likely to have developed agoraphobia (anxiety). These were all being compared to the people who weren't the bullies nor the victims. Victims could have anxiety disorders, bullies who were victims can have panic disorders/depression/suicidal thoughts, and bullies could be antisocial when they are adults.

I found that this article informative that what may happen in schools will have a long time effect to the student's life. I know that bullying will have a psychological and emotional effect at school, but I have never thought it would last when the bully or the perpetrator reach adulthood. Knowing how the effects are long-lasting, I feel this should be a warning to bullies and victims to not get involved with any type of bullying, or else it will leave a bad psychological scar in your memory. Hopefully I will never see an incident of bullying during the time at school.

PÉrez-peÑa, Richard. "Transgender Students Gain Visibility, and College Health Plans Respond." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Colleges today have started to become more aware of transgender students and have recently added transgender surgeries to their student health care plan. Although the number of transgender students in college is unknown, many elite universities have taken initiative to give students the attention needed to fix their gender identity. This issue was brought up by students who took a place for gay rights and hope to do the same with transgender people.  This article is intriguing since I did not know there was such thing as transgender surgeries or hormone injections. I think it is a good thing that colleges are starting to improve their health care plans for their students, because it shows that colleges are following up with their nondiscrimination policies. Students from different backgrounds stood up for something they believed in and helped make college a better environment for others who may be suffering from social, mental, or physical issues. Even companies today are adding sex change treatments to employee health care plans. 6 years ago there was no such thing as healthcare for sex change surgery but now over 36 colleges cover healthcare for transgender treatments. I am happy to hear that colleges today have started to put more effort in creating a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment for all their students.

Schwarz, Alan. "Drowned in a Stream of Prescriptions." The New York Times. The New York Times, 03 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/us/concerns-about-adhd-practices-and-amphetamine-addiction.html?pagewanted=all Richard Fee, aged 24, committed suicide after failing to renew a prescription for a drug called Adderall. Aderall is a medication for those affected by A.D.H.D, but it helps people acquire tunnel-like focus, thus leading to growing numbers of students or people who think they need help to fake systems to get this drug. He was an athletic, college class president, and aspiring medical student who faked having symptoms to his doctor. His doctor continued to supply him with the drug until his parents told the doctor to stop. Richard continued to receive a prescriptions. After becoming delusional and violent, and spending a week in a psychiatric hospital, Richard received 90 more days of his prescription. He hanged himself two weeks after it expired.

The fact that people have to pretend to have a disorder just to get a drug is both wrong and inhumane. I feel like they aren't educated enough to know what they're putting into their bodies. Although Richard was a medical student, maybe he didn't know what addiction felt like, and once he was under the influence of drugs, he couldn't control himself. One thing that I think should come under question is the manner in which people decide if someone has a disorder or not. It's not a good thing that someone was able to fool an educated doctor. Now I know there probably isn't any concrete way to prove to someone that you have a disorder unless the symptoms are physical, however, there should probably be some more screening or testing for these people to make sure that they have what they say they have. Other than that, this is just another sad story, and it's unfortunate that such a successful young man with a long road ahead of him would kill himself like this.

Roberts, Michelle. "Lung Cancer 'overtaking Breast Cancer in European Women'" BBC News. BBC, 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21424754 Over this decade, it is predicted that lung cancer is set to overtake breast cancer as the biggest cause of female cancer death in Europe. As of now, this is already the case in the UK and Poland. With the brutal substance abuse of smoking is increasing amongst the women in Europe, lung cancer death rates are continuously rising during these few years. In 2013, it is predicted that 82, 640 women in Europe will die from lung cancer, and lessen the difference between breast cancer, which is predicted to have 88,886 deaths. In the long run, it is said that by 2015, the balance will have shifted and lung cancer will take the lead. With the longer life spans that the people have now, fewer are dying from diseases such as cancer. However, despite the decline in total cancer deaths, the death rate amongst women from lung cancer is continuously increasing. With the sudden increase of lung cancer deaths, medical researchers are currently trying to find a better solution to prevent these deaths as they are avoidable. However, by 2020 or 2025, it is said that the new generation of women will decrease death rates of lung cancer. This reflects the improved knowledge and prevention of cigarette addiction. 

I found that this article significantly reflects the reality of substance abuse. Nowadays, smoking has become a cultural symbol that reflects a message of being "cool". This brings attention to many people, and now, the number of people smoking has increased. Even though breast cancer can cause many dangerous medical conditions, the increasing rate of lung cancer can greatly affect humans. Lung cancer can cause many life-risking affects on the human body, and the continuous substance abuse of tobacco and cigarettes cause many deaths per year. I believe that researchers should advertise the many ways to stop smoking and the addiction to nicotine and other chemical properties in a cigarette. I believe that the government should also come up with strict rules about smoking and any action that connects to tobacco.

"CBC News Indepth: David Reimer." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 10 May 2004. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. . This article is about a boy named Bruce who at was being circumcised at the age of 6 months old. The doctor's decided to use an unconventional method to circumcise Bruce and his twin brother which involved burning instead of cutting. The circumcision went very wrong and resulted in Bruce no longer being a male at all. The parent's decided that if they tried to raise their son as a girl, then he might just act as a girl since he doesn't know any differently. They pay to have doctor's give their son a full sex change and put him on hormones to help him with his transformation. So, Bruce became Brenda and was raised as that. All throughout Brenda's childhood she was bullied and called names like "caveman" and "it." At the age of 12, Brenda was finally told by her parents that she wasn't actually a girl. After being told the full story, Brenda/Bruce changed his name to David and had 4 rounds of reconstructive surgery to physically make him a male again. In may of 2004, David was still grieving the loss of his twin brother, lost his job, and divorced his wife. On May 4, 2004 David Reimer committed suicide at the age of 38.