Throughout my lifetime, health has become one of the many issues in which society has posed a desperate need. In doing so, I have developed a great interest in substance/drug abuse,especially amongst women. It is not too often that we as society hear about women and substance abuse. Instead, men are often put on the front pedestal as the subjects at fault. For this reason, I believe that it is important that one also look at the many areas of substance/drug abuse amongst women, in conjunction to how it affects and brings about many underlying health factors.
Infectious disease, such as HIV/AIDS is also one of my many health concerns, which continues to increase, especially within the African American society. Women have become my primary focus and concern in this field, because this epidemic has become more prevalent in African American women. Increasing an awareness of HIV/AIDS and finding a cure, has become very important to me, due to the unawareness and increasing death rates within this particular community. I believe that change is soon to come if we continue to work together!
It is amazing to see the many health concerns that lie within the community. Many factors contribute to the health choices that each individual makes, when it comes to the important issues of health. I interviewed a 20-year old Caucasian female, who stated that her health concern was Nutrition. She happened to be involved in gymnastics and expressed how critical exercise and healthy eating was of importance to her. I then interviewed a 17-year old African American female, who stated that her health concern was obesity. She expressed her feelings about obesity and explained the many health issues her family has endured when dealing with obesity. Her mother recently underwent Gastric Bypass surgery. Although this is so, she is beginning to gain weight. Being that this young lady has a family history of diabetes, she continues to struggle with weight control. When it comes to the concerns in which women pose about health, one may often look at the issues that women in their ethical groups are often faced with. One must also consider the traditions, ethical background, and age of the individual to know the importance that they hold about a particular health issue.
Hello Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI am also interested in substance abuse problems among women. My mother is actually an LCDC; Licensed Chemical Dependency Councilor, and councils several women with substance abuse problems. Although prescription drugs help control and manage many women’s lives, often women are more susceptible to prescription drugs. I believe society makes prescription drugs more acceptable than they should be!
Great Post!
Kelli Dugan
I totally agree with you about the HIV/AIDS epidemic amongst African American women. I think that and STDS overall in this ethnic group is a real concern. A lot of people don't know that because of the way they live and the culture they live by, they greatly increase the risks of diseases and other health probems. Especially African American women. In regards to the substanceabuse problems, in my neighborhood I see a lot of the young females having these problems. Both of these are good issues to tackle.
ReplyDeleteI feel how you feel about the health isues that exist. There are so many, which I am also interested. I would like to learn about others that I have never though about such as breast cancer.I also agree with you about HIV, which is one of my concerns.There needs to be more sexual health education for women as well as teenage girls.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your concern for women and substance abuse. My experience comes from the generation that is now in their 70's. I know my mother was addicted to pain medications all my life and as I have shared that with friends my age (now 52) over the years, I learned that my mother was not the only one of that generation to have this addiction. There has always been such a stigma to a drug user, but women need to know that they are not alone in their problems. We need to find out why they chose to start using drugs, so we can better find a solution. I know for my mother, she grew up as one of 11 children who were all abused. The prescription drugs became the only coping mechanism she ever knew. She died 2 years ago after living her entire adult life a slave to pills. I don't judge her, because I never walked in her shoes, but I always hoped someday she would find help.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your concern about substance abuse in women. Most of the focus is on men. Women are more secretive and chose different paths for their substance of choice. Prescription pills are often the culprits for women. Nutrition is also a big concern with the current economic crisis. People are more apt to choose value meals at fast food restaurants. Great post!
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