Physiological effects of recreational drugs on the human body Essay

Physiological effects of recreational drugs on the human body - Essay Example A fine line exists between recreational and dangerous, illegal drugs and often, these two terms are interchanged. Most of the time, the line drawn in terms of legality, abuse and risk of use involved ("Recreational drug use", 2006). History tells us that drug use has been around for quite a long time now. Caffeine, tobacco and alcohol along with natural drug derivatives such as poppy, marijuana and hemp have been consumed by our ancestors since the time their use has been discovered (Burger, 1995; Burger, n.d.). Modern recreational drugs include ecstasy, cocaine and LSD among others. Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) is one of the most common recreational drugs used in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Marijuana leaves often referred to it's street names "mary jane", "weed", "grass" etc. is usually rolled and smoked in cigarette form (called a "joint" or "nail") or in a pipe (known as a "bong"). The active ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) which starts a series of pleasurable reactions in the brain referred to as a "high" (National institute on drug abuse, 2004). Smoking a joint usually has no effect on the first use, but its effects are manifested after the second or third use. It affects short term memory but does not hinder physical coordination and there are no reported case yet of overdose ("Pocket guide to recreational drugs", 1995). From 2000 to 2002 marijuana use rose up to 24% in the U.S. alone and is considered to be the 3rd most abused drug reported in hospital emergency cases (National institute on drug abuse, 2004). THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) the active ingredient found in marijuana affects the brain differently than other drugs. It increases the secretion rate of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. Dopamine in return affects the limbic system, the area of the brain associated with emotion and behaviour control (Young, 1997). THC circulates fast from the lungs to the bloodstream as a joint is smoked (National institute on drug abuse, 2004). As THC passes thru the brain, it connects to specific areas called cannaboid receptors on the neural cells. Not all neural cells have the same amount of cannaboid receptors and often a large amount of these type of receptors are found in brain areas associated with pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement (Herkenham et al, 1990; National institute on drug abuse, 2004). Effects of marijuana use on the heart Although none has ever died from marijuana related cardiac failure, persons with arteriosclerosis or propensity to heart failure may develop complications from smoking marijuana. Smoking a joint induces tachycardia (brisk rise in heartbeat) along with increase in heart failure similar to when a person experiences stress. These complications can vary in effect and severity (Young, 1997). Effects of marijuana use on the lungs In 1990, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports: "No difference in prevalence of chronic cough, sputum production or wheeze was noted between the marijuana and tobacco smokers (included within their study), nor were additive effects of combined smoking of tobacco and marijuana on the prevalence of acute or chronic

Impact of Teachers on Agriculture Research Paper

Impact of Teachers on Agriculture - Research Paper Example The research will highlight effects of teachers on this discipline (Agbaje, Martin & Williams, 2001). Statement of the Problem It is imperative to have an effective education system, which will ensure improved students’ performance. The effectiveness of an education system derives from the ability of teachers’ to give knowledge to the students. The teachers will have key implications onto agricultural education. Consequently, it is vital to make a research on the implications of teachers in this discipline, which is an integral constituent of the entire education system. Understanding the implications of teachers on agricultural education is fundamental, since it will provide findings which can enable the appropriate authorities improve the education system. Teachers may have huge impact on agricultural education. Therefore, it is critical to understand them so that the authorities can adopt appropriate policy measures, which will ensure improvement in teaching of this discipline (Byrne, 1998). The current performance in this discipline is poor. Hence, it is vital that tutors embrace appropriate teaching strategies, which, in turn, will improve students’ performance. Purpose of the Study   Teachers have the core duty of passing on knowledge to students. Therefore, they are central factor in the students’ learning process. The teaching methods will influence the learning process significantly. Therefore, it would be crucial to understand what teaching strategies can improve students’ performance in agricultural education. Additionally, the research will evaluate not only the teaching strategies, but also their application in inculcating agricultural knowledge. This research will evaluate several aspects on the implications of teachers in this discipline. Therefore, this research will circumnavigate the core roles of the teacher in inculcating agricultural knowledge in students (Croom, 2003). Objectives of the Study This resea rch seeks to accomplish certain objectives, which include; I. Determine the strategies that teachers use in agricultural education II. Determine the impact of such strategies on the students III. Determine whether teachers’ strategies are relevant in agricultural education. IV. Determine whether the teachers have adequate agricultural knowledge to satisfy the students’ knowledge requirements. Research Questions I. What strategies do teachers use in agricultural education? II. What is the impact of teachers’ strategies on students? III. Are teachers’ teaching strategies relevant to agricultural education? IV. Do teachers have adequate agricultural knowledge to satisfy the students’ requirements? Definition of Terms Teaching strategies-The teaching measures that agricultural teachers have embraced in passing knowledge to students. Curriculum - an outline of what students should learn in a certain discipline over a given period. Each subject will norm ally have a curriculum that a teacher should follow. Quality assurance - this term refers to a set of measures that seek to ensure goods or services meet a certain quality threshold. Limitation of the Study The domain of this research will be large since the impacts of teachers on agricultural education will be multifaceted. This means the implications may be educational, psychological, and discipline concerns. Therefore, this