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Running Start/HEA150 - Health/Week 8/Discussion Replies Week 8.md

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+### Replying to Robert
+Hi Ruopu,
+I agree that giving people a space to safely use their drugs and get clean tools seems like a better way to help solve the drug crisis rather than further stigmatizing drug use. Especially with many drugs being increasingly used in medical scenarios, it is strange to me that they are still as stigmatized as they are. During prohibition, people didn't stop drinking alcohol and it likely made the problem worse. Especially with drugs where illegal drugs are more likely to have incorrect amounts and lead to overdoses, it seems like allowing safe options for people could be a better approach than attempting to prevent drug use through laws. 
+
+### Replying to Julien
+Hi Julien,
+I agree that it is likely more challenging to regulate drug use when they are illegal since most of the ways that they are obtained are from black-market sources. Several articles discussed the idea that by obtaining drugs illegally, the odds that they contain incorrect amounts or the wrong drug is much higher and often leads to overdoses. I also watched the video from CNN, and it seems like even though they are technically illegal the OPCs in New York are very beneficial for the communities that they are a part of.
+
+### Replying to Rose
+Hi Rose,
+Similar to the establishments described in last week's discussion, giving people an opportunity to focus on aspects of their lives other than their addiction seems like a great way to help them recover and get back on their feet. If all they can think about is where they will find the drugs or alcohol they need to prevent withdrawal, it can be hard to do anything else. I like your idea about including more stories about recovery from drug usage in media. Especially with how much social media is a part of everyone's live now, themes and ideas in popular media can be a very large factors in the decisions we make. 
+
+### Replying to Goose
+Hi Goose,
+It was interesting to me as well that other countries have much different stances on OPCs than the United States does. With how large the war on drugs was and still is in the US though, it makes sense that programs like this have not gained traction yet. I'm glad that the article that you read focused more on the stories of several patients. The ones that I read took more of a high-level approach to the story which can be helpful, although the many perspectives on this issue is important to fully understand the impact.

Running Start/HEA150 - Health/Week 8/Discussion Response Week 8.md

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+1. I haven't learned anything about overdose prevention centers before, so most of the information in the article was new to me. The idea that giving people a place to more safely use drugs makes sense to me. Similar to the establishments in the previous discussion with alcohol, allowing for a safe and controlled environment to help these people overcome and deal with their addictions seems like a good thing. One thing that surprised me is how many OPCs started out or are still operating illegally within their countries drug laws, especially centers in places in the US that are technically illegal but city governors or officials have promised not to enforce the laws. Based on research done and the long track record of these establishments, I am surprised that there are still places like the United States that they are still illegal. Even though the war on drugs in the United States started over 50 years ago, there still seem to be affects such as the legality of running an OPC.
+2. I chose to watch a video from CNN about the two overdose prevention centers located in New York City. This video described that these are places where people bring their own illegal drugs and are given the tools and space to safely take them. They also talked to one of the people who regularly goes there and some of the people that run the establishments. Many of the people working at these places are trained doctors and have the materials and abilities to treat overdoses if they happen onsite. Many of the advantages of these centers were discussed, such as providing a safe place for people to take their drugs that is not on the streets and providing resources to stop drug usage if participants are willing. The clip also talked about how the overdose prevention centers are not technically legal under federal law, although the last two mayors of New York City have promised not to enforce federal regulations and allow them to stay open. 
+3. One community that I am a part of is my high school, and I think that while an OPC might not be a great idea, harm reduction services could be beneficial. My school already has a teen health center, which acts as a place for people to go when they need help. It doesn't provide the same services as the OPCs described in this weeks reading, and I think that it probably isn't the best idea to have something like that for a high school. Since most high school students using drugs likely aren't addicted yet, the school should focus more on preventative measures and education about the risks of recreational drug use. I think that OPCs can be helpful in other parts of the community, especially for adults who have been struggling with addiction for a long time. Most people would likely not be supportive of creating an OPC in a high school, but I think it could gain some support in the community for serving those in the area of the school rather than the students themselves.

Running Start/HEA150 - Health/Week 8/Search and Report Week 8.md

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+1. Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) is a condition caused by the use of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD or PCP. The symptoms include flashbacks and visual artifacts similar to those seen when using the drugs as well as potentially increased anxiety and depression. With HPPD, these occur when the person is completely sober and can have varying intensities depending on factors we don't completely understand. This condition likely affects only a small amount of people using these drugs, although we don't know exact numbers. There are several theories for what causes HPPD, including memories triggered by environmental factors similar to PTSD, senses being more likely to be altered after drug use and strong traumatic memories being accessed by flashbacks. Diagnostic tools can include questionnaires, a modified Tellegen Absorption Scale and the Visual Apophenia Luke Irvine Scale. Review of medications and blood work can also be used for a diagnoses. There is still much that is unknown about this condition, and most treatments only include symptom management rather than an actual cure. These can include benzodiazepines to slow down brain activity, SSRIs to treat depression and anxiety, and clonidine to alter nerve impulses in the brain.
+2. The second article that I read was "Psilocybin and LSD: What I learnt after experiencing 'psychedelic flashbacks'" from the BBC. There were many of the same ideas in both of these articles, and the second one that I read took a more personal approach by describing the experiences of the author with hallucinogenic drugs and their own experiences with HPPD. The first article focuses more on the causes, effects, symptoms, and facts of the condition while the second one provides more context into the history of the condition. The BBC article explains how even though the HPPD diagnoses is relatively recent, people have been experiencing similar conditions for a long time. It also discusses the stigma around hallucinogenic drugs and conditions such as HPPD. This has likely led to much less research going into conditions such as these, and it is also mentioned that many people with HPPD are worried that others will judge them if they reveal their conditions. 
+3. After reading this it is sad to me that there is so little research on this topic largely due to how much drugs have been stigmatized in many places in the world. Especially in the United States there is a very large stigma around using these drugs and even though they are illegal, many people still use them and it seems important to do research into the effects that they might have on someone. It seems like there is much better research on things like alcohol usage since there is less of a stigma around drinking, even though it can also cause harmful effects. Especially with the rising use of drugs and especially hallucinogens in medical treatments, there isn't very much research on what the side effects might be and how we can avoid or treat them. The first article that I read focused more on the effects on physical and mental wellness of HPPD such as changes in perception and increased anxiety and depression. The second article I read also discussed these aspects, but also touched on social wellness by talking about the social stigma around using hallucinogenic drugs and how many people were afraid to tell others about their condition due to what they might think about their drug use.