Mental+Illness+and+Drug+Abuse

Mental Illness and Drug Abuse

Student: Blyton Pendergast Student Number: n8305226 Tutor: Sophie Miller


 * Artefact **

Basket Base- Dookie- Green Day [] //Do you have the time//
 * Basket Case- Lyrics **

//to listen to me whine//

//About nothing and everything//

//all at once//

//I am one of those//

//Melodramatic fools//

//Neurotic to the bone//

//No doubt about it//

//Sometimes I give myself the creeps//

//Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me//

//It all keeps adding up//

//I think I'm cracking up//

//Am I just paranoid?//

//Or I'm just stoned//

//I went to a shrink//

//To analyze my dreams//

//She says it's lack of sex//

//that's bringing me down//

//I went to a whore//

//He said my life's a bore//

//So quit my whining cause//

//it's bringing her down//

//Sometimes I give myself the creeps//

//Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me//

//It all keeps adding up//

//I think I'm cracking up//

//Am I just paranoid?//

//Uh, yuh, yuh, ya//

//Grasping to control//

//So I better hold on//

//Sometimes I give myself the creeps//

//Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me//

//It all keeps adding up//

//I think I'm cracking up//

//Am I just paranoid?//

//Or I'm just stoned// The cultural artefact I chose to represent the topic of mental illness is a song by American punk-rock band ‘Green Day’, entitled ‘Basket Case’. This album was released on the 1st of February, 1994, with five hit number one singles, including ‘Basket Case’. ‘Dookie’ is the third studio album released by the band, instigating most of their success. The band assembled in 1987 consisting of Billie Joe Armstrong, lead guitar and vocal, Mike Dirnt, bass guitar and backing vocal and Tre Cool, drums. The band has received numerous awards for their music, including Record of the Year, and Best Alternative and Rock Albums.

The public health issue I’ll be focusing on in regards to this cultural artefact is the continued theme throughout this song. The element of anxiety disorder and how it is mistreated and misunderstood by both the people that suffer from it, and the people around them, be they doctors, parents or friends. Engaging in ‘risky’ public health behaviours, in this case smoking weed/pot/marijuana is a behaviour that sufferers are at risk of/do engage in. Many public health issues can arise from participating in this behaviour, such as lung cancer, emphysema etc.
 * Public Health Issue **

There is a lot of media coverage about smoking behaviours, be they cigarette or drug smoking, within the current social environment. With many people flatly believing that with all the current research and evidence against smoking behaviours that it would be almost committing suicide to smoke. Whereas some people sympathise and say it’s individual choice when it concerns someone’s own health. When this is then coupled with mental health disorders, in particular anxiety disorders, and how smoking substances reduces stress levels, a target demographic is able to be identified. Many different media centers including news bulletins and talk shows spend time talking of how to recognise mental illness symptoms. A CBS news bulletin interviewed a specialist and talked of recognition and treatment of mental illnesses, with one of the tell tale factors being alcohol or drug abuse (jklapow, You Tube). Riehman, Stephens & Schurig analyzed the different people who participated in drug use, putting them into four classes, spanning from the first being the most likely to participate in behaviour encompassing all drugs and the fourth only with tobacco. They concluded that when compared with mental health patients, the people with previous mental health issues were more likely to be in class one than any other class, putting them at a heightened risk. The methodologies being used by the researchers is more at a survey level, identifying them there and then analyzing the results that correlate to the previously decided responses. Some other processes include using hospital admission due to mental illness or drug use, then approaching these people to participate within a study. These methodologies are cost effective and largely guaranteed to give a useful accurate group of subjects, but I believe the horizons of the focus groups can widen to incorporate more people. Especially since in 2004/05 11% of the total population had either a long or short term mental health disorder, or 50% of them being anxiety disorders (ABS). When this information is coupled with the population of Australia currently, the number of people with a mental illness is 2 501 553 people, and the prevalence of mental illnesses, especially anxiety disorders, has only increased in the 7 years since that statistic. These numbers of people are not being either treated, or included within the studies conducted currently. An effective method of identifying these people not using the ones already incorporated would be a fantastic improvement in recognition, treatment and research. Methods such as demographic identification through music, sport, social groups, appearance or socio-economic status would be a step forward in widening the research group. Lindesmith (2011) talks of how the circumstances around the admission of the opiate is paramount to the outcome of the behavior, whether that be addiction or not. Researchers within the field of health have been developing more and more knowledge about the health risks and consequences of smoking. The relationship between addiction and drugs is a deep seeded, significant one, with ties branching back to early human ancestors. It incorporates developmental patterns and within modern society, when a drug is coupled with a relief or pleasurable outcome, then that person is more likely to continue to engage in that behaviour (Durrant et al, 2009). This relationship is evident within Green Day’s song, ‘Basket Case’. Billie Joe smoked marijuana to relieve himself from the panic attacks he suffered prior to performing. This relationship is exactly the circumstance that can instigate addiction, according to Durrant et al, with lyrics such as; Am I just paranoid? Or I’m just stoned. These lyrics portray the relationship between Billie Joe’s anxiety disorder, in particular paranoia, and his addiction to marijuana. This relationship is even more obvious when the name or the band was chosen for his love of marijuana. Literature within the current social scene is very one sided. It gives scientific health reasons why smoking drugs are a ‘bad’ behaviour to engage in. This is the dominant view from much of the media, social theory of postmodernism would say that there is no absolute truth, that even though much of the media coverage states a certain claim, that everybody’s view on the world is subjective to their circumstances and prior experiences.
 * Literature Review **

The literature review written above provides the view of modern media, largely stating that drugs are a health risk that is not necessary to engage in and would be ill-advised to be done. Looking at this from the drug user/mental health patient’s point of view, the drugs enable an escape from that mental disorder. If it then helps them cope day to day then why shouldn’t they be able to make their own decisions? Within a largely postmodern society we live in, there is no absolute truth. That all views are subject to previous bias and that everyone is entitled to their opinion. The people most at risk of this health issue is the people currently suffering from a mental disorder. Due to their heightened risk of association when they administer the drug, the strength of addiction is escaladed and likely to occur. Education is the key to combating the issue at hand. When people know more they can do more. The social groups most affected by this issue include the health industry (paramedics and doctors) who have to deal with the aftermath of drug abuse, family, friends and the sufferer themselves. The person with the disorder is often the most traumatised by the issues when they arise. That’s why appropriate education of everyone who could be involved needs to be undertaken, to enable early detection of drug use if possible, and early treatment from all parties. On the other hand is the view point stated above is used, then people have the right to choose what they want to do with their life, and if issues arise then they are theirs to deal with. If this is the case then appropriate and safe networks need to be built to help these people with whatever decision they may make. Systems such as supply of sterile needles, regulation of substance and close supervision by everyone within the social network. To achieve this education must again be present and paramount in the process. As stated above, when people know more they can do more. Public health experts should therefore focus on the education of the population in regards to mental illness and how it can lead to drug abuse, addiction and reliance. Target groups need to be identified and acted upon to increase the knowledge and hopefully cause an improvement in the current trends. In the end it all comes down to structure or agency. This factor influences the entire method in which this recovery/prevention from/of this public health issue is handled.
 * Cultural and Social Analysis **

The artefact that I chose is a popular song written by a popular band that many people around the world know. Despite this, most people don’t know what the song is about. This artefact represents many people currently suffering from mental illness using drugs to avoid the affects the illness has on their life. Billie Joe used marijuana to avoid having panic attacks before performing. The ‘case in point’ is valid within modern society due to the ever increasing mental illness cases coupled with the widespread drug use, especially among the modern youth. Personally, this topic means a lot to me. I have a family member who suffers from a mental illness and he’s of a similar age to me, right inside the target demographic. I feel that if I can educate myself about this, then I can help him if he ever needs it. In completing this assessment piece I’ve learnt that education is paramount when it comes to treatment and recognition of mental illness. That structure and agency are, in my opinion, an individual decision to be made when necessary to continue as desired. Above all, that compassion must be shown when dealing with a patient suffering from a mental illness, that while ever you have their trust you are able to help them much more.
 * Artefact Analysis and Learning Reflections **

**Learning Engagement and Reflection**
PAGE: Running Like a Girl: How Equitable is the Playing Field when it comes to Women in Sport? COMMENT: Great in depth analysis. Your use of the cultural artefact to depict the issue at hand was highly effective and relevant. With women in sport being depicted almost solely for their physical appearance rather than their sporting ability and talent, it becomes an environment caught in a vicious cycle of stereotypes. I particularly liked your analysis when it connected younger people moving through junior and high schools. Making this connection enables earlier detection and more accurate focus points, nice work. Your suggested ways to move forward are realistic and well constructed to enable maximum effect. In all, a very well rounded view on how women are depicted within a very much male dominated sporting environment. Great stuff!

PAGE: Adolescent Girls too Afraid to Play Sport due to Body Image Issues COMMENT: Interesting Review. Great read and a particularly interesting topic, especially seen as Australian's are commonly thought to be 'good' at sport. Furthermore to that point, we also have one of the highest rates of adolescent and adult obesity in the world. Many conflicting opinions of what and who Australian's are. I especially appreciate the analysis of the ages where sport becomes almost 'unfashionable' for females to be involved in. The strategies you suggested, involving parents and teachers is a great way to access the heart of the issue, it's also cost effective, which is always nice. In all, a great analysis of an ever relevant issue. Top Work! 4326.3.40.001 - Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Queensland, Data Report, 1997. (n.d.). //Australian Bureau of Statistics//. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from [] At A Glance.... (n.d.). //Australian Bureau of Statistics//. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from [|www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/1E988A0AB9B67ED8CA2578CC0012D80D/$File/smoking%20and%20risk%20behaviours%20in%2] Durrant, R., Adamson, S., Todd, F., & Sellman, D. (2009). Drug use and addiction: evolutionary perspective.//Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry//, // 43 // (11), 1049-1056. Retrieved October 27, 2011, from the Academic Search Elite database. jklapow. (n.d.). Taking Control Mental Health Disorders CBS 42 Birmingham, AL News Weather Sports - YouTube. //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.//. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from [] Lindesmith, A. (2011). A Sociological Theory of Drug Addiction. // American Journal of Sociology //, // 117 // (2). Retrieved October 27, 2011, from [] Riehman, K. S., Stephens, R. L., & Schurig, M. L. (2009). Substance Use Patterns and Mental Health Diagnosis Among Youth in Mental Health Treatment: A Latent Class Analysis. //Journal of Psychoactive Drugs//, //41//(4), 363-368. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from the Academic Search Elite database.
 * Reference List **